Chapter 8 (Part 2)

Chapter 8 Part 2

It’s been so long since I went to my bar. I smile as I enter the smell the addicting scent of music and liquor but one thing caught my attention.

It looks like my employee is flirting with a customer. He looks familiar but I can’t exactly remember where I saw him.

“Is this what you do in your working hours?” I smirk and sit beside the man in the bar stool that made Kate look at me in horror.

“You’re back!?”  I don’t know if she sounds happy or not.

“Why? You don’t like it?” I smirk and raise my brows to the man she was talking to earlier. “And who is this man? Is this your new prospect? Got tired of my brother?”

She pouted as I said that. “That’s Ethan. We’re getting to know each other.” She became a shy teenage girl when she said that but Ethan? That sounds familiar and the way he smile at me it’s like he knew who I am.

“You have a nice palette.” A man in his mid-40s approach my booth with his arms crossed while looking at all of my paintings hanging. “You like bold colors?” He suddenly ask.

“I guess, depending on my mood.” He nodded and smile.

“How much do you sell that?” he pointed my painting that’s an abstract of my brother Evan, that one is different from the others, it has bright color and when you look at it you feel the good energy it has.

“20,000 dollars.” I should’ve price it higher than that. It’s special to me. I look at the man and wait for his reply.

“How about 20 million dollars?” My eyes widen. “I like it, and I want it ship immediately at my house.” He said.

“Sure.” I said feeling weird. “Can I have your address and name?”

“Ethan Hale.” My brow creased as his name feel so familiar but I just nodded and gave my business card and he gave me his too. “You just look like her.” He whisper that made me look at him and give him a asking look but he smile and shake his head. “I have a friend that just look like you. You resemble her so much.” I hope that’s not my sister… where would meet him though?

When he left I can’t help but wonder where I heard that name.

**

That’s not the only time we encounter each other.

“I heard it’s your birthday yesterday? Happy birthday.” I was so stunned that I couldn’t speak nor move. I just stare at him and the box that he’s holding. “Are you okay?” He suddenly  asked.

“What are you doing here?” I look around. I’m in the library inside our school and how did he get in here?

“I’m wishing you a happy birthday and to give you my gift. I hope you didn’t forgotten me yet?” He chuckle.

“Yeah, but we only met once and you were my buyer and we didn’t be friends.”  I know I’m being rude but this is creepy and I’m scared.

“Fine, just receive my gift and I’m not a bad person.” He said before he left. I look at the box he put on the table and I look around and saw a couple of students that was looking at me and immediately look around when they saw me staring at them.

I nervously exhale and slowly open the gift and my eyes widen when I saw a gold necklace and has a pendant. My brows creased as I notice that there’s a message in it. “A life live with love will never be dull.” I read it out loud. “What is this? I look around but he’s not he’s nowhere to be seen.

“I heard a rumor.” I was walking around the hallway with Kate to go home when I notice some of the my fellow students are looking at me and shaking their head in disappointment. “Ana is a illegitimate child. Her mother had her when she was young and her father is different.”

My eyes widen from what I had heard. Where did that rumor came from? Kate hold my hand as she saw that it was shaking. “Are you okay?” She ask but I couldn’t answer.

“Maybe her father is the one who’s she was talking to yesterday in the library.”

**

“What are you doing here? Did you get close to Kate because of me?” I fee nervous when I ask him that but I just had to while Kate is busy doing something else but he just smile. I don’t know if Kate remember this man, they didn’t really saw each other so I’m guessing he forgot about the incident in school.

“No, there’s a different reason.” He said and look at Kate that made my brows creased.

“What are you guys talking about?” Kate ask when she return and I just shook my head and smile.

“Nothing, I want a run through of what’s going on, on my business.” I stood up and walk towards my office which Kate followed.

She told me everything that I needed to know and I was so relief that she was able to handle it on her own despite not being able to contact me from time to time.

“You have a shoot, we should get going. I already have your things ready here.” She said and I nodded.

When we went out of the office and I stop mid-step when I saw my brother talking to Ethan. “They know each other?”  I can’t help but ask and Kate nodded.

“They’re so annoying when they’re together.” She said that made me raise my brows.

“You’re really busy huh?” I smirk at her before walking towards my brother.

“What are you doing here?” I smile and gave Evan a hug that made him pout.

“This is the real you huh?” He said that made me look at him seriously. I don’t like where this is going.

“I’m going out. I have a shoot.” I said but his eyes are already with Kate who’s talking to Ethan now.

“I’ll drive you there.” Ethan suddenly said that made me look at them.

“I’ll come.” Evan said that made me raise my brows.

“Aren’t you busy?” I ask while I start walking to the parking lot.

“I am but now I have time.” He said and when we arrive at the parking lot he made me sit on the passenger sit, oh, I think I know the reason now. I can’t believe my brother is really interested in Kate.

I get it now why Kate is annoyed when the two--  Ethan and Evan are together. They just can’t stop bickering and fighting like kids.

We arrive at the studio and I’m having my make up done and I can’t help but look in the mirror where I can see the three in the corner, Kate is busy with my things while the two boys are trying to impress her with trying to help her. I can’t help but chuckle where did this combination came from?

“We’re all set.”

I can’t help but close my eyes and inhale. I belong in the studio, that’s  has been running in my mind the moment I enter the studio. I belong in the modeling and even though I had my doubts I also have my confidence that I can do great. I miss the photo shoot, the runways and I miss how busy I am when I’m doing modeling… but some things change, I will still get to do shoots and runaway but not as much as before.

“Let’s eat dinner.” I said to Kate when I finish changing my clothes and thanking the staffs.

“I already book a restaurant.” She said and start walking fast beside Ethan and now my brother is walking by my side.

“I know what you did, sis.” He said seriously that made me look at him.

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s Pearl’s idea, right?”

“Evan.” I said glaring at him.

“I know you switched. I can read you like a book and the moment I talk to her as you I immediately know. Don’t worry, I will always support my sisters.” He said and I just nodded, I don’t really know what to say to him, and I can’t believe my brother is slowly being mature now. “I just hope that you won’t fall on your trap… I don’t want fight between families and you’re twins… I hope you won’t fight at each other when the time comes.”