Episode 18

"Mom, Dad, good morning." I rushed and hugged my parents."Dany, little sister, it's nice to see you so early at home." Did my brother spend the night with her? There must have been some action.

"Um, I just got here, I'm glad to see you, friend." she said with a smile.

"I'm off to the university today; I'm not having breakfast because I plan to eat at the university. Are you coming, Dany?" I asked, interlocking her arm with mine.

"Be kind to her, Alessia." my mom said, and I nodded like a little girl.

"Yes, Mom, let's go, or we'll be late." I told her as we headed for the exit, tugging softly at her arm.

As soon as we left the house, I guided her to Dad's car; he always lets me drive it, so I have my own set of keys.

‘I need my own car.’ I thought it wasn't fair that my father gave Alessandro a car and not me.

"What's wrong, Daniela?" I asked when I noticed she kept staring at the entrance to my house.

"Nothing, just that I didn't tell Alessandro I'd be leaving with you." she said after looking away from the house's entrance.

"Don't worry about him; you don't matter to him, Stephy is all he cares about, so he won't mind if you leave with me. Besides, he can chase after his beloved if you come with me." She bowed her head."Sorry? I didn’t realize you liked my brother. Do you like him?" I asked before starting the car.

"No, he and I are just... just..."

"What? If you say friends, I won't believe you; Alessandro doesn't have friends."

"Acquaintances?" she questioned with her entire face a questioning look.

"You know what, we're not going to the university, I need you for something else, so you'll come with me first."

"Me? Why do you need me?" she asked.

I started the car and drove away from my parents' house, the beloved Smith mansion.

"Wait, where are we going?" she asked as she gripped the seat with force; is she really that cowardly?

"We're going to the Walker family's fine arts company. Do you remember the young man that came to dinner with us last night?" I asked with a smile. I couldn't sleep last night just thinking about Charles.

"Yes, the young man who is Stephanie’s brother?" she said hesitantly.

"Yes, isn't life wonderful? Stephy and Charles are twins, and Alessandro and I are twins. It's destiny at work; twins are meant to be together."

"Yes, they are." she said, looking away.

"Daniela, you really don't like my brother? You seem sad just hearing about Stephy. They've known each other since they were kids and, well, they’re very similar."

"No, he’s complicated, so I don’t like him. I'm just grateful to him; he saved my life three times. So do you say they are meant to be together because they know each other since childhood?" she asked with a smile, which faded in an instant.

"Three times?" I asked.

"Yes, the first time we met and last night."

"Those are only two."

"Yes, sorry, just two."

"Bah, I need you to help me, in case his girlfriend is there; you could entertain her, and I'll owe you one."

"Yes, Alessia, I will help you, and I won't forget that you owe me one." she said with a smile.

I just nodded, and we drove to the Walker company.

As soon as we arrived, we saw a picture of my in-laws, Mr. Stefan and Mrs. Liliana, at the reception, the most beautiful people there.

"Looks like Charles." Daniela noted.

"Yes, he got his good looks from his father; come on." I’m annoyed that she's looking so much at my beloved.

"Welcome ladies." the receptionist greeted.

"Hello, Key, long time no see. Is Charles here?" I asked, and she pointed to the elevator. I used to come here often to hook up with Charles; back then, he told them to always let me go up whenever I came.

He doesn’t go to college; he's a genius who finished his studies two years early, while I only thought about the best ways to be with him, he was studying – stupid, my situation...

I took Daniela’s hand and rushed into the elevator. This time, I didn't press the button for the 7th floor, where his old office was, but for the 20th, where the management is.

The elevator rose with a stupid melody.

"Let's dance, Daniela." I said, taking her hand, and she shook her head in refusal."Don't be a spoilsport; the best way to pass the time between floors is by dancing."

We started to dance as the elevator climbed.

After dancing slow, we started to get wild and laugh like crazy.

After 20 floors, the elevator doors opened.

We walked out and made our way to the management office.

"Hello, Jarol! Is Charles in?" I asked.

"Miss Smith, he's in a meeting; he'll be out in a few minutes." said Jarol, his secretary.

"Fine, I'll wait... Let's sit down, Dany." I took her hand, and we sat on the waiting couch.

It only took a few minutes for him to appear again.

"Jarol, schedule my appointment for tomorrow." he said and then turned his gaze to me and Daniela.

"Alessia, shouldn’t you be at the university?" he asked.

"I promised my friend Daniela that I'd set her up on a date with you; she paints like Alessandro, right, friend?" I said, pushing Daniela forward.

"Yes, hi..." she said nervously.