enjoyebooks Chapter 9: Parents and Pressure
Chapter 9: Parents and Pressure
Diary Entry:
Date: September 11th
Time: 1:00 AM
Dear Diary,
My parents are asking questions. My dad doesn’t trust Alec, and my mom is convinced he’s some Prince Charming who’s going to whisk me away. Meanwhile, Brandon and Genevieve keep popping up everywhere, and it’s obvious they’re plotting something.
I thought pretending to date Alec would be hard, but now I’m starting to think surviving this whole family might be impossible.
-Ivy
The aftermath of their “date” spiraled quickly.
Her dad cornered her in the kitchen the next morning, arms crossed as he leaned against the counter. “You’re playing a dangerous game,” he said. His tone was sharp, almost warning. “The Braytons don’t care about people like us, Ivy.”
“I’m not playing anything,” Ivy insisted, though her voice wavered. “It’s just… casual.”
Her dad’s expression hardened. “Casual?” He let out a slow breath, shaking his head. “You’d better hope so. Because if you’re not careful, you’ll end up just like them.”
Ivy had no idea what that meant, but she didn’t get the chance to ask.
Brandon and Genevieve intensified their public appearances, making sure Ivy noticed. They laughed loudly in the breakroom, walked into meetings together, and always seemed to be right there when she turned a corner.
Brandon, of course, enjoyed baiting her.
"Careful, sweetheart," he murmured one afternoon, leaning in too close as he passed her desk. "Genny’s got claws."
Ivy clenched her jaw, willing herself to ignore him.
Her breaking point came when Alec showed up at her house, uninvited, with flowers.
For her mom.
Ivy opened the door, her mouth already forming a protest, but her mom beat her to it. "Oh, Alec! How sweet of you!"
"You didn’t tell me your boyfriend was so charming," her mom gushed, practically swooning as Alec kissed her hand and handed her the bouquet.
Ivy narrowed her eyes at him, but Alec only smirked as her dad watched from the doorway, his expression unreadable.
After dinner, Alec pulled Ivy aside in the hallway. His easy charm faded, replaced with his usual no-nonsense demeanor.
"We’re going to the gala," he said firmly.
Ivy didn’t like the sound of that. Not one bit.