A Billionaire's Deal

"Earth to Alana, are you with me?" Malia's voice brought me back to the harsh reality I live in, a reality where my parents are forcing me into an arranged marriage with...

"I'm sorry, did you mean Daniel as in your ex?" Malia asked with an expression that made me even more anxious than I already was.

"Malia, for God's sake, this is the third time I told you the same story. Yes Daniel, my ex." My voice sounded so harsh it has surprised even me. The problem is my anger is not because of her, it's because of my parents.

I'm pretty sure you are wondering what's happening. Let me tell you.

My name is Alana, Alana Steel. The one and only heir to Laura and Carlton Steel, who were the CEOs of Steel hotels, but now I'm the one who's in charge.

If only that was all of it but ever since I took charge of our hotels my parents have been choking me to death, wanting me to get married so they can have grandchildren and if this happens the blood of the family will still run and that's what they want because we are too much of a prideful family that we can't even just accept that one of us don't want to get married and have children.

It's not that I don't want to get married, it's just I don't want to get married to my ex, who hurt me and destroyed me. And what makes the case worse is that my parents know and they're still trying to get me to agree to this marriage, parents of the year, right?

"I just don't know what to do... I feel lost, Malia." It was the very first time I've ever felt this lost. I just don't want to disappoint my parents, but I don't want to marry my ex as well. God, what am I supposed to do?

"Listen, just do what you feel is right to do, and if you don't feel like agreeing with your parents' decision, just tell them." Malia said the words as if doing them was as easy as saying them. That's my problem: no one gets what it's like to be the only heir to the family as wealthy as mine.

"You still don't get it, do you? I have to be perfect Malia." I said with so much pain in my voice, a pain that always has been with me. Why? Because I always had to be the perfect daughter, I was not allowed to make mistakes or play with kids or skip school even if I'm sick even though according to them I never got sick. I don't know how that could happen, but I never did, all of that because I was perfect.

Malia looked at me with a look of disbelief, then said in a tone that was filled with pain for me. "No one is perfect, Alana. We all have our flaws, even them... especially them and we both know it." I knew what she was referring to, but she wasn't the one that lived with them. She doesn't see how much they think that they're flawless.

"We're just moving into dead ends with this conversation. I have to find a solution to this problem otherwise you're going to be invited to my wedding next week." I said as I got up and talked to the floor-to-ceiling window that I have in my office, looking at the huge City out there, a city I have lived in but I've never seen fully because I was always busy with being me, with being a businesswoman or the perfect daughter.

Sometimes I wish to let go for just one day. I wish I could become someone else for one day, someone people didn't know, someone who meant nothing to them.

I wish I can go to places where people will not treat me specially as if I was a queen which people said I am or wait no they never called me a queen. They called me the steel princess, even though I never understood why is it because I'm always coldly treating them or is it because of my steel-like hair or was it just a name they gave to me... a name which journalists Could use in their articles or TV presenters can use in the interviews or the news where they can use to the headline, I never really understood it and honestly I don't think that I want to.

My thoughts were interrupted when I felt Malia's arms wrap around my shoulder as she pulled me to her while saying "listen I give you my opinion if you don't want to do this then just tell them but just know that whatever you do I'll be with you, what kind of best friend would I be if I wasn't?" A smile reached my face, and I turned around and pulled her into a tight hug, then said softly, "what would I do without you, Malia?"

She pulled away from me with a playful smile on her lips. "Well, for starters without me, you would have never gone to any party ever, you would have never gone clubbing or met new people but don't worry I won't force you to act grateful because I'm just being me you, know the cheerful one between the two of us."

I walked back to my desk as I was saying in a humorous tone "My hero but my hero has to leave because I have a meeting in about 10 minutes so I'll see you tonight at the club you know so I can go clubbing and meet new people thanks to my best friend."

"Please, please there's no need to clap or something I'm just being the good friend I am" she said and was about to continue but stopped immediately when she saw my expression that was always very scary to her but honestly I did nothing more than putting my CEO expression but what can I say for someone as playful and as joke full of Malia she could never handle having a serious face around her.

