1. Meeting Victory

Aaron gave out a sheepish smile as he absently scratched the back of his neck. His blue eyes quickly darted from left to right, trying unsuccessfully to avoid eye contact with Arthur who was seated right in front of him. Unfortunately for Aaron, his face mirrored the guilt that he was feeling.

As the resident trouble maker for the Knight family, Aaron falls into trouble easily. Perhaps, a little bit too easily. He couldn't avoid them no matter how hard he tried, mischief always has a way of finding him at every turn.

"I may have told Victory that it's okay to use your room." Aaron answered with an embarrassed smile. His cheeks coloured at being caught on a bluff by his older brother.

All the Knights are fully aware that Victory is using Arthur's room. Well, technically everyone knew except for Arthur. 

Up until that very moment, Arthur thought Victory was a guy called Victor.

"If I remember correctly, I've asked your permission before and you agreed." Aaron said as his face cleared, suddenly having recalled his memory of asking him way back when.

"You gave me the the green light and she's been using your room for ages. Besides, it's not like you use the room anyway," Aaron reasoned, his hands waving expressively in front of his body. "You're always staying at your own bachelor pad in the city."

Arthur indeed did have his own apartment in midtown Manhattan which is closer to Knight Towers, where his office was located. However, that didn't mean that Aaron could start an Airbnb and simply allowed any of his lady friends to use his room for their convenience. Besides, the Knight mansion have two guest rooms located on the ground floor, at the back of the house near the pool area.

"All these while, you told me her name was Victor and Victor is a guy." Arthur retorted sharply, his forehead was wrinkling in confusion. His eyes shone with disapproval at discovering Aaron had purposively misled him.

Adrian chortled from the sofa, clearly amused by his two brothers' latest altercation. As the youngest among the three, he preferred to stay by the sidelines and avoided getting caught in the middle at all costs. They would roast him easily and it was too early for him to die.

Aaron chuckled at Arthur's reply and shook his head. He nonchalantly swished his hand as if to dismiss what Arthur has just claimed.

With an albeit insincere apologetic smile, he elaborated, "Victor is short for Victory. I may have shortened her name to Victor so that you'd agree to her using your room." His lips curved into a wide grin, exposing his pearly white teeth to his brother. 

Victory has been a semi-permanent addition to the Knights' household for several years now, being best friends and almost literally joined to the hip with their middle son, Aaron. They both met in high school and became fast friends since the first day they met. They were like two peas in a pod, both having the same cheeky demeanour and bubbly personality.

Arthur narrowed his eyes into small slits, his blue eyes flickering in disbelief at Aaron. His lips pressed into a straight line and a muscle was ticking beneath his square jaw. 

Trying to placate Arthur's irritation, Aaron quickly added, "I'm sorry, okay? You weren't home and she needed a room to shower and change her clothes."

"As you can see," Aaron waved his arm from his chest to his waist, "it would not be appropriate for her to shower and change in my room, unless we plan on showering together."

He then plastered a thoughtful look on his face and winked cheekily, adding, "Perhaps I should go and ask her." 

With those final words, Aaron dashed out of the living room, the ends of his jacket flapping wildly behind him, muttering under his breath about pesky siblings. 

**********

An hour later, Aaron and Victory walked arm in arm down the curved stairs. Both were looking fresh, having showered and changed into different outfits.

Aaron was wearing a casual white polo shirt and navy slacks while Victory was wearing an oversized light blue Ralph Lauren shirt and black leggings. Victory's brown hair was still damp from the shower and tiny droplets of water had fallen onto her shoulders and her back, creating dark spots on the shirt that she was wearing.

To Arthur's surprise, he couldn't help but notice the familiar initials that were embroidered on the chest pocket of the oversized shirt that Victory was wearing. A frown had appeared on his face as realisation dawned on him.

He decided to ask her about it and called out, "Excuse me, Victory?"

Damp brown hair swivelled slowly as her head turned to his direction. 

Unable to remove the accusatory tone in his voice, he blurted, "The blue shirt that you're wearing are embroidered with my initials. May I know why are you wearing my shirt?"

Victory's green eyes widened as both eyebrows lifted in surprise. Her mouth parting into a small circle and her cheeks tinted at the question.

With a flustered look on her face, Victory divulged quickly. "I took the shirt from one of the closets in the bedroom upstairs."

Her teeth had now bit onto the bottom of her pink lips in embarrassment. 

Her expression turned apologetic as she continued, "I am sorry but I truly didn't know the clothes belong to you. I thought they belonged to no one because Aaron told me no one used the room."

Without missing a beat, Arthur rapidly asked another set of questions which had been weighing on his mind. He wanted to solve a mystery that has been plaguing him since a few years back.

Looking thoughtful, he continued, "Is that why a couple of my shirts have been missing from my wardrobe? And the ladies' clothing and undergarments which seem to be accumulating in my bedroom, I assume they are yours as well?"

