Braden picks me up at 7.30 in the evening for the dinner. And Victoria is with him. I frown the instant I see her big fake smile on her face. 

She has her hand on my brother's knee in a possessive way and it just makes me roll my eyes in disgust. ''Hey, Braden. Victoria.'' I nod at her. 

Braden glances at me and gives me a silent warning with his look to just be nice. Can't you see how hard it is to be nice to her, Braden? I glare back at him and he simply says. ''Brooke. How are you?'' 

I shrug. ''Good. A bit tired. You know, from having to walk all these stairs every day,'' I say pointedly. 

Braden's face is full of amusement now. ''No, I wouldn't know anything about that,'' he says dryly, but I can hear the laughter in his voice.

I want to roll my eyes. Of course he wouldn't know anything about it since he - surprise, surprise - works out, too. Not only that, he's got his own gym in his suite! 

''Why would you be tired of the stairs? You live on the second floor ...'' Victoria's looking at me with a confused expression. 

I turn my eyes to her. And of course my brother's model girlfriend wouldn't know anything about that, either. 

I think I need to surround myself with people who are more similar to me. Because I can just see the judging eyes of Victoria Bertley staring at me. 

''Well, not everyone has that kind of time to spend so many hours on themselves and getting paid to just look good in photos.'' I give her a fake smile. 

''Brooke, that's enough,'' Braden says lowly, instantly stepping on Victoria's side. 

Alright. I might be rude to her, but she puts me off so much, I just can't be nice to her. I really can't. As a woman, I know when other women are with someone who they love. And I know when they're with someone just to get something from them. And Victoria is not a woman in love. I don't think she's even capable of loving. 

It pisses me off that my brother is so blind that he can't see it. But at the end of the day, it's him who has to go to bed with her and spend his life with her, not me. 

I sigh. ''Sorry,'' I mumble. ''Where are we going?'' 

''To Basilico.'' 

I want to roll my eyes. Of course it has to be something fancy every time. ''Why don't we go to McDonald's once?'' I say, jokingly. 

Victoria gives me such a horrified look that even surprises me. Even Braden makes a disgusting face. 

''Do you know how unhealthy that food is?'' Victoria asks in a high-pitched voice.

If only I could get a dollar every time I heard these words ... ''Don't worry, Victoria. They sell salads, too.''

Braden coughs and when I look at him, I see he's trying to hide his smile. 

Victoria looks at me like she doesn't understand the joke. ''If it's from McDonald's, it surely can't be good and healthy.''

I rub my temple, refraining myself from saying anything too bitchy back. ''Yeah. You're totally right,'' I mumble sarcastically. Why can't my brother pick himself a girl who eats? He always goes for these skinny models who don't eat anything and I know it bothers him, too. 

And they're not even that attractive! What do men see on them, honestly? 

We arrive at the fancy restaurant Braden chose for us and go to the table he reserved. The waitress comes to our table instantly and we all order our drinks. Braden chooses water because he's driving. Victoria chooses water because she can't drink anything that contains calories. And I choose a glass of white wine. Because I can. And because I want to. 

Such a rebel, my inside voice mouths sarcastically. 

''Darling, they have an excellent choice of salads here,'' Victoria purrs to Braden, rubbing her hand over his bicep. 

''Uh-uh. That's nice, babe,'' he says distractingly as I see him looking at what choice of meat they have. 

I roll my lips into my mouth so I don't start laughing loudly. 

When the waitress comes with our drinks, we're all ready to order some food. Victoria starts first, as usual. ''Salad. Different types, without toppings or any other frills.'' 

The waitress slightly lifts her eyebrow but writes it down. I wonder how many times they get an order like this from people like Victoria. 

''I'll have shrimp and diver sea scallops that are on your menu. Thank you.'' Braden closes the menu and it's my turn to order.

''I'll have this organic chicken breast stuffed with spinach and everything that goes with it. Oh, and could I get some meatballs with it? And some sweet potatoes. Please.'' The waitress looks at me for some moments and then writes my order down. 

