Page 81 of Grumpy Bossy Billionaire Enemy

We walked side by side as we entered her mansion. The staff took us poolside, where she held a magazine up to her face. Mother, a sensitive woman, already suspected that we were putting her in some kind of investigative seat.

“My sons and I are in the same room,” Mother said, folding the magazine. “The last time I saw you together, you were here to gang up on me.”

Troy started, "We just wanted to talk to you about some concerns we have."

"It's about Robin, Mom," I cut Troy off, knowing there was no reason to beat around the bush. "What's going on between you and Robin?"

"Nothing!" she said firmly. "Anything Robin and I are doing is none of your business."

Mother looked down at the magazine now in her lap. For the first time in forever, I saw her without a defense.She looked at Troy and me simultaneously.

"I didn't mean for you to find out this way," Mother said, and Troy turned to me.

She continued, "We just thought it wasn't the right time."

"How old do you think we are? Seventeen?" I said.

"That's exactly why we didn't want to tell you yet," Mother replied. "We thought it would be better after Troy's wedding."

"We?" I asked. "Does that mean that you are serious about Robin?"

Mother shrugged like we had spent a lot of time meddling in her business. She took the magazine from her lap and began to scan it.But Troy and I wouldn't leave, so we looked up, and she angrily closed her magazine. "What do you want from me?"

“You didn’t answer Henry’s question,” Troy smirked. “Are you serious with Robin?”

“Yes,” she responded. “I think I might marry Robin in a few months.”

Troy looked disappointed and angry. But Mother continued, "I let you marry whoever you want; why won't you let me marry whoever I want."

"You tried all you could to destroy my relationship with Camille; now you want to marry our father's closest associate?" Troy said. Maybe he was taking this out of hand, but his concerns were valid.

No one thought I’d ever see Mother love a man who wasn’t my father. Troy had been closer to Father than any of us, and he probably felt Robin Waters was replacing Dad. A wedding between Mom and her new boyfriend would be chaotic. It meant that Robin would replace our late father and share a bed with Mother – the same bedroom my parents cherished while Dad was alive.

"I tried to do what is best for you, Troy. I always tried to do what is best for both of you. For once, let me do what is best for me?"

Troy ran his hand through his hair. He was breathing faster now, and he paced around the pool to catch his breath.

“I planned to tell you about Robin at the family dinner this weekend, but it seems that the cat has been let out of the bag,” Mother admitted. “Now, can you allow me to go back to what I was doing?”

Mom continued, “I’ve been by myself since your father’s death. Now, I think I’m in love with someone who can make me happy again.”

“How long has this been going on?” Troy asked. “How long have you been seeing Robin?”

“Three years,” Mother replied. “It was on and off, but we thought we should take things seriously by now.”

My mouth dropped open, and the same with Troy. Mother had been seeing another man under this roof, and we had had no clue. There was nothing more shocking; and now that Mother looked at our faces, we could see the smirk on her lips.

"You're probably wondering how I was able to pull it off. Three years and none of you had a clue. It has to show that I am your mother."

I always knew she was a smart woman, but I never knew she was so smart that she would keep a relationship a secret for three years.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” I asked, still unable to express my shock.

“I knew you would react this way,” she replied. “I knew you loved your father so much that you wouldn’t entertain the idea that someone could replace him.”

Troy clenched his fist and returned to pacing around the pool. "Is there anything else you’d like to say?" Mother asked, but Troy and I were too dumbfounded to reply.

Of course, there was a lot to discuss. I still wanted to ask her to stop her plan for Maymont Park.I wanted to tell her that place meant the world to every person who grew up in Richmond.I nudged Troy when he came close. “Come on, let’s go.”

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