I take a long warm shower thinking about Stell, her marriage that I am still trying to wrap my head around. I think about all the times she says how she loves him and how she could do anything just to see him happy. I don't understand how an emotion can be that strong. My mind suddenly drifts to that night I met her, she looked sad, very sad and I was willing to do anything to make her happy, what would that mean then. Stop it Steven its rubbish, you don't even know her. I sigh and turn the shower off. Wrapping a towel around my waist I come out of the bathroom towards my closet and see Stellary there."

"What are you doing in my closet, stealing my T-shirts again?" I ask her teasingly.

"I don't need your T-shirts you dumbass, I have Bryan's" She rolls her eyes at me.

"Yeah right, what are you doing then?" I question again.

"Sorting your closet out. Its such a mess. How do you even find stuff in here." She says sorting out all my ties and separating it according to its colour.

"Why don't you let Margaret clean the room and take care of this as well?" She asks curiously.

"Because I like it when you do it for me." I shrug.

She only stares at me not knowing what to say.

"Since you have already invaded my closet remove my clothes for me."

She rolls her eyes and picks a white shirt with dark grey suit and starts looking for a suitable tie. I go to the room and dress up when I see Stellary coming out with a weird expression on her face. I look at her confused asking 'What'

She holds up a scarf with the hanger as if disgusted to touch it and moves the hanger in my face "When did you bring a girl in here, you promised none of your one night stands would be here, did you sneak her in or do you have a fetish of stealing their things after doing it." She says all of this so fast but the last thing makes me laugh at her so hard.

"Stell, you're crazy, no I did not bring any girl in here. I would never break a promise I made to you. Also, no I do not have a stealing fetish or any other such weird fetishes." I roll my eyes at her weird imagination.

That's when realisation hits her and there is a light of excitement in her eyes "Its her's, isn't it? Oh my god, why didn't you show this to me earlier?"

She was excited like a little kid, but I understand why, I have never talked about any other girl to her, forget talking I have never even mentioned anyone in that sense. I have never been interested in anyone, rather interested to know more about any girl that much. Its like she's totally drawn me to her, she has made me so curious about her, so intrigued. I don't know what to do with myself.

Stell notices the lost expression on my face and continues with a hint of sadness "You haven't found her yet, right?"

I nod trying to shake away the sadness. "Are you still trying?" She asks wanting to know more.

"I have put Kyle onto this. He is looking all over Paris, but we don't have anything, not even her name. I only know that she was working that weekend because she was wearing work clothes. Kyle is looking up for all the people who have their name similar to Ari because thats the only name she kept saying. I don't even know if that is her real name or it is someone's who is close to her. She kept saying 'I want to be like Ari'."

I sigh frustrated. I had looked through thousands of profiles but nothing even close to hers. Now I doubt if she even stays in Paris, but she was wearing business clothes and I don't know I was sure she came to that bar after a long day at work. Then there is also a point that she didn't look French nor American for that matter even her accent I could not point out. Maybe she was there in Paris on a business trip. Yes, that could be the reason she was working on a weekend. I still didn't know where to look.

"Steve relax, I have complete faith in fate. You guys met that night due to fate and I am sure you will cross paths with her again. Life will bring her to you, I am positive." She said with so much surety, I really wanted to believe her, but I didn't.

"Yeah, right. I don't believe in this destiny bullshit. If you want something or someone you have to work for it. Nothing and no one is going to come running to you just because fate wants it. Its been 10 months Stell." I told her truthfully not buying her destiny theory.

She glared at me as if that really hurt her "You don't believe it fine, but I do. Afterall even me and Bryan met due to fate." She said getting annoyed by me.

"What rubbish! You met because of me, I introduced you both." I said ridiculously.

"Whatever, its still fate" She said shrugging her shoulder.

She left the room calling out "You"ll be late getting to your wife (work) if you keep obsessing over her. It may even be considered as cheating." She said laughing at me.

"I am not obsessed, what the hell. I'm not obsessed." I screamed at her as she replied again laughing at me "Yes keep telling yourself that" with more laughing. I don't get it what is so funny.

Maybe the fact that even you don't believe yourself, also that you said 'I'm not obsessed twice.
My sub-coscious mocked.

I got ready and left for work. I had just reached the office building when I received a call from Mitch my best friend.

"Hello Mitch, Wassup!?"

"Hey pal, you reached office yet?"
He has this habit of addressing people as pal, its weird really.

"Yes just reached." I replied.

"Cool, waiting for you." he was in my office as usual. We also worked together. I had very few real friends one of them is Mitch, rest were just business acquaintances.

I entered my office and saw him there rolling in the office chair. He really behaved like a 5 year old sometimes.

"Stop rolling that chair, you will surely break it one day." I said glaring at him.

"He pal, you're here." he said getting up from the chair and hugging me. Then continued "So we are going to the lunch together and you are driving me. Yeah, I just came to say that." he was ready to leave when I put my hand on his chest stopping him there. He already knew about Stell's marriage. I don't know why am I surprised. She really told him before me. I didn't know how to feel. Yes sure, even he was like brother to her but I was the real brother so I should know first.