She was on her way out when she bumped into Lena. My assistant who is always very hyperactive, which I still never understood why, but maybe it's because everyone says that I intimidate people I think anyway, not the point.

"See you tonight Ally." Malia said while waving at me, but I didn't answer her since I needed to turn my attention to Lena, who was standing in front of me.

"I thought there were still 10 minutes to the meeting. Why are you here?" I asked in a feelingless tone that I always used when I was... you know, being the CEO of a bunch of hotels.

"I um I know but there is someone that the security told me about that's making a fuss down in the entrance so I thought maybe I should tell you because they weren't able to move him away and if they don't we're going to be in a huge trouble with the press who are coming to stream your speech today."

I only stared at her for a couple of more minutes because I was furious that I have security and I had a lot of employees who can't get one man away from my hotel entrance. How lovely. "Fine, just tell the security to not interact with him anymore. I'll go down and see what I'll do with him, whoever he is."

She nodded her head at me over five times, like I said hyperactive and Immediately pressed on her earpiece to tell the security to back away, just to be honest she was the one with the earpiece idea, not me and if I'm being more honest, it was a pretty good idea.

When I arrived at the lobby of the hotel, I centred my eyesight on the entrance where I could see the security standing on either side of the entrance but what caught my attention immediately was the man standing there looking almighty as he owns the place and looking around the hotel in a way that made me angry because he looked almost disgusted with the hotel which is something that I took personally.

The closer I got to him, the more I felt like I'd seen him somewhere. His face was really familiar, but very distant. I didn't understand. What caught my attention but the man himself was wearing a black t-shirt, black pants, black boots, everything was black. Even his hair was pitch black and his eyes... from what I saw, from what anyone would see a mile away, his eyes looked almost as blue as an ocean.

His arms and neck were filled with tattoos, a sight that someone like me will never see in a hundred years because I'm usually around more restrained people I think, But I didn't give it that much though because now I had one problem in hand and it was that man in front of me right now.

"Excuse me, can I know what's going on here?" I tried to give my voice as calm as possible because for someone like me to outburst in public, it's going to be the end of my family's name.

I watched as his gaze slowly go up and down on me as if he was analyzing me trying to figure out what to do but slowly a smile made its way towards his lips and truth be told it was a beautiful smile but I should know better because I thought that Daniel's smile was beautiful as well and look where that got me.

"What's happening Miss..." He trailed off waiting for me to tell him my name which I had to do if I was going to have a civil conversation with him so I slowly extended my hand to him and said "Steel, Alana Steel."

He slowly took my hand in his and shook it then said "What was happening Miss Steel is that I was disrespected in your hotel And curiosity is killing the tiger standing in front of you because I'm wondering how can someone as beautiful as you be working in a trashy hotel like this one." For a minute I was about to punch him for saying that my hotel is trashy, but once again I stayed calm and try to solve the problem in the most diplomatic way possible.

"I'm sure there must have been a misunderstanding between us and you, sir, but I hope we can get into an agreement to solve this problem as quickly as possible. Now can you please tell me how you were disrespected in this hotel?"

"For starters, I ask for a master sized bedroom but instead I got one with two beds but I still said nothing, then I ask for food and I get something completely different from what I asked for and finally the quality of your soaps and shampoos are on the ground, I'm sorry but what kind of hotel does that to their guests?"

I swear if he says one more bad word about my hotel, I'm going to punch him in the face. "I'm sorry you had to go through this experience, although everything we have in this hotel has prime qualities and is from elite companies and brands but-"

He immediately cut me off and said "I don't need to hear more excuses, I want to talk to the owner of this place." I looked down for a few seconds with a smile, then looked back at him again and said with some fake confidence, "You already are talking to the owner of this place."

For a second he let me see his shock over what I just said, but he covered it immediately which meant that he is from a family just as wealthy as mine because he was a master at covering his emotions which also means that I am in a bit of trouble because I don't know who he is.

"Well, Miss Steel, I would like to have compensation because of my discomfort with your hotel." He said with so much confidence that honestly made me want to laugh.

