In Hot Seat

Nathalie leaned closer to Jonathan and had a smile from ear to ear before she said anything else. "Mom, this is my boyfriend, Jonathan."

"Oh, is that so?" Julia had her lips parted, with eyes squinting, as she bobbed her head ever-so-slowly. "I finally got to meet the one who took our only daughter by a storm. Quite a fine young man..."

'Even her eyes went thorough examination, up and down, like some airport checkpoint—' She then got her attention when Julia's eyes glimmered from the branded clothes with the expensive watch and necklace Jonathan wore after taking account of his angelic face and toned physique.

"Oh dear, come on in." She rushed to Jonathan's side, chortling, and entertained him as they entered the house. "Talia, don't slack off!"

Just like that, Nathalie inwardly smirked when her Mother took the bait. It turned how she became an entourage, accommodating him as a VIP.

She couldn't help but laugh inwardly as to how her mom suddenly switched so much.

Jonathan and Nathalie looked at each other, giving a sign it was a success.

'I could only hope for the best that it turns out well and he will hold it for as long as he can.'

They went inside with her mother, Julia, causing a storm and called her husband to bring out the wine and prepare the living room for additional guests for the New Year.

Currently, Jonathan, Nathalie, and her parents, Julia Nicole Quinn and William Pierre Quinn, occupied the living room. Presenting themselves as couples, the two of them sat together in a love seater—cozy sectional couch set in white chiffon fabric and silver-enameled oakwood. Their position was adjacent to Nathalie's parents, and never once had their gaze softened the moment they took a seat.

It was a battlefield, Julia came off strong with her questions that sometimes left him off-guard, but he still did his best.

However calm Nathalie tried to be, she could feel Jonathan's forearms tense as she slinked around hers.

'Goodness, Jonathan, we can't blow this up.' She pondered in a faltering manner while watching his reaction from the peripheral vision; so far, he could still make a straight face.

"Oh my, your boyfriend is so shy. I never knew he had this side." Julia laughed. "Perhaps I thought so differently, like he was assertive."

However, Nathalie refuted as she rolled her eyes. "Mom! You asked such crazy questions that even I'm afraid to answer; how could you?"

"Was it? My bad." She feigned innocence and went with peals of laughter.

'Goodness, I can't with her, she's very lively.'

"Nevermind that; I missed you so much, Mom. Look at your nails; such a bright shade for rouge, and your hair got permed as well? I'm still glad you didn't change color; those silky black strands of your hair looked great on you."

The stars gleamed in her daughter's eyes, showering the Mother of the household with compliments.

"Of course!" Julia reached her hair with a caress. "I have to be pretty this new year. I'd be damned more than ever— Took me by surprise with this healthy young man over here. You, too, seem like a perfect pair. Don't you agree, mi amor?"

William hummed deep, trying to ride with Julia's enthusiasm, but it was clear that if looks could kill, then he was slitting Jonathan's throat at most. But there's nothing he could do when the other one was deeply enthused.

Just when they thought it was over, she went on through her clothes.

"Even that evening dress of yours screamed elegance. Are those hand-sewn blue sequins?"

With a pearl necklace, white gold belt, and scarpin heels, Julia was all dressed up for the occasion.

"Of course, Talia. It's natural as we're about to celebrate the new year. I 'bought' these at the 'mall' that I used to shop." She giggled again, placing such emphasis on her choice of words.

Nathalie couldn't help but beam a lopsided grin although she pondered otherwise, 'I know you swiped it with your credit card from the local thrift store; went on a spree again. Goodness, this Mom has serious troubles with paying bills. If only she knew...'

"Mom, I thought brother bought them for you?"

Julia flailed her hand lightly at her. "What are you saying? Your brother bought some for your Dad; I can handle mine," she avowed while tugging William's cobalt suit and tie, with tucked white inner sleeves in his indigo trousers and loafers.

Indeed, Nathalie was impressed to see his Father's attire for the matter. It wasn't his usual style as he was fine with anything, but she thought about how her Mother asked for help and dressed him up tonight.

Not like with Julia as she may not feel those strong bonds with him, but with credit to where it's due, she gave a handful of compliments of how quiffed his straight black hair and with a new pair of cerulean glasses that matched his blue eyes.

They might be in their early fifties, but those wrinkles and fine lines weren't subtle in the first place, passable as late bachelors and bachelorettes.

"Which brings me to my next point." Julia's gaze was sharp as she languidly sat on the sofa, placing her other arm on William's lap. "You didn't even tell us you're bringing the boyfriend you have been telling us for several months after you graduated."

"Excuse me?" Nathalie arched her eyebrows. "I did say I would bring him soon—"

"You did? I don't think you have, not on this date of the year, Talia."

She rolled her eyes as she had a sudden rise of temperature, searing her from neck up from how she feigned ignorance. 'Really now…'

"Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you, Jonathan."

Jonathan deeply chuckled as though he was also overjoyed by the good graces of Nathalies' crazy parents. "It's also a pleasure to meet both of you—"

But then Julia went on and almost cut them off again, catching them off guard with a daring question.

"Now, has my Talia made a move this year—?"