Page 49 of The Off-limits Grump Next Door
“Sir?”
“I’m sure I did not stutter, Ms. Ryan.”
“Um… relevance, clarity, timeliness…”
“Timeliness. That’s what I wanted to hear.” His eyes bored into mine. “You have one week, Ms. Ryan. One. Week. Am I understood?”
“Crystal, sir.”
“Good. I’ll see you next week.”
With that, he strode off. I stood there, feeling the panic welling up inside me, making it hard to breathe. I wanted to let out a long exhale, but my lungs felt tight and constricted. Instead, I turned on autopilot and walked back to the car.
Tina’s worried gaze met mine as I slid into the seat. “Kendra, what happened?”
I shook my head, a sob building in my chest. Before I knew it, Tina had wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close.
“Let it out, girl,” she whispered.
I crumbled, tears spilling over as the weight of Thompson’s ultimatum crushed me. All the frustration, fear, and guilt poured out in broken sobs, Tina’s quiet reassurances washing over me like a balm.
***
Later that evening...
Antonio’s sleek black sports car wound its way up the driveway of the Michaelson estate, the grandeur of the sprawling mansion coming into view. My jaw dropped as I took in the sight.
The setting sun bathed the estate in a warm, golden glow, highlighting the majestic turrets and manicured lawns that seemed to stretch endlessly.
“Wow,” I breathed, turning to Antonio, eyes wide. “Your family owns acastle, and yet you chose to live in—I can’t imagine why?”
He chuckled softly as the gates swung open. “Welcome to my childhood home.”
As we stepped out of the car, a butler greeted us, taking my bag. A slender woman, dressed elegantly in a champagne silk gown, emerged from the entrance, her smile warm and welcoming.
“You must be Kendra. Darling, it’s lovely to finally meet you,” she said, pulling me into a light embrace. “I’m Vivian.”
“Lovely to meet you, ma’am. Your home is beautiful.”
George Michaelson, Antonio’s father, approached next, his eyes twinkling with humor. “You’re even more beautiful than Antonio described,” he said, kissing my hand gently.
I blushed as Antonio shifted uncomfortably, a shy grin on his face. As we entered the living room, Damon, Antonio’s brother, bounded over grinning. Hi Kendra! I’m Damon. “We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”
I soon found myself surrounded by laughter and light-hearted conversation. The opulence of the place was overwhelming, but Antonio’s family made me feel like I belonged, welcoming me with open arms.
But beneath the warmth and smiles, my heart tightened with guilt. If they knew the real reason I was here...would they still smile at me like this?
"So, Kendra, Antonio's never brought a woman home before," Damon teased, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as Antonio shot him a warning glare. “You must have really made an impression.”
"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Vivian leaned in with a knowing smile. "From what I hear, he’s never even had a girlfriend. Isn’t that right, honey?"
“Absolutely,” George chimed in, chuckling.
Antonio's face flushed crimson. “What is this, some kind of intervention?” he muttered, feigning exasperation as his family laughed.
Vivian turned to one of the staff. "Please take Kendra’s bag upstairs," she instructed gently. Then, with a warm smile, she gestured toward the stairs. "Let’s get you settled in and freshened up before dinner."
