Cole had always had a somewhat strained relationship with his father James ever since the divorce. He knew meeting his father's fiancΓ© Zoey was going to be uncomfortable, but he certainly was not expecting what he did see.
Zoey was a stark contrast to Cole's father. She was noticeably younger, and had a seductive body that did not escape Cole's notice. Her black dress hugged the curves of her feminine form closely, accentuating the perkiness and vitality of her sexual features. She had curly black hair that seemed wild and untamable. Her eyes were equally obsidian, and contrasted her smooth, ivory skin.
Shortly after a polite meeting, Cole asked to talk to James alone. They went into James' office.
"You can't seriously believe this woman has any genuine interest in you," Cole said bluntly to James.
"Zoey and I have a very real and meaningful connection," James explained, "I know the optics of our relationship might seem a bit off to people, but there is something truly special there."
"She is absurdly younger than you," Cole said, "What could you possibly have in common? Certainly not enough to get married."
"No one has ever understood me the way she does," James said, "Frankly, I don't have to defend my personal choices to you. You are my son. I don't tell you how to live your life and you don't tell me how to live mine."
"Fine," Cole replied, "Do whatever you want. I hope she rips you off for every penny you have old man. You deserve it anyway for how you broke Mom's heart."
"So that's what is really at the bottom of this argument," James said, "You still blame me for the divorce.
"I'm a grown man," Cole said, "I'm long over the divorce. I'm talking about now. How do you think it makes Mom feel to see you replacing her with a woman that has got to be half her age?"
"Your mother is responsible for her own feelings," James said, "It is not my fault if she can't get over me."
Feeling flabbergasted, Cole threw his arms up and walked out of the house.
A week went by without a word between Cole and James.
One evening, there was a knock at Cole's apartment door. He answered it and saw Zoey standing there. She wore a tight crimson dress. "Hello Cole," she said, "I was hoping we could talk."
"What do we have to talk about?" he asked.
"To be honest," she said, "I feel a little judged. You take one look at me and make such unfair assumptions about me. We barely said anything to each other."
"I think I know all I need to know," he said. Cole started to shut the door.