The Best Friend's Contract novel Chapter 36

''Oh, matching bracelets. How cute,'' He says before taking another sip. ''It'd be nice if I was ever given one,'' He rolls his eyes, precisely jealous about always being left out.

''We got it when we were seventeen. You weren't even in our lives back then,'' Kenna replies as she takes a water bottle in the fridge before taking a sip while I take a seat on the stool near the kitchen counter.

''You really like to break my heart, don't you?'' He places his right hand on his chest, pretending to be severely hurt but Kenna doesn't seem to mind as she sticks her tongue out at his direction before placing the water bottle on the kitchen counter—in between Dimitri and I.

All of a sudden, the doorbell starts to ring which causes me to stand up and head towards the front door while both Kenna and Dimitri start to bicker. Their voices are getting louder and louder but I pay no attention; sometimes, I swear I can even predict what they're going to say.

I pull the door open to see my mother standing with a smile on her face which causes me to clench my jaw, immediately. ''Mother . . . what are you doing here?'' I ask, feeling unsure.

Please, don't tell me that she's trying to alter my life again because I would probably just run away to Germany or even Russia because I'm getting sick and tired of everything. She can't just come here to my penthouse apartment without telling but she always does that and she gets away with it, all the time.

Mother starts to frown as she hears noises and grunts at the back while I place my hand against the wall, not letting her inside. ''You shouldn't be here,'' I add.

''Is that Dimitri?'' She asks, pointing at someone behind me which causes me to turn and see Dimitri being strangled by Kenna as she climbs onto his back, their voices filling the room. Deep down inside, I feel like face-palming myself or hit my head against the wall because now, mother won't leave the apartment.

Both Kenna and Dimitri appear to be shocked at the presence as they stand still, fixing their hair and crumpled clothes.

''Diana! What a pleasant surprise to see you here,'' Dimitri exclaims with a huge grin plastered on his face as he pulls my mother in before landing a peck on her cheek, ''It has been awhile since we've seen each other, don't you think? How have you been?'' He adds, placing a hand behind her waist, leading her inside.

''We saw each other at the wedding, Dimitri.'' She replies, leaving Dimitri chuckling as he tries to make the situation less awkward. ''I've been well, how about you? How is your business going with the hotels? I heard that you're making a new expansion to Beijing,'' She smiles.

''Where did you hear that? News do travel fast, don't they?'' He laughs.

Kenna and I glance at each other as Dimitri and my mother take a seat in the living room, leaving me to join them. He is always acting like this around my mother and distracting her by talking about his businesses and his achievements because apparently, mother likes it when she hears about success.

''How's Brody? Now, it has been awhile since I've seen him. You didn't bring him to the wedding,'' She continues to speak.

''Brody is staying with his mother for a couple of weeks which explains why I'm here and trying my best to find some company but since you're here, Diana . . . we have a lot we can talk about.'' He smiles at her, flashing off his perfectly straight teeth—no doubt, mother has always enjoyed his company and sometimes more than she enjoys mine.

''Well, I actually came here to talk with my daughter-in-law.'' She looks up at Kenna who is slightly surprised at the sudden call.

I scoot towards Kenna and place my arm around her shoulder, trying to appear like the loving couple mother has always imagined while Kenna snuggles closer towards me. This is going to be a tough act to follow because well, whenever our families are around, there's always going to be acting and trying to act all sweet and shit.

''They're so adorable that I feel like I'm going to throw up,'' Dimitri fakes a loud laugh, running his fingers through his hair, carelessly.