Chapter 128
**Tom**
I slumped into the plush leather armchair, a glossy magazine open on my lap. The pages blurred before my eyes as my mind wandered. Why the hell had my family insisted on this dinner? The aroma of roasting garlic and herbs wafted from the kitchen, making my stomach growl despite my apprehension.
I shifted uneasily in the armchair, praying silently that Dad wouldn't broach the subject of Veronica. That blind date had been a rollercoaster of unexpected pleasantries, sure, but Veronica and I had mutually decided to keep things platonic.
The last thing I needed was my family's well-intentioned meddling in my love life, especially tonight. I could already picture Dad's hopeful expression, Mom's not-so-subtle hints about grandchildren, and my brother's teasing smirk. God, why couldn't we just eat dinner and talk about the weather like normal people?
I tossed the magazine aside and pulled out my phone, fingers hovering over Veronica's contact. What the hell? I might as well say hi. I typed out a quick message:
Me: Hey Veronica, how's it going? What are you up to this fine evening?
I hit send before I could overthink it. To my surprise, my phone buzzed almost immediately with her reply.
Veronica: Good, thanks! Buried in work as usual. Why? Are you already missing me? ;)"
She had a quick wit; I'd give her that.
Me: Missing you? Nah, just making sure you haven't been abducted by aliens or anything equally dramatic.
Veronica: Damn, you caught me. I'm actually on Mars right now. The Wi-Fi is terrible, but the view is out of this world."
I snorted, earning a curious look from our housekeeper as she passed through the living room. I schooled my features into neutrality until she disappeared, then fired off another message:
Me: Tell them I said hi if you see any little green men. And ask if they can zap me out of this family dinner I'm about to endure.
Veronica: Ooh, family drama? Spill the tea, Earthling!
Me: Oh, you know, just your typical family inquisition. They might ask about our blind date. Prepare for an alien invasion of nosy relatives.
Veronica: Ha! No worries there. Already told my dad you're not my type.
Me: Funny, I thought you were exactly my type. Intelligent, witty, and clearly immune to my charms. What's not to like?
Veronica: Oh, Thomas. Sometimes it's better to lie. Keeps things... interesting.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her cryptic response. Before I could craft a suitably witty comeback, another message popped up.
Veronica: How about we grab coffee sometime? You know, as friends. I promise not to bring any little green men along.
I grinned, my earlier anxiety about the family dinner momentarily forgotten.
Me: Coffee sounds great. I'll tell my dad you're not my type either. We can be each other's alien alibis.
Veronica: Perfect. It's a date—I mean, a non-date—a friendly caffeine consumption event between two definitely not interested parties.
I snorted, shaking my head at her antics. This woman was something else.
Me: Exactly. Just two strangers sipping overpriced lattes, discussing the weather, and not flirting.
Veronica: Ha! You're on. I'll send you the details soon. Prepare for the most mundane, definitely-not-a-date coffee meet-up of your life.
Me: Can't wait. I'll bring my best small talk and a weather app for reference.
I pocketed my phone, grinning like an idiot. Maybe this whole blind date thing wasn't so bad after all. At least I'd made a new friend who could match my sarcasm beat for beat.
My momentary good mood evaporated as Leonardo sauntered into the room, plopping in the chair across from me. My younger brother had a knack for ruining perfect moments of peace.
"So, big bro," he drawled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "When will you stop playing professor and join the family business as CEO?"
I groaned inwardly. Here we go again. "Leo, we've been over this. I'm not interested right now. I need time to think about it."
"Think about it?" He scoffed, leaning forward. "What's there to think about? You've got a golden ticket to the top, and you're hesitating?"
"It's not that simple. I've got my own career, my own life. I can't just drop everything because Dad wants me to."
"Oh, come on!" Leo threw his hands up dramatically. "At least start attending the meetings. You've got shares in the company, for Christ's sake. You need to show your face once in a while."
I sighed, knowing he had a point. As much as I wanted to avoid the family business drama, I couldn't ignore my responsibilities forever. "Alright, fine. I'll attend the meetings. Are you happy now?"
"Ecstatic. I'll send you the details. Trust me, bro, you won't regret it."
"I already do," I muttered under my breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," I said, plastering on a fake smile. "Just excited about all those thrilling board meetings in my future."
Leo rolled his eyes. "Your sarcasm is showing."
"Good, I'd hate for it to go unnoticed."
Just then, my phone buzzed. I glanced down to see a message from Sara.
Sara: Hey, professor, where are you? Are you still at your parents' place? Give me a call when you're free.
I felt a warmth spread through my chest, momentarily forgetting about the family drama I'd just agreed to dive into. Sara had a way of brightening even my gloomiest moods.
Leo noticed my reaction. "Ooh, who's that? Got a hot date?"
I quickly pocketed my phone. "None of your business."
He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Come on, spill! Is it that blind date Dad set you up with? What was her name... Veronica?"
"No, it's not Veronica," I said evenly. "And I told you, it's none of your business."
"Fine, keep your secrets," Leo pouted. "But just remember, I have my ways of finding out."
"What are you gonna do, hack my phone?"
"Maybe," he grinned wickedly. "Or maybe I'll just ask Dad. He seems to know everything about your love life these days."
"Please don't. The last thing I need is Dad playing matchmaker again."
Leo chuckled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Relax, bro. I'm just messing with you. But seriously, whoever she is, she must be something special to get you all hot and bothered like that."
If only he knew. Images of Sara flashed through my mind - her soft skin, her passionate kisses, the way she moaned my name. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, trying to banish the thoughts before they became too obvious.
"Tom? You still with us?"
I blinked, snapping back to reality. "Yeah, sorry. Just... thinking about work stuff."
"Sure you were," he smirked. "Must be some pretty exciting 'work stuff' to make you blush like that."
I cleared my throat, desperate to change the subject. "So, about those meetings. When's the next one?"
Leo's eyes lit up, clearly pleased that I was showing interest. "There's one next week. Tuesday at 2 PM. Can you tear yourself away from your work stuff long enough to attend?"
"I'll be there. Now, can we please talk about something else?"
"Fine, fine," Leo conceded. "But don't think this conversation is over. I want details about this mystery woman of yours."
"In your dreams, Leo," I retorted. "In your dreams."
As Leo detailed the meeting agenda, my mind wandered back to Sara.
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