The Assistant(106)

Adrian’s mother cleared her throat just as Adrian began to drag me along. “Emily. If it is okay with you, I would like to have a word,” she spoke up, making my eyes widen in shock.

Adrian’s jaw clenched as his grip tightened around my hand. “No.”

“Adrian, its fine,” I mumbled softly, trying to sound reassuring.

I began to pull out of his grip and make my way over to where Katherine was standing. “Let me show you around the house while we wait for dinner,” she suggested stiffly.

“Darling, if you’re going to compare bra sizes, I’m sorry to say; but I think Emily will overpower you in that department.” Mason looked at his wife sympathetically. “Plus, I’d very much like to be there when you are comparing them! So wait until after dinner so I can join you.”

“Mason,” Katherine said flatly, humorlessly. “We’re not comparing bra sizes.” She linked her arm with mine, surprising both Adrian and I. We exited the room and began making our way up a grand flight of stairs. It was quiet; Katherine still hadn’t spoken up, making the silence between us slightly awkward.

“You have a lovely home,” I spoke up after a while.

“Thank you,” Katherine replied frostily. “Mason and I designed most of it ourselves.”

I nodded in response just as silence fell upon us once again.

Katherine led me into a small room near the stairs and shut the door behind us. “Sit down, Emily,” she said, motioning toward one of the vintage-styled chairs in the room.

I took the seat closest to the door, and began straightening my dress out in order to avoid any awkward eye contact with the woman sitting across from me.

“I’m sure you know how much my son means to me by now,” she began, making me look up from the deep purple material to meet her eyes. “I only want what is best for him. A successful career, a wealthy background, a comfortable space to live in, a suitable wife. You were not a part of that plan,” she declared bluntly.

I frowned slightly and opened my mouth to respond before she raised a hand in a gesture to stop me from talking. “That is why I have acted the way I have towards you. I thought you were another one of my son’s ‘catch of the day’ girls. I’ve kept up with how many women he’s been with and trust me, I’m not proud of his behaviour. But, I’ve noticed a change in him ever since you came along – a good change. He focuses on the business with a more mature mindset, for one, and isn’t always out partying with multiple women all the time anymore. I know I have you to thank for that.” She nodded in my direction as an act of acknowledgment, and I instantly began blushing.


“I had a girl from London in mind for him to marry, but that clearly won’t happen now. I see the way he looks at you. My son is in love, and you are the object his world revolves around now. I’ve brought you up here to apologise for acting the way I have towards you for the past four months. I hoped that, once Adrian saw my disapproval of you, he’d let you go. He clearly likes you too much to do that.” She smiled at me, and I had to try and control my face from turning into one of shock.

“What you also did tonight – making him hug me – also showed me how kind hearted you are,” she continued. “You were the mature one out of us both, even though it should have been me. I want to thank you for that. But Emily, I am warning you from now. My actions will not be kind ones if you break my son’s heart. You’re clearly not using him for money because you have a job. But if I find out that you do have an ulterior motive for being with my son, I will not hesitate to ruin your life.” She ended her warning in a stone cold tone.

“Mrs. Kingston-”

“Katherine,” she corrected, smiling slightly.

I smiled in return before starting again. “Katherine. I am in love with Adrian just as much as he is with me. I have no ulterior motives with your son; I can assure you that from now. I do want to thank you for this talk. It may not seem like it, but your approval really meant a lot to me,” I mumbled, blushing slightly.

“I’ve always wanted a daughter-in-law,” Katherine said. She was grinning broadly at me now, and got out of her seat once my eyes met hers. “Come.” She smiled, opening her arms for a hug.

I stepped into them happily, just as the door burst open.

“Mother, I swear to- Wait, what? What the hell is happening here?!” Adrian demanded, looking at the hug in utter confusion.

Katherine and I began to laugh at Adrian’s confused state, before we pulled away from each other. “I think dinner is ready by now, how about we go and eat?” Katherine suggested, looking down at me.

“Sound’s good! Adrian?” I called out, looking over at him.

He was still watching the interaction between his mother and me with a guarded expression. “Who are you and what did you do to my disapproving mother?” he asked Katherine suspiciously, before wrapping an arm around my waist.

I laughed and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Your disapproving mother is actually quite approving when she needs to be,” I informed him with a grin as we made our way back down the flight of stairs.

Adrian continued to wear a confused expression. “I better get some sex tonight,” he grumbled, rubbing his temple and making me laugh again.

Chapter Twenty-five

“ADRIAN!” I tripped over my own footing and clumsily grabbed onto the doorknob to keep myself upright before opening the door in one swift motion.