It's been a week since their arrivals everything is going smoothly apart from Anne trying too hard to get their approval, I mean it's been fun to watch. no complaints from my part.

Christian went back to being his usual self and Christopher well Christopher is Christopher, he's already settled in his father's company. Christian is going to a university here for corporate law. He barely even looks at me, not that I care anyway.

I'm helping Christopher getting settled in the company.

So far things are going great, with Christopher trying to flirt with me every chance he gets, I'm not complaining though. He's the perfect gentleman.

Today for the first time since their arrival we're having dinner together and apparently, we have a guest, Anne's niece.

This night ought to be interesting.

I open my closet and pick the first piece of decent clothing that comes into view, a green dress. Aunt Sophia always says that green makes my hazel eyes pop. I smile remembering how she used to torture me with all those green clothes back in middle school. She had me looking like a damn plant.

I brush my hair, add some lipstick, perfume, and done.

Ready for the show that is about to take place in the living room.

The food is still not ready. I go to the kitchen to see what I can help Aunt Sophia with. Well, there was a lot of job waiting for me there. Must cut this and that, the staff was so busy. The main dishes are ready, I take the opportunity and help the staff serve the food while my aunt is guiding us. Once finish I take my place at the table beside Christopher.

"Why is the maid sitting with us?" asks a blonde-haired girl sitting next to Christian.

"I'm guessing you're Anne's niece," I give her my widest smile.

"You guessed right, and you are?" She gives me an even wider smile.

"I'm MR Reed's goddaughter slash the maid's niece," I introduce myself.

"I've known Victoria since she was a little girl, she's technically my daughter now," Mr. Reed explains with a proud smile.

"Interesting," she says her eyes fixed on me.

"That's one way to describe it," I reply.

"I'm looking forward to getting to know you better. Victoria," the way she paused to savor my name screams challenge.

"You've read my mind, miss...?"

"Oh, where are my manners, it's Danielle," she answers playing with a strand of hair.

I just give her a quick smile and shift my eyes to the food before me, waiting for Mr. Reed's signal to start eating.

"Thank You, everybody, for coming, especially my lovely wife who organized this amazing get-together."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"More like thanks to the maids," I think to myself.

I block Mr. Reed's voice out and turn my focus to Christian and Danielle's conversation.

so focused that I didn't even hear Mr. Reed permitting to start eating until Christopher touched my hand asking if I was okay.

"So Christian I've heard an awful lot about you, you're like a celebrity here"

"Only good things I hope," he replies playfully.

She keeps talking nonsense next to Christian for half an hour straight, her food remains untouched. and when she finally touches her food, she was so careful not to allow the food to touch her lips.

I could see that Christian is only interested in the cleavage show she's hosting. His eyes never left her chest.

After what seems like forever dinner was finally over, Mr. reed and Anne left the table first then Christopher and Danielle followed, leaving only me and Christian at the table. He's just on his phone. I rose and start heading for the kitchen.

Suddenly I felt a hand tightened around my wrist. "'what was that about?" He asks turning me around to face him.

"what?" I ask cluelessly.

"your eyes never left me and Danielle?" He frowns searching for an answer in my facial expression.

Gosh, was I that obvious?

"just keeping an eye on my brother, can't I?" "a brother you've had a crush on since you were fourteen," a little voice in my head says.

"You sure that's the only reason?"

"No, because I was jealous," I roll my eyes.

"yes, it was the only reason," I lie.

I was waiting for an answer but he wraps an arm around my hips and pulls me closer then he lays a soft kiss on my forehead instead and my body is on fire just like that with a simple gesture, I don't want to think what would happen if these lips were somewhere else.

"Well don't you two seem cozy," Danielle walks in holding an empty glass.

I draw back from his hold all uncomfortable not knowing where to fix my eyes.

"Don't mind me I'm just here for the wine," she takes the bottle of wine from the table and walks out.

I turn to look at Christian to see if he was feeling as awkward as I was feeling right now, but his eyes are fixed on me, his face void of emotions.

know I shouldn't ask what I'm about to ask but I can't help it.

"Why you never contacted me after you left?" I ask searching for the answer on his blank face.

"I wanted to break away from anything that reminded me of here and it was impossible to do that while remaining in contact with you."

"Right," I reply, and he loses his grip on my arm.

I stride to my room without looking back. All those years I've missed him While I meant nothing to him, I was just a bad memory. The memories I've clung onto for so long means nothing to him.

I step into the shower ready to wash the day off, ready to wash the spot he touched only if I could wash it off my mind as well.

After the shower, I put my pajama ready to fall asleep when a sudden move in the door lock caught my attention.

The door opened to reveal Christian at the entrance holding a bottle of wine with two glasses looking at me as if asking for permission to get in, which only gets a glare from me.

"Divulge or drink," he says and walks in closing the door with one foot.

It's something we always did back then whenever one of us is upset or had a bad day.

I take the glass from his hand still trying to figure out what he thinks he's doing.

"Divulge," I sigh heavily and sits down on the bed.

I chug the contain of my glass and pour some wine I'm too sober for this talk.

"Did you really miss me?" I ask standing cause suddenly It feels like the room is too small for the both of us.

"Every day" he runs a hand through his dark brown hair.

"So much that you ignored me," I chuckle humorlessly.

"You ignored all my messages. I never heard from you, well I did from your father or the media where you were spotted with a new girl every week."

"I was your best friend and you remove me from your life like I meant nothing to you. When I heard that you were coming back, I made a mental list of everything I wanted to tell you, but it all went away the second I saw you__"

"Then maybe you need to hear my.''

"I missed you, I missed your voice, these hazel eyes, how they look at me. How they hold the power to calm me down and make me nervous at the same time. Those eyes that know how to read me so well. Your silliness and laughter," he rises and cups my cheeks.

"And believe me you're better off without me." Seeing my face expression, he stops and try again

"Vicky, I know nothing I say will fix what I did_"

"Damn right," I push his hands away from my cheeks. I refuse to feel unwanted and played again.

"Does that supposed to explain why you never replied to my messages?"

"I'm sorry Vicky, but you have to understand that I