I checked my watch to see it was half past 8 already, time does fly when your too engaged. I decided to pack for the day and go home. I picked up my phone to call Matt my driver to take the car out and saw I had 10 missed calls from Stell. She normally never calls so much, she knows how I get when I'm working. This must be really important then. I freak out and run to the parking lot calling her, only for it to go to voicemail. " Damn it I hope she is fine ". I find Matt standing near the car "Matt..home now, drive fast"

We rush home and as soon as I get in I shout her name and check for her everywhere the kitchen where she usually is, the living room "Oh damn, where is she!!" I go upstairs to her room and see her there sitting on the bed with headphones onn I could hear the song blasting from her door. She scared the shit outta me and here she is applying some paint to her freaking nails. I call her name again, she is so engrossed in painting her nails not even acknowledging me standing right at her door.

I plan a revenge for scaring me like that. I throw a bucket filled with water on her and her reaction makes me laugh rolling on the ground... I mean no, not literally I'm not rolling on the ground. I'm the CEO of Richards Co-operation and I would like to maintain the reputation. Rolling on the ground like a lunatic doesn't really meet the standards right!

Does throwing bucket of water on someone meet standards of the CEO, my sub-conscious retorted.

Well in my defence right now I'm not at office and she is not my employee so that's fine. Stell jumps from the bed screaming at me and slips due to the water on the ground and curses loudly "Steve you jerk, you dork...." I rush towards her to check if she is okay.

"Stell are you okay, did you hurt yourself." She gives me death glare but looks anything but deadly. "Seriously Steve, did I hurt myself or did you hurt me??"

"Well, you jumped from the bed you should've been careful you knew there was water around." I try to supress my laughter, her trying that angry look on me never works. She ends up looking like a cute kid whose denied sweets, really.

"Steve I could have really hurt my head or something which right now can't happen with all this happening..."
She stops speaking abruptly like she was not supposed to say it. I was really confused Stell never really hid anything from me neither did I. Afterall we only had each other and we made it a rule since we were kids to always trust each other and never hide or lie to each other. I looked suspiciously at her and asked "What is happening now...what do you mean Stell?"

She had this really nervous look on her face she almost looked a little unsure. Stellary Richards is scared of someone especially me thats surprising. I was really confused what is going on. She replied "Nothing Steve you dumbass I do not want to end up in hospital I hate them." She then looked at her toes avoiding my eyes and changing the subject added "You idiot you totally ruined my nail paint, do you even know how much time it took for me to do it" with that she hit me on my head.

"Calm down its just a nailpaint, i'll book that parlour thing for you. Anyways you scared the shit outta me. I saw so many calls and freaked out, whats wrong you never call when I am at office unless its important?"

"Uhh...well Umm Steve, why don't you change and freshen up I'll heat the dinner. I'll see you at the dinning room bye"
She then ran off. If I said I was confused before I was really worried now there was definitely something going on with her. The signs were clear nervousness, fear and now stuttering, she is never like that. She is one of the most confident girls I know.

"Stell wait right there what's going on?" I asked behind her but she didn't even turn back and ignored me completely. It was best that I did as she said she was stubborn anyways.
But I couldn't stop thinking what could it be.

I freshened up and went downstairs to see her setting up the table. This was the scene I was used to I would come from work she would set the table, we would have dinner together chatting away about our day about old days or pulling each others leg. I smiled at the memories we have grown up with. Our childhood was not the ideal but it was still the best. I wouldn't change it for anything. We both grew up with our Nono and Nina maternal grandparents since our parents were working hard to fill our stomachs. They used to live and work in the city and we stayed with our grandparents on the countryside. We couldn't afford to stay with them in the city, with no proper house to stay in, but Nono and Nina gave us a beautiful childhood. I was lost in memories when I heard Stell calling out "Steve are you going to keep standing there, I am not reheating the food"
We both sat at the table and I asked her "Where is Margaret, can't see her around?" Margaret is our cook/ cleaner. She came in the mornings and left after dinner cleaning up everything. She was like a mother figure working with us since 5 years now.

