|THREE| Cheesecake
Dove's POV
Headlines: Supermodel and actress Nina Robbins confirmed her dating rumors with Popstar Vinter Harris to be true.
Feeling a mix of anger and jealousy in the pit of my stomach, I muttered to myself, "So much for having a soulmate, Vinter. Out of every woman he could have dated, he had to pick Nina Robbins."
I couldn't help but notice Twilight staring at me as I sipped on my hot chocolate. When I pointed at the television behind him, he turned to see what the news was. His facial expression went from confusion to a heavy sigh as he faced me again. He shook his head, seeming defeated. "I didn't know your brother was dating," I said, my tone filled with disapproval.
"I didn't know either," Twilight replied, sounding almost disappointed. I raised my eyebrows at him, expecting an explanation. He took a deep breath before continuing.
"Vinter has been acting weird lately," he said, his voice filled with concern. "If I talk about my family, my mother is a mistress in the family, which means I don't get as much importance as Vinter does. Though we grew up together, Vinter has always been close to me until these recent years. I don't know what's going on in his mind." He paused, seeming lost in thought. "I mean, he has a soulmate out there somewhere, right? He has to be loyal to her at least."
Listening to Twilight, I realized that he was just as concerned about his brother as I was. But what this innocent man didn't know was that his brother's soulmate was sitting right in front of him.
"I see, so what are you going to do now, Twilight?" I asked him after he shared his thoughts and concerns. He shook his head, sighing.
"I don't know," he said, his voice sounding unsure.
I continued, "A few days ago, I was offered the position of official lyricist for Raining Blaze. I was hesitant at first but decided to accept the offer." Twilight's eyes widened, and I could tell he was surprised by this revelation.
"You mean you're the one who's going to replace my brother as a lyricist?" He asked, his voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"I haven't accepted the offer yet," I said, pulling my laptop out of my bag and opening the email from Raining Blaze. I let out a cynical smile before typing out my response.
"It looks like I have to accept now," I muttered to myself, clicking "send" and placing my laptop back in my bag. Twilight leaned forward, his expression serious as he tried to understand the situation.
"So it was because Charles decided that my brother is no good with words anymore that he thought of giving you the position of lyricist?" he began, "and Vinter opposed that idea?" I nodded in agreement. "But Charles didn't listen to his tantrums," Twilight continued, staring off into space as he thought about his brother.
"This is exactly why Charles must have thought of replacing Vinter," I said as I typed out the email to Charles, accepting the offer after all.
"What do you exactly mean?" he asked me with a curious look in his eyes. "Your brother is a child," I explained to him, "He's too pampered and can't handle failure well, so he throws fits and tantrums whenever he gets the chance. Though I will admit he's quite talented with words, he lacks the maturity to write meaningful lyrics."
I looked up at Twilight as he stared at me with his gunmetal orbs. His trusting expression and willingness to see things my way were a refreshing change from the people who questioned me my whole life. Why was he so different? Why did I feel so drawn to him?
"But are you going to accept the offer?" Twilight asked me, a tinge of concern in his voice.
"Why not?" I replied with a small shrug, unsure of how to answer his question.
"Vinter loves to write songs for the band," Twilight continued, his expression growing more worried, "and your arrival will make him question his skills." I furrowed my brow.
To lighten the mood, I asked, "Are you older than Vinter or younger?" It was a simple question, but it was one I was genuinely curious about.
"Younger, two years younger,” Twilight replied with a hint of surprise in his voice, "Why do you ask?"
I smiled as I said, "So that makes you three years older than me.”
Twilight looked at me with disbelief as he said, "Wait, you are only 23?" He let out a groan, "Damn." I laughed at his reaction, finding it endearing how he was surprised at my age.
"Look, let me say this to you," I said, wanting to be as clear as possible, "Everything that I am doing will benefit your brother in the end. So, please trust me on this. We both want the same thing, which is to get Vinter Harris back on the right path." I saw a flicker of hesitancy in his eyes, but also a sense that he was willing to hear me out.
Twilight raised an eyebrow and furrowed his eyebrows, looking at me in confusion. "Why would you do that for him?" he finally asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
I leaned back in my chair and placed my arms on the table, with my head resting on my hands. "Take a guess, Twilight," I replied. There was a moment of silence where the truth sunk in for him.
"Dove Stanley," Twilight repeated, his eyes widening as the pieces of the puzzle came together. "D.S. — that initial on Vinter's ankle... Could it be — are you his soulmate?" he asked, his voice filled with surprise and excitement.
I chuckled at his reaction and replied, "Indeed, I am." His face immediately lit up with joy at the news, and he said, "Vinter is going to love you!" in an enthusiastic tone.
It was clear that Twilight was happy for his older brother, and that he had always wanted to see him happy.
"What makes you say that, bunny?” I asked him, feeling slightly bemused.
“When we were young, he had always dreamed of meeting you and being with you,” Twilight replied with a warm smile, his eyes filled with admiration. “He loves you,” he continued with a hint of excitement in his voice. I felt a pang of disappointment, knowing that the reality of the situation wouldn't be as simple as Twilight imagined.
However, I knew that reality was going to be a lot different, and I struggled to keep my spirits up. “Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that,” I said, letting out a resigned breath. “I will be Vinter’s rival, and he will despise me for it. I will not work on his orders, and he despises people who do not obey him.”
Twilight’s expression fell, but he quickly composed himself and asked, “Why?” I hesitated, unsure of how to answer, and simply shrugged.
"You will see," I said, getting up from the bench and glancing over at Twilight. "I have taken a liking to you," I continued, my words laced with a hint of excitement.
