*Stella's pov*
As Fiona drove away, I waved goodbye, feeling grateful for her support. I owed her one, big time. With a sense of trepidation, I stepped toward my front door. The moment I opened it, my heart sank. My dad sat on the couch, his expression stern, while my mom stood opposite him, her arms crossed. The air was thick with tension. I knew something was wrong..
As I stepped into my house, I was greeted by an unsettling atmosphere. My dad sat on the couch, his eyes narrowed, while my mom stood opposite him, her arms crossed. I exchanged a brief greeting with them, but before I could make my way to my room, my dad's voice stopped me.
"Wow, I never knew you were so good at hiding things. You thought I wouldn't find out," he said, his tone laced with accusation.
My heart racing, I realized he must have discovered that I didn't go on the date. But his next words left me stunned.
"I never knew you were eyeing the almighty Master Adrian. That's why you learned fashion designing, because his company always recruits talent. And then you ended up coming top! You're so beautiful that no man can resist you. You've got yourself the best suitor, my love. Finally, everyone in this neighborhood will treat me with respect. My daughter will marry the richest man."
I felt a mix of confusion and annoyance. "I'm going to work for him, Dad, not marry him," I corrected, trying to keep my tone polite.
However, my dad's expression darkened. "I don't care! Can't you just seduce him? At least you can finally do something meaningful. I'll hire someone to teach you how to seduce him."
I bit back my anger, replying, "Alright, Dad, can I at least have a shower first?" But deep down, I knew I had no intention of following through with his absurd plan.
As I stood there, I couldn't help but think of Master Adrian's words earlier that day: "Do you think I want you?" A shiver ran down my spine as I wondered what his true intentions were...
I shook off my thoughts and headed towards my room, my mom's silence during my conversation with Dad speaking volumes. I knew she understood my aversion to the life she and many other women led. I was determined to be strong, to forge my own path and live life on my own terms.
With renewed resolve, I had a refreshing shower and began outlining my plans for Monday. I was set to start my new job at Huston's Fashion Designs, and the excitement was palpable. But as I delved deeper into my plans, my mind wandered back to the intense kiss and the events that transpired between Master Adrian and me. My heart skipped a beat at the mere thought of facing him again.
I tried to reassure myself that the likelihood of running into him was low, given the vastness of his business empire. But just as I was calming my nerves, a knock on my door jolted me back to reality...