Ruby St. Clair's POV

I spotted my twin sister as soon as I entered the trendy restaurant in the neighborhood near her penthouse. I hid my smile when I saw her intently studying the crystal wine glass in her hand with a bored expression. She hates waiting and that's why I was on time for our lunch date.

"Hey," I said by way of greeting when I reached her table.

She broke into a wide smile upon seeing me. "Long time no see. Look at you, you are blooming like a flower in springtime." She commented cheekily. "This Spanish guy must be doing a good job in keeping you happy. I will thump him up for that."

I rolled my eyes, taking the chair opposite to her. "Are you drunk today? What the heck are you babbling about?"

She smiled thinly in my direction, studying me fully with her inquisitive eyes. "It seems that Roman Vasquez is keeping you so busy or you just don't give a damn what's going on outside your love nest."

"Stop spouting riddles and tell me straight-forward what are you talking about?" I frowned at my mirror image trying to decipher her words.

She gave me a sweet smile. "Since you're clueless about what's going on please allow me to fill you in. Look, I already purchased a tabloid for you so you will have a slight idea of what's going on. By the way, every tabloid in New York has the same caption and topic as this one."

I took the gossip newspaper in her hand and read the big bold caption: The Heiress and the Billionaire.

"What the..." I started when I saw the candid photo of me and Roman walking hand in hand in the street somewhere on the front page of the Tattler.

"My sentiments exactly," Emerald said, leaning back to her chair. My eyes were still fixed on the paper in my hand as I read the content. Usually, I don't give a damn about this kind of tabloid but it's a different story when you were the topic. "I don't need to react like this since it's your love life but what I don't get was they automatically assume that I am the one who is dating your man." She flipped her hand dramatically. "I have a twin sister remember?"

I couldn't help to hide my smile when I saw in the article that they mistook me for her. Truthfully, I was fine with that I find it funny that they got the wrong name on who is dating the Spanish billionaire. "You don't have to stress yourself over this, Em."

She exhaled an angry breath. "How can I ignore this anymore when it's starting to get on my nerves? Only last night I attended a charity gala the reporters automatically asked as soon as I arrived why I didn't bring Roman Vasquez with me. I was half-tempted to tell them he's probably busy making babies with my twin sister."

"Emerald St. Clair!" I warned her hotly, eyeing around us in case someone might hear us. "Lower your voice, will you?"

"It's true." She shrugged casually, her eyes twinkling with delight. "Like you weren't busy making babies for granddad to fret. A word of advice if I may? Please make one as soon as possible so he will be quite busy with the new generation of St. Clairs."

I glared at her hotly, tossing the tabloid on the table. "You make it sound as if you are just asking me to bake something. Do I need to remind you that nothing is permanent in our relationship? What we have is a contract marriage when the time is up we will file for divorce."

My twin sister studied me intently. I have to admit that I don't like the way she's staring at me with those judging eyes. "Never in my wildest dream have I thought that you would have such drama when you finally have a love life. My god! It's a love affair to a hot Spanish billionaire."

I shook my head in resignation. Leave it to this woman to be a pain in the rear. "You will not going to let this go easily, aren't you?"

"Nope." She had this annoying grin on her face.

I exhaled a heavy breath. I picked up the menu from the table and open briskly to avoid eye contact with my twin sister. "Let's just order I'm already famished."

"You are in deep trouble, sissy." She announced conceitedly, flipping the menu in hand leisurely. "I don't think you can recover from the love affair in the future."

"I can!" I answered with forced determination in my voice. "This is just temporary. Everything about our setup is temporary sooner or later this madness will end Roman and I will move on with our prospective lives without remorse but until then we will enjoy whatever we have and let it run its course."

My twin sister shrugged after a moment without even lifting her eyes on the fancy menu. "Whatever you say, sis."

I signaled the waiter nearby to place our order. If I had been honest I just randomly pick on the menu. Once the waiter left us I stared at Emerald's knowing eyes.

"I bet my life savings that Roman will pick you up after our lunch date."

I avoided her gaze as I felt my cheeks become hot. "No..."

She laughed heartily, as she sat back from her chair. "You are lying, Ruby! This is your twin you are talking to remember? We share mom's womb for nine months. I know you like I know the back of my hand. You can lie to others but not to me."

"So what if he will pick me up after this?" I said a little more defensively than I intended to. "Is there something wrong with that?"

Emerald held up her hands. "Take it easy, girlfriend. You don't have to be defensive about it. I am just making an observation here, that's all."

I tried to calm my nerves. Why do I need to feel defensive about Emerald's observation? I asked myself silently. I knew she was just jesting me but...ugh, I don't understand myself. Why did I behave like this when Roman was the topic? "Enough of him, okay? Let's talk about something else. Why don't you keep me posted about what's new in the family."

My twin grinned widely and shrugged casually. "Some old stories, dear. Daniel kept on hinting for years that he was already thinking of retiring giving Sap false hope. Amy turned to be a man-hater after Max was born and then there's me..." She pointed out herself. "...no time for love life just work."

"What about the prince?"

She threw me a foul look, and the spark in her eyes instantly changed upon mentioning that man. "What about him?"

It was my turn to shrug casually and study her face intently. "Any progress in your relationship? He's a nice man why you can't along with him?"

Emerald gave me a sarcastic laugh. "You got it wrong, sissy. Because he's anything but nice. He's the most annoying person I have had the misfortune to meet. I sorely regret the day I met that annoying man."

I raised an eyebrow in her direction. "Watch your word, Em. He's still a prince I believe you can get into trouble if you're not careful."

"Ha!" She brushed off her red hair past her shoulder. "As if, I will be scared to that bothersome man."

My reply was interrupted when our food arrived. We thanked the waiter with a smile and started to dig my food immediately. I have to admit I'm already famished since I only have toast for breakfast and I miss spending time like this with Emerald. We were inseparable before I left my life here in New York. Heck, we share bedrooms until high school even though we have different tastes in everything. But like she said a while ago we're closer more than we care to admit.

A light buzz from my mobile phone brought me back to the present. I fished it out from my purse and saw a text message from Roman, he said he was on his way and his meeting was finally done. I smiled and typed a quick reply to him.

"My goodness!" My twin sister exclaimed. "You are in deeper trouble than I first thought."

"What?" I asked distractedly. I saw Emerald grinning ear-to-ear as she stared at me fixedly. I think she was back on teasing me with Roman.

"Careful, my dear." My sister warned sweetly. "Playing with fire is never safe. Before you realize it you might be trapped by Roman Vasquez's charm and there's no cure for it."

I snorted, taking her warning lightly. "Trust me, Em. I will not fall in love with Roman however charismatic he is as you claim."

Emerald shrugged. "We shall see."

I resumed eating my food and enjoyed two glasses of wine before Roman arrived at the restaurant. From the annoying smile on my sister's face, I knew he was there. "Look, your prince charming has finally arrived."

I turned around at the entrance of the restaurant and I saw him walking towards us. I became aware that he instantly became the subject of female interest inside the restaurant just like when I first saw him in Spain. He commanded such attention wherever he walked in.

"Hi," He greeted my twin sister with a kiss on the cheeks. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Emerald replied with a smile. She gave me a side glance with an evil smile. I thought she was going to tell him something about our conversation a while ago that would embarrass me in front of Roman. I threw a warning look in her direction. "We're just waiting for you."

"I see you had a quiet glass of wine," Roman remarked eyeing the wine glass and a rare bottle of wine on our table. He sat beside me and raised my face with his hand giving me a peck on the lips.

"Just two glasses, that's all." I inserted it smoothly. "Emerald insisted. She even pays for the whole bottle of wine."

"I hope you are not planning on making my wife drunk so she will spill her secret to you, sister-in-law."

Emerald laughed heartily, raising her glass of vintage wine. "That's the plan."

"Then it's a good thing I arrived on time." He replied playfully, taking my hand in his. He rested our intertwined hands in his lap.

I tried to fight the blush that wanted to spread through my cheeks since Emerald was fascinatingly looking at us. "Er, how are your meeting?" I asked trying to change the topic.

"Boring and gruesome." He answered with a slight smile on his handsome face. "I'd rather have lunch with these two beautiful ladies than attend a meeting early in the morning."

"Ah, a sweet-tongue gentleman. Where can I find such a male species, Ruby?" My sister queried. I threw her a profane look. I knew she was messing with me.

I gave her a fake smile. "Who knows he might just be around the corner waiting for you."

Emerald grunted, looking at us with a grave expression. "The only man who is waiting for me around the corner is the hotdog sandwich vendor because I'm an avid customer."

Roman choked the water he'd been sipping. He wiped his mouth from the napkin on the table. "Dios mio! I almost spit out my water."

My twin sister chortled. "Did I get you with my witticism? But I'm afraid I am telling the truth."

"Lucky man to have such a beautiful customer."

"He is." Emerald grinned at him, she made a gesture of shooing us with her hand. "Go now, you two love birds. I know you have better things to do as a couple than babysit your wife's twin sister."

"You sure?" I asked seriously.

"Yeah." She assured me. "I'm fine. Besides, I miss Granddad it's his turn to endure my company. Don't worry about the bill I will take care of it."

Roman and I bid goodbye to Emerald. We walked hand in hand as we went out of the restaurant. Once we were outside Roman asked. "Where do you want to go?"

I shrugged looking at him. "No idea. You?"

He thought for a moment before smiling brightly at me. "I know a place. Come on."