The Pride
Writer
“Oh my gosh,” Mrs. Powers immediately turned around from the couples who were about to get down to business, as they quickly clad themselves.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” Edward groaned inwardly wearing his shirt, while Maliah covered her breast with the duvet immediately.
“What are you doing here? I should be asking you that instead,” she turned around and glared at him while he stood up.
“Go to your room,” she ordered him and he was taken aback.
“I’m here with my girlfriend. Why do we need a separate room,” he asked her, while Maliah just stayed on the bed staring at them quietly.
“Let’s not go down this road Edward,” his mom responded.
“But mom,” he looked unpleasant with her response.
“Edward,” Maliah called out and he sighed and dropped the issue.
“Goodnight love,” he kissed her cheeks, blowing a kiss to his mom before leaving the room.
He got to his room, and sighed heavily, while he undoed the roughly buttoned shirts. He heard a knock on his door, and he took a deep breath, before going to answer it.
“Nicole,” he cried out in surprise, as she walked in and stared at him in a seductive manner.
“It’s okay to want to play hard to get,” She placed her finger on his bare chest looking at him with her lash which fluttered.
“What are we talking about?” He asked her when she pushed him to the bed and started to climb on top of him.
“Oh please don’t pretend you have no idea,” she paused and said.
“I know you were playing hard to get in front of everyone,” she added and Edward realized what she meant as his mouth formed an oh.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” he said in a tone that sent a shiver running down her spine while she froze, staring at him stunned.
“What?” She asked him and got off the bed standing to stare at him.
“Leave my room,” he added, pointing in the direction of the door immediately after he sat upright.
“You’re kidding right?” She asked in disbelief while her hands were folded.
“Do I drag you out myself or you’re going to use your leg,” he said darkly and she scoffed at him before leaving the room.
“Fuck,” he cursed and grabbed his shirt walking out of his room and going straight to Maliah’s.
“What are you doing here? What if your mother Sees us,” She laughed and sat upright while Edward chuckled softly…
“I don’t care,” he groaned and she looked at him quizzically.
“Too scared to sleep alone,” she joked while he laughed using the pillow to hit her lightly.
“Actually yes. Because it’s deemed a delusional woman is trying to force her way to my room,” he told her and she gasped.
“Nicole,” she used her hands to close her mouth, stopping herself from laughing.
“Don’t laugh, I’m pretty scared of her,” he winced and went ahead to lay his head on her thighs, having her run her fingers through his hair slowly.
“Don’t be scared love,” she chuckled while he glared at her, making her laugh.
“So what are we going to do about this? Nicole? Your parents?” She asked him while he immediately rose from her thigh and sat upright, in a direction that faced her.
“Like I said I don’t care what they think, Having you around me is all you need,” he said and Maliah groaned
“But I do, and you know it,” it was his turn to groan now.
“Fine,” he smiled.
“How about I show them I’m serious about you, we are serious,” he smiled.
“How?” She questioned him.
“I just want to kiss you,” he said instead and grabbed her neck, kissing her vigorously, when he brought out his phone and took a photo of them, making her pull away when she heard the camera shutter sound.
“What are you doing?” She asked him, but he went to tap his phone. He selected the kissing photo and the one where he held her hands with the flowers from her room on his Instagram and then posted it with the caption “Ma jolie femme” and tagged Maliah.
“Done,” he said while Maliah looked at him confused.
“What did you do?” She folded her hands glaring at him.
“You’re so cute,” he laughed at how hard she was trying to put on a hard face but Edward wasn’t having it.
“Edward,” she called his name and he jumped out the bed.
“Fine I’ll go, love,” he said and turned to leave.
“No that’s not what I’m asking?” She yelled at him but he was already at the door.
“Goodnight Amore,” he winked at her and closed the door, making her groan as she turned off the lights and drifted to sleep.
***The Next Morning ***
Edward had planned on taking Maliah with him on a stroll and probably to have their breakfast outside the house since his family wasn’t welcoming. He was getting ready and Maliah was too when his parents sent for him.
“Good morning,” he said subtly. Immediately he walked into his father’s office.
“Edward,” Mr. Powers called him when his mom smiled briefly at him taking a sip from her coffee.
“Sit down,” he directed and Edward looked at them a bit hesitant but decided to sit.
“We decided you and Nicole get to know each other as grown-ups before any preparations are made,” his dad said, taking off the glass he wore.
“Get to know each other?” He thought
“But I know Nicole. From childhood as a matter of fact,” he responded looking confused and pretending not to get what they meant.
“Yes we do know that, but that’s not what we meant,” his mom intervened because she knew that Edward was just trying to get on his father’s nerves.
“Okay. What do you mean then?” He stared at her.
“We wanted you both to know each other on a romantic level before anything is done yet,” she explained, and he held himself from chuckling.
“So you want us to kick it off as close friends and hopefully form a connection if we spend time together, right?” He looked at them.