"I sent her home early today, thought we could talk and clean up together today." she replied

This is getting weider and weirder. Stell hates doing dishes or even cleaning, seriously what is going on!!
I gave her a look saying I am not buying that and she should now spill whats wrong. We have an awesome siblings telepathy. She sighed and said "Steve relax I'll tell you everything okay lets finish dinner first." She gave a hopeful look and sarted to serve dinner. As soon as I saw all my favourite dishes I understood she definitely is in trouble, but there was no use asking her again. She has decided to talk after dinner. So then she started our normal conversation about what all she did today and asked me how was work. I wasn't really into the conversation like I usually am nor was she. It was like a sword is hanging on both our heads. We finished our dinner and moved to the kitchen to clean up. Stell even took up doing the dishes. After we finished we took two cans of beer and moved to the back garden as usual.

She was continously fidgeting and playing with her fingers. This was definitely something big, so being the understanding younger brother that I am I waited patiently. It was very difficult trust me. She then sighed heavily and kept saying in low voices...just say it just say it.. And then said "Steve" a long pause. This suspense was really too much now. I just encouraged her tp go onn

She said it very fast "Meandbriaregettingmarried"
I understood the married part and then slowly understood the whole thing. This was exactly how she behaved when she was going to introduce me to Bryan one and a half years ago as her boyfriend. Why didn't I figure this out before.

She was waiting for me to say something or for me to react. I jist replied "No you are not." She was shocked by my reply.

"What do you mean I'm not? Bri proposed and I said yes. Also we are getting married in two months."

Yes she has given Bryan this stupid nickname Bri. I was freaking shocked. They have been dating for a little more than one year and now getting married in two months. Is this a joke to them.

"Stell getting married is not a fucking joke. You guys don't even know each other for that long. Also, I don't even see a ring on your finger. Is this how the great Bryan Johnson proposes. He cannot even do a proper proposal with a ring and everything you do for a proposal. I think you should take time clearly think about everything and then decide. He asked you and you decided to get married in two months. This is really stupid."

I know I was blabbering but I had no idea how to convince her. She has to think about all this. Such decisions cannot be made in a haste, but she clearly looked unconvinced. Her eyes looked pleading and for me to understand and accept the decision without more arguements. How can she expect me to do that!

"Steve he did give me a ring. I didn't want you to see it before I told you about it. Steve please don't be such a baby about it. I am 27 and I can take my decisions. We really love each other a lot and I have never been so sure of anything, so there's nothing to think about. Even you know he is the perfect guy for me. So just stop being so difficult. And don't forget I am older than you and you do not make decisions for me!"

She was really pissed. I could see that, but so was I. This time she is not winning. She understood I am not going to agree on this. She just left to her room.

This may seem really immature of me. She is old enough and has the right to make a choice of when she should get married and to whom, I should be happy for her, and sure she is right Bryan is an amazing guy. He is a model, a very famous one. Infact I introduced them at one of the charity events. She was a huge fan, but I never thought they would start dating and now even get married.

I can't be happy for her because I can't stand the fact that she'll be leacing in two months. Leaving me alone in this house. What will I look forward to when coming back from work. She won't be there to cook my favourite meals, set up the table, eat with me,tease me, fight me. We won't have anymore game or movie nights. I know I am being really selfish. She deserves happiness and I know Bryan is her happiness. She lights up whenever he is with her, I've seen it. When I see them together it reminds me of her, I can't believe how a person can make that much impact on you in just a few hours or even minutes. Wait I cannot be thinking of her now. God, I need to drink something strong.

I could barely sleep thinking of all this. I checked the watch it was 2:00 am. I heard the door of my room open and there she was. "I am getting married in two weeks to a super model. I cannot afford to have dark circles. You knew I couldn't sleep after fighting you and even I knew you wouldn't get sleep. I was waiting for you to come and say we're good. But you didn't and I really hate you right now. I can't sleep because of you and you don't..."

She was on the verge of tears. I cut her off and said "come here Stell". I hugged her. I wanted to kick myself for not going behind her and making it up to her.

"Stell, we're good. We will talk about it tomorrow. Good night" I kissed her forehead. She just hmmed in rrsponse and we both went to sleep.

Hola!
If you have somehow stumbled upon this book and decided to read it thank you so much!!
I hope you like this book, do let me know what you think. This is just the beginning so maybe kind of slow. But it will be interesting as it goes ahead. Lots of secrets to be revealed. So hope you stay so I can share!!