My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 51: Doesn’t His Opinion Matter?

(Arata)

We entered the stunning villa of Karsten’s mom and he stiffened beside me. My curious eyes followed his gaze and seated in the garden was none other than the woman who had come to see him in the office. Amidst the hundreds of roses that formed a boundary around the garden, she seemed like an eyesore, sitting beside Camilla.

"Can you give me a second?" Karsten stiffly asked, letting go of my arm.

I offered him a quick nod. He strode away with a set jaw, eyes blazing.

Who was this woman? And why was she here?

I waited and watched while the woman quickly got up with an evil smirk on her face. Camilla seemed indifferent as Karsten asked why she was there. She tried to put her arms around Karsten’s neck but he brushed them off, making her face harden like a jilted lover.

Her vengeful eyes stormed towards me and all I saw was disgust and jealousy flashing in them.

"Ma! What’s the meaning of this?"

Camilla who seemed to be sipping on her morning tea, delicately placed the cup down on the pitcher and faced her son.

"What? I can’t even invite Urisa over because your girlfriend is here." She calmly clasped her hands in her lap.

"You know very well what I mean." Karsten’s forehead was creasing more and more with every second, and his jaw was hardening like the sharp edges of a perilous cliff.

"I surely don’t. I wasn’t even sure if you were going to turn up since how the dinner ended. Besides, I needed company. Your grandma and siblings get up late and I am a morning bird."

Unable to hold myself back, I decided to intervene. It was because of me that plan had to be delayed. Gathering the courage I snaked in a deep breath and proceeded towards them.

The grass under my feet was dewy and seemed to have been freshly cut. The scent of fresh roses in gaudy colours was indeed mesmerising and I would have enjoyed the view if there wasn’t this issue to deal with.

Camilla and Urisa’s eyes remained focused on me as they watched me approach. While the former held indifference the latter flashed contempt and jealousy. But I chose to ignore it. As long as Karsten wished me to be here I would be. I had promised to play this part and I was going to play it right.

Extending my hand, I retook Karsten’s arm just to ignite some fire in Urisa’s eyes and spoke in the sweetest voice I could muster.

"My apologies for last night, but I think there was nutmeg in the food, and that doesn’t sit right with my stomach. I vomited and soiled my dress, so I had to retire. I sincerely apologise for it." I humbly lowered my lashes in an act of submission. I knew Camilla would never want someone dominant in front of her, so I had to play my cards right and show her that her son chose the right woman.

Karsten side-eyed me and I wasn’t sure what expressions his face held because my eyes were on Camilla. The indifference in her eyes lessened hearing how sweetly I had apologised.

Sugary words could never go wrong especially when dealing with a woman like Camilla.

"It’s fine. We just wanted to get to know you better, and you disappeared like that." Her tone had softened as she picked up her cup again and began to sip.

"It won’t happen again." I placed my right hand on my chest to show I was sincere and Camilla gave me a nod.

Urisa, on the other hand, was firing bullets at me. Her nostrils flared as my eyes shifted to her, and I gave her a most charming but fake smile. Extending my right hand towards her I said.

"Hola! I am Arata, we met before but I think we got off on the wrong footing."

Instead of shaking my hand she gave an incredulous look to Karsten and stormed past me. Her flared dress swept behind her.

"Urisa, Wait!" Camilla called after her but she mumbled an excuse of having to reach somewhere and didn’t pause.

Karsten did not attempt to stop her, instead, he pulled out the garden chair and helped me sit down. His facial expressions remained set in stone.

"That is unacceptable behaviour from her, Ma. That is no way to treat a guest. You should talk to Aunt Carla about her or I will." I could only assume, Aunt Carla was Urisa’a mother.

Camilla waved a hand as if it were nothing and answered while helping herself to a lemon tart. The delicate delicacy looked delicious.

"You know her, Karsten. It’s not easy for her to see you with someone else." She turned her attention to me and directly said as if taunting me. Her long lashes fluttered in a fake sense of making a point.

"Urisa and Karsten are childhood friends and grew up together. They used to be inseparable and were lovers for a long time too."

It was useless if she was trying to hurt me with this talk. Our relationship was fake, but it still was improper to speak about her in front of me. I kept the smile going and respectfully said.

"That’s understandable but that’s all in the past now. He is with me now."

Karsten, on the other hand, wasn’t feeling that benevolent. He had settled beside me and crossed his buffed arms over his chest with a tight look on his face.

His watch flashed a quote and I had to press my lips to not laugh.

"You cannot see your reflection in boiling water. Similarly, you cannot see the truth in a state of anger."

That watch was a perfect gift for someone like him, always brooding and sulking.

"Ma, no need to delve into the past in front of my girlfriend. Urisa and I are no longer together and we are not here to discuss her. If you don’t want us here, just say so. Don’t disrespect Arata like that," he addressed his mother, keeping his sole focus on her.

Although I knew this was just for a fake appearance, it still felt extremely good to have him stand up for me.

At that moment, I knew any woman would be lucky to have him as their husband because he would take a stand.

Alas! He didn’t want to get married or believe in love.

Camilla snorted as she finished her tart with the sophistication of a queen.

"Don’t be so sensitive, Karsten. Arata is a grown woman and I am sure she can understand how relationships go. Anyway, have some tea." She clicked her fingers and the servant waiting behind her quickly moved forward, picked up the flower-patterned teapot and began to fill the delicate teacups with aromatic tea. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

"I am not being sensitive, you are being unreasonable," he countered, not giving up.

Camilla brushed off his concerns as if she didn’t value his opinion and I understood why Karsten found it difficult to channel his emotions and wished for control.

His mother didn’t value his opinions nor did she regulate his emotions or feelings.

I didn’t know their family history but I felt sad for Karsten. I decided to change the topic while accepting the tea from the girl.

"So tell me about these roses. Which one is your favourite?"

Camilla instantly smiled as if this was her favourite topic in the world and began the long narrative of how she planted these roses and which species she loved.