Victoria held James's hand and led him further into her home, her body simmering with heated anticipation for what was about to come. Tonight felt different, charged with possibility. She had spent weeks building up to this moment, and every nerve in her body was alive with expectation.
Her mind raced with plans as she guided James through the entryway. She would offer him something to drink, maybe some wine to help him relax. They could sit on the couch, close together, and she could slowly work her magic. The memory of that night at the retreat fueled her confidence. She knew exactly how to push his buttons, how to break through that careful control he maintained.
However when she turned to face front, she came to meet the presence of her parents seated casually on her couch in the living room.
What the hell?
Talk about a mood killer.
Victoria felt her entire body go rigid, her heated anticipation turning to ice in her veins. Of all the nights, of all the possible moments for them to show up unannounced, they had chosen this one. The universe clearly had a twisted sense of humor.
Victoria felt her mood turn sour as her mom approached with a bright smile and pulled her into an enthusiastic hug. The familiar scent of her mother's perfume filled her nostrils, normally a comforting smell that now felt suffocating.
Victoria didn't return the embrace with her usual warmth. Instead, she stood stiffly in her mother's arms, her entire body radiating frustration. She skipped greetings entirely and asked tersely, "What are you doing here?"
Her mother pulled back, still smiling but with a hint of confusion at Victoria's cold reception. "For the planned family gathering, sweetheart. We discussed this weeks ago, remember?"
Victoria felt her stomach drop. The family gathering. She had completely forgotten, wrapped up in the spell of James and their developing relationship. The realization that she had been so distracted by a man that she had forgotten family obligations made her even more irritated.
Still annoyed at them spoiling her plans, she questioned sharply, "Why didn't you call before coming to my home?"
Her father Fabian, looking younger despite his age with sharp eyes that clearly ran in the family, responded this time. "I gave you several calls, Victoria, but you answered none. So we had to let ourselves in, as it seemed you were busy."
Victoria whipped her phone from her purse with jerky movements, her hands trembling slightly with suppressed anger and frustration. Sure enough, twelve missed calls showed on the screen, all from her father's number.
She cursed under her breath, remembering how her phone had rung during the movie but she had silenced it to enjoy her time with James uninterrupted. She had been so focused on her plans to seduce him that she had ignored everything else, including her family.
The irony was not lost on her. Her careful plotting had been derailed by her own single minded focus.
She shoved her phone back into her purse with more force than necessary, then sighed heavily. "You have to leave," she announced without preamble.
Both parents looked taken aback by her bluntness.
"You can go stay at one of my apartments nearby," Victoria continued, her tone brooking no argument. "But you cannot stay here tonight."
Her mother Samantha was pleasantly surprised, though not necessarily in a good way. This was the first time her daughter was acting in such a manner, prioritizing something over family time. "You want us to leave?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine shock.
Victoria nodded without hesitation, her jaw set with determination. "Yes, yes, please go right now."
The father Fabian was equally surprised. He exchanged meaningful looks with his wife, the kind of silent communication that came with decades of marriage. "Honey," he said to his wife, though his eyes remained on Victoria, "I think she is serious."
"Yes, I am dead serious!" Victoria snapped, her patience wearing thin. "Both of you leave now!"
The pent up sexual desire that had been building all evening was now transforming into pure frustration and anger. She had been so close to finally bridging the physical gap with James, so close to getting what she had been craving for months. Her parents' untimely arrival felt like cosmic interference with her carefully laid plans.
James, who had stood quietly behind her the whole time observing the family drama unfold, finally made his presence known. He didn't know how to act in the presence of Victoria's family. This was his first time meeting them, and the circumstances were far from ideal.
"Uh, good evening sir and ma'am," he said politely, his voice carrying that respectful tone he used in professional settings. "Sorry to bother your family time. I should be the one to leave."
He looked at Victoria, expecting her to agree that his departure would be the most appropriate solution. Instead, she shook her head in defiance, her grip on his hand tightening possessively.
She rubbed her forehead with her free hand, feeling a headache coming on from the sheer frustration of the situation. "No, not you James. You're staying. They are leaving. Isn't that right?"
Victoria gave her parents an expectant look, but was met with surprised gazes instead of compliance. Her parents had never seen her behave this way, choosing anyone over family, especially not a man.
"Oh, is this the James?" her father asked, suddenly very much interested, his earlier concern about leaving forgotten. "That James with the interpersonal complexities at work?"
Even her mother was recounting memories, her face lighting up with recognition. "The last time you visited us at home, you mentioned..." she began, clearly settling in for a longer conversation.
They didn't look like they were ready to leave anytime soon. If anything, they seemed more determined to stay now that they had discovered the identity of Victoria's mysterious companion.
Victoria felt her anger soar to new heights. The combination of sexual frustration, embarrassment, and pure irritation was creating a perfect storm of emotion. "God, go already! Why are you asking questions?"
Her voice carried that commanding tone that had scared countless employees into immediate submission over the years. It was the voice of Victoria Sharp, CEO, the woman who brooked no nonsense and expected instant obedience.
But these were her parents, and they had been dealing with Victoria's fierce personality since she was a child.
Her mother closed her mouth as if in deep thought, completely unfazed by her daughter's outburst. After a moment of consideration, she supplied with growing certainty, "I think he is the James," directing her comment to her husband while completely ignoring Victoria's barely contained fury.
The casual dismissal of her anger, the same anger that could clear boardrooms and end careers, only fueled Victoria's frustration further. Her parents were treating this like an amusing family moment rather than recognizing the urgency of her request for them to leave.