Twilight looked at me in confusion, a faint blush forming on his cheeks. "What do you mean?" he asked, trying to mask the uncertainty in his voice.
"Oh, you'll see!" I said, my words laced with a playful tone. "Just know that I find you to be an interesting person, and I would love to get to know you better."
There was a brief pause, our eyes locked as the tension built. Finally, I broke the silence, giving Twilight a small wink before turning to leave. "I'll see you around, bunny," I said, my voice full of promise.
After our conversation, when I was about to leave the cafe, Twilight reached out and caught my wrist. I stumbled backwards, grabbing the edge of the table to steady myself as I met his gaze.
"Why were you trying to commit suicide?" he asked, breaking the tense silence between us. I let out a small chuckle, which quickly turned into a fit of hysterical laughter.
"I wasn't trying to commit suicide," I said, trying to stifle my laughter. "But I won't deny that at the time, death was something that crossed my mind. I just wanted to feel the thrill of the cold air and the adrenaline rush from the height, that's all."
"In your eyes, I can see the scars of your past. You are more complex than the book you have written yourself to be." "I would like to get to know you better, Dove," he spoke, revealing his true thoughts. I smiled, grateful for his honesty.
"I would like to get to know you as well, Twilight," I responded, eager to explore the depths of his mind. "That's why we should save some questions for the next time, so we don't run out of topics to discuss." He nodded in agreement.
"Can I have your number?" he asked, reaching out to hand me his phone. I smiled as I typed my number into his contacts.
"Here it is," I said, handing him my number. "I typically avoid texting and phone calls, but for you, I'm willing to make an exception. So feel free to reach out to me whenever you want." I gave him a playful wink, and he chuckled, blushing slightly.
"Okay then, see you next time," he replied, his smile warmth spreading across his face.
"Next time, bunny," I said, placing my laptop bag over my shoulder. I took one last look at him, hoping he'd enjoy the extra cheesecake I bought for him. I never intended to eat it myself - I could see his love for food in his eyes, and I figured he'd appreciate the extra treat.
As I stepped out of the café, my phone vibrated, signaling an incoming call from an unknown number. Out of curiosity, I answered it.
"Hello."
"Is this Miss Dove Stanley?" A velvety voice breathed over the line.
"Yes, who is this?" I replied.
"Yes, I'm Charles Perez," he replied enthusiastically, "And I'm glad you're interested in working with us at Raining Blaze. Your skills are impressive, and I think you'd be a great fit for the role of lyricist on my team."
I couldn't contain my excitement as I heard Charles' words. "Thank you so much, Mr. Perez. I've always wanted to work with an established record label, and Raining Blaze is at the top of my list."
My involvement in Raining Blaze has little to do with excitement, money, or fame. It is rooted in my desire to discover the truth. I have always felt drawn to Vinter Harris, and have been fascinated by the mysteries surrounding him. I want to uncover what happened to him in the past, and why he is the way he is. And by being a part of Raining Blaze, I hope to get a glimpse into his past.
But what really interests me is how Vinter will react to my presence, now that we are destined to be together. And how will he respond when he sees me taking a deeper interest in his half-brother, Twilight Harris?
"About that, Miss Stanley. If you don't mind, will you be able to come by Hope Records today?" Charles asked. "I would like to discuss the contract with you."
"Please just call me Dove," I said. "I don't mind coming there right now. If you don't mind me coming over right now, I am nearby."
"Not at all!" "Please, I am relieved we can meet this soon," Charles said. I chuckled.
"Okay then, see you in 15 minutes," I said. I hung up the phone as we said our goodbyes.
As I made my way through the busy but bustling streets, I felt the anticipation and excitement of the upcoming meeting build within me. With spring in my step, I skipped towards the main building of Hope Records, the company whose meteoric rise to the top was directly linked to Charles' leadership and vision.
Upon arriving at the reception area, I was greeted by a receptionist who was too busy chewing gum and talking on the phone to notice my arrival. Despite the cliché, I tried to keep my cool and waited patiently for her to finish the call.
Later, I was greeted with a strange look as she hung up a phone call and rolled her eyes at me. She opened a registry, clearly not impressed with my presence, and asked if I had an appointment.
"I'm here to meet Charles Perez," I said confidently, meeting her gaze.
"You got an appointment?" she asked, her voice dripping with boredom.
"I think so," I replied, feeling slightly apprehensive.
"What's your name?" she asked, sounding disinterested.
"Dove Stanley," I introduced myself to the receptionist. The woman, clearly not impressed by my presence, proceeded to consult a register.
"Your name is not on the list," she replied curtly, with a dismissive gesture. "I suggest you leave."
I let out a dry laugh, amused by the woman's lack of respect for my reputation. With a smug expression on my face, I queried, "You don't know who you're talking to, do you?"
The woman's irritation grew evident as she rolled her eyes, "A narcissistic genius—I know who you are, and I don't like you."
As I read the name tag of the receptionist, I couldn't help but let out a playful chuckle. "Well, the feelings are mutual, Miss Cole," I teased, unable to hold back my smirk.
"Layla! Charles' guest must be arriving soon. Please greet them and escort them to his office," the voice behind me explained. I have heard that voice before, but I couldn't quite recall where. So, I turned around to see who was speaking.
To my surprise, it was none other than the person I was expecting. His pink-dyed hair was pushed back haphazardly, and earrings were hanging from both his ears. He was dressed in a white hoodie, pants that perfectly matched his aura, and a sharp jawline that girls adore. His plump lips and attractive appearance perfectly complemented his good looks, making it almost impossible not to fall in love with him, regardless of one's sexuality.
Now, this visit just got even more interesting. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next!
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