He understood the wheels turning in my head and said "Pal, she told me just this morning after you left for work. I wanted to hear all about your over reaction and everything but didn't get to talk much, so she invited me to lunch. So don't get so jealous."
He said laughing at me. I'm not jealous its just a feeling that I should be the first one she goes to for anything or as she says her number one priority.

He continued "By the way, I am also coming as the peace-maker." I looked at him confused not understanding what he means.

He smiled and continued "Well, Stella has asked me to make sure you don't give Bryan a tough time, so I am coming to keep you in check of your over-protective brother mode." he said jokingly.

I glared at him and said "I have made peace with the fact that my sister is grown up and is getting married. I have accepted it. Its her happiness that matters."

He was a little surprised and said "Wow, I thought it would take you sometime to accept the fact. Anyways, thats good to hear, Bryan is a good guy. Call me when you leave. See you."
He said leaving my office.

At 1 we were seated at the table for lunch. By we I mean me, Mitch, Stell, Bryan and Susan. Susan is Stell's friend well kind of, I guess. They both have a weird friendship. Susan and my sister don't really fit in that friendship thing. They are both very different. I thought this was supposed to be a family thing. I have no idea why Stell invited her. She knows I can't tolerate her and she wouldn't want me to get annoyed especially today. I look at Stell and then Susan and again at Stell raising my eyebrows at her asking 'What the hell?' She just shrugged. Thats when I understood Stell didn't invite her but she invited herself.

As soon as our orders arrived we digged in.

"I can't beleive this, Stella you didn't tell me about getting proposed. Am I not supposed to be the first one to know, I am your best friend afterall and to be 'Maid of Honour'." Susan said with a very high pitched annoying voice of hers.

I know I am being a jerk thinking about her like that, but she annoys the hell out of me and sometimes I don't even know why.

Stella looked very uncomfortable not knowing how to reply and Bryan came to her rescue saying "Susan, umm...actually I told her not to. I don't yet want it to spread out to media. It is my Mom and Dad's Aniversary party in two weeks and thats when we plan on releasing the news. It would be like a surprise present to them once they are back from their vacation. I haven't told them yet and I don't want them to know from someone else especially the tabloids." He said with that sweet smile of his. I knew my sister always had his back. I still am grumpy about the whole sharing thing.

Stell gave him a grateful smile and he kissed her cheek in return making me glare at him and Mitch kicking me under the table. I'll never be able to get used to this.

"Pal, I can't wait to see how you will react when another man lays hands on your woman, when you can't even see your sister being affectionate with her fiance." Mitch whispered in my ear teasing me. I just stamped his leg in return.

"Wait, but Mitch knew everything before me. I wouldn't even know if I didn't call earlier and asked about your plans for today." She said making that fake sad face with a pout. Thats when I understood how Susan ended up here. She called Stell about her plans and she not being able to lie said it and she invited herself and my dear sister just can't say no.

"Hey listen up, I am family. We are born and brought up together. So don't compare yourself with me." Mitch answered annoyingly. Looks like I am not the only one annoyed.

Mitch was our neighbour when we stayed with Nono and Nina. His father had helped us a lot when Mom and Dad died. He gave me work at his farm, when Nono fell sick he did whatever he could with paying for hospital bills, food, everything. Mitch and Me, we were inseparable since childhood. So when I moved here he came with me and we started working together.

"Sorry Mitch, I didn't mean it that way." Susan said with a fake smile and continued, looking at Stell "You know you can trust me, I won't tell about your engagement to anyone." I didn't trust her one bit.

We continued to chat about the wedding preparations and plans. Once we were done I paid the bill and were about to head out when I spoke "Bryan I would like to speak with you alone." Stell eyed me suspiciously and I just assured her with my eyes. She was about to say something but Bryan stopped her "Its fine baby, I'll see you near the car." He said kissing her forehead. I should really get used to this, I thought folding my fingers in a fist.

Everyone left except Mitch, I sighed "Mitch go with Stell she's alone, I'll behave I promise." I said rolling my eyes. God, why does everyone think of me some deranged person who is going to kill anybody who comes his way. Mitch nodded and left.

Before I could say anything Bryan said "Steven I promise, I'll take care Stella and try my best to always keep her happy. I understand yours and Stella's relation is much more than just brothers and sisters and you have to trust me I love her as much as you." he said sincerely. I trusted him, I did. I saw it in his eyes that he meant everything he said.

"No one can ever love her as much as me" I folded my hands and stated stubbornly. It was the truth, even though she was older I have always treated her like my baby sister. "But I trust you and if you hurt even a hair on her head, even I don't know what am I gonna do but I do know you will surely regret it and even your bodyguards won't be able to save you." I warned him.

He smiled and then said teasing me "Steve you said the same line when we first started dating." We both laughed at that.

We both then shook hands and I said "Welcome to the family Bryan Johnson."

We left the restaurant and moved towards our car thats when I felt I saw her right across the street. I asked Bryan to go ahead and followed her, but I couldn't see her, it was like she vanished. Did I just imagine her, but she looked so much like her. How can she be here in Newyork, I met her in Paris.

I must have imagined her, maybe because me and Stell were talking about her in the morning.

Hola!

So Steve did behave right?
Tell me how it was. What do you think of Susan, what about Mitch??

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Thank you!