Grayson was in the middle of reviewing a particularly tedious report from their branch in the Federation Galaxy when his penthouse security system chimed open on someone’s arrival.

He glanced up from his light brain, silver eyes narrowing at the confirmation flashing across his light brain.

Mother?

At this hour?

Grayson set aside the report and rose from the sofa just as the doors slid open. Her elegant heels clicked against the floor as Gloria entered. He noted with growing unease how unusual her expression was.

Historically, this was the expression she had before giving Grayson’s childhood self a thorough scolding.

"Mother." He inclined his head in greeting, keeping his voice neutral. "Why did you come here at this hour?"

"At this hour?" Gloria stopped in front of him, chin raised, eyes blazing. "You want to talk to me about why I came here at this hour, Grayson Erskine Maxwell?"

The use of his full name made him tense. That particular combination only came out when he was in serious trouble.

"Did something happen when you came out shopping with Nev—"

"Nothing happened," she cut him off. "That boy is an absolute treasure. Kind, thoughtful, intelligent, charming, and—most importantly—wasted on you."

Grayson blinked. "I’m sorry?"

"You should be." Gloria jabbed a finger at his chest. "Do you have any idea how many other men have been inviting your wife out while you sit in your office doing... what, exactly? Endless work?"

"Mother, I’m running a multi-planetary corporation—"

"Some man named Liam took him shopping to Xylos’s Shopping Center, to a museum and a riverside platform." Gloria’s voice rose with each word. "Sarah and Iris have been urging him out, but could only give him some places to visit alone. That damn brat of a CEO of the Hewitts is also making moves on him!"

Grayson felt his jaw tighten. "Keaton Hewitt?"

"Yes! That newly crowned CEO of HW Corporation! He’s been secretly contacting Neville! And you—" Gloria paused, taking a sharp, deep breath to compose herself. "What have you done for him? Taken him to buy plants?"

"They weren’t just plants. They were specialized ingredients for—" Grayson stopped, realizing this was not the best explanation to give.

Gloria stared at him with an expression that clearly read as: I raised you better than this.

"Listen to me very carefully, Grayson." Her voice dropped to something quiet and dangerous, not even calling him Eason anymore. "That young man clearly has feelings for you, too. If you’re not serious about him, then end it early and let me adopt him. You don’t even know that he has carefully hidden photos of you and you’ve been treating him like—like a piece of office equipment!"

"Photos?" Grayson frowned. "What photos?"

"Never mind that." Gloria waved a dismissive hand. "The point is: if you don’t start making an effort, I will really adopt Neville into this family myself, and I will arrange a marriage for him within the same year. To someone who actually deserves him."

"You can’t—"

"Try me." Her eyes glittered with challenge. "I am your mother, and you know I can do whatever I want."

Grayson ran a hand through his hair, feeling uncharacteristically off. His mother had always been strong-headed, but this level of intensity was rare to see.

"Will you at least sit down and explain what exactly happened?" he tried, gesturing toward the living area.

Gloria huffed but allowed herself to be guided to the couches. She sat with aggressive elegance, crossing her legs and staring at him with continued disappointment. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Grayson settled into the opposite seat, maintaining what he hoped was a calm exterior despite the chaos unfolding in his mind.

His mother’s words echoed uncomfortably: Liam. Sarah. Iris. Keaton Hewitt.

"Now," he said, keeping his voice neutral. "Start from the beginning."

"From the beginning?" Gloria’s eyebrow arched.

"The beginning of an end is that you’re neglecting your wonderful wife and absolutely done nothing to—" she made a vague gesture, "—progress things."

"Progress things," Grayson repeated flatly, silently agreeing that Neville was his wife.

"Don’t play dumb with me, Grayson. I’ve seen how you look at him. Do you think I still haven’t noticed?"

A muscle in his jaw twitched. "I don’t know what you’re—" I’m innocent.

"Really?" Gloria leaned forward. "I bet one call with Bryan will reveal everything if there was really nothing."

Grayson had no rebuttal for that since he didn’t know what Bryan Stewart would say to his mother.

Gloria rolled her eyes, looking at her hopeless son as she continued mercilessly, "Despite all of that, you’ve never once taken him out—like a perfectly normal couple."

"We went to Medea’s Garden." Grayson retorted weakly.

"To buy ingredients! I’ve already heard about that. And I’m telling you that that’s not a date, Grayson. That’s a chore with a boss, not with a lover!" Gloria threw her hands up. "Do you even understand the concept of romance?"

Is there even a concept in romance? Aren’t they just getting together when there’s a feeling with one another? Not like he mistreated Neville at any point in time—did he?

"I’ve been... busy." Grayson randomly said unable to make heads or tails.

"Busy?" The word dripped with maternal disdain. "You’re always busy. When have you ever not been busy? That’s not an excuse. Make time."

Silence stretched between them.

Grayson stared blankly into the air, processing his mother’s words.

He repeatedly told himself it was inappropriate, that Neville was his employee. There were power dynamics to consider, professional boundaries to maintain.

Now they ended up in this kind of relationship because of his impulsiveness and indecisiveness that he never thought he had.

Ugh.

And besides, what could someone like Neville—bright, competent, warm and full of life—possibly see in someone like him?

"You mentioned photos," he said slowly. "What photos?"

Gloria’s expression visibly changed, a hint of smugness breaking through her righteous anger. She reached for her light brain, pulling up an image that she turned to show him.

Grayson leaned forward, and his eyes narrowed.

He noticed one photo that stood out from the others, aside from his two photos.

Not because of its quality or composition, but because of the person in it.

Liam Rivera.

The kind of photo you took of someone you... liked.