ROSEI was fully aware that everyone had left the class except for me, who seemed engrossed in something I wasn't sure of. Even though I didn't excel in academics, I used to draw a lot as a kid, just like my dad, who later turned into a jerk. Since then, I had suppressed that part of me, not wanting to bring back bad memories of the past."You seem extremely busy," he started heading towards me when I stretched my hand. "Stay back. I'm not done," I said with seriousness as he raised a brow, folded his arms, and obediently stood away."So much for a person who didn't care about the art but the instructor," he said."Trust me. I'm very much interested in both," I said absentmindedly as he stifled a laugh. I turned to look at him with a confused expression, which later turned into a tiny bit of joy in my heart. This was the first time Valerio was smiling at me after days of ignoring and fighting."Done," I finally said as I took the A4 paper and turned it around for him to see. He approa
ROSE"Who is leaving?" Valentino asked as he descended the stairs, staring at them with a serious look."Who asked him to butt in?" Valerio muttered under his breath when he saw his brother."No one," I said, and turned to look at Valerio, as if waiting for him to back up my claim. "I guess," I added.Valentino glanced at Valerio for a moment, then back to me. "Come on, Rose. We need to talk. Privately," Valentino said as I raised a brow and pointed to my chest."Ugh?" I asked."We are in the middle of a conversation, brother," Valerio chimed in."I don't care," Valentino said with a stiff smile and held my hand, starting to head to the stairs when I realized my other hand had been gripped too. Oh no, this is not happening again. Do these brothers only think about themselves?!Valentino turned back to find Valerio's hands around mine as his frown deepened. "I said we were still in the middle of a conversation, Valentino," Valerio said with a more arrogant stare as Valentino watched hi
VALERIOMy heart felt like it would be ripped with excitement as I felt her tug at my shirt to free the buttons. My hands came to rest on hers, stopping her as she stared at me, surprised."What?" She asked, and my lips curved into a smile. "Slowly, Amora." I loved the way the pet name sounded on my lips as I rubbed her cheeks lovingly, not believing the fact that she was here, alone with me and all mine."We have all the time in the world," I smirked, watching her eyes fill with desire. For me... just for me."You brought me here to make love, not talk," she said, surprising me with her bluntness."Don't you want to? We could leave if—""Shut up," she said and jammed our lips together as the kiss deepened by the seconds. Now she was able to tug away my shirt, and I let out a groan of pleasure as her palm skated along my bare back. "You are wicked, Amora," I muttered with my lips now in her ear while she explored my bare body.She let out a chuckle, behaving like a mischievous three-ye
ROSE"Magic," I muttered as I felt him inside me. This was indeed magical. Confessing my love to him and having sex with him afterward. Yes, confession. You heard me. I loved Valerio. I had always loved him since the first day I laid my eyes on him. And like a crunchy snack that was out of my reach, I had wanted him.I stared at him as he thrust back and forth, like we had the whole damn time in the world. Of course, he told me we did have it.Then I closed my eyes, savoring every part of him, wallowing in the pleasure without restrictions.I heard him groan as he pulled out, and his seed spilled over the bed. That was when I realized we had unprotected sex. But for some crazy reason, I loved it.As we lay side by side after the mind-blowing sex, he took my hand, lacing our fingers together, and stared at our hands, which were slightly raised up. I gazed at him, his tousled hair on the pillow, and he looked vulnerable. This part of him made my heartbeat quicken as if my love for him re
"What?" I asked in surprise."If you agree to be mine, I would agree to everything you want, without any protest," he said with a teasing gaze that turned me on. "You agree to be mine, I become your slave to command." He chuckled as I couldn't help the throaty laughter that escaped my lips."You make it sound like the ancient days when it was normal for people to have slaves," I said as I watched him, my eyes glittering as he moved toward my mouth and bit my lower lip. "I don't mind being yours..." He moved to my ear and whispered, "Forever." He whispered as he moved back to look at me."What do you say?" He raised a brow, watching me calmly, but his gaze did crazy things to me, crazy weird things."Hesitating?" He asked again as I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again as I shook my head. "I-""Don't." He raised a finger to stop me from talking as I watched him patiently. He wasn't right.Thank God he stopped me, because my self-control where Valerio is concerned is deeply rest
ROSE"Oh my God," I gasped as Marco walked towards me with a bouquet of flowers and handed them over to me."Is this for a party? What about the chairman?" I asked, staring at Marco."How could you think of attending a function with the chairman when it's your birthday?" Vicente asked, and I turned to him with a wide smile on my face. "Oh my God, Vicente, I'm so touched," I said genuinely as he walked over to me and opened his arms. "Happy birthday, Rose," he said, and I chuckled and walked into his arms without a second thought. On the other side stood Valerio, staring at me like... I could make a thing from his contemplation."That's okay," Valentino walked up to us and separated us with a smug smile, as if they had promised not to nag. Vicente let go of me without much pressure."You look beautiful, Princesa," Valentino said with a smile and held my shoulder as if trying to get a better view of me. "Let's go eat. I'm hungry," Valerio rolled his eyes as he passed through our midst an
