Sunless World (JaDine AU)

ϛ part 2

"Oh, what about?" Zenaida pries.

"My favorite brother, of course." Tristan said and then pointed at James.

Nadine was now quite amused at Tristan. Was he antogozing her mother? Blatantly saying he prefers James--the bastard, the black sheep--over her mother's husband?

Nadine saw the corner of her mother's lips curve to a small frown. Still, she remained civil to Tristan.

"Oh. Do tell me, as well. I am quite curious about him." She said with a fake smile.

Tristan shrugged. "Basically, I just told Princess here how Dennis would never let James work for the company because he probably will be out performed." He said callously, still with a smile.

Her mother's fake smile faded and she looked a little insulted.

Nadine couldn't help but smile. She actually wanted to laugh, but knew her mother would overreact.

Tristan saw the smile though, and he turned to her and gave her a wink.

This did not went unnoticed by Zenaida, however, and she turned to her daughter, catching her smile.

Her eyebrows scrunched and she looked at her daughter, seemingly searching for something.

"What do you think about all this?" She asked her.

Nadine stopped smiling. She shrugged and just said, "It's just funny to think that Dennis is afraid of James."

Zenaida's eyebrow raised.

"What do you think about James?" She asked this time.

Nadine was starting to get scared again, but she knew she couldn't give anything away.

She turned to look at James for a moment to have strength (and since she already have an excuse), and then turned back to her mother.

"I think we're of the same age?" She said in a questioning tone, looking at Tristan.

"Oh yes. I think so, too. He just turned 25 this year." Tristan said.

Zenaida took a moment to look at her daughter again. And then she smiled the smile Nadine hated to see.

"Oh darling, that would be the only thing you two would have in common and you couldn't help it. Let's let this be the last time we talk about him. You've heard what Dennis said, didn't you?" She told Nadine, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Don't even compare yourself to him. You two are too different. You're an heiress, and even have a real job and earn your own money and he... Well, he's a just a freeloader born from a mistake, isn't he?"

Nadine could feel the rage boiling through her veins but she didn't show it. She kept smiling even though it hurts. She was about to say something, but then Tristan stepped in.

"You are right, of course, dear sister." He said. And Nadine couldn't help but look at him in accusation. But he wasn't looking at her, only at her mother.

"James is all of those." He said. "But that's what the people around him made him to be, isn't it?"

Zenaida's nasty smile disappeared. She looked at Tristan for a moment but seemed to decide not to say anything anymore on the subject and turned to Nadine.

"Nadine, me and your father--" She started saying but Nadine cut her off.

"Stepfather." She corrected.

Zenaida just rolled her eyes.

"We'll be staying at Dennis's tonight so just leave your car here and have my driver fetch it tomorrow." She said as if she wasn't interrupted.