The Elusive Stepbrother

Images flew through her thoughts, and she sat on the edge of the bed, grabbed her bag, inspected what was inside, and heaved a relieved sigh. Was holding my bag in his hands simply a dream? She frowned as her mind debated.

She shook her head in irritation at how jumbled her thoughts were. She hurriedly phoned her friend after removing her phone from her bag.

She grimaced. She tried a couple of times to call her best friend, but Shanda was inaccessible. Why? It was the first ever she was unreachable.

As she recalled that her father was waiting, she sighed in annoyance. She wasn't surprised because her father usually wanted to spend time with her when he wasn't in a rush, and she didn't want to miss it since she didn't see him much. He worked either at the furniture business he founded or his secret underground lab. Her father wished to hide that he was a known scientist but was prepared to be forgotten. Non-existing to avoid interrogation.

THE SMILE that was ready on Izabella's lips as she headed to the dining table vanished instantly, and her face suddenly paled. She quietly met those familiar blue eyes above her father's head regarding her. She swallowed when she heard her father's voice.

She cleared the lump in her voice and said, "Good morning, dad." She pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I'm delighted you're not anywhere today, Iza," said Dr. Jansen with a smile. "Aleksander, I want you to meet my daughter Izabella from my first marriage."

She seemed to have lost her tongue when the man stood up and walked toward her as if they didn't know each other. And she was like a stump extending a hand that Aleksander warmly received.

"Aleksander Georgiou," he said with a slow sexy smile. "It's a wonderful pleasure to meet such a lovely woman like you, Izabella." He kissed her hand tenderly as he bowed at her.

She cleared her throat, "Likewise, Mr. Georgiou." She nodded, avoiding his eyes. “What are you doing here?” She asked in a tiny voice only for him to hear.

"Oh, please. Make it Aleks, Izabella. Not overly formal. After all, your dad and I have been acquainted for some time,” amusement lurks in his eyes. “I need to talk to you. I believe your mind is clear by now,” he whispered.

Izabella swallowed. She heard her father chuckle when there were thudded feet approaching. Izabella busied herself putting food on her plate, and her eyes never wandered from the chair opposite her father's.

"Goodness gracious!" The high-pitched voice of Esmeralda said, "Look who's arrived, Camilla." She fixed her gaze on their unexpected guest.

Izabella didn't hear anything when the man stood up and paid his respects to the mistress. However, she wondered why her stepmother knew their guest.

"Here's your stepsister, Aleks," Esmeralda said. "She's grown into a beautiful woman. Don't you think so?"

The missing stepbrother? Izabella figured it out. And she raised her eyebrows as he hugged her half-sister. His eyes were fixed on her, grinning. And she was on the verge to tongue out, but her father was around. She decided to smirk instead.

“This is a big surprise, Aleks. I wish your brother Jerry were around,” Mrs. Jansen expressed.

“Maybe, some other time,” he said. “This is just a quick visit.”

Izabella was quietly surprised when he guided their stepmother to sit opposite her father and took the chair beside her, carrying his coffee mug.

"I'm already disappointed that even a phone call you forgot. And It was just the second time you'd come here," her stepmother continued as if complaining. "Have dinner here. I'll cook your favorite foods."

He cleared his throat before he managed to reply. "I'm sorry, but I can't," Aleksander refused apologetically. "I got a meeting I can't cancel.

"Oh. That's too bad. How about weekends?"

"I'll give you a call before then," he replied with a smile, but as she looked at the man, it seemed that he was forced to commit to the nagging of both of their stepmothers.

Weird. Come to think of it, and of all people, this elusive man is Camilla's stepbrother. With his company's size, he doesn't have time to socialize. Maybe for women...

"Iza..."

Somewhat in a daze, she turned to her father as she heard his voice

"Dad? Are you saying something?"

"Where did your brain get to? Aleksander was asking you a while ago."

According to his father's statement, she turned her eyes to the man beside her.

"Were you saying something?" She controlled herself not to smack his mocking smile.

"Are you busy today, Izabella?" He asked casually. His eyes were on her. She has no choice but to look at him, knowing everyone's eyes are on them.

"Aren't you going out with Robert, Iza?" Camilla asked before she could reply.

Izabella almost jumped when she felt his hand going to her thigh and gripping it.

She swallowed. "N-no. What makes you remember that guy, Camilla? That was a year ago when he came here for our dance group practice," she retorted. Though she last saw him yesterday at the stadium. Her jaws clenched. His grip loosened.

“I heard Mindy received his call this morning,” Camilla explained.

“Oh. That’s a surprise since I did not expect a call from him. But anyway, thank you for telling me.”

She gasped when she felt that hand still glued to her thigh. When she attempted to shake his hand off her thigh, his hand was as hard as steel, making her want to scream at him.

"You mentioned a while ago that Izabella was into modeling?" Aleksander asked, his eyes on her father while his hand gently caressed her thigh.

"Yes, sort of," Dr. Jansen answered him. "Though I didn't know until I saw the magazine."

"That's great. I already mentioned the advertising we introduced in this state a while ago, as we are also expanding to Asia countries. If you don't mind, I'd like to invite Izabella to my office and show her around.”

"Me, too," Camilla interrupted. "I want to come."

"Cool, if you have a first base experience on the runway?" Alexander queried. His hand still rested on Izabella's thigh.

"N-no, but I'm a quick learner," Camilla appeared anxious.

"That's okay, but as of now, we're not entertaining newbies yet. That could be in the second quarter. May I, uncle?"

"Certainly, take her with you. That'll keep her occupied," Dr. Jansen agreeably grinned.

Izabella took a deep breath when she entered her room. There was no break in her walk as she paced back and forth. She was confused by the course of events between her and the man. His personality mystified her.

She thought it was all a dream, but seeing him with his father, she was confused about which one belonged to her goal.

She couldn't forget that with a wave of his hand. Her bag spontaneously fell to his hand. The ordinary person could not do such a thing unless he had skills as a magician.

Ugh! This is me again for a crazy thought, and she pondered, followed by a long breath while glancing at his wristwatch, which was past 6 minutes since she left the dining. He whispered to her that he would wait for 15 minutes.

Overbearing oaf, she wanted to shout. She was not ready to be with the man. She needed time to compose herself. No, she thought I better talk to him to clear some messy issues.

She was sure Aleksander's personality was unusual because she had just discovered he was his stepmother's first stepson. Did his steps relatives know about it? She wondered. But one thing was sure: her stepmother was eyeing him to be Camilla’s wealthy husband. But how could that be possible if it’s true that I was married to him?

Oh, I’m having goosebumps now. She shook herself with that idea. She was in such meditation when suddenly the door of her room opened. Camilla got in without knocking on her door.

"What do you want, Camilla?" She asked curiously because she had only entered her room a few times. But she understood what made her stepsister visit her room frantic.

"What's going on between you and my stepbrother? Are you dating Aleks?" She asked somewhat in haste. Her body was leaning against the doorknob.

"Why do you care to know, Camilla?" She replied, studying the expression on her stepsister's face.

"Whatever you're planning, stop it if it has anything to do with Aleks. I won't leave him to you, even if we both die. He's mine, Iza. Only mine."

"Go and take him, Cam," she answered casually. "The question is, does Aleks want to claim you too?"

"Bitch! I'm going to report you to Mommy."

She was surprised Camilla did not bang on her bedroom door when she left.

Her eyes rolled in the air. She was used to this attitude of her stepsister. She wondered if her stepmother would reprimand her like in the old days. It's been a long since her stepmother hadn't pitched her ear delicately.