My panic vanished, and I stared at Konni, trying to process what he was implying.
As far as I knew, Mom and Dad hadn’t been in contact for a long time before I came home.Had my dad tried offering up my mom before me?I wouldn’t put it past him.Mom definitely met Hestian's intelligence requirement—she’d run her own company.But maybe that was the problem.She was too smart.She’d never put herself in the position to be an unloved babymama again, which was why her employment targeting made sense.Had they been waiting to bring Mom low before asking her?Had my return thrown a wrench in their plans, causing them to change their target to me?
Why us, though?There had to be easier targets.
Yet, now that Konni had planted the seed, I couldn’t deny that Mom’s employment streak did quietly fit the profile of someone being targeted.
“I don’t know,” I said as my thoughts raced.“It just all seems like a lot.Wouldn’t there be easier ways for my dad to gain investments?Dinners.Gifts.Straight up cash bribes?”
“Hestian has money.He doesn’t want dinners or gifts.He wants an heir he can groom to take over before he dies, and considering his age, time’s running out.While pulling a woman off the streets might be easier, he’s looking for proven intelligence and a woman willing to sign a prenup.What proven, intelligent woman would sign up for that?”
A desperate one.
I imagined Mom’s reaction to our theory and knew she would be relieved and angry if she found out that her job losses weren’t her fault.
“If you meet with my mom, what will you say to her?”
“I’ll share what’s happened here, the conversation with your dad, your mention of her employment history, and ask if she can reach out to previous coworkers to verify all the reasons she lost her jobs.”
That sounded reasonable as a CEO looking for proof.
“Okay.I’ll ask if she’s up for company tonight.If she agrees, I’ll send you the address.We won’t be leaving or arriving together.”
“Understood.”
The gold in his eyes intensified, and I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake by inviting him home.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
“You’re making me nervous,”Mom said after watching me peek out the window for the umpteenth time.
“Well, I’m nervous that the CEO of Steele Corp is coming to my house.I should have said no.”I paced away from the door.
“No, you shouldn’t have.He publicly backed you, gave you a better position, and offered to bring dinner so we wouldn’t be inconvenienced.He’s being nice, Sophia.Nice is good.”
“He’s being nice because he wants your help.”I purposely did not think about what else I knew he wanted.
“Good, because now I want his too.If everything you said is true…” She shook her head, her anger visible.Then her expression softened.“Are you worried about your dad?”
“Ha!Not remotely.”
“Then what’s going on?”
I was freaking out that the rich dragon shifter who wanted me as his mate was going to say something about our almost one-night stand to my mom.
“I think I’ve been thrown too many curveballs by life, and I’m stressed out.”
“Understandable.Try some deep breathing.”
I’d just let out a long exhale when the doorbell rang.
“Keep breathing,” Mom said.“I’m answering that so you don’t scare him away.”
As if I could.I’d beentrying.
Ignoring her orders, I followed her to the door and watched her open it.Konni stood outside, holding a large paper bag and a bouquet.
Flowers?What was he thinking?
