I grinned.
“She really is nice.I like her a lot.I'd better give Mom a heads up so I don’t get a one-sided call in the future, too.”
I turned to leave, and he caught me around the waist to give me a quick hug.
“I’m glad it went well.”
“Pfft.You’re just glad I didn’t take the check and run.”
“That too.”
Kaya showedup with three people who helped carry in the food she’d spent the afternoon preparing.Mom stood back and watched her efficiently delegate the table setup, then kick everyone out.
Konni’s mom turned to my mom, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
“I’m Kaya, Konni’s mom.”
“I’m Abbye, Sophia’s mom.”
“Thank you for raising such a beautiful girl.She’s absolutely perfect.I’d hug you, but I’m afraid of hurting your arm.What happened?”
The question opened the conversation I’d been too afraid to start earlier.It stretched through the meal and continued while Konni and I started the cleanup.We chimed in occasionally from the kitchen as Mom filled Kaya in.
My mom, the queen of keeping everyone out and never asking for help, spilled it all.Dad’s continued attempts to push me to marry Hestian, the trouble at Steele Corp, the pattern to her job losses, and our suspicion that Hestian was behind it even though we had no proof yet.
“I’m so sorry for everything you’ve gone through.You don’t have to deal with it alone anymore.”She looked at Konni.“Why haven’t you announced that Sophia is your mate?It would give them more protection.”
“I asked him not to,” I said.“I wasn’t ready.”
“Are you now?”his mom asked.“We could throw a welcome banquet for my future daughter-in-law.”
Konni’s mom was the complete opposite of what I’d expected.She was so ready to welcome me that I hated not giving her the answer she wanted.
Konni saw my hesitation and set a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“Mom, Sophia just started at Steele and wants her accomplishments to stand on their own.She wants to prove she earned her position, not that it was handed to her.”
Kaya’s gaze filled with understanding even as she deflated a little.“And not just your place at Steele Corp, right?”
I nodded because she wasn’t wrong.
“I hate that you have to struggle so much just to prove the haters wrong…as if their opinions actually matter.”She huffed angrily.
“They don’t,” I promised her.“I just need a little more time to get used to being someone’s mate and to figure out what it means for me.”
Konni wrapped his arms around me in silent support.He understood I was struggling to meet him halfway.And I wanted to, as scary as it was.Being with him felt more right with each day.
“I just agreed we could unofficially date this week,” I added.
Mom shook her head at me.“Look at what’s already happened, though.Someone used your account to send emails.Reporters surrounded you outside of Steele.News articles with pictures of you from what was clearly another setup.I think the targeting is only going to get worse, Sophia.”
His Mom’s phone chimed, and I watched her grab it in a panic.Her gaze skimmed the screen as her expression darkened.
Her phone started to ring, and she shot Konni an angry look.“This is how a mate reacts.Immediately.”
She answered her call, and I glanced back at Konni.
He gave me a quick peck on the lips.“I might need you to protect me.”