ROSE“What do you-" I turned to look at him as he watched me, as if I had lied and there would be an issue.“I believe I know you to some extent, Rose,” he said, as the song in the background continued, but my soul felt cut off when Valentino popped that question.“And there is something going on between you two,” he added, his eyes on Vicente. “And it seems my little brother is crazy about you, but you're so invested in Valerio that you don't notice anyone else,” he said, as I bit my lower lip.“It's nothing,” I said, but my voice didn't even sound convincing to myself.“I don't care anyway. I took your advice and want to keep this family together. Your wish was that this family stayed together and loved each other…” He turned to look at me.“Don't ask me how I knew… you are literally obsessed with keeping my brothers and me together. That will be my birthday gift from me to you, Rose. I will fulfill your birthday wish,” he said as he watched me, devoid of emotion. “I hope your relati
ROSE "When you say 'leave,' you mean…""Leave the mansion," the chairman clarified as my heart sank.I watched as it appeared he breathed a sigh of relief. "The brothers are now getting along with each other. What I didn't expect to see, but you made it happen. I'm just so enthralled that I don't want to burden you any longer, Miss Arturo.""What? No!" I stood up abruptly, staring at him in fright. "It wasn't a bother, I promise. I enjoyed every moment of my time with them." I said absentmindedly, the chairman looking at me in confusion as my words seemed somewhat out of line. I quickly corrected myself. "I mean, helping them to love each other," I said, praying he wouldn't read any hidden meaning into it, as he had always been suspicious of me before."Right? They were lovable as kids," the chairman said after a moment of silence following my statement. "I thought if they were less cranky as adults, they would be extremely lovable," he chuckled, and I struggled not to breathe a sigh
ROSE"What’s with the face?” Renata turned to the passenger side to look at me.“Marco said to come in now,” she said as I sighed, nervously tucking my fingernails into my mouth.“How will he react when he sees me?” I turned to look at her; she smiled. “I mean, I just left like that without a real goodbye, like a selfish….” The words hung in my mouth as she placed a hand on mine.“Don’t… this is for your happiness. These past few days have been hell for you. I won’t let you leave here without meeting him at least once,” she said. When I still seemed hesitant, she continued.“I heard he has been combing the whole world trying to find you. Imagine how he is going to feel,” she said with a reassuring smile, and I gave her a tight smile.I would fool myself if I said that served as any comfort. “Well… I guess I have to go now,” I said as Renata nodded.“Yeah… Go on, don’t keep your man waiting,” she teased, and I returned a tight smile.Now in front of Valentino’s office, the door suddenl
VALENTINO“What the hell is this?” I raised up the file the head of strategy department in the New York just brought in, as I stared at the blonde with a pissed expression.“Sir, it’s the….”“Fuck this.” I muttered under my breath as I stood up, the other man’s head slightly bowed in fear.For the past three days here in New York, I have been on the edge. Every single thing got me pissed. And this was bad, it got worse everyday as the project we are working on was being hindered due to lack of progress.“Leave now.” I cupped my face in my palm. “Until you find a better plan.” I raised up my head to look at him, so he could understand the gravity of the situation from my expression.“Alright sir.” His American accent came out calmly. They were used to it. Or maybe they forced themselves to just bear with my cranky attitude.I rested back on the leather chair following the sound of the door closing and closed my eyes, took in a deep breath and her image mirrored in my head.My eyelid fl
VICENTEFew months later….“Calling out of the blue to pick you up , eh? Do I look like your manager or driver?” Marco asked Vicente who occupied the back seat, while he drove, his eyes on the road.“Must you complain about everything, Marco? I just called this once and you can let it slip.” I replied, my eyes out in the window as I take in the afternoon view of Venice, it wasn’t like there was anything fascinating about it, I just wanted to be distracted.“Plus my Manager is on a break….”“A break you let him have. And now you’re being all grumpy towards me. I still think it’s unfair.” He looked at me through the rear mirror but I didn’t spare him a glance.“You don’t look good, Vicente .” He said again after a moment do silence.“It’s feels so empty.” I mumbled to myself as I reminisce on how the recent days felt like hell….all because of the absence of one person.“What?” Marco asked, completely confused.“I wonder if they feel it too.” I said again. “My brothers.” I looked throug