“Yes,” his father said.
“But I already formed an emotional connection,” his mom’s eyes glistened.
“Really?” She asked him the excitement clearly vocal in her voice.
“Yes, with Maliah,” he said, smiling brightly while her face dropped immediately…
“This is not a joke Edward,” his father said in a stern tone.
“I’m not joking,” he yelled when he caught his father’s red eyes glaring at him.
“I’m not joking,” he repeated calmly now while he exhaled sharply.
“Her family is not one we should associate ourselves with, she could be in with you for the money,” his mother said.
“We talked about this last night. She’s not one of us,” his dad added.
“Yet she has the finest copywriting establishment in New York,” he bragged proudly.
“What?” His dad asked.
“Oh, mom didn’t mention. But you were cool with getting to know her yesterday but when you heard she’s my girlfriend you just switched up,” Edward said, staring at his mother and pinning the blame on her.
“Perché non hai detto(well, why didn’t you say?)” Mr. Powers directed to his wife who glared at Edward who was smiling.
“I didn’t think it was important. I clearly concentrated on her family background,” she defended and he said nothing more.
“She’s doing her very best, and though she might not be on the same level as we are, she’s doing so well for herself,” Edward’s face and voice resonated with pride as he talked about his girlfriend, the girl whom he said I love you too.
“And I felt pride telling them of her accomplishment. It gladdens my heart knowing she was mine,” Edward’s thoughts.
“Tell her to keep going,” his dad said with a small smile and Edward knew he might just have broken a little wall. Cause if there’s one thing his father loved it’s hard work.
“So the date is canceled?” His eyes brighten…
“No, spend time with Nicole,” his father said in finality while he immediately left in anger.
**
Maliah walked out of her room, going through the hallway trying to identify Edward’s room door.
“Maliah, right?” She stared when she heard a voice behind her.
“Hi,” she said immediately as she turned around to stare at Nathaniel who stood very close to her.
“Do you need something?” He brought his face closer to her, and she moved away from him immediately.
“Sorry. But I’m looking for Edward. Perhaps you know where he went,” she rushed her words and he laughed briefly.
“Oh the Devil,” he exhaled sharply while she wondered why everyone called him that.
“I’m sure he’s arguing with Father,” he said and she zoned out for a minute and turned around to leave.
“Nice photo by the way,” he smirked and briefly showed her his phone while she stumbled backward in shock.
“He posted it,” she mumbled and turned to leave, walking in the wrong direction, and finally found her way back while Nathaniel stood there watching her and wondering if she was sane at all.
She quickly brought out her phone and rushed to the room to go through her news feeds and there it was. Edward had millions of followers and he tagged her.
She blushed really hard, swiping to the next photo recalling when he took it. She stared at the caption, unable to read it, so she decided to browse the meaning of the word.
She stared at her phone stunned by the translation that she looked at in disbelief reading out the words slowly.
“My beautiful wife,” she said in a shaky breath, smiling so brightly.
“Ma jolie femme” she followed the Google pronunciation repeating the word in excitement, as her legs wiggle happily..
**
He texted Maliah to meet him outside the house, while he strode to his car with Nicole following from behind him but he didn’t care. He unlocked his car, walked into the driver seat, and glared at Nicole who approached the front door.
She pulled the door handle and pulled it open about to get in when Edward shouted at her.
“Get out,” he yelled angrily, and she immediately jumped out of the car.
“Don’t you ever try to sit in here again,” he said while she stared at him confused.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
“That’s reserved for Maliah alone,” he stated and she scoffed.
“And where am I supposed to sit,” she asked him while he shrugged his shoulders pointing at the back seat.
“What?” She looked at him but he didn’t utter a word and just pressed his phone…
“At least open the door for me like a gentleman,” she groaned loudly, but he didn’t say anything as he turned his gaze to stare at Maliah who looked so fucking hot as she walked to the car in a short dress and heels.
“Amore,” he called out immediately, getting off the front seat and walking to her.
“You look breathtaking,” he said truthfully and made her twirl so he had the complete view.
“I dressed up for your love,” she said and kissed his lips lightly.
“You like it,” she asked, biting her lips.
“Nah. I think I’m in love all over again,” he said and exhaled while his hands rubbed his forehead and pushed his hair backward as he looked at her nervously.
“Sorry to put this on you, but Dad asked me to spend the day with Nicole, and so she’s going to be joining us,” he said slowly, holding her hands and looking at her, scared to hear her reaction.
“I don’t care. She’s not me,” Maliah said unbothered as she walked to his car while he followed behind, shaking his head and checking out her ass.
“Hold on love,” he rushed and opened the front door for her while she got in and he closed it smiling.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Nicole stared at him shocked while he rushed to the driver’s seat.
“Are you getting in or not?” He said to her, and she stomped her feet angrily, opening the door for herself as she got into the back seat grumpily.