Her cheeks turned into a deeper shade of pink. Victory gave him a sheepish smile and reluctantly nodded. Her green eyes now roamed everywhere except at his blue orbs.

Everybody around them laughed at their banter, clearly amused at the unfortunate revelation. 

Before Arthur could continue and to avoid any further embarrassment to herself, Victory quickly interjected, "I'll take my clothes home with me tonight and I'll return your shirts the next time I'm here. I truly apologise for this mishap."

She continued with a wry smile on her face, "It seems that I've just barely arrived in New York and here I am already causing quite a spectacle of myself. Obviously being friends with Aaron may be a factor here." 

Victory shrugged her dainty shoulders helplessly, surrendering to her fate.

Despite their tumultuous relationship, no matter what happens, Victory wouldn't trade Aaron for the world. The guy is practically her person, she'd go wherever he goes and it has caused her to land into more trouble than she has ever dreamed possible.

She glared at Aaron, her eyes sending silent threats for misleading both she and Arthur, and causing unnecessary embarrassment especially to her. If looks could kill, Aaron would have died a most painful and torturous death. 

Moments later, Abigail called everyone into the dining room where dinner was served. Just half an hour ago, the sun had slipped under the horizon and it is now time for evening meal. 

The dining room was located at the right side of the house, just opposite the living room. The walls were covered in light yellow wallpaper, printed with colourful birds and lush greenery, creating a tropical vibe to the room. A chandelier was hung in the middle of the ceiling, warm yellow light emitting from its crystal spheres. A white rectangular oak table stood proudly in the middle of the room and translucent Louis XV ghost armchairs were tucked smartly underneath the table.

Avery sat at the head of the table, flanked by Abigail and Aaron while Arthur sat at the other end of the dining table, flanked by Victory and Adrian. 

Various dishes were already strategically placed on the tabletop, steam wafting from roast chicken, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, beef stew and many others. The smell of freshly prepared food were dancing seductively into their nostrils.

Once everyone was seated, Avery invited everyone to dig in. The table was quiet, except for the clinking of cutlery and silverware against porcelain and fine china.

After a brief pause, conversation started to flow. All of them were excited to listen to Aaron and Victory's tale from their trip to Europe.

Both shared snippets of their trip: standing in long queues to enter the Louvre, observing couples professing their love on top of the Eiffel Tower, eating ice cream in Milan, getting pickpocketed in Rome, stuffing themselves silly with pizza in Italy, meeting other travellers on the Eurotrain and choosing to backpack instead of staying in 5 star hotels. 

Adrian interjected their narrative and asked a few questions about Italy, Rome in particular. Abigail's sister had married an Italian and they currently live in Rome with their three kids. In a few months, he is planning to spend his summer there with his cousins. 

Once dessert was served, they all settled into comfortable silence, bellies full from eating and laughing from Aaron and Victory's travel tales.

The conversation moved on to what Aaron and Victory planned to do, now that they are back home and having completed their tertiary education. Just six months ago, both had graduated from NYU with a business degree.

Aaron claimed that he will be joining the Knight's business empire. A new position had been created for him and he will be learning the ropes from his dad.

Avery had high hopes that Aaron will be taking over managing the family business from him. Arthur had told him several years back that he would not be joining Knight Enterprises and now he expects that both Aaron and Adrian will join the firm.

Despite being the firstborn, Arthur has no interest in the family business, preferring to venture out on his own and leaving the empire to his parents and siblings, Aaron and Adrian. He is confident that both his brothers would be able to step up the plate and take their rightful place in the company's business enterprise. 

Four years ago, after graduating from Stanford University, Arthur started his own advertising and media company. He had to put in long hours to ensure the survival of the firm. And now the hard work is finally paying off, the company is currently one of the preferred top advertising and media agency in New York.

"What are your plans, Victory?" Abigail turned to face Victory, her pale blue eyes shining with curiosity. 

"I've accepted a 6-months attachment at A. K. Media. They've told me that the post is as the personal assistant to the CEO and I will be starting on Monday. If I perform well, they might consider extending it into a 2-year contract once the 6-months attachment is over." Victory replied nonchalantly. 

"So you'll be working with Arthur?" Aaron asked, moving his gaze from Victory to Arthur.

"Arthur? Which Arthur?" Victory asked, wrinkling her forehead in confusion.

"My brother, Arthur Knight, the one who's sitting next to you at the dining table?" Aaron replied, lifting one of his dark eyebrows into a perfect arc and nodding his head in Arthur's direction. His facial expression looked as if he is asking Victory a question to which she should already know the answer to.

Victory glanced to her left, to where Arthur was seated. Then she turned her attention back to Aaron and announced uncharitably.

"In all the eight years that I have known you, Aaron, this is the first time that I have the pleasure of meeting your brother, Arthur. And I am sure, this is his first time meeting me too."