"Listen, Mister, this is not a charity and also, I can't allow you to disrespect my hotel. So I don't think that I'll be giving you anything and I will ask you politely to leave my hotel." this time it took him a long while to recover from my words because when he looked at me again the mask was up again I could see some evilness in his eyes then slowly a mischievous smile formed on his lips before he stepped impossibly close to me, to a degree where we had to share the same air.

"What did you just say to me?" He said in a low but dangerous voice the held some sort of threat in it but I was never someone who backed down easily, much less someone who would get afraid, so in a very cold-blooded tone I answered "I asked you to leave my hotel."

My piercing green eyes never left his ocean blue ones. This was actually one of my parents' rules that they taught me.

'Never avoid the eyes of your enemy, otherwise they'll think you're afraid... and if they think you're afraid, then you're done for.'

His eyes roamed over my face and they stopped somewhere, somewhere I didn't want to think about and then he looked back in my eyes and asked, "do you even know who you're talking to?" Once again I could hear the threat in his voice and if I'm being honest, I felt a bit of unease But I stopped that feeling quickly so that it would not get to me.

I held my head even higher, then used the most intimidating tone I had. "No, I don't, and I don't care who you are. All I care about is that I want you to leave my hotel."

He took a strand of my Steel-colored hair between his fingers and started playing with them as he said, "don't worry sweetness, I'm leaving but I'll come back and you...Won't.like It."

With that he let go of my hair then turned around to leave but stopped for a split second to say "how impolite of me, I should have told you my name... my name is Raymond Dalton."

Raymond

"You can't stop me from having what's rightfully mine." I yelled at my dear old dad, who treated me as if I was someone who works for him not his own son, but then again his own father didn't treat him like a son so it's like father like son I guess.

"Don't use that tone with me, boy." He said in a tone that was meant to scare me but it only boiled my blood more and I often wonder is he stopping me from taking charge over the companies because he wants me to get married and then have it or is it because he doesn't want to give up The control he has over everybody and everything.

Even his family, especially his family, he stopped my mother from doing everything she ever wanted because he said that his words with law, he stopped me from travelling and doing everything I wanted like starting my own business, all because I was his firstborn so I had to take over the companies but now he's the one pushing me away.

"You will have what's rightfully yours once you stop being the most important headline on the news and magazines for being the most famous Playboy, and the only way to do that is to get married." There it is again, the one topic I never want to discuss yet he still brings it up every single time.

"tell the truth Dad, you just want me to get married or do you want me to get married to someone's daughter I don't know maybe a senator or a mayor, either way, you're the one who's going to get something good out of it and I'm the one who's going to be stuck in a hopeless marriage for the rest of my life." I was able to hear the movements behind the door and I knew that my mother was listening to us argue, that I understand but what I don't understand is that she didn't get used to it by now.

" I only want what's best for you." I swear if only we weren't arguing I would have started laughing at him, did he really think that this would make me do what he wants.

"Well, that's weird because I remember hearing you say the exact same words to Ethan and Nathan and look how that worked out, remind me of one time where we were having dinner or lunch or breakfast and they didn't fight with you." I let out a bitter laugh at remembering every single thing he made us do, ever since we were children to this day. This man is a narcissist who only cares about himself, his money, his fortune, his legacy.

He doesn't care about anyone else.

"Face it father, you don't care about me or Nathan or Ethan. You only care about yourself and that's never going to change, you know why? Because a narcissist never changes." And apparently, that was the final straw for dad because he got up, slammed his fist on the table then started yelling "You crossed the line!"

"The line... What line did I cross Dad?" I screamed back at him as I heard the door getting opened and I didn't need to look behind me to know that it's my mother standing there, this is how it always was, we fight then scream at one another and finally, mom comes in and stops the fight, but not this time because I've had enough of this bullshit.

"Remember that you're talking to your father." Another yell and I swear that I was one moment away from doing something I might have regretted but stopped when I felt my Mother's hands clutching my arm tightly. "And you should remember that I'm your son, Not someone who works for you and bows to your orders" I pulled my arm away from my mother's tight grip and left the office without another word.

Alana

"I should never make decisions when I'm drunk again." I said, clutching my head that was throbbing painfully while Malia who was sitting opposite of me was laughing as if she was watching a comedy show and I was only able to glare at her for a few seconds before my phone buzzed on the restaurant table.

