Page 49 of Care: Part 1
"Um…”
Avelina was finally able to get a good look at her without the coat covering her face. She was beautiful even with her brown hair resting just past her shoulders, eyes the color of a dull pencil, and the smallest wrinkles that no one would notice unless looking at them too hard. The woman made it all look breathtaking.
"What are you. . . The cook, or the maid?" The woman let out, followed by a chuckle.
Avelina could not help but frown. She could never seem to comprehend why someone would be so rude only to someone they have barely met. It was perplexing.
"Avelina. May I so kindly ask who you are? Adrik didn't mention anyone stopping by," Avelina smiled.
"Of course, Adrik didn't think to mention his own mother," she let out.
Avelina's brows had risen as she processed the woman's words. She never anticipated meeting his mother, especially under such awkward circumstances. The woman eyed Avelina's clothes with judgmental eyes. Avelina's eyes wandered down to her own attire as she suddenly began to wish she could time travel and put on something different.
"Oh, mother, right," Avelina whispered out.
She ran a hand through her hair, trying to lay back the flyways.
Everything was suddenly going too fast; one minute, she was having sex with Adrik, and the next, she is meeting his mother.
Then, the door opened and practically bombarded Avelina. Adrik quickly latched onto her before she had fallen from the impact of the door.
"Son," The woman let out in Russian as she almost pushed Avelina from Adrik's grip and wrapped her arms around him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked her.
She immediately pulled away as if his words themselves had formed some sort of sword and sliced her cold heart. "I think it's about time you send me more money, don't you think?”
Adrik looked over at Avelina, and despite how unnoticeably he appeared angry, Avelina knew he was pissed.
"We're having a private conversation. Can you please send your help elsewhere?"
"My help?" He questioned.
"Yes, her—your employee or whatever the hell she is. I forgot how retarded you are sometimes," the woman stated before whispering the last part to herself, which completely upset Avelina.
"Excuse you. Don't speak to Adrik like that. He's a grown adult, and you came to his home. You should show a little more respect, mother or not," Avelina told her behind narrowed eyes.
"Hmm, maybe I was wrong. Maybe you're not the help. Don't tell me that my son managed to get a girlfriend. No one with a brain would ever want him. Are you in it for money, fame?" The woman asked.
"You can leave. I will see to an increase in your payment tomorrow. Thank you for your time, mother," Adrik stated before opening the door.
The mother plastered a smile on her face as she strode toward the door.
"Good. Nice meeting you, Angelina," she laughed out just as
Adrik slammed the door behind her.
Avelina noticed his balled-up fists and immediately grabbed hold of his hands. She knew he was going to lash out and understood the complete normalcy of it.
"I don't understand. Why are you paying her when she's a despicable human being?" Avelina asked, her brows pulling together.
"There was a time when she would take me to therapy to talk through my behavioral concerns as a kid. She spent a lot of her time making these cards to help me express my emotions, so I could feel like I belonged. One day, she gave up. I guess she got tired of putting band-aids over the broken skin and wiping away all of my tears. She got tired of lying to me about how I was no different from the rest of the kids my age. She introduced herself to a new way of life after my sister had gone. I love her, and I love my sister. I would do anything in the world for the people I love. It never mattered to me whether or not they loved me back.”
She placed her head on his chest and listened to the sound of his heartbeat. "I want to hear your story, Adrik. I want to hear everything about you. Then, after you tell me everything, I'm going to promise you that I will never get tired of someone as amazing as you.”
