Downgrading Miss CEO novel Chapter 8

My mom turned around and made her way back into the kitchen. Ava tried to follow her to give me and this Andrew some time alone, but I grabbed her by the arm to prevent that. "I need to make a quick business call. Ava, would you mind keeping our guest some company while I'm gone?" I quickly made my way to my old room, to escape the awkwardness that was going on downstairs.

However, I did have to make a quick call to Alison, about setting up a meeting first thing tomorrow. After that, I took a deep breath and made my way back to the kitchen, where I knew my mother was anticipating hearing what I thought of the guy she picked out for me. While on my way to my mom, I caught a glance of Ava and Andrew laughing together in the living room. They were comfortably seated on one of the couches.

I stopped in my tracks to watch them a little longer. I knew my sister better than anyone else and I could recognize her real, genuine smile from miles away. A smile she hasn't smiled ever since the accident with Chris happened. I then focused on Andrew, he too seemed to smile a genuine smile, definitely different from the one he gave me in the hallway. Was he too forced by his mom?

After concluding Ava and Andrew would make a good couple, I continued my way to the kitchen where my mom was putting together an Italian salad. The kitchen fits exactly with the rest of the house, big and rustic. It was the house and kitchen I grew up in. If I tried hard enough, I could still catch a glimpse of the scent of fresh-baked cookies mom used to bake for us every Wednesday afternoon.

"Hey mom," I said before pressing a kiss to my mother's cheek. I moved over to the sink and started washing my hands. "Need some help?"

"Lucy! Why aren't you with Andrew? Don't you like him?" My mom started firing questions at me. All I did to answer her questions was taking her by the hand and led her to the living area where Andrew and Ava were still chatting and laughing with each other. "Andrew is a perfectly fine man, mom, just not for me. I'll be fine, I'll find someone."

"I'll try to talk to your father and grandfather to let you off the hook sweetie, I know this isn't how you imagined getting settled."

And right at that moment, my father made himself present. How much would he have heard? Judging by the look on his face, he heard more than enough. "Don't even bother. I won't change my mind. Things need to be done to save the company."