From: Mom

To: Me

We are almost there.

"Before your parents arrive, give me my two hundred bucks because I clearly remember betting you that liquid courage will help you make this decision." The confidence of this girl, I thought as I was searching my purse for any two hundred bucks to give her but I mean she's not wrong though because liquid courage definitely helped.

A few minutes after Malia left, I saw my parents enter the restaurant and my heart started beating at a rapid speed in my chest, that was it the moment that was going to decide whether I'm getting married next week or not but either way that's my decision because I'm freaking tired everyone making decisions for me...it's time for me to be my own person.

"Sweetie, how are you?" mom said as she sat down in the chair opposite of me beside dad who was pretending to ignore me ever since I refused to marry Daniel.

"I'm fine thanks, Mom. Thanks for asking anyway and being a good mother." if I'm honest for a Split Second I doubted my own words about her being a good mother and maybe she is in her own way, as in for Dad he was the kind of father that when you go ask him for something he gives you a credit card, no hugs, 'no I love you daughter' no nothing... It's pathetic.

"So why did you want to meet us here, in a public place?" Of course, dad being dad would think that I brought them into a restaurant so that they wouldn't yell at me or fight with me even though it was never my intention. I just thought that the restaurant would be nice to have a conversation with your parents but apparently, not all parents believe that.

"I wanted us to meet because I have made my decision about what you asked me earlier or by earlier I mean about a week ago." the moment the words left my mouth I caught a slight change in his facial expressions, a smile. He was smiling, poor old man. He thinks that I'm going to agree.

"And?"

"No, I'm not going to marry Daniel, dad." Finally, there was a reaction I wanted. He was surprised and if I didn't know better I'd say he was terrified of my decision and maybe he is because if I marry Daniel his rank in society would have been up in the sky, what actually surprised me was Mom, she doesn't have the same reaction as his she was a little bit surprised but she was almost happy. I could swear I saw the corner of her mouth go up.

" I'm sorry I think I must have misheard you." Dad said with a look in his eyes that dared me to argue with him which I'm going to do anyway so yeah.

"We both know that you didn't mishear me and yes I'm not going to marry him just because you want me to." I could see how much it took for him to control himself not that he would hit me, not that he ever did but he would always start yelling and slamming his fist on the table, it was just the tradition I guess.

"Honey, she made her decision and we should respect it." All right, mental note to myself.

'I should thank Mom when we get home.'

"I'm not going to respect anything she's going to marry him." This is the first time in my life I heard him talk like that to Mom and me. He never forced me to do anything I don't want, let alone a marriage, what was happening to him?

"You can't possibly force me to marry him?" there was a pain in my voice but there was also fear, fear that he would actually force me to marry him

No, he would never do that, right?

"You have two choices in front of you, Alana. You either marry him and all of the hotels will stay yours but if you don't I'm taking every single penny I gave you back." he was serious when he said this, is he seriously going to force me into a Loveless and hopeless marriage?

"You can't be serious?" My voice was merely a whisper but I know he heard me the moment he shook his head at me and I could feel my eyes burning with unshed tears, I immediately looked at my mother hoping for help "Mom?"

She didn't even look at me, because she knew he was going to do this and didn't even warn me. She didn't do anything, she just sat there hearing her husband telling their daughter that he was going to leave her with nothing in her life.

"You have three Days To Think," he said with no emotion in his voice, then looked back at my mom. " Come on Laura, we're leaving."

They both got up and left but of course, my mother had to give me that 'I didn't know what to do' look but she always did give me.

God, I hate them.

It took everything in me to stop the tears from falling and get up as quickly as possible and leave this place so I can go outside and cry in peace where the press will probably follow me to see you why am I crying but for all I care because my father just threatened me that I either marry my ex who destroyed me piece by piece or lose everything I have ever worked for in my life, not a hard decision, right?

Raymond

For the first time today, I let my mind move back to Alana Steel. The girl would make you do anything she wants you to with a look from her gorgeous green eyes, or just a command from her voice.

But one thing is for fucking sure, whoever made this girl a CEO of a Hotel knew what he was doing, she had everything that's needed. She's professional but intimidating at the same time. She's polite but she can burn you with one comment at the same time.

