It had been a while since I visited my parents' house. Mom invited Nick and me over for dinner Saturday night so we could catch up. We usually met up at the hotel where we had a family dinner but tonight mom wanted to do some cooking. She sounded excited about it so Nick and I couldn't refuse. Mom hinted that she wanted to invite Lucas and his mom over as well but I stopped her. Nick backed me up despite him wanting to do the official meeting too.

They'd meet Lucas officially another time.

Nick picked me up, giving me a ride to the family house. We were alone now so I knew Nick wanted me to elaborate on what I told him about Mr. Blackwood the other day.

"I'll be honest at this point I want to meet up with him and tell him to back off," Nick told me, anger seeping into his voice.

"You shouldn't." I quietly told him, "I appreciate it but this is between Mr. Blackwood and me."

"Call him Jacob already." Nick huffed, he was now also annoyed with him and I didn't blame him.

This happened because I didn't think about the consequences of my actions. I acted impulsively and now I had to face the reality of it. I told Jacob to back off and he did, but the threat lingered between us. He was convinced I would give in and sleep with him. Out of spite, I wanted to prove him wrong, but the unease I was feeling was enough to declare that I was afraid that it will happen.

I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against the cold window beside me, "I told Jacob to back off and he agreed. But I'm afraid of what he'll do to make me betray Lucas."

"Just focus on your career and Lucas." Nick suggested, "You will only run into the jerk when we need to attend social events together with the family. Whenever we have one of those and you stay clear of the guy you're good."

I smiled weakly and turned to look at him. Nick was focused on his driving, his lips pursed and his shoulders tense. He was still upset but less so than when we started this awkward conversation about Jacob and his need to bed me.

"You're right, I'm overreacting at this point."

"Don't do that." He glanced at me, "You feel uneasy by all of this, don't brush it off just because you think you're being annoying. You're not, I'm your brother. I will always listen to you."

"Thank you," I whispered.

We arrived at the family house, Nick was trailing behind me while I approached the house with quick steps. I heard my brother's laughter behind me but I ignored it. I knew once I spend some time with mom and dad I'd feel glad that I came here today. Dad was the one who answered the door. He surprised me with a very excited and cheerful greeting.

"That's the loudest greeting ever," Nick said, standing beside me with a big grin spread across his face.

"Can't a father be happy to see his kids?"

Nick frowned, "We see each other almost every day." He pointed out.

Dad pulled me in for a hug, "I don't get to see my little girl almost every day."

At this point dad was just messing around, wanting to get on Nick's nerves. They had a great relationship, I knew dad was extremely proud of Nick who was following in his footsteps. Dad never made me feel like I didn't matter though. It was rather odd that dad could be this cheerful when his job was so demanding. I pulled out of the hug and flashed my dad a warm smile.

"I've missed you too."

"You should come to see me more often." Dad held the door open wide and gestured with big gestures that Nick and I needed to come inside. He closed the doors and walked beside me as we headed to the living room, "I feel left out that Nick gets to see you at the office while you never pay your dad a visit."

Now I felt bad for always paying Nick a visit at the office and forgetting to say hi to dad. It wasn't that difficult to look him up, they worked in the same building after all.

Dad laughed at me, "Honey, don't take me so seriously. Relax."

Nick plopped down on the couch, looking all comfortable, "Yeah, he has a weird sense of humor. Just ignore him."

I knew dad had a weird sense of humor but he made me laugh most of the time. Mom and Nick mostly rolled their eyes whenever dad cracked a joke. I wanted to get comfortable on the couch as well but mom had other plans. She walked into the room with a tray in hand, placing the tray filled with a teapot and cups on the coffee table.

"I'm going to grab the chocolates." Mom told us.

"I'll get it." Dad quick told her, "You go sit down and relax."

"Dad is in a good mood today." I reached for the teapot and poured everyone a cup of tea.

Mom sat down next to Nick, taking the cup I offered her, "He has been in a good mood since he heard back from Jacob. The young man made a huge order for an upcoming charity ball he's going to organize." Mom leaned back, smiling at me with a look in her eyes that told me she was proud of me.

Yet I had no idea what I did to deserve that look.

I offered Nick his cup of tea as well. Nick looked at me with concern glittering in his eyes. He knew where this was going but I wanted to have faith. I wanted to believe Jacob wouldn't do such a thing. I wanted to think that the man was more professional than that.

"He already let us know that the family is invited." Mom's lips curled up to a bright smile. She lowered her cup and let it rest on her thigh, "He had high praise for you. You should have seen your dad. He was over the moon hearing Jacob compliment you like there was no tomorrow."

Jacob was manipulating the people around me, trying to move the pieces on his chessboard. He made the first move, now it was my turn.

"I wasn't that excited about it," Dad muttered as he entered the room again, carrying the dark chocolate delux box. He placed it on the coffee table, "Have some, these are delicious."

