Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Karen's POV

After the guests left, I became scared to go into the house for dinner with Brody's family. I was scared that I would say something that would make them suspect me.

"Hey Karen."

Turning back, I found Helen with a bottle of beer. I quickly ran towards her and snatched the bottle from her hand, swinging it into a corner. "What are you doing? Don't get drunk." I told her.

She chuckled. "I'm not getting drunk," She replied and raised an eyebrow. "And what are you doing outside here when the party's over?" She asked.

"I was waiting for you." I lied.

She gave me a smile. "That's nice of you and believe me, Brody's announcement was one of the best I've ever witnessed." She replied and we walked into the house.

"It's almost time for dinner." I murmured and she laughed.

"My aunt is around, her name is Patricia but you should call her Aunt Patricia. She likes to be called and treated with respect.

"Who doesn't?" I retorted and picked up an empty bottle on the floor with the intention of helping the maids pick the littered bottles on the floor.

"Leave that to the maids, that's their work." She said and I became embarrassed, I gently dropped the bottle and smiled at her.

"Where's Brody?" I asked, concerned.

"I'm right here, princess." He answered with a shout from the dining table and I chuckled.

"Brody was never like this but now he behaves childish because of you."

I raised an eyebrow in surprise wondering if I should take that as a compliment. "What was that supposed to mean?" I asked.

She nudged me with an elbow. "Ohh, it's nothing serious. Brody has always been angry and sad before you came into his life." She explained.

Yeah, I wished I could tell her that he was still always angry and never satisfied. I wish I could tell her that his behavior was still the same. "That's a great change." I muttered and we occupied seats at the dining table. I sat down near Brody and he looked at me.

As I took a spoon from the table, Brody shot me an irritated look and the spoon fell from my hand and landed on the table. "We should wait for mom, she always want everyone to eat together."

A woman came out of the kitchen and looked at me, she hesitated before sitting down facing me. She was definitely Aunt Patricia, she looked at me like I was a piece of trash and I avoided her gaze.

"So you're Karen, Brody's girlfriend?" She asked and I turned to face her.

"Yes ma'am."

"I'm not ma'am, silly. I'm Patricia."

I nodded. "Yes Pat," I muttered and suddenly remembered what Helen told me. "Yes, Aunt Patricia."

She smiled. "Well, it's great that you're well mannered. Which company does your father own?" She asked and my heart skipped a beat.

I stole a glance at Brody, he was definitely uncomfortable. "Huh, my father doesn't own any company." I answered

"Really?"

I nodded. "My father is a driver for a rich company."

Her eyes widened and she turned to look at Brody. "This has never happened before in this family and it will never happen, you can't date a poor lady."

She said and Helen squeezed my hands gently. "She'll like you soon." She said, like a form of motivation but I wasn't motivated.

"Aunt Patricia, I love her and I'm willing to do anything for her." Brody replied.

"I don't like this."

"It's my preference not yours." He fired back at her.

"Brody," I called her gently. "She's your aunt and you should respect her." I said calmly.

He chuckled and plowed his fingers into his hair. "She should mind her business." He told me.

"This has never happened before and it would never happen." She said, aghast.

Brody chuckled. "You should just stay out of this." He warned her.

I watched the both of them quarrel and I wished I was Brody's real girlfriend. I fancied the way he defended me even though I knew he was only pretending.

"She's nothing." Aunt Patricia snapped and I shot her an annoyed stare. I felt like jumping on her and making a museum full with her broken bones.

"You were nothing when my uncle married you." He fired back and his mother climbed down from the stairs and walked towards us.

"We should eat, the meal's getting cold." She suggested and sat down, avoiding me.

I slowly stared at the food and dropped my spoon. "What's going on?" Brody's mom asked, noticing my discomfort.

"I haven't eaten this before and it seems strange." I answered, truthfully.

"It's an omelet, one of the expensive meals that was almost over 2,000$ for a single plate." She explained and I nodded shyly.

I had never eaten an expensive food like this before in my life. I didn't even know how to go about it. An omelet? What was that? I took a bite and that changed my life.

Before I knew it, I was done with the food and everyone looked at me like I had killed someone. "You're done with your food?" Helen asked, surprised and I nodded.

I chuckled and licked my lips. "Yeah," I answered.

***********

The pillows fell on the floor and I turned to look at him. "We can't possibly sleep on the same bed." I told him, my expression troubled.

"It wouldn't hurt if you give it a try. I can't let you sleep on the couch because of my mom. She's going to suspect us."

"Fine, I'll sleep on the floor and you can sleep on the bed."

He rolled his eyes in disbelief. "I can't believe you. We'll demarcate the bed with a pillow." He said.

"Alright but don't forget the terms," I reminded him and looked at myself in the mirror.

"That chain looks good on you." He remarked and I touched the chain that glittered and reflected brightly on the mirror.

"It's a cute chain, your mom gave it to me. She might take it back."

He laughed, his lush lower lip quivered slightly. "Surprisingly, my mother didn't make your life miserable." He said and I chuckled. I was also surprised, I was expecting her to ask me to leave her house.

I bit my lip uncertainty. "I don't know. I almost ruined the family's party."

"You should bath," he suggested, changing the topic and I frowned.

My jaw hardened stubbornly. "I'm tired and I don't bath when it's not necessary."

"If you're staying on the same bed with me, you have to bathe tonight again."

I stared at him dumbfounded, I wondered how he made rules and terms comfortably without any regret or pity. "I had my bath this morning." I reminded him.

His eyes darkened and he frowned. "You have to take a shower if you want to stay on the same bed with me." He advised.

I retorted. "I'll sleep on the floor."

He laughed with a smirk. "Do whatever you like." He murmured before heading out of the door.