"Hey bro, you with me?" The voice of the ruiner fun, Elliott my best friend, distracted my mind away from the beautiful girl that I was thinking about.

" Yes Man, I'm with you." but of course my best friend being my best friend couldn't let the matter go as a knowing smile reached his face then he said " who is she this time?"

"Don't get your hopes high buddy, I just met her once and she kicked me out of her Hotel." well it looks like that got his attention because he stopped walking and turned back to look at me with a surprised expression.

"You're telling me that you met a girl who kicked you out of her hotel, am I dying or something or is the world coming to an end?" Elliott said as if this was the best day of his life, am I really that much of a Playboy that no one can believe that someone disliked me?

"Believe me, I was as surprised as you are but who knows." Lucky me we are at the restaurant so he was finally going to drop this topic because if you want to keep Elliot's mouth shut then you have to keep it full.

When I was about to ask Elliot what he wanted to order I looked up to see him staring at someone so I turned my head to find myself looking at the same Alana Steel I met yesterday.

How small is this world?

Alana

Ten missed calls from Malia.

I put my phone back in my pocket as I kept on crying while looking at the ocean in front of me. I just don't understand how a parent can do that to a child, their only child. I mean I know I made mistakes in the past, I know I made a lot of them but I don't deserve to have this happening to me.

"Well, could anyone believe a coincidence like this?" I Heard a Voice, that I'm pretty sure I heard before but I wasn't in the mood to be a detective now so I turned around to see who it was and wasn't it the same... What was his name again? oh yeah Raymond Dalton who called my hotel a trashy one yesterday.

I let out a sigh before I turned back to look at the ocean and said "What do you want, Dalton?" He came beside me and laid down on the rails. He stayed like that for a while before he looked back at me with a smile that seemed a little bit genuine.

"You remember my name, Color Me Impressed." for some stupid reason that actually made me laugh or at least chuckle which seemed to please him because he smiled as well then continued "But please just call me Ray." I only nodded my head at his suggestion because deep down I had the feeling that we would be talking a lot.

"Now I hope that you won't punch me or anything but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with your parents." Perfect. Now we have a stranger who I kicked out of my hotel yesterday, hear my father telling me that he will kick me out of my hotel soon. How Lovely.

"Just please let me interrupt you but I'm wondering because I read about you and what caught my attention is who you are and who your parents are."

He nodded his head, telling me to say what I have to say. "But you don't strike me as a man who owns all these companies and stuff or you still didn't have them yet and that would explain your looks." He looked at me with his eyebrows raised as he asked "What's wrong with my looks?"

"Nothing." I paused to look at him again, today he was wearing a white shirt with a leather jacket and the pants and boots were similar to the ones from yesterday but not the same. "It's just, I saw a lot so I know that a man of power and money would be wearing a suit or something professional or maybe you just don't care about appearances?"

"Something like the second one but you're right I still didn't take over them yet." Ray explained with a pained smile on his face, and I couldn't help but smile as I asked "Playboy days are not over yet?"

It felt weird how much I was at ease while talking with Raymond, it just felt like I was with someone who is suffering like me.

"I don't know but what I do know is that my father wants them to be over." Something clicked in my memory now, when I was reading about him, I saw one of the articles where it was written that his father refused to give him anything unless he settled down.

A brilliant idea came to my mind as I turned to look at him fully. "Hey Raymond?" but before I could continue, he held up his hand and said, "Please, just call me Ray because Raymond reminds me of my father."

"Ray, I have an offer," I said with a smirk on my face and he turned his body so we were standing almost like we were at the hotel. "Go on, Princess."

"You want to take over your father's companies right?" He only nodded his head with a small hum but I could see the smile on the corner of his mouth. "And I want to keep my money and fortune, right?"

"So how about... we make a deal?" His smirk only grew more and he stepped even closer to me as he repeated the moves he did to me the first time we met, took a strand of my hair and played with it.

"What kind of deal, Princess?" He was smooth, I'll give him that because I know he knew what I was about to offer, he seemed smart enough to understand.

