Page 10 of Dark Seduction

“Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad,” I answer, trying to sound upbeat.

“Hi, sweetie,” my mom’s warm voice comes through. “How are you doing? How’s the new place?”

“Hey, kiddo,” my dad adds, his tone a bit sterner. “Everything okay over there?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” I reply, walking over to the window and looking out. “The new place is nice. Cozy. Just getting settled in.”

“How are things after... everything with Chad?” my mom asks gently.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “It’s been a whirlwind, but I’m managing. You know, taking things one day at a time.”

“Have you heard back from that company yet?” my dad asks, an edge of expectation in his voice.

“Not yet,” I reply.

“Well, get your resume out there. Don’t just sit around waiting for someone to reach out,” he instructs, a hint of his Egyptian accent surfacing.

“Dad, I’m on it,” I say, suppressing a sigh. “I’ve got a few more places in mind.”

“Good. You need to keep pushing,” he continues. “Don’t ever stop.”

“Have you met anyone new, or not ready for dating yet?” my mom asks, her voice softer, more encouraging.

I grin, unable to resist. “Actually, I did meet a nice guy the other day.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” my mom exclaims, sounding genuinely happy. “Tell us more!”

“Nothing much to tell yet, it was just an unexpected date with a nice guy I met at the auto shop.”

Nice is the last word I’d use to describe Lev. But what the hell was I supposed to say, that he ordered me to call him ‘sir’ and I happily obliged?

“Is he worthy of you?” my father asks.

“Dad, it was just dinner,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Nothing serious.”

My mom is thrilled. “I’m glad you’re getting your toe back in the water, sweetie. It’s good for you.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I say, appreciating her support. “I’m just taking things slow and seeing where they go.”

My dad grumbles something under his breath, but I know he’s just worried about me. They both want what’s best for me, even if they have different ideas about what that looks like.

My father clears his throat. “There’s still another option, you know, if you can stop being stubborn and consider it.”

I sigh, already knowing where this is headed. “Dad, it’s not going to happen.”

“It’s a good plan,” he insists. “You move back in with us, and we’ll pay your way while you look for a job. In the meantime, I can set you up with a suitable man.”

I can picture his hopeful expression through the phone. “A suitable man? Do you have someone in mind?” I cringe. I know I’m opening a can of worms.

“Ahmed. He’s a doctor, a very respected Dermatologist,” he says, sounding a bit too pleased with himself.

“Dad arranged marriages aren’t really a thing here in America,” I reply, rolling my eyes again, glad he can’t see me. “I appreciatethe thought, but I need to do this on my own.”

“It’s not an arranged marriage.” Dad’s quick to dispute me. “You meet him, you see how it goes. You ask me, it’s a win-win if we approve of him, and Ahmed’s family approves of you. That’s ninety percent of it.”

“Dalia, it’s just an introduction. You don’t have to marry him tomorrow,” my mom chimes in, trying to smooth things over.

“I know, Mom. But I need to figure things out for myself.”

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