39 - momzilla

Amina

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The next morning I got up tiredly, not having slept well due to my mother's snoring. I got dressed and made my way to Acme for my internship.

"Good morning Amina." Felix greets me as I make my way to my desk. Thankfully HR didn't feel the need to send me home again after the Valentine's Day photos were released. Thanks to a strange request from Mr. Taylor, I was just moved to his floor for the week. I was somewhat thankful, as I didn't know if I had the strength to work from home while my mom was around.

I worked in solitude in one of the empty offices on the CEO's floor quietly, the only person around to keep me company was Natalie. That is when I got to see her.

After a few hours of working and reviewing reports, Natalie sends me an instant message, requesting I come up to her desk. I quirk my brows before making my way down the empty hall to her.

"What's up?"

"Is your mom in town?" She asks.

My eyes widen, "Yes, why?" I answer slowly, afraid of her response.

She begins to laugh holding it in as if it's the funniest thing ever. "You'll never believe this." She begins. "A woman came to main reception asking to meet with the CEO, insisting he would want to speak with her. They patched her details through after a lot of back and forth and when I told Mr. Taylor...he accepted it! They let her up!"

"What?" I ask in confusion.

"I know right? So I think your mom is in there right now and they've been talking for like 20 minutes at least."

"What!"

"I know!" She says laughing again, but nothing sounds funny to me.

I quickly rush to the door when Veronica stops me. "What are you doing? Mr. Taylor is in a meeting." She scolds.

"Yeah! With my mother!"

"You weren't requested so you don't get to go in. Beat it."

I frown, "My mom is insane you have to let me in."

She scoffs, "And risk losing my job? No way, move it." She urges making me pout. I groan feeling helpless as I take a seat in the waiting area, ready to confront my mother.

After ten more minutes, the doors finally open and Mr. Taylor walks out with my mother, laughing.

"It was such a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bassey."

My mother chuckles, "Please call me Feyi. And the pleasure is truly all mine."

Mr. Taylor smiles, "Of course, we should get together soon, maybe this time with the kids."

My mother nods in agreement, "Yes!" Her eyes finally notice me, "Amina, you didn't tell me Dominic's father was so wonderful."

Mr. Taylor chuckles, "Nonsense, Ami you didn't tell me your mother was so beautiful." He comments making her blush and me gag.

"This is unnatural." I mumble to myself. I give a fake smile, "Thank you for entertaining her. I'll walk you down, Mom."

She nods, "We'll talk again soon." She says to him and he nods, "You have my number." He calls back, waving her goodbye as we make our way down.

"What are you doing here?" I ask as the elevator closes.

"I actually came looking for Dominic. You did not tell me his father was so handsome! If Dominic is anything like his father then the Lord has surely blessed you!" She exclaims.

"Mom focus! You can't just come to my job."

She shrugs smugly, "Joseph said I'm welcome anytime. And that he loves you for Dominic. That's so good!"

I roll my eyes, "Oh gosh Mom stop it! You always do this."

"Do what?"

"Get overly involved!" I exclaim.

"That's because you don't involve me at all. I'm your mother, I'm supposed to be involved."

I groan, "What did you say to Mr. Taylor?" I ask redirecting the conversation as we reach the lobby.

"We just got to know one another. He's a very good man. And he speaks highly of you." She says proudly.

"He does?" I ask with a raised brow.

She frowns, "Is that a surprise? It's expected that you should be praised."

My eyes widen in surprise as I stop walking. "You think so?" I ask. It was rare to receive a compliment from my mother.

She stops, turning around to face me. "You think I'd come all the way down here if you were an embarrassment?" She scoffs as she begins walking down again, "Call me an Uber. And arrange for me to meet with Dominic or I'm asking his father."

I let out a small smile. It wasn't your traditional compliment, but coming from my mother it was a stamp of approval. "Yes ma'am." I nod, following after her.

