What does your dad do for a living?

TEN

"What? Are you serious? If you don't tell her, I'll go tell her myself"

Justin grabbed her and yanked her back to him.

"You wouldn't do that," he said with an expression she couldn't read. "She's already here so you can't kick her out. Be reasonable, please"

"I'm being unreasonable? " she broke free from him.

"Calm the fuck down, Nena.Try to go out there and be nice.That's my mother we are talking about here." he concluded and walked out of the room.

Marissa stood with her mouth slightly opened for some seconds and decided to be calm just as Justin had said even though she was fuming inside.

She drew some yoga pants over her legs and tied her hair in a ponytail before going back to the living room to find Karen already seated with her legs crossed.

"Why is this place so messy Marissa?" Karen asked in an irritated tone.

"I'll clean up now" Marissa responded quietly. Justin bent down to help her.

"Juan Miguel," Karen called, "You do not have to do that,"

"Its fine Mom," he shrugged. "Its our mess"

"Anyways," Karen was clearing her throat. "There is a family dinner tomorrow evening. I hope you haven't forgotten."

Justin ran his hand over his head. "I almost forgot. Thanks for the subtle reminder. Marissa and I would be there tomorrow. She can bring her parents right?"

Parents? Marissa inwardly thought. Hell no. If she was to bring anyone, it would be her Dad alone. And yeah, Anna his girlfriend too.

At that moment, Justin's phone started ringing.

"Its a business call. Please excuse me guys, " he said and exited the room.

Uh-oh. Being left all alone with Karen. Time to escape.

"Marissa? " Karen's voice stopped her before she could run away. "Justin told me your Mom and Dad do not live together. Are they divorced? "

"Yes, " she responded avoiding eye contact.

"So who are you going to invite then? "

"My dad and his girlfriend"

"Isn't she about your age? "

"She is like eight years older than me and--"

"Pathetic. What does your dad do for a living?" she cut in quickly before she could give an answer.

"Well my dad is--"

"Don't answer that, " Karen cut again and sighed. "I'm sure its nothing important since you're not so well off yourself, just living off my son's money." She gave a condescending smile.

"With all due respect, I am certainly not with Justin for his money" she told her, getting agitated.

"A gold digger never says they are," she smirked. "Anyways, the only reason I let you be with my son is the fact that he is the happiest I've ever seen him. And also, the longest relationship I've seen him have. But who knows, how long for?"

"Let me be with your son?" Marissa echoed and chuckled. "I'm sorry to say but you have zero rights over who he decides to spend the rest of his life with. He is an adult so don't treat him like you're still breastfeeding him"

Karen didn't expect the comeback.

"You have such a provocative mouth Marissa. Don't try to cross me or else your relationship will be history before you know it."

Was she threatening her?

"I'm sorry but are you threatening me?" Marissa asked, just to be sure.

"Don't invite them,"

"What? "

"Don't embarrass me by bringing your dad and his joke of a partner.And, I don't like you very much but I love my son more than anything in the world. So as long as you don't hurt him and stand in my way, we won't have any problems." she concluded, her smile, sardonic.

This woman annoyed the shit out of Marissa. But what could she do? The last thing she wanted was any drama.

>>>>>

It looked like Karen was staring daggers at Marissa across the table. Somehow, she was displeased that Chris and Anna were present at the party even though Marissa was warned not to invite them.

She actually had not. But before she knew it, Justin had called Chris himself and texted him the venue of where the party was to be held.

It wasn't such a large dinner party. Of course, Rachel and Lexi were present.Rachel's husband didn't work within the city so he was unavailable.

Few of Karen's late husband's relatives were there as well. Ivy looked like she wanted to bite everybody's head off.

Marissa tried her possible best to avoid Karen's death stares.

She was thankful she had Justin by her side. He would occasionally squeeze her knees under the table gently or whisper things in her ears that made her laugh.

Rachel and Lexi wouldn't stop making jokes that made everybody crack up. Chris and Anna seemed to blend in too which made Marissa very happy.

At one point, Marissa got a call from work and had to excuse herself. Just seconds after the call, she saw Karen walking towards her, only just few inches away.

Where was the nearest exit?

She wasn't in luck. There was none.

Was she coming over to scold her because her dad and his girlfriend were there? Well,she had to prepare mentally to handle whatever was to come. And she was certainly not going to accept Karen hurling insults at her family.

"Justin invited them here," she found herself speaking the moment Karen got close enough."And guess what? I'm not embarrassed by them and I don't really care if you are. They are full grown adults and I also love them very much.They're my family."

Karen was silent for a few seconds and then she smiled widely, her dimples visible in her cheeks.

"Relax Marissa, I didn't come here for that," she responded in a cool tone.

"Really? Why then?" Marissa asked with curious filled eyes. Then she noticed a wrapped gift in the hands of Karen.

"I actually thought about you and got you a gift you would love" Karen was saying with an unreadable expression.

A gift? Just out of the blue? Marissa didn't know what the hell was happening.