The next morning, Evie and Tommy discussed the disastrous meeting with Allison. Tommy tried to reassure Evie that his mother would come around, insisting that her negative reaction was because of the shock of the engagement. Evie wasn't quite convinced as she paced in the kitchen.
"Maybe if we had a more intimate meeting, things would have gone differently?" Evie bit into her thumbnail, looking distressed.
Tommy leaned against the counter, watching her with humour in his gaze.
"Or, the way I dressed threw her off!" She raised her hands in defeat, and Tommy smiled softly at her.
Walking slowly towards her, he held her by the waist and pulled her into him. Evie melted immediately against him, and he buried his face in the delicate crook of her neck, inhaling her vanilla scent.
"Baby," Tommy murmured into her skin, the warmth of his breath making her skin pebble out in goosebumps.
"Mm-hmm." She breathed out sultrily, the mood in the kitchen veering sharply from anxious into something more sensual. Tommy reached down to cup her *ss, the soft weight perfectly moldable in his hands.
Their lips were about to meet in a kiss when the loud ringtone of Tommy's phone blared out. The intimate moment was instantly shattered.
"Sh*t, who's calling so early?" Tommy cursed, pulling away reluctantly to check the phone. He picked it up from the counter, and the caller ID made his brows raise.Evie noticed his reaction.
"Who is it?" She mouthed.Tommy pointed the screen in her direction.
It was his mum calling. He took a deep breath and answered the call with a teasing tone.
"Hello, Mum. Calling to apologize?"
Whatever response she gave made him wince and pull the phone away from his ear.
Evie was watching the interaction with rapt attention. She motioned for him to put it on speaker, but he waved her off.
"Right, that makes sense. I'll let her know." He winked at Evie.
The call ended after a few more seconds, and he smiled hugely at Evie.
"Guess who has a meeting with her future mother-in-law in a couple of hours?" Tommy chuckled at Evie's bewildered face.
"Wha...what do you mean?" Evie stuttered, unable to hide her shock. "Did she really say she wants to see me? Soon?"
"Yeah, she did. She said the two of you girls need to have a word in private. I'll forward the address she sent to you." Tommy replied with an excited glint in his eyes.
"Oh, my God!" Evie squealed. "I guess she doesn't hate me so much after all."
"I'm sure she'll love you completely once she has the chance to know you well." He reassured her.
"I certainly hope so too, babe," Evie tapped her feet. "I should probably go change now, right?"
Tommy looked at the time on his phone's screen. "Nah, I think there's still about an hour left. You can take your time..."
Evie was already backing out of the kitchen door, eager to make a great second impression.
***
Evie adjusted her scarf as she stepped into the quiet café, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. She glanced at the name on the door, then at her phone, confirming she was in the right place.
Allison Mackenzie was already seated near the back, sipping from a porcelain cup. She tilted her head slightly when she noticed Evie approaching, a slow, deliberate motion that sent a chill down Evie's spine.
"Good, you're here," Allison said smoothly.
Evie mustered a polite smile. "Hello, Mum."
Allison flinched, setting her cup down with an audible clink. She scowled. "Good God, don't call me that. It's Ms. Mackenzie to you."
Evie's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "Right, my apologies."
Allison waved a manicured hand, gesturing for Evie to sit. Evie hesitated for a beat before lowering herself into the chair, folding her hands neatly on her lap.
"I have a few things to say to you," Allison began, crossing one leg over the other. "You're not a good fit for my son. And you might want to deny it for the sake of being self-righteous, but the greatest appeal of a Mackenzie is the unlimited wealth we possess."
Evie's brows knitted together. "That's not all I see in Tommy. I know you might think I'm a gold digger, but I swear I'm not with your son just because he's rich."
Allison smiled, but it was cold. "That's exactly what I expected you to say."
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a sleek leather chequebook. With a practiced flick of her wrist, she uncapped a pen and scribbled a number.
Then, with an elegant push, she slid the cheque across the table.
Evie's stomach twisted, and she felt her whole body flush at the move. The meet-up was taking a very drastic turn, worse than what she had let herself imagine.
"What are you doing?" she asked, alarmed.
Allison leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming. "This is ten million dollars. I want you to leave Tommy alone. I don't care what excuse you come up with—just do it."
Evie stared at the cheque, her hands tightening into fists beneath the table.
With slow precision, she pushed it back. "I... we thought you wanted to get to know me better. Not this."
Allison didn't blink. Instead, she slid the cheque forward again, her voice dropping into a sharper tone.
"I don't need to get to know you because there's no point in that. You will never be suitable for my son. Make the right choice now."
Evie inhaled shakily, then stood, her chair scraping against the wooden floor.
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept this," she said, her voice steady.
Allison stared at her in shock, the cheque still lying between them, untouched.
Evie turned and walked out of the café, her heart pounding in her chest. She had a sinking feeling inside, and all her internal alarms blared that she had just made a powerful enemy.