After getting my mom safely back to the apartment I was able to get back to work. The rest of the workday was quiet as I waited for it to end. I had texted Dominic, warning him about my mother and wanting to meet and he agreed to lunch after my internship before Crutchfield's class this evening.

When work at Acme ended I made my way back home to get my mom and change out of my clothes. "So I'm finally meeting him." My mom says as she slides on her flats.

"Yes, please don't scare him off." I beg as I reapply my blush.

She scoffs, "Me? Scare him off? He'll be grateful to have met me."

I roll my eyes putting on my earrings as my phone rings. I quickly answer as my father's voice booms through the device. "Amina! I hope your mother isn't causing you too much trouble."

"Oh no, she just showed up at my workplace and demanded to see the CEO like a mad woman." I respond sarcastically.

"She what?" He exclaims.

My mom smacks her teeth, "Your daughter is dramatic. They let me speak to him and we had a good talk. He's her boyfriend's father! Should I not check him out?"

"I'm dramatic? And he's not even my boyfriend!" I remind her.

"Both of you stop it. Feyi, I told you not to cause problems by going over there. And Amina, what do you mean he's not your boyfriend? We all saw the multiple articles?" My father questions.

"Don't mind her." My mother says with an eye roll, "He's her boyfriend, she's just confused."

I sigh, "Dad we have to go we'll talk later. Love you." I say quickly before hanging up the phone.

"It's not complicated and I'm going to get to the bottom of it." My mother says shaking her head.

"Mom don't scare him off." I warn her again. My phone buzzed again with a text from Dominic saying he was ready. "Let's go."

My mother follows me out as we enter an Uber. I didn't want my mom to know he lived next door so he was meeting us at the restaurant. When we arrived at the small family-owned restaurant my mother looked unimpressed. "He has money, I was hoping for a steakhouse."

"Mom." I warned shooting her a glare as we approached the table.

Dominic was already seated at the table and got up to greet us. "Mrs. Bassey." He says as he gets up to shake her hand.

She smiles, "You're just as handsome as your father. Nice to meet you, Dominic."

"The pleasure is all mine. If I didn't know you were Amina's mother I would've thought you were sisters." He says flashing his pearly whites.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes as my mother chuckled, "And I see you're just as charming as him too."

We take our seats at the round table as the waitress drops menus for us. "Hi, I'm your waitress. Can I get you guys started with anything?"

"Dominic, why don't you pick an appetizer for us?" My mother suggests.

"Sure." He turns to the waitress, whilst looking down at the menu. "Can we get the artichoke dip to start?"

"And two glasses of water and a lemonade." I tell the waitress as she notes it down.

She nods, "That'll be right out for you and I'll be back later to take your orders."

"So Dominic, Amina never told me how you met? And more importantly why you've stayed. Why my daughter?" She asks making me furrow my brows at the ridiculous question.

Dominic chuckles, "We first met on campus, she ran into me in the hallway."

"He forgot to mention that it was an accident and I apologized." I add in.

"Don't interrupt!" My mother scolds before smiling at Dominic, "Please continue."

He chuckles, "I was selling a textbook she needed for class, and from then on we just kept finding each other at every turn." He says with a smile, "But to answer your question. I'm still here because I want to be. Amina is genuine, compassionate, and makes me see things in a way no one else does."

My mom smiles, "If that's the case, why are you not together?"

My eyes widen as the question catches Dominic by surprise. "Sorry?"

"Every second Amina is reminding us that you're not her boyfriend. Why is that?" She questions.

"We're working things out." He replies simply.

"You say she's so great and that you care about her, but what's happening in the relationship?" She asks with raised brows.

"You see-"

"Or is it you who's afraid? My daughter will not be anyone's means of enjoyment. If you're not serious you need to walk away-"

"Stop! It's me okay? I'm not ready. Or I'm not sure If I am." I finally announce, just wanting her to stop talking.

