**Like some requested, Denzel Washington as Steve***

¥¥¥¥

"I told you yellow gold would look great on her skin. Silver would have been boring." Elena grinned widely grabbing my hand in hers and looked at the ring closely.

We were about to go to their parents' house for dinner. Stella wanted everyone there to 'celebrate' our engagement. Jason disagreed with the idea right away, but Stella just did it anyways.

He said it could be a normal dinner and that the title was unnecessary.

I looked at her smiling. "So, you knew."

"Yep. I always know everything. I helped the designer." She said proudly glancing at her brother who just shook his head.

Well someone is still not happy.

I looked at her questioningly. "Designer?"

"Yes. My dear brother wanted something unique." She smirked earning s glare from Jason.

"Shut the hell up, Elena. I swear you and your big mouth." He mumbled and walked toward the door. "We're gonna be late. Let's go."

I smiled lightly as I watched him walk away.
He always does great things, but then doesn't want to take credit for it. Or doesn't people talking about it.

Just like he has been paying for my mother's treatment from the beginning and made me think that I was the one paying for it. It was only last year that I found out that every time I paid the hospital, the money was immediately sent back to my bank account.

I confronted him about it when I found out, and I thought it was going to change, but the same thing kept happening until now. That doesn't mean I gave. Every month I send the money and the next minute it is back in my account.

****

"You guys are finally here." Seb said from the couch as we walked into the living-room.

"Where is mom?" Elena asked placing her things beside him.

"In the kitchen." He mumbled. "I'm so fucking hungry and you guys were taking your whole damn time."

"You're always hungry." Elena replied with a smile.

"Finally. I was about to call you." We looked at Stella as she walked in the living-room with a huge smile on her face. "I can't believe my son is getting married." She smiled as her eyes watered. "Congratulations." She said pulling us both in a hug.

"Mom, please don't. It's not a big deal."

"Hush. You sound like your father. Of course, it's a big deal." She said. "I'm just proud of you."

Jason shook his head and just walked away from us, but I didn't fail to notice the smile that creeped on his face.

I looked at Elena who wiggled her eyebrows at me with a big smile as we heard two voices in the whole way coming toward.

Hunter soon walked in followed by...

Steve?

"Steve?" I smiled as he stopped in the living-room.

He eyes moved to me and he smiled stopping in his track. "Victoria. How are you?"

"Good." I smiled confused that he was here.

"You two know each other?" Hunter asked looking at Steve with raised eyebrows.

Steve looked at him for a few seconds and nodded before turning to me.

"I spilled coffee on him." I said lowly as I felt Jason stand by my side again.

I felt a hand wrap around my arm lightly.

"And who are you?" Jason asked and pulled me into taking a step back.

"Jason." Hunter looked at his son warningly but Jason just ignored him.

"It's okay. I'm an old friend of your father's." Steve answered.

"Well how come we've never seen you here." He continued and Hunter sighed shaking his head at him.

"Don't mind my son. He is-"

"Just like you." Steve laughed lowly.

"Yeah." He said. "These are my twins, Elena and Sebastian." He introduced and the twins greeted him quietly.

Quietly because Elena is a really shy person, until you really get to know her. And Seb, because he is obviously hungry.

"Why don't you stay for dinner." Stella said with a wide smile. "Victoria and Jason just got engaged. You can get to know our children. All of them."

"Engaged?" He repeated looking at me and I could have sworn his face fell for a second.

Stella nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. So you should stay and have dinner with us." She said.

He shook his head lightly. "I wouldn't want to impos-"

"Oh, you're not imposing." I said way too quickly, then bit on my tongue when all eyes turned to me.

Keep it shut, Victoria!

Stella laughed lightly. "Well you see? Victoria never asks for anything. So, you don't have any choice but to stay."

"I really can'ttonight. I have a work to finish." He said shaking his head. "But we can arrange something."

"Oh." Stella sighed in disappointment before smiling again. "Be sure that I'll arrange it, and you better come. No more excuses."

Even I was disappointed and I don't know why.

He nodded and briefly looked at me before walking toward the front door.

"Well, then let's go. Dinner is ready." Stella said and walked out of the living-room and everyone followed, Seb being at the front.

I started following but turned to look at Jason, who was already staring at me.

"You didn't tell me about this coffee incident." Jason asked and I looked at him questioningly.

"First of all, you are going to be jealous because of a man old enough to be my father. And secondly, he is nice, isn't he?" I asked and he furrowed his eyebrows at me.

"You don't know him."

"Well he seems nice. And your father knows him. That means that even if he is not nice, he is a trustworthy person." I smiled moving closer to him. "Just relax."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to place my lips on his. His shoulders dropped a little as he wrapped his arms around me biting on my lip lightly.

"Dear God. We're starving and you guys don't even care." I heard Seb groan from behind me making me pull away to look at him.

He just looked at us with a disapproving look on his face.

"Get your ass out of here." Jason hissed and Seb crossed his arms with a sigh before turning away.

"Mom! Jason is eating chocolate before dinner!" He yelled smirking at us before walking back to the dining area.

My hand flew to my mouth as my eyes widened.

"You know what? Never mind. Let's go eat outside." I grabbed his hand and started walking to the door but he pulled me back.