''Coming right up,'' she mumbles and hurries away. 

Victoria is staring at me with open mouth. ''Are you going to eat all of that?'' she asks quietly, looking around to make sure no one will hear her. 

I shrug. ''Why wouldn't I?'' I ask with raised eyebrows. 

Victoria leans over the table and decides to share her secret with me. ''Do you know how many calories are in this?''

I see where she is going with this. Jesus Christ, not everyone wants to be like a skeleton by their choice. I put my forearms on the table and lean forward like she did. ''Do you know how much I don't care?'' 

Victoria's eyes widen and she sits back in stunned silence. Then, she decides to point a finger in my direction. ''You'll see. You'll regret this in a few years when you'll be overweight and have problems. How will you get a man if you eat like that?'' 

Did she ... Oh, she did. I glare at the Barbie, giving her a death stare. 

''Brooke, you mentioned something about getting a flatmate. Do you have anyone in mind already?'' Braden cuts in, probably feeling the tension in the air.

I stop glaring at Victoria and look at Braden. ''No, not yet. I just thought I'd let you know since you bought the flat. It's too big for me to live in it alone.'' I shrug. 

''Why don't you get yourself a boyfriend, then, Brooke? You could live with him.'' 

My glare returns on Victoria. ''Why do you think I need a man, Victoria?'' I ask her, completely pissed off now. Did Braden really have to bring her along?

It's so hard to be nice to her when she just knows what buttons to press to make me fume. Braden sighs and goes with his hand through his hair, probably frustrated. It's your own fault, brother! You decided it'd be a good idea to bring her to this dinner. 

''Campbell!'' 

I lift my eyes and look at the man coming to our table with a big grin on his face. He greets Braden, patting his back in the way men tend to do as a form of greeting. 

Antonio Villega. I haven't seen him in a while. Probably because Braden threatened him he'll cut his balls off if he goes near me again. Yep, Antonio Villega had a thing for me. Well, he just wanted to get me in bed and Braden found out about it. He ended it on the spot.

I kind of knew Antonio wasn't a man to have a relationship with, he just wouldn't know how to stay faithful. He loves women way too much and he can't settle down for only one. 

''Antonio. Good evening.'' Braden nods at him, formal as ever. I roll my eyes at him. Can't he loosen up? He's 26, yet he acts like he's 45 sometimes. 

''How have you been? I haven't seen you for some time now.'' Antonio gives Victoria a charming smile. 

''You know how it is. Work's keeping me busy.'' 

Antonio shakes his head. ''You should really take some time off, go one some vacations, perhaps.'' 

Braden huffs, staring at Antonio as if he lost his mind. ''I don't need vacations,'' he says dryly. 

''But your lovely faincée must get lonely a lot if you work that much, no?'' Antonio tilts his head on the side, his Spanish accent strongly present with this sentence. 

I feel how tense Braden's body gets. I think he doesn't quite trust Antonio, especially not with women. Braden wraps his arm around the back of Victoria's chair. ''I think my fiancée isn't complaining much, thank you for the concern. Right, darling?'' Braden looks at Victoria and kisses the top of her head. I want to throw up. 

Victoria gives Braden a small kiss and then takes the glass of water in her hands, taking a sip. She's avoiding Braden's look, as well as Antonio's attention on her. My eyes narrow. 

''Brooke! How lovely to see you.'' Antonio now turns to me. 

Antonio is a very handsome man and he knows it. He uses this fact to his benefit. He's got dark features, the Spanish blood is visible on the first look at his black hair, his long, dark eyelashes with dark eyes and slightly full, dark pink lips. He seduced me once with his looks, too. 

He didn't have me - not in a literal meaning. I guess Braden saved me before Antonio could break my heart and I have to say I'm really grateful for that. 

I nod at him with a smile. ''Yes. Very lovely,'' I muse. I have no hard feelings for him. Not anymore, at least. I mean, I can't really blame him now - he wants any woman he can get. I knew how he was, yet it was still my choice to go out on a few dates with him. Until Braden found out. This, and his intentions for me. 