My mother looks at me with a scowl. "So you're telling me the future CEO of a Fortune 500 company wants you to be his girlfriend and you're saying no?"

"I haven't said no but I haven't said yes." I admit.

She looks back to Dominic in surprise, "Is this true?"

"No, it's not." He says to my surprise, making me look up at him. "Amina and I are taking things slow, together. Nobody is waiting on anyone to be 'ready'." I look up at him, giving him a thankful glance from across the table.

"Well then." She begins as she takes a sip of her drink, "You both need to pick up the pace. You're not getting any younger."

He chuckles, "Yes ma'am we're working on it."

The waitress brought our appetizers as we placed our orders for lunch. Thankfully the conversation was able to steer away from our relationship and to other things.

"I spoke to your father today." My mother mentions casually as she takes a bite of her salad.

Dominic's eyes widen in surprise, "You did?"

"Yes, when she trespassed into Acme this morning." I add.

She waves me off before continuing, "He tells me you're not interested in taking over or working in the business, why's that?"

My eyes widen at the question. "I just want to create my path for myself is all."

"I understand that, but when you're provided all the resources, shouldn't you take advantage?"

"Um, yes you should. But I would just like to be in control of my future, no strings attached." He says, clearly alluding to his father's manipulative tendencies.

She furrows her brows in confusion, but I quickly speak before she can. "Mom please, don't you have simpler questions you'd like to ask him?" I ask before taking a sip of my water.

"Oh yes, where is your mother?" She asks, almost making me choke at her bluntness.

"She passed a few years ago." He replies.

My mother gives a sympathetic gaze, "I'm so sorry to hear that. Has your father remarried?"

"Mom!"

"It's a valid question. Has he?" She asks again.

Dominic nods, "Unfortunately he has."

"Well, that's a shame." My mother says, the disappointment not hidden in her tone. I bite back the urge to scold her again as she continues. "If you're not interested in entering your father's business, what are you interested in then? I know you study business with Amina."

"Yes I do, but my major concentration is in finance. I'm looking to go into financial consulting."

My mother nods in approval, "That's a good field."

"May I ask what you do for work?" He asks.

"I no longer work but I was in real estate. My husband is a software developer."

He nods, "Very good field."

"Yes, yes it is." My mother begins as she takes a sip of her drink, "Your father mentioned that neither of you were interested in attending the World Business Forum. Why is that?" She asks.

"No time Mom, we have school." I reply nonchalantly as I take a bite of my food.

"This is a much more valuable experience than your lecture. Plus Mr. Taylor is covering it. You should go, Amina, even if Dominic isn't."

"Mom please drop it, neither of us can go." I reply, twirling the noodles onto my fork.

She frowns as she turns to Dominic, "I understand creating your path but are these not the resources you should utilize to do it?"

He shakes his head, "I'll stick to my lectures."

The conversation droned on and thankfully my mother had nothing controversial to say for the rest of lunch. Overall I would say it was a success.

After lunch, we dropped my mother back at my apartment before making our way to campus for our evening classes.

"I'm so sorry about my mother." I say as we drive away from the apartment.

He shrugs, "It's cool, I expected it."

"And thank you for covering for me."

He raises his brow as his eyes focus on the road, "What do you mean?"

"When my mom was pressing you about why we aren't together. Even when I tried to put it all on me you didn't let me."

"Because we're a team. Plus it's my fault you're not ready."

I shrug, "I wouldn't say I'm not ready."

He raises a brow questioningly, a teasing glint in his eyes as he glances at me. "Meaning?"

I take a deep breath, "I was thinking about your offer for spring break."

"Yeah? What about it?"

I shrug nonchalantly, fighting the smile creeping onto my face. "Maybe I do want to go. Take a bit larger than a baby step?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, let's do it."

"So we're going to Mexico?" He asks, clearly failing to hold back his excited grin.

I smile widely, nodding at him. "We're going to Mexico."

————

Yay spring break!!

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- AuggiePooh_