I shook my head at him, "I know." I offered dad his cup and then finally got to drink my own tea. I sat down across mom and clutched my teacup with both hands, "This is my favorite box." I hoped talking about dad's passion would make him forget about Jacob. I reached for the box and grabbed a piece, popping it straight in my mouth.

"Savage," Nick muttered, a smile playing on his lips which he tried to cover up with his cup.

I glared at him. He was playing the part of the annoying older brother and he played it well. His eyes glittered, he knew he got to me with a simple word. Mom grabbed our attention by continuing her little story about the devious Jacob Blackwood.

"That man praising you like that will open a lot of doors for you, Nina." Mom and dad both looked at me with so much pride in their eyes I could barely breathe, "I made a list of people who are interested in hiring you. With Jacob Blackwood backing, you up you can make this business pick up. You'll be busy but that's a good thing, right?"

Dad sighed, "Hon." He whispered, probably trying to make mom reel it in.

Mom brushed the warning off, "Just think about it. If you want to see things through we can sit together and write up a contract. You should protect yourself. Things work out fine with Jacob because that man is a businessman at heart, but others might not be so cooperative."

I couldn't tell them I no longer worked for Jacob. The man didn't mention it either when he was singing my praises. He won this round. If I didn't want everything to fall apart before me right now I had to go along with. Then I had to meet that man right after I told him we wouldn't be seeing each other in the near future.

"Mom, give Nina a break, would you?" Nick asked, "We get it Jacob Blackwood is a fucking Saint."

"Nick, language." Dad pointed out.

"I'm just saying I think Nina doesn't want to talk about her employer all the time. It's weekend, maybe my dear sister wants to enjoy spending time with her family."

"Thank you, Nick." I pointed out to let them know I was on board with Nick's blunt reasoning, "Yes, I want to focus on the family rather than Jacob Blackwood. Could we do that?"

"Of course we can sweetheart." Dad said, "Come on, have another one." He gestured to the box of chocolates, "It's your favorite after all."

Sharing a smile with dad I reached for another piece, nibbling on it to make sure I didn't have to keep talking. Nick did manage to make mom shut up about Jacob Blackwood. At this point, I wouldn't even mind if she kept pushing me to bring Lucas with me. Yet somehow Lucas was forgotten because that devilish man manipulated my parents.

"So what's for dinner?" Nick asked, breaking the awkward tension in the room.

Mom started talking about the feast she cooked up. Nick really helped me out here, shifting the focus and having my back even when we were facing our parents. Dad wasn't really outspoken about Jacob, he was more subtle. He also considered my feelings. Mom, however, was ambitious. She couldn't have been one of the best lawyers at her firm if she wasn't. But that meant she also expected me to be more proactive when it came to my career.

Sometimes I really couldn't deal with it.

Thankfully I had dad and Nick who did get me and defused the situation. Now we could focus on eating the delicious food mom made. We ended the night on a good note. I was glad family dinner wasn't completely ruined all due to Jacob Blackwood and his freaking mind games.

Nick went upstairs with me after he dropped me up at the apartment. He told me we needed to actually sit down and strategize. We were making a game plan which made this absolutely ridiculous. We were sipping wine and praising Jacob for being a skilled player.

"He is forcing your hand." Nick concluded, "Either you go with it or you come clean to our parents. I think neither one of those options are pleasant. I mean dad won't voice it out but he'll be disappointed. We both know how much he adores Jacob. Then there is mom who sees him as a business opportunity."

"So I play along and become his personal shopper again?" I rolled my eyes and stared at the ceiling in exasperation, "Right after my dramatic exit too. I'm so pissed I can't even come up with words for it." Tears stung my eyes since emotions were running high, "All I want is to cry right now." I wiped the tears which did roll down my cheeks.

It wasn't tears of sadness, it was pure rage.

"I think he's counting on it." Nick placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze, "He has figured you out. He should be good at reading people otherwise he wouldn't be on the top. It also means that unfortunately you are screwed."

"He is counting on me becoming emotional over this?" I asked to clarify where Nick was going with this.

Nick's eyes were filled with warmth, "Because he knows it will get the reaction out of you which he is hoping for."

To get me into his bed, boyfriend or not.

He had me all figured out.

"So I have two options, neither one of those are going to work in my favor."

Nick nodded, "I suggest you go along with it and use Lucas as a shield."

My mouth dropped at that rather rude advise. Lucas didn't deserve to be used by me, the guy was a Saint, unlike Jacob Blackwood. That man was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Then again Nick was probably right about this. If I discussed this with Lucas maybe he wouldn't mind being used as my shield. He did make me promise not to kiss any other guys. He could form a united front with me to compel the demon known as Jacob Blackwood.

I'd discuss this with Lucas.