Chapter Two

For a second I'm frozen. I mean what are you supposed to do when a man that looks like he could be a model for freaking Ralph Lauren, is looking at you like he wishes you would wilther.

I imagine how bad this must look to him, some random black woman is in his sister's kitchen, taking her snacks and rummaging through her refrigerator. That should be enough to startle anyone. But this man doesn't look startled, he looks upset. Like we have personal beef. Like he wants to rip my head off.

But I don't know him. You can't meet a man like him and not remember, he's simply too stunning.

Even though he's wearing sweatpants he still has this powerful air around him, it doesn't help that the white wifebeater he's got on reveales bulging, muscular biceps decorated with tattoos. I can't help but ogle him. He's got gray coloured eyes, full lips, the most prominent cheekbones I've ever seen on a man, and his strawberry blonde hair stops just below his chin, drawing emphasize to how chiseled his jawline is.

God he is fine. I awkwardly clear my throat, as I take hesitant steps towards him with my right hand outstretched.

"My name is Yasmine Daniels, I'm your sister's friend. She brought me here so I could..." Hopefully take pictures of you smooching with your girlfriend. But I don't finish that statement.

And I don't think I need to because he considers my hand like he would rather touch dog-shit, than shake it.

Asshole. I let my hand fall to my side, and take four steps back.

"My sister, the one in Italy invited you here?" He scoffs, like I'm not good enough to be Auroras friend.

What exactly is his problem?

"Yes she invited me here, and no she's back from her vacation, we came together."

He leans in closer to me, crosses his arms- a move that brings my eyes to his toned physic- and stares me dead in the eyes.

"Do not move from here."

With that he strolls out of the kitchen, probably in search of his sister. Who does he think he is telling me not move? I'm out of here. Aurora is with her brother in the living room, and contrary to what I expected she looks quite calm and composed. As if she's the one trying to explain herself to him instead of the other way around.

"You better start talking." He sneers, towering over her by a couple of inches.

"I will Aaron, but not now please."

Aaron, so this isn't Angel after all. Well that would explain things because the articles I've seen on Angel always point out how he has endless charm.

This man is anything but charming.

"No now is the best fucking time." He insists.

Whatever is going on here I don't plan to find out, I've got a flight to catch tomorrow and I don't have time for this. I clear my throat, they both turn to stare.

"Well I'll be going now, I'll text you."

Aaron looks like he wants to say something, but his sister cuts him off.

"That would be better Yas, I'll see you-"

"Honey, there you are."

I turn to look upstairs where the voice is coming from, and no way! The model that's in Auroras house is freaking Pearl Anderson. The Pearl Anderson, one of the most famous super models in the world! I almost have a heart attack, she's even more beautiful in person I conclude as she walks up to Aaron and takes his hand, wearing nothing more than a black camisole and athletic shorts, her tits are literally spilling out of the garment.

"I was waiting for you." She purrs, while rubbing her chest on his arm suggestively. But his eyes are on me. Soon pearl follows his gaze, and frowns as she finally acknowledges me.

"Hi I'm pearl." She's got a smile on that doesn't seem genuine. "And you are?"

"leaving, I am leaving." I say as I turn around and walk out the front day. Out of the house, and whatever the hell was going on in there. Maybe this is why Aurora has never bothered to introduce me to her family before, what a stuck up douchebag Aaron is. Maybe the whole family is like that, I conclude.

I don't know why, but before I head out of view from the cottage to where Aurora and I parked my SUV. I turn around, and Aaron Ashgroove is by the living room window, still watching me.

*   *   *

"Oh my god! Girl I can't believe you agreed to record an ACTOR in the first place."My best friends Libby Brown, and Hannah Garcia both exclaim in absolute astonishment. I'm back in my West-end high rise apartment, I just finished giving a recap on everything that happened at Auroras cabin.

Libby pushes my suitcase to the side, as she scoots closer to where I am on the edge of my queen sized bed. They had both been helping me pack a small suitcase for my impending New York trip. Now all they want are the details. Hannah who had been going through my underwear drawer; trying to convince me to carry along some "Sexy lingerie." is also plopped down next to me.

"So let me get this straight," Libby says trying to make sense of the whole ordeal. "You were suppose to meet THE Angel Ashgroove, but it turns out you met Aaron. Who was absolutely beautiful- but was a total dick to you?"

I nod my head,yes.

"That doesn't really make any sense." Hannah analysis. "Why would he be so rude to you? Have you ever seen him before now?"

"Trust me, if she's seen him before she would know. How do you forget a guy like this?!" Libby shoves her phone in I and Hannah's faces. She's googled a headshot of Aaron, with his blonde hair toisled, looking like a snack.

