Chapter 6: Meeting his brother

Nadia's POV.

"C'mon now, Dad, it's dinner time. You and Jeremy could leave your banter for later."

The masculine voice said as he reached the table.

"You must be the girl Jeremy sneaked into the house last night," the extremely muscular man said, extending his hand for a handshake.

"Umm..." I mumbled, my gaze on his hand.

"Sorry... My bad, I meant to say, you're Jeremy's girlfriend, right?"

He rephrased, and I took his hand.

"Nadia, Nadia Smith."

I introduced myself as we shook hands.

"I'm Silas DeLuca, Jeremy's big brother." He smirked, caressing my hand, and I shifted with unease.

Withdrawing my hand, I cleared my throat, the air becoming more and more suffocating.

"Dinner is served, can we eat now?"

Jeremy dived into his meal of mashed potatoes, veggies and steaks, and I could sense he was pissed.

We ate in silence, my every movement measured, as I was witty enough to know that both sons and father were not on the best of terms.

"So Nadia, what do you do?" Silas said, cutting through the silence.

"School? Business? Modeling?

You sure do look like a model, have very pretty features."

He smirked again, and I felt my skin itch.

The heck?

"Umm, I haven't gotten a job yet.

Graduated from college early this year, still looking for the best place to pitch," I replied and noticed Mr. DeLuca's change in mood, and Silas hummed.

"A graduate? What's your line of discipline?"

Mr. DeLuca asked, wiping his lips with a napkin.

"Business... I majored in marketing," I replied as it dawned on me.

Silas was trying to set me up.

He knew his father would pick interest if he began the conversation.

"So... Have you gone through any form of internship?

Experience whatsoever?"

He asked, and I nodded gently. "Yes."

"I had worked in two companies.

A makeup brand and a textile firm.

I worked as a marketing strategist, though I was in a junior position, I did make sure to make an impact," I replied in a breath, my eyes on Silas.

"Then why aren't you working there?

Why are you jobless if you made so much impact?"

He asked in a mocking tone, and I let out a weak smirk.

"Even though I made unforgettable impact, I still wanted more.

Those companies wanted to retain me but not promote me from being a junior staff.

I'm an ambitious woman, more like I know what I want," I said calmly, taking a sip of my orange juice.

"If the environment isn't conducive for my growth, I change it quickly without hesitation."

I countered, my smirk deepening, and I could see Mr. DeLuca smile brightly.

"I like her... Oh, I like her a lot already."

He beamed, clapping his hands with excitement.

The fuck, I couldn't blame him.

Only a jerk ass like brother Silas wouldn't like me.

"You have a good one, Jeremy.

A beautiful and quite witty woman."

He complimented, as we locked eyes, and I quickly looked away.

"Well, that's why we go so well together.

Jeremy is dashing, smart, athletic, kind, and a good hockey player.

He's the best, I'm lucky to have him."

I asserted, turning to Jeremy who looked stunned as I took his hand.

"He's my lucky gem." I added as we locked eyes.

His eyes flickered with something bright, something I had never seen in them.

"It's good to see, I'm proud."

Mr. DeLuca said, returning to his meal, and my eyes returned to Silas.

Such a jerk.

The rest of the dinner was filled with light jokes between Mr. DeLuca and me, with Jeremy leaving a few comments now and then.

As for Silas, he sat mute, his eyes taking in every of my movement.

"I have to take her home now, it's getting pretty late."

Jeremy said as if reading my mind.

Thank goodness.

Mom would've been so worried.

***

The ride to my house was a quiet one, with me thinking of the thousand and one excuses I would tell to Mom.

And Jeremy, he seemed lost in his own thoughts.

"Stop, stop, we're here," I said, unbuckling my seatbelt. I had changed into simple jeans and an oversized shirt.

"Okay," he hummed, unbuckling his.

"Wait, I have something for you," he reached for his pocket and brought out a little box.

"It's for you, peaches, a pretty necklace."

He said, opening the box, and my eyes widened at the diamond.

The fuck?

"I can't wear a diamond necklace, Jeremy, I'm not..." I breathed out in frustration.

"At least take it.

You spoke up for me, and you were a complete badass.

It's my little thank you."

He chirped.

"And as Jeremy DeLuca's girlfriend, you should only have jewels on your neck."

I rolled my eyes, snatching the box from his hand.

"I'm only wearing it when I'm your pretend girlfriend, you got it?" I asked, pointing at him, and he chuckled.

"Yes, peaches."

Why did he keep calling me that?

With a loud groan, I walked out of the car and hurried through our gate.

I watched him leave and then walked into the house.

It was dark, and I tried to reach for the light switch but flinched as the lights came on.

"Where were you?"

Mom barked, her eyes narrowed with anger.

Shit...

"I... I umm," I stuttered, taking off my handbag.

"I was at umm... I was at practice, Mom, we had to practice hard for next week's game."

I lied, but it was clear she wasn't having it.

"Practice?

But I heard the dressing room of the team was on fire.

Did you train in the fire?"

She asked, and I swallowed hard.

"Who was he?

The rich-looking boy who dropped you off, who is he?"

Shit, oh shit.

She saw Jeremy?

Oh no, I'm fucked.

"He's... Mom, he's..."

She cut me off almost immediately. "Don't lie to me, Naddy, who's the boy I saw you with?"

Her voice became louder, and my hands began to tremble.

"A teammate, Mom, Jeremy DeLuca, he's my hockey teammate."

I blurted out as I pressed my eyes closed.

I shouldn't have said that.

What were you thinking?

"DeLuca?"

I took a peek as she repeated, her eyes widening.

"You... You were with a DeLuca?

Albert DeLuca's son?"

She asked, but I remained mute.

"That devil, he ruined your father's life."

She bellowed, and I stumbled back, my breath hitched.