"No, we're staying. That will teach you." He chuckled pulling me to the dining area.

"I hate your brother sometimes."

"I told you I wasn't the horrible brother." He said as we walked in the dining room to find everyone there but Hunter.

"What are you talking about? He hates chocolate." Elena said narrowing her eyes at her twin brother.

"Not anymore." He smirked making me glare at him.

Make it stop.

Stella came from behind and smacked the back of his head lightly. "Leave them alone. He'll make your life a living hell if you bring a woman here."

We all sat down and then Hunter walked in talking on the phone.

"Baby, hang up the phone and come eat." Stella said reaching for his phone but he turned away a little. "Hunter." She scolded him and he sighed and final words before hanging up.

"Happy?" He mumbled shoving the phone in his pockets.

"Very." She grinned turning away from him.

****

"Jason, can we go for ice cream?" I asked as soon as we walked in my house while taking my shoes off.

"Now?" He asked and I nodded. "You couldn't have told me you wanted ice cream on our way back from my parents' house."

"I wasn't thinking about it then." I smiled sweetly. "Come on, please."

"No. Maybe if I liked you behind the wheel, I'll let you drive there. But I don't. So, you forget about your craving until tomorrow."

I scoffed looking at him. "I have my own car. I can go by myself."

"You-" He was stopped by the doorbell ringing.

Jason raised his eyebrows at me and went for it before I could.

"Are you expecting anyone?" He asked and I rolled my eyes at his tone.

"Who could I possibly be expecting? My secret boyfriend?" I teased following as he reached the front door.

"That's not funny." He grumbled opening the door to reveal one of the building's worker.

"I'm sorry to disturb you. There's package for Ms. Mendes." He said holding the huge package higher.

Jason grabbed it and pulled it inside.

"Did you order something?" He asked and I shook my head confused and turned to the man with a smile.

"Thank you." He nodded and walked away as I closed the door.

I turned to the package that was still against the wall.

"Looks like a painting." I stated and Jason nodded taking it to the living-room. I followed him and stopped when he placed it on the floor looking at me expectantly.

"Open it."

I frowned slightly. "What? What if-"

"If there was anything suspicious, I would let you."

I sighed sitting on the carpeted before placing it flat on it and ripping the paper around it. But my movement slowed down when the painting started showing.

"What on earth?" I moved slightly further with my glued on the painting.

My eyes stayed glued on the painting of me in both shock and confusion before they slowly moved to the name.

Florine.

I don't know an artist named Florine.

"What the fuck is that?" Jason's angry voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I shrugged.

"I don't know." I mumbled and he moved to stand behind me.

I opened the package even more and saw a small white envelope under the paper. I quickly grabbed it and opened to find a card inside.

Started this one the day we first met. I couldn't stop thinking about you after that, I had to put your face on a canvas. I'm so proud of it, it never left my house, until now, I hope you like it.
Florine.

That's not creepy at all. I thought reading the note again.

"Florine? Who the fuck is Florine?" I heard Jason ask angrily and I didn't say anything. I just kept staring at it.

I don't know a Florine. I know I wouldn't forget a name like that.

"Victoria!"

I jumped slightly at his voice and turned to look at Jason.

"I don't know, Jason. I don't know a Florine."

"Well he said you met. What artist did you meet?" He asked, obviously losing his patience.

"Just Dean. But his name is Dean, not Florine."

"He is dead." He turned to walk to the front and I almost broke my ankle while standing up to run after him.

"Where are you going?" I asked following him. "Jason we are not sure it's him."

"I'll be back in an hour or less. Wait here."

"No!" I stopped in front of the door blocking him. "You promised not to hide anything. Where are you going?"

"Victoria-"

"I said 'No'!" I snapped holding onto the door knob. "Tell me, and then we'll see what we will do. Where are you going?"

"The office." He picked me up and set me away from the door but I held onto him tightly before he can move away.

"I don't believe that for one second. He made a painting of me. So what?" I shrugged cautiously moving toward him.

It is creepy. But I have to put my own negative thoughts aside if I want to get him to calm down.

"It is not a threat or anything." I said again trying to calm him but the look he gave almost made me coward away.

Almost.

"Get out of my way, Victoria." He said completely ignoring what I just said.

"NO! Where are you goi-" I let out a gasp when everything suddenly went upside down as he threw me over his shoulder.
"Jason." I said loudly as he opened the front door and walked out before slamming it shut.

"I don't have time for this. You wanted to know, you'll know."

"Okay, I wanted to know but put me down. I can walk." I yelled hitting his back.

I let out another loud gasp as I felt a sting on my butt.

Did he just-

"Did you just h- Ow!" I groaned when his hand came down on my butt again.

"Jason, this actually hurts." I whined fighting the urge to hit his back again or place my hand on my butt cheeks.

"I know. Say one more damn word." I heard him say and I bit my lower lip to stop myself from cursing at him. "You're so fucking annoying."

You are annoying too.

I just huffed and closed my eyes tightly and he moved to the elevator.

I don't even have shoes on. I didn't grab my keys.

On the bright side, when we get back, I may know how he opens doors.

I let out a sigh of relief when he put me down and opened the car door. I let out a sigh of annoyance at myself and got in. he slammed the door shut and walked to the other side.

Why didn't I just listen and stayed home?