CHAPTER FOUR

With three smooth steps Lucien closed the small distance between us. I stood my ground, my neck straightening as I looked up at him.

With a soft press of his thumb, he slowly glided his soft touch down the length of my jaw as he took a hold of my chin between his thumb and finger, tilting my head and ever so gently guiding my eyes to his.

I wasn’t sure if his actions were meant to be seductive but yet still, they enticed this need and almost drowsy like reaction from me.

"I like seeing you blush, especially if I'm the one who causes it" He spoke softly looking down at me. he was fully aware of his effect on me and damn did he know how to the play with it. But thank the lords from the heavens above because before I had the time to respond, not even sure that I would have been able to, I heard the commotion of the other three behind me as they not so subtly jogged down the stairs. 

"Morning Love birds" Diego fired most definitely in the direction of Lucien and me. His voice filled with so much amusement. 

Ignoring my brother and his childish comment, I turned my attention back to Lucien who had now taken a few rather large steps backwards, purposely creating some distance between us as a small smirk now etched the corners of his lips. 

I watched as Lorenzo, Lucien, Diego and Marcel 'Bro hugged' before Diego made his way towards me. His black jeans creased, and his white polo shirt had its only two buttons on the collar popped undone. His dirty blonde hair sticking out in all different directions. 

Diego was a man who didn't care what he looked like in the eyes of others, he still managed to look good, and I don’t know how he pulled that off considering he doesn’t make even the slightest attempt. Diego received a lot of attention from women, and I will tell you now there has been many.

I groaned as he engulfed me in a large hug, wrapping his arms around me tightly and squeezing me half to death. "Morning Angel" he said, and I just knew he had a wide smile upon his face. Just as wide as my own, he was not my eldest brother, but he was still older than me and the most chilled out man I’ve ever seen in this place.

I had no time to greet him back instead I was pulled from Diego’s bear hug to be embraced by one from Lorenzo. 

"You good Maria?" He asked pulling back slightly to see my face.

"I'm all good," I reassured him, offering a smile of my own. He was always one to check up on me. 

"Good, I left some paperwork for you on your desk, I may need to go out of town tonight with Marcel, but Diego and Lucien will be here if you need them. OK?" he informed me, and I nodded my head in understanding. 

Lorenzo was very manly looking, with well-kept dark brown hair, the genetically given green eyes that we had shared between us siblings, a shadow of a stubble upon his defined jaw. The stubble was normal for him it was kind of part of his everyday look and that navy blue fitted suit he wore was something he had practically lived in since he was seventeen.

It was inevitable that Lorenzo would receive a lot of attention from women just like Diego had. The difference with Lorenzo was that he never paid them no mind in return. He has a Fiancé called Aimee, the way he looks at her I can tell he truly does love her with everything he has, I envied that. I wished to someday have a love like theirs, for someone to love me the way Lorenzo loves Aimee. They adored each other. I wanted that but I didn’t just want that with any old someone, deep down I wanted that someone to be Lucien again, I crave for that someone to be Lucien.

Since the men had started to make their own conversation between themselves, I decided I would head to the kitchen in order to grab some toast before I must head to the meeting. 

There was nothing more embarrassing than a rumbling stomach and a silent room filled to the brim of people.

I didn't miss how Lucien's eyes raked over my body one last time, that glint in his eyes as he played with his bottom lip between his teeth gave me hope that he was still attracted to me.

There was the chance that he just liked the game, to play and tease me but I’d like to think there was truth in my first thought because what woman doesn’t want to believe that she was attractive in the eyes of the man she was in love with.

I turned quickly making my move towards the kitchen, my cheeks where warm at the look he directed at me, I was revelling in the amount of attention he was giving me today.

I sucked in a deep breath to compose myself before entering the kitchen. As usual I was met with multiple pairs of eyes.

Today the looks received where of the fowl kind, Asif they were looking at dirt and the beholders of such looks where from three women sitting at the dining table. 

I lowered my gaze figuring it's better to avoid them. I should have used our kitchen upstairs and avoided this one, I usually would but I’m here now and I was not about to change my course because of these three unknowns to me women.

Most women I see here work as maids, and some go on business related trips with the guys but I'm not entirely sure who does what though. I’d like to say that I wasn’t used to receiving the kind of looks such as the ones I am having to endure right now but I can’t, it was a regular occurrence from not only the women but also some men. I don't know what their problem with me was but the only conclusion I can come up with is that the women are jealous and the men? God, I don’t know maybe they are jealous of me too. 

I couldn't understand why they would be, I’m not exactly perfect nor do I have any perfection on my outer body. The only conclusion I could ever come up with was that… one, I'm the baby sister of two of their bosses.

Two, I am the ex-lover of their other boss who has probably taken one or two of them to his bed.

And three, not to brag but I get a lot of attention from the whole of the male population in this building. I kind of have too since they all have orders to protect me so of course I would have all their attention, it's their job for fuck’s sake.

The four men in my life are let’s say, very protective. Every man on their payroll has the duty of my safety, and at times such as the rare occasions of threats or when I am made to attend meetings like today, I am assigned a bodyguard.

The toaster popped signalling that my toast was ready, I spread some jam across it before Making my way to the fridge, placing the Jam on the shelf and taking the apple juice out I returned to my toast and watched as James walked in with a blonde-haired woman by his side. They exchange a few words, a large smile appearing on the woman's face at his whispered words. That same large smile dropping to the floor as she notices my presence.

Here we go again.