My overprotective brother. What would I do without him? 

Even now he's watching us with a serious look on him, following every movement Antonio makes. I think Braden didn't really forgive Antonio for going after me. They were very good friends at once. Our parents and Antonio's parents knew each other and that's how we've met. 

But then, Antonio started having ideas about us and I still don't know how Braden found out about it, but I think he damaged their friendship pretty hard. He should've known better since Braden doesn't tolerate any bullshit. 

Braden was really pissed at him for a long time. But then Antonio came back with a business proposal for Braden and he sincerely apologised to us both. Braden still didn't fully forgive him, I see.

''Are you here with a date?'' I give Braden a look to stop staring at us. It's making me uncomfortable. And, for God's sake, Antonio won't try anything with me in here - in front of Braden! 

Antonio flashes me one of his infamous smiles. I truly get why women fall for him. I even understand why I fell for it. God, and I actually really thought he'd be different with me! I can't say I wasn't hurt, but truly, I am over it now. It was a long time ago and I had the time to move on and forget all about it. 

''No, I'm actually here to do some business.'' He winks at me. ''So, I'll leave you all to enjoy your dinner in peace while I head back before they wonder where I went.'' His eyes are shining with humour. He stands up and buttons his dress jacket. ''Braden, Victoria. Always nice to see you.'' He nods at them and then he's gone.

Braden has his mouth in a straight line. Uh-oh. He's in a mood now. ''I really don't trust this man,'' he grits out. 

Really? Who would've thought? I think. I take a sip of wine so I don't start laughing. 

''I think he's not that bad,'' Victoria says. I see her hand escaping under the table. I'm going to gag. 

But my attention perks up at her words and I focus on her face. She's looking at Braden, trying to see what his reaction will be. ''I still don't trust him,'' Braden mumbles, pecking Victoria on the lips quickly. 

I see she smiles uncomfortably and takes a sip of water again. I purse my lips, watching her strange behaviour. Or I'm just being paranoid. 

All the thoughts leave me when the food is placed before me. 

''So, flatmate, Brooke?'' Braden asks me again, Antonio now being forgotten. 

◊

I'm unlocking the door when I hear giggling behind me and a click of heels. I realise a couple is walking up the stairs when I hear their whispering. I hastily open the door and I look back. My curiosity is just too strong. 

It's Damien, walking up the stairs with a gorgeous woman. I think my mouth drops open a bit. Firstly, because Damien is in a suit and he looks good enough to eat. I'm not kidding. I think I literally drool a bit. And secondly, because this woman is really gorgeous. With dark hair and an extremely attractive face and body, she matches Damien to a perfection.

I frown to myself. Of course he's got a girlfriend! My inner voice yells at me, pointing a finger at me, looking at me with an I already knew it face. 

And I was already having all kind of images of him in my head. 

Well. What others don't know can't hurt them. 

Damien stops in front of my door with his girl when he notices me and his smile falters a bit, turning into a bit of a shy, charismatic one. Oh, save this for your girlfriend! ''Good evening, Brooke.'' He nods at me. He looks me straight in the eyes before he looks me up and down, taking in my short red dress and black high heels I wore out to dinner tonight. 

I nod at him, my tongue stuck in my mouth. He really looks deliciously good and now I have even a better view when he's standing closer. Wow. Lucky woman who gets to see this every day, any time. ''Hello, Damien,'' I say curtly. I look at the woman beside him and smile at her.

She's starting at me with a questioning look. And Damien, as if he remembers he's not alone, he pulls the woman closer to his side as if he wants to silently tell me, I'm taken. 

It has me to say something sarcastic, something like, Have fun, kids, but I'm not in the mood right now, especially not after an evening spent in the presence of Victoria. I swear she sucks all the humour out of you. 

''Well. Good night,'' I say. Because what else could I say? It's awkward enough as it is. 

I don't wait for them to walk away. I close my door right after I say the words and throw myself down on the couch, face flat. 

You can read this story ahead on radish! 

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