“Vicente.” I called slowly, the smile on my face fading away as I watched me intently. As we both stared at each in silence, he suddenly burst into a smile while I watched in confusion.“What’s with the look?” He asked with a chuckle, while I stared in confusion.“Ugh?” I asked, blinking.“I should be asking you that.” I licked my lips nervously, desperate to understand what was going through that head of his.“I pulled a little joke and you fell for it immediately? How cute.” He played with my cheeks as I let out a sigh and forced a slight chuckle….while throwing my face to the other side.The feeling of guilt overwhelming me again.Like hell I would believe that, it was a mere joke. I caught a sign of it. A sign of pain.I stood up abruptly as he followed me up too and stared at me with careful gaze.“I need to go.” I said, looking at him.“Ugh?” He raised his gaze in confusion, and for a minute I got lost in that curious wide eyes of his. As he watched me, it felt like he was sendi
ROSE“What were you trying to do?” I forced my gaze away from Valentino to Valerio who scoffed in disbelief.He stared at me in the disapproving glare that he as trying to moderate. But his emotions won’t let him.“I heard everything. The conversation between you and Vicente.” I said as he raised his brow in a knowing stare while I pressed my lips.“It doesn’t give any right to act out, Valerio.” I said again, everything coming out of my mouth with so much difficulty because the difficult part was yet to come. The reason I was here.“You can’t keep supporting him in this bloody time!” He seethed angrily as he watched me, his expression a mixture of anger and denial.From the corner of my eyes, I could see Valentino watching us. I bowed my head slightly as I played with my fingers, my whole body tensed.I couldn’t back down. I can’t go back on my word just because of the kind of emotion that was flowing through me at that point.“It doesn’t matter anymore.” I said and raised my head t
“What is it?” I watched him,a little scared of what to expect.I wasn’t sure why. But when it concerns Rose. It was good enough to get me nervous.He sighed heavily and shoved his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t be telling you this but….”“Go on Vicente.” I chimed in smoothly as he watched me with a nervous expression.“It was a setup.” He said as I raised my brow. “What is?” I asked.“The whole thing.” He said again.“Ugh?” I prompted, now feeling uneasy at the way he was breaking the words, mounting my fears.“When I visited Valentino the other day, I….”He started to shake his head as if trying to remember.“I overheard him and the doctor talking. About his blood pressure.” He said but I still couldn’t understand where he was heading to.“Isn’t it normal for a doctor to discuss the patient’s condition with him?” I asked with a slight chuckle, as I tried to cover my fears with a feigned smile.“Yeah. I think he told him to disclose it to your guys intentionally to….”“To get Ros
VALERIO “Fuck!” I muttered under my breath as I turned to see my brother staring at me and Rose as if he couldn’t comprehend what was right in front of him.Vicente closed the door as quickly as he opened it and walked away.“He looks pissed.” I turned to Rose who had her hand stuck in her head as if thinking of what to do, but was obviously stuck.“I’ll go talk to him.” I said and licked my lips in exasperation and stood up, watched as she crouched up her legs and folded her arms around him, her gaze away from mine.“Hey.” I started to move close to her but she moves slightly away from me as if she was tasked to stay away.“Go to Vicente.” She looked up to me quickly.“He would get things wrong.” She said with a worried expression.I sighed and nodded then moved away from the bed. “Tell him what?” I asked, my voice starting to sound irritated as she raised up her head to look at me in disbelief.“Anything!” She retorted angrily. “What if he goes blabbering to Valentino about this?”
VALERIO I moved closer and deepened the kiss, as if scared that she might change her mind at the last minute. I didn’t need any more confirmation from her as she held my head to her.Closely, as if I might withdraw.As we deepened the kiss as the minute passes, flashes of her rejecting me after all of this ends starts to come to my mind but I blocked out those thoughts as I led her instinctively to the bed.As we kissed, I placed her hastily on the bed, our panting breath, the only thing that filled my head as the urgency of the situation seized me.“Valerio.” She pushed me back as I stared at her flushed face, and maybe a hint of guilt starting to show.“This is the last time.” The words came out of her mouth and I didn’t even know how to react to it.She was looking at my lips like a snack that she has always wanted and has now gotten the chance.“Last time?” I asked, my voice choked with emotion as she causally shifted her gaze to my eyes.“I chose Valentino.” She said as if even
ROSE“Thank you, doctor.” I managed to say despite the huge lump of pain I was feeling in my chest at that point. But Valerio stood up abruptly and walked out of the room without saying a word as I shifted my gaze to gus retreating figure, watched as he banged the door following his exiting.“I’m sorry about that.” I turned to apologize to the doctor who just managed a tight smile. Obviously, that didn’t settle well with him. And Valerio obviously wasn’t feeling what he said. I stood up and walked away, dragging my feet down the hallway.“Follow him or him….”Arya asked through the mind linked in my head.I knew who she was referring to as him or him.I didn’t reply that, just made my way out of the hospital, and if I was mistaken, I saw Valerio’s car pass in front of me, speeding up without a care in the world.I clenched my fist and swallowed, as I tried not to stagger due to how weak I suddenly became.This is extremely tiresome. And what’s worse, I can’t leave everything and leave