Hannah whistles. "I know I'm gay, but I would like totally do that man."

Libby rolls her eyes. "No you wouldn't, but seriously the entire family is FINE." She's scrolling on her phone, and shows us another image. This time it's a portrait of the entire family, I easily recognize Aurora her father and Aaron. But I can't really distinguish between Angel and Acher. But Libby is right they are all good looking, and they've all got this regal air hanging around them.

"Even Aurora looks good." Hannah reluctantly admits, because neither she nor Libby like Aurora. They're always wondering how I've managed to be friends with such an "up tight, white rich bitch." As they usually refer to her. I'll admit Aurora has her momments, but I really do wish Libby and Hannah would give her a chance.

Not that Aurora makes it easy. We'd first met in college: She was a struggling snobbish freshman, who couldn't keep her grades afloat, between partying all night long and having endless sex with random strangers. I a thriving sophomore, had been forced by my school counselor, to tutor Aurora.

In between studying super hard to keep my scholarship, and working on building my then, up-and-coming YouTube channel, I really had not had the patients to cope with Auroras antics. She either never showed up for our tutoring sessions, or when she did she would be super late. Or worst, she'd be shit faced drunk.

Libby annd Hannah had gone to college with me as well, she at the time was also trying to build her YouTube following, and Hannah who also went to college with us was our rookie editor. Back then they where always trying to get me to stop tutoring Aurora.

"She's gonna fail you know." Libby and Hannah would always say.

And eventually Aurora would fail, but with her father being frigging Ryle Ashgroove, there was no way in hell the university was going to drop her.

Aurora came back the next semester and worked her ass of, studying so hard I actually began to like her. It was easy for me to do when she started to open up to me, and we began to really talk, about her life, and how the death of her mother affected her.

I just kind of respected how hard she did a 360, with her academics. It was really inspiring. So much so that even after college we have still been friends, actually going out to events and galas, even vacation. But not once has she ever tried to introduce me to her family.

Not that I particularly wanted to be in proximity to her siblings or father, but now that all of this happened today, maybe she's been keeping me away because her family are all snobs.

I point this out to my friends, and Hannah is in agreement with me.

"Yeah, they are probably racist."

"I don't think so," says Libby. "Do y'all remember that charity event I went to in Houston with Devon?"

Hannah and I grimance, Devon Williams is Libby' s douchebag boyfriend, that we do not like at all.

"It was sponsored by Aaron you know, the event was targeted towards minority black children suffering with depression, and it didn't get much media coverage. So even if he was doing it for show why didn't he pick a bigger and more popular cause to donate to."

She does have a point.

"And y'all know I can usually tell when someone's a racist asshole, Aaron was nothing but sweet and respectful." Libby is black just like me, but with a lighter skin tone. And she has always been able to point out when someone has a prejudice against black people.

Hannah also seems to agree with her. "You do have a point, plus those white boys are always dating women of all races."

"Especially Angel, remember that time he dated his Jamaican producer from The Road?." Libby says Amen to that and we all laugh.

By 6pm we've finished packing, I just shot my video and Hannah is currently editing it. Libby brings up the subject of the management agency she, Hannah and I work for: ITENS International. For months now there's been serious talk that the agency is selling out because they might be going bankrupt.

But nothing has been made public yet, we are all just holding out breath praying that ITENS does not officially shut down. For content creators as big as Libby, whose Niche is based on beauty and lifestyle, or me who makes content around movie criticism and reviews, or even Hannah who is a well established editor: If the agency does shut down it wouldn't really affect us.

But they are a ton of smaller influencers that ITENS manages, and going bankrupt would most likely affect them.

"Well I'm done editing, c'mon Libby we gotta bounce."

They both get up to leave and grab their purses.

"Where are you guys headed?" I ask them.

I finally take note of how good their looking, Hannah is wearing a black bandage dress that hugs all her curves, and she does have a lot of curves, her curly brown hair is hanging high on a ponytail, her edges are laid to perfection and she looks like the definition of a spicy Latina.

Libby on the other hand just has on a pair of faded baggy jeans, long sleeved crop top and sneakers. She's not as dressed up as Hannah, but her face is beat to the gods.

Damn! My friends look good.

Hannah tells me she's got a hot date with a really pretty bartender from some night club, and Libby is taging along to chaperone her.

"Have fun." I say.

"You know it." Hannah replies, moving her hips in a seductive rythym.

"Slut!" I call out playfully.

She winks at me, then she's out the door. I walk Libby to the door, she tells me to have fun, stay safe, and call her as soon as I arrive in Manhattan.

I promise her I will.

We hug, and then Libby is also out the door. That night when I go to bed it's Aaron Ashgroove that's on my mind, and in my dreams.