Game of pretense

Debbi walked in gracefully alongside her family into Damien's house, they met Damien's parents in the dining room and they joined them.

Their parents exchanged pleasantries, while Debbi just looked around, the place was just so fascinating.

Just then Damien popped up, he was in a black shirt which had the first few buttons of it unbuttoned and a pair of black leather jeans, he took a seat beside his mother opposite Debbi

Debbi could feel Damien's gaze on her but she tried to maintain her straight face, she did not want to show a sign of fear, she lifted her face and her eyes connected with Damien, they held each other's gaze for quite a long time before Mrs Parker broke the silence

"Enjoy your meal everyone," she said the instant the staff had finished dishing their food for them.

They all ate in silence, every one of them enjoying their meal. "Debbi" Mrs Parker uttered, chewing a piece of meat

Debbi looked up to gaze at her and she (Mrs Parker smiled), "about what we were discussing during the graduation ceremony, the proposal I made" Mrs Parker asked

"What proposal?" Lilian was quick to interject "I asked Debbi to work with Damien in the family company and if things work out between them, they would get married" Mrs Parker responded

Lilian took a glance at her daughter, who had no expression on her face, Lilian's face landed on Mrs Parker before she smiled at her

"Debbi decides to make, anything she wants to do is her wish" Lilian replied, she kind of felt happy about Mrs Parker's suggestion but she did not want to force Debbi into doing anything

The choice was Debbi's to make and the ball was in her court, so whatever she wanted to do, as long as it does not harm anyone, she would support her.

"Mrs Parker, I appreciate you thinking of me working in your family company but my dreams and what I want to become can not be achieved in the states, which means I can not work with your son, my friend at the family company but I have other plans laid out for myself" Debbi replied

"Are you declining my request? Are you rejecting my offer?" Mrs Parker sounded a little bit offended

"No mother" Debbi was quick to answer "it not like that mother, like who would not like to work with the famous Parker corporation, it is really a big organization that one could dream of working with, and also I have my best friend who I have to support there but I can not, my hands are tied, I have set up my goal and I must achieve it" Debbi stated

Mrs Parker's face died down, her husband held her hand firm reassuring her that with or without Debbi the company was still going to continue growing.

Mrs Parker composed herself before looking up "what about the second suggestion, do not tell me you are going to reject my second proposal!" Mrs Parker said, giggling at her statement

Debbi and Damien simultaneously gazed at each other for quite a long time before Debbi tore her gaze off, her gaze then rested on her brothers, they had a confused look on their faces, they were sure going to question her about this whole drama

"Can I have a word with Damien?" Debbi asked, getting up from her seat, Damien grudgingly got up as well and followed Debbi towards the garden

"What was all that? Why did you not tell your mom about us fighting and now she is matchmaking us" Debbi was the first to fire when they were out of earshot "all what? Do you know that you a such a hypocrite?" Damien asked

"Excuse me?" Debbi asked, anger flushing her features "you are criticizing me for not telling my mom about us fighting but your mom is also unaware" his statement made her speechless

Debbi opened her mouth, yet she could not form any word, she stared at Damien helplessly, she agreed, he was saying the truth

"Damien, no one can beat me in this game of pretence" Debbi warned, her face had a menacing smile on it

"Really?" He cocked an eyebrow "let us see who gets tired first" he added "Damien just stop it, tell your mom that we are no longer on talking terms" it was more of an order than a plea "after you milady, I would happily tell my mom that we are not on good terms anymore after you explain to your mom" Damien stated

"You are playing with fire Damien, I am warning you, I am the best in the game of pretence" Debbi warned and walked past him to the dining room

Debbi plastered a fake smile on her face while taking her seat, Damien followed behind her and they both sat in silence

"What were you guys discussing?" Mrs Parker asked out of curiosity causing her husband to roll his eyes at her but she did not mind

"Mother, I think I like the second proposal of us getting married, we have been best friends since when we were five and we know each other very well, we would make her a great pair, right Damien?" Debbi threw her question at Damien. Everyone's gaze landed on Damien and Damien was the only one who got to see the evil smirk she had on her face

Damien froze, he was beyond shocked, his grip on his spoon tightened as he glared at Debbi, she was smiling sheepishly now that everyone's gaze has left him, indeed she was a good actress

"Anything that makes Debbi makes me happy as well" Damien lied through his teeth, his mother giggled, his father had a smiling face while Debbi's mom had a broad smile.

The only persons who understood what was happening were Trevor and Franklin, they understood that this was a game of pretence, they were both pretending just to deceive their parents but how long could they keep up with this act?

A/N: new book alert! Coming soon 🔜 "A Loveless Marriage: The Mysterious Man". Watch out for the new book!