Chapter 9: When The Cat's Away

"Billionaire Romance Heating Up!

What's better than one billionaire? Two billionaires in love!

Luca Brooks and Nikita Simon are still going strong. They've been spotted in public a few times since they made their first official appearance.

"Nikita's had such a positive influence on Luca," a source exclusively tells Page Nine.

"He wants to be the kind of guy she deserves."

The notorious playboy seems to have indeed turned over a new leaf. In the last few weeks, he's kept a low profile which is quite unlike him. Is the partying done for good?

"They're in the honeymoon phase right now," an insider shares. "They're just enjoying each other's company and spending time together while they can."

As for whether or not this relationship has the potential to go the distance remains to be seen. There are whispers that meeting the parents is up next.

Maya Simon, Kit's mom, is up first. She was spotted at the airport after a Caribbean getaway with her husband a few days ago.

Suffice to say, this couple has our tongues wagging and our minds racing."

"Huh," Maya muttered as she finished reading the article out loud. "Funny how no one told me about this meeting."

Kit rolled her eyes as she sipped at her coffee gingerly. "Since when do you read the tabloids?"

She was snuggled up on her mother's couch, enjoying coffee and cookies while they caught up. Her mother was sitting across from her and reading from her phone, she'd started the second Kit had sat down.

Maya pulled her glasses off her face and set them on the table. "Since that's the only way I learn anything about your life anymore."

Kit groaned and put her coffee down before shooting her mother a frown. The older woman frowned right back at her, undeterred.

Her mother's black hair fell around her head in perfectly lying coiffed curls. She was wearing a green cashmere sweater and a pair of faded jeans. Anyone meeting them for the first time could easily mistake them for sisters.

Kit had received her height, looks, and drive from her mother. Unfortunately, she'd also gotten the stubborn streak from her.

She sighed, "I don't control what Page Nine writes Mom."

"You don't," Maya agreed before swatting Kit's hand as she reached for the cookies on the table. "What you do control is what you tell your mother."

"All right!" Kit acquiesced. "You're right, I should have said something. It's still really early days. Not much to tell."

Maya studied her daughter with a dubious look on her face. "Since when are you into rich white boys?"

Kit snorted in laughter and reached for a cookie again. "I'm not into white boys, rich or poor. I'm just getting to know Luca still."

Maya shook her head in disapproval before sipping on her tea delicately. "I don't really care if you want to date a rich, white boy but why did it have to be this one?"

"First of all, Mom, Luca is a grown man -"

"He sure doesn't act like a grown man," Maya sniffed, interrupting. "He seems immature, all money and no substance."

Kit frowned at her mother. "You don't even know him."

Maya scoffed, "I know all that I need to know. Should we look him up online?" She picked up her phone and waved it back and forth before dropping it in her lap.

Kit sighed exasperatedly, "We just discussed how the tabloids print stuff that isn't true all the time."

Maya shrugged unrepentantly. "Where there's smoke, there's fire. You know how he treats women, he probably sees you as a fetish!"

Kit put her mug down. "Woah. Let's calm down. I can admit that he's mis-stepped in the past."

"He's a wh*re dear," Maya declared with a hard stare. "You can dress it up all you like but you can do better."

Kit felt irritation rise within her. "No offense, but you're the last person I'd take relationship advice from."

Maya glared at Kit who met her gaze with equal fire. Maya broke the stare off and took a deep breath. "I know that I've made mistakes with men in your life," she started evenly, "Including your father, but when you pick wrong so many times you start to get a sense for these things."

Kit sighed tiredly, "I was there too Mom. For every one of your boyfriends. I have a fairly good sense for these things too."

Maya frowned and leaned toward her daughter; her arm outstretched across the coffee table. Kit remained clearly displeased but leaned forward and grabbed her mother's hand in her own.

"I f*cked up Kit," she stated bluntly. "I know I did. I made a lot of mistakes as a mom and an example but I'm trying to do better now."

Kit sighed and offered her mother a small smile. Their relationship had been fairly rocky for most of her life but recently, they'd been working on it. She would be lying if she said her mother's dating history hadn't left a bad impression on her about love.

"I know," Kit assured her gently. "I don't need you to do that in this situation. I walked into this thing with Luca with my eyes wide open."

Maya looked at her daughter for a while before sighing heavily and shaking her head. "You've always been so hard-headed but you do you. I just don't get how you went from avoiding love to a relationship with the worst candidate."

Kit shrugged guiltily and shoved more of her cookie in her mouth. She hadn't even considered that her mother would be upset or have any concerns. She felt tempted to tell her the truth but it was risky. Maya was unlikely to approve of the truth any more than the lie.

"What can I say?" Kit murmured. "You know I've always loved taking risks and this is just another example of that."

"Girl," Maya muttered with a shake of her head. "You better know what you're doing."

Kit laughed a little and gave her mother a wan smile. "I hope I do."

The two women sat in silence for a few minutes, both lost in thought. Maya was feeling uneasy about what she'd learned and Kit felt surprisingly bothered by her mother's thoughts.

"So," Kit said with a strained smile. "How was your vacation with Matthew? I'm sure you've got a ton of photos."