"one year of a contract marriage that'll serve both of us." I trailed off as I tried to read his attractive blue eyes but I couldn't read him... I doubt that anyone can.

I pulled away from him to extend my hand to him as I said "So what do you say, Raymond Dalton?"

He looked as if he might refuse for a second and that made fear creep in my mind but suddenly he took my hand in his and said "I say that I can't wait to announce our wedding, Alana Steel."

================

"I'm sorry, did you just say Raymond Dalton?" Malia, who for the first time in our whole twenty-five years of friendship, stops eating from her favourite cake to ask me a question. Well, that's new.

"Yes, Raymond Dalton but please don't start fangirling over him... at least not in front of me." I took a sip from my morning coffee while reading some more stuff about Ray from my Ipad which is something we both agreed to do, read about each other first then try to get to know one another, I mean we still have two weeks before the wedding.

"Oh, is someone jealous?" She asked using her teasing tone and I immediately threw a glare in her direction because did she seriously think that I'm jealous, why would I even be.

"Why would I be, Malia? It's arranged, remember?" She fakes a pout before she shrugged her shoulders while having that playful smile of hers.

"Well you know, in most novels the arranged marriage turns into a real one." I scoffed then said, "Novels are nothing but fairy tales and real life isn't a fairytale."

"Stop ruining my fun!" Malia yelled at me with a small giggle, she always dreamed about her future love coming to her, riding his white horse and I always try not to break her dreams but I still gotta keep her in the range of our reality.

I was about to answer when my phone started ringing and as usual, I answered it without looking but immediately regretted my decision when I heard who it was.

"Hey, Princess." Yep, instant regret because now I'll have to deal with his playfulness but I better get used to it, I will be staying with him for a full year after all.

"Good Morning to you too, Ray." Big mistake. Malia quickly jumped from her seat and pressed her ear next to my phone while side hugging me... if only I was this excited.

"So I've been thinking, wouldn't it be good if you come and meet my brothers who already know by the way and don't worry, they won't say a word about it." There were noises in the background but I took a guess it was his brothers or something.

But maybe he's right. If I'm doing this then I should meet everyone I can so I make it easier for myself to have as many allies as possible.

"Sure but can I also bring my best friend with me, she also knows but won't say a word too." The moment the words left my mouth Malia started attacking my cheek with kisses and her hug became so right barely leaving any room for me to breathe but I wasn't mad about that because, in my whole goddamn twenty-five years of living, she was the only one to give me the love that my parents weren't able to give.

"You can bring whoever you want, Princess. You're the star of the show after all." I swear that I can hear him grinning on the other side of the line, how does he always have time to be full of energy?

"Maybe but you are still starring with me too." He hummed on the other line before yelling at his siblings to tone down their voices. "Yep, I am. Anyways, I'll send you the address and you can come now if you're free of course because as you can see, I'm still learning about the life of CEOs."

I let out a small chuckle as I checked my schedule and lucky him, I'm free today.

"Guess it's your lucky day, Dalton. I'm all free for the whole day." A smile made its way to my face when Malia got up and started doing some sort of victory dance in front of me. This girl is so crazy.

"Well, it's settled then see you soon, Princess."

"See you soon." I replied and ended the call then prepared myself to hear Malia's high pitched scream which will happen in three... two... one...

"Aaaaaaaa!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, making me cover my ears and wait until she was done. God, she has the energy of a three years old child.

"Yeeees bitches, I'm going to meet Raymond Dalton and his siblings." She started putting on some make-up while listening to Taylor Swift's Shake It off which is a song we both love.

===============

We were now outside the mansion mentioned in the address that Ray sent me and if I'm being honest, it's pretty classy but apparently, it didn't get Malia's approval.

"What now?" I asked as I removed my seat belt but she just shrugged her shoulders "I expected more, that's all." I let out a laugh, picking up my purse then we both left the car.

"Malia, I already told you, he didn't get anything from his parents and neither did his twin brothers." We started walking towards the gate where the guards were but I'm assuming that he wasn't the one who hired them because they sure do cost a lot and he can't cover that much cost with what he has.

"Ms Steel, Ms Rhodes. Welcome to the Dalton siblings Mansion." One of them greeted us and motioned for the others to open the gate, letting us in while he followed us inside.

