Purple Romance

Mirabel stood by Joel's car as he went inside his company building to pick a gift for her parents. She removed her phone and sent Paige an SOS and she called back immediately.

''Paige''

''Mirabel, what's wrong? I saw your message''

''Paige, I'm in trouble''

''Calm down and tell me all about it''

''Alright'' Mirabel calmed down and explained everything that happened to Paige and she listened patiently to her. When she finished she sighed over the phone.

''Mira, is okay. Actually, there is nothing wrong with him. Joel doesn't have bad intentions; he is probably doing that because he wants to help you. He is not the kind of person who would take advantage of you. He might act bossy sometimes but trust me, he wouldn't go overboard with his actions''

''Oh, I get it. He is coming, I have to go''

''Wait, remember to fill me in with his meeting with the 'in laws'' Paige teased her.

''We are just friends'' Mirabel said and hung up.

''Who was that?'' Joel asked as he walked up to her.

''That was Paige, I called to ask about Jessi. Are you done?'' she stuffed her phone into her pocket.

''Yes, let's go''

''What type of wine did you pick?'' she asked peeping inside to the bag.

''You don't need to know. Only those who drink wine will appreciate what I bought'' he said and walked away.

''I drink wine'' she went after him.

…..

Paige smiled looking at her phone and Carlien asked, ''what is making you so happy?''

''Carl, I think Mira and Joel might just be a ship waiting to sail?''

''Oh my God!! Are you serious?'' Carlien got up from the couch and went over to the kitchen to stand next to Paige.

''Oh, as a matter of fact, he is on his way to meet the in laws''

''This is mad crazy shit''

''Language, Miss. We have a child staying in the house''

''Fill me in''

'''Before that, I saw that you avoided Lucas the whole day. What's going on with you and him?''

''Nothing'' Carlien went back to the hall not wanting to reveal anything.

.....

Arriving at Mirabel's house, she quickly got down and went other to Joel, saying, ''listen, you don't have to answer every question they ask you. I will do all the answering if it's necessary. My parents can be annoying, so forgive them in advance, I promise that at the end of this night, I will find a way to tell them that we are not a couple''

''You are the one who is annoying right now'' Joel said and went forth to knock at the door.

''You… he never listens to me'' she joined him and was about to open the door when her mother's face came to sight along with the opening of the door.

Gloria smiled brightly at Joel, ''you look even more handsome in person. Darling, come and have a look. Your son in law is so handsome in person''

''Mom, please. Can you let him inside first?''

''Come inside, son in law'' Gloria stepped aside giving Joel way and he smiled and went inside.

''Uncle, good evening'' Joel greeted Briggs, Mirabel's father.

''You are the boy who saved my girl at the club, right?'' Briggs asked.

''Yes, sir''

''You people must be fated. He saved you first and then fell in love with you'' Gloria said excitedly.

''Mom, he is…''

''Uncle, aunt, I didn't know your taste in wine, so I bought this one, I hope you like it'' he interrupted Mirabel and handed over the bag to Gloria.

''You didn't have to bring us a gift, but thank you'' she opened it and saw the wine and exclaimed, ''darling isn't this the wine you last searched for and couldn't find it?'' She removed the wine and showed it to her husband and he nodded his head appreciating the gift.

''This isn't bad; you have good taste'' Briggs said to Joel.

''Thank you, sir''

''Dinner is ready, let's go to the table first'' Gloria said leading the way.

When they got to the table, Joel pulled a chair out for Mirabel first and she sat before he did. All this did not escape the eyes of the couple that couldn't wait to see them progress even further with their new relationship.

''Here, son in law. I didn't know what you liked to eat so I prepared different kinds of food. Feel free to eat whichever pleases your palate. We have seafood too here'' Gloria couldn't hide her excitement. She kept giggling like a young lady.

''Aunt, you don't have to be so courteous. I will eat whatever you are having. I don't really have a specific food that I love to eat''

Mirabel sighed and shook her head. she beckoned on her father who was quiet to help her out. Her mother's actions made her especially embarrassed.

''Gloria, let's eat. Joel must be hungry. He just came back from a trip'' Briggs alerted Gloria and she nodded her head.

''Sure, sure, Joel, eat''

''Yes, aunt'' Joel smiled and turned to look at Mirabel. He noticed her gloomy face and frowned before leaning a little closer to her and asked, ''why the sour face? Are you angry I am receiving all the love from your mother?''

Mirabel smiled and shook her head, 'I am just embarrassed, it's like she can't wait to marry me off''

''I see that'' he teased her and she smiled and started eating her food. Her good mood back again.

Briggs smiled subtly watching them. He looked at Joel and watched curiously, his interactions with his daughter and he could tell they had a good relationship.

After a rather hectic meal, at least in the mind of Mirabel, her parents told her to show Joel around the house while her mother prepared tea. she showed him everywhere, from their garden, and all the fun parts of her house. When they returned, they saw her mother speaking on phone, she seemed to be in a good mood as she bragged over the phone.

''My son in law came to visit. I am especially satisfied with him, let me tell you. he treats my daughter so well and has manners. He also has his own work that is busy with. My Mira won't have to suffer in the future in case anything happened''

Mirabel stood at the stairs with Joel watching her mother speaking on the phone and she bit her lips and turned to Joel saying, 'excuse me, I need to pick something from the room'' she took off to her room, not wanting to watch her mother anymore. She felt disappointed more in herself that she couldn't find a man who would treat her well. her parents were clearly worried about her and she knew it was going to break their hearts the moment they found out she was faking her relationship with Joel.

A knock on the door brought her back to her senses and she stood up and opened the door. Joel entered the room without her permission and sat on her chair in front of the computer.

'What exactly are you worried about?'' he asked her as she tried to wipe away her tears.

''I'm sorry. You had to see all that because of me. I just realised that my parents have been worried about me. I am their only child and yet I refused to inherit their business, choosing to study Biochemistry at the University. They are so desperate to find me a man who will not take advantage of me''

''Every parent is worried about their child. What your parents are feeling is normal''

'But, they will be disappointed when they find out that you aren't my real boyfriend''

''It looks like you are already prepared to toss me away after using me, Miss'' he stood up from the chair and walked closer to her.

''Huh? What do you mean?''

''I mean; our relationship is already out in the open. I'm afraid, your parents aren't the only ones who will sort us out from now onwards. My mother and little sister might be digging into your background as I speak''

''What?''

''You aren't the only one whose parents are worried about. My mother cannot wait to marry me off to any woman I get close to. That's why I don't hang out with women often except Paige, Carlien, my secretary Amy and now, you''

''Then, what do we do now?''

''We keep pretending to be a couple until I figure out a better solution'' he smiled and went back to sit on the chair, looking at the computer her asked, 'what do you use these for?''

''That, I use them to play games. Let me tell you, I am especially good at this particular game. I bet you don't know how to play these kind of games, right?'' Mirabel went closer and leaned against him subconsciously, turning on the computer. She was extremely close to him and Joel could smell her unique body scent. He turned away immediately when his eyes landed on the tilted collar of her shirt, which made her collar bone visible.

''I have won a lot of treasures in the game of Schwars, I even teamed up with someone called the 'king' and we got married''

Joel furrowed his brows and looked at the screen. For a while his mind went blank before he turned to look at her face as she explained the game with a serious expression and passion. Her eyes glinting.