My Psychotic Boss

A Mother's Love

It was the weekend now. Weekend didn't mean nobody was working at Velvore, it was Rowan's weekend. His mother had come to stay for the weekend with Rowan, and she was meeting Delancey for the first time.

She had been confused on why her son's engagement was suddenly broken off and now there's a new girl she's never heard about who's now engaged to her son. She had to find clarity in all this mess. "Okay mom, don't overboard her with questions... she's quite timid right now... " Rowan explained quietly as they waited for Delancey's arrival.

In her head, from what Rowan had just said... Delancey seemed a little sassy, or dramatic in a way...

"Ding...dong...ding...dong..." The doorbell rang out in its gentle theme. "Remember what I told you mom." Rowan eyeballed his mom only for her to wave her hand dismissively and mumble under her breath.

Rowan stepped over to the door, opening it to see Delancey still gloomy as before, but at least Delancey felt comfortable to not hoard herself in her apartment all boarded off with a kitchen knife. "You're alright Delancey, I spoke with Malrick... " Rowan whispered to Delancey, quiet enough his mom couldn't catch on. Rowan spoke in a way which made it look like the problem was solved...

Delancey only nodded and stepped inside, "Hey" she spoke shyly with a dry smile.

"Hey dear, come sit." She patted on the chair next to her with a soft wrinkled smile. Delancey sat down next to her, it was clear Delancey looked a little unstable... afraid in a way. She glanced up at her son only for his eyeballs to grow larger as a silent warning to not dig in. "You can call me Gracie or mom, since you're marrying my son. It's finally nice to see you Delancey, you have such a pretty name. I wished I had a daughter to name such a pretty name." Gracie kept the conversation light, trying to lure Delancey out of her comfort zone.

"Y-Yeah... " Delancey spoke low, flitching at the shadows she saw walk past the closed blinded window. The harmless shadows of pedestrians walking past.

"Are you okay Delancey, you can confide in me for anything that is bothering you?" Gracie leaned in, only for Rowan to slap his forehead with a face palm. Gracie swatted her hand at Rowan, a silent message saying she knows what she's doing.

"I-I don't know... " Delancey glanced up at Rowan, she felt hurt that Rowan left her that day while she was afraid for her life at her apartment.

Rowan slammed his hands on the table, leaning in. Gracie jumped a little. "Delancey, you're fine. Remember when you said you wanted to meet my parents? this is it. Malrick won't do anything. He just want's Seren." Rowan was feeling irritated at Delancey's depressed, jumpy behavior. This is what Delancey wanted, to meet his family. Now she's ruining it.

"Oh? Seren... How's she doing these days? I haven't been able to reach her." Gracie spoke with good intentions, but it was uncalled for in front of Delancey.

"Alright, this isn't going to work out." Rowan rubbed his temple. Delancey looked up at him stunned by what he meant by that. "Alright mom, you're in the loop. If I have to talk about it, then I will."

"What's going on, is this related to Seren and why she suddenly broke the engagement?" Gracie's face was etched with concern. In a way, Gracie really like Seren and supported their marriage full heartedly.

"I-I... " Rowan stuttered, the truth felt terrible to say to his mom.

"He cheated on Seren with me, I betrayed my best friend by going behind her back with Rowan." Delancey said flatly. Delancey didn't care anymore, she wasn't ashamed. It was how it is.

Gracie covered her mouth, glancing at Delancey and Rowan. Delancey looked dull inside while Rowan's face got red, ashamed this had to be said. "Why did you do it son... "

"I was stupid alright." Rowan blurted out, irritated.

Delancey glanced up at Rowan, her heart panged. She didn't really have feelings for him but hearing that from him... she didn't expect it, it hurt.

"We'll talk about this later son, continue." Gracie seemed disappointed, but her eyes showed that she wasn't finished with this conversation just yet.

"Well, Seren had gotten rather close with my boss. I don't know the full context... but Malrick, my boss... He's found a liking to Seren. He's a dangerous guy... He's worse than dad." Rowan explained the best he could.

"He threatened to do things to me, he hasn't acted yet... but I-I still feel haunted." Delancey added.

"The guy literally stabbed his hand with a pen to reopen a wound for Seren's attention, but before that the guy broke his mug and cut himself with it, framing it as an accident for her attention. This guy is unhinged, insane. I-I was in his office when I realized he had locked me in there with him. He spoke about doing things to Seren... probably to provoke me or something. Then he held the key in front of me and threatened to eat the key then he asked what I'd do if we were both trapped in the office together..." Rowan's hands clenched into fists, the irritation growing more now that he brought all that up. "Then he made me sit in a tiny wooden chair... Dehumanized me right then and there, degraded me so much." Rowan added.

"Oh! he did that to me too. Then he spoke... intimate... predatory, I was terrified." Delancey jumped up having a very similar experience.

"Why haven't any of you called the police, or FBI to check him out?" Gracie spoke concerned. Malrick was worse than her ex-husband for sure.

"He's the Velvore son. His family could just cover anything up. He'd twist his words, and I'd end up in some mental institution instead." Rowan rolled his eyes, his arms folded up, crossed.

"How about you just find another job son? you took psychology in college." Gracie asked,

"Psychology doesn't bring in the money. Velvore foods is just too good to pass up. I know if I just stayed clear of Seren, I'll be fine." He snickered. "If I win the lottery, say less. I'll quit so fast."

Gracie sighed, she felt hopeless for her son and for Delancey. They were clearly up against a psychopath, but the thought that all they had to do was avoid Seren they'll be fine sort of put her heart at ease. "Are you guys getting married, this isn't just talk?"

Delancey held up her finger to show the ring, Gracie frowned a little bit. She remembered how happy Seren was when she had showed that ring on her finger.

But if his son was going to be safe and was going to be happy with Delancey... she didn't mind. She just wanted to see her son married before she passed.