"Mr Dalton will be here in a minute so please make yourself at home." The guard said with a smile on his face before walking away, leaving me and Malia standing in the middle of their backyard which was beautiful by the way.

Malia was just admiring everything around her with wide eyes and an open mouth. "Don't let flies get in there, Mals." She immediately glared at me but closed her mouth then went back to looking at the entire place before she said "I take every single word I said back, this is so good."

"I just want to understand, why do you always seem so impressed with everything, Girl you are the daughter of a Senator meaning you grew up rich so why are you surprised by those things?"

"It's not the same." She said firmly and was ready to argue more and so was I but we were interrupted by Ray's voice.

"I hope it suits you Princess because that is where I suppose we'll be living unless you have another option for us?" Ray explained while he was walking towards us, hands behind his back.

"Let me examine the goods first, I only saw the backyard as you can see." And finally, he smiled at me before he nodded his head but suddenly stopped as his gaze went behind, making me turn around to see why and I wish I didn't.

There was Malia, frozen on the spot, her mouth slightly open and her eyes wide open again, staring in awe at the man in front of her. "Just give it a second, she'll snap out of it," I told him as I let the corner of my mouth go up, almost smiling at her reaction.

But he didn't give her time to recover as he went to stand in front of her, raising one of his hands to point at her then asked "I'm supposing you're Malia Rhodes?"

Again, no answer. The girl just straight up zoned out of reality at the sight of him which makes me wonder is he really that handsome or am I just too cold and uncaring to notice?

"Malia!" I called her with the only tone I knew would always make her afraid and it did because she finally looked normal while she answered "Yes, I'm Malia."

Ray smirked at the whole situation before he said "Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Malia." He extended his hand to her which she took in almost second. I really have to work on her skills with people.

"The pleasure is all mine." Oh my god, she is so fangirling over him, in front of me which is something I told her not to do this morning.

I feel like I'm going to throw up, those things are just too cheesy for me.

"So where are your brothers?" I asked in an attempt to get away from here before I seriously throw up , which apparently worked because Ray turned around and asked us to follow him.

I could feel that Malia had something to say, it was always obvious to know if she did. "Go on." She smiled at the fact that I knew she wanted to say something.

"I just expected something like 'Don't embarrass me or something." I stopped her from walking when I noticed that Ray was caught with the man who got us inside the mansion and said "I'm not my mother Malia, you can say and do whatever you want while you're with me." The moment I said those words she took my hand in hers and was about to reply when someone behind us joked "Is this the part where they kiss?"

We pulled away from each other to look at whoever said that, only to be met with two people who look the exact same. The Twins... Nathan and Ethan.

But I think I had an idea which one was the one to joke about us a few seconds ago. "No, that's the part where you shut up." The look of shock on his face was worth my comment, his deep black eyes widened at my comeback while his twin, Ethan was smirking without looking up from the papers he was reading.

And I dared to take a second to admire them because they look nothing like Ray. While his hair is black, theirs is dirty blonde. Their eyes are black as the night while Ray had his beautiful blue eyes but even though I knew which one is which, it would be hard for a stranger to tell the difference between them.

"Just to be sure," I trailed off as I stepped closer to them, "you're Nathan." I pointed at the one who was still recovering from his shock then went to the other "And Ethan, am I right?" The calm one nodded before looking at Ray who was watching the scene unfold for a while now.

"I like her already." Then Ethan finally looked at me and Malia before he said "Standing for my two brothers, that's a record that no one ever reached." I chuckled at his statement but couldn't help but be able to see that he was emotionally unavailable, his voice was cold and unfeeling even more than mine.

"It wasn't so hard." I said smugly, only to be met with Ray who raised his eyebrow at me before he asked "Oh really?"

I was about to give him a smartass comment when the same man from earlier came back and he seemed troubled.

"Mr Dalton there is a man outside causing trouble, saying that he wants to see Ms Steel." My eyebrows furrowed in confusion because I certainly didn't tell anyone that I was coming.

"Did he say his name, Andrew?" Ray asked the man who nodded his head at him before he said that one name I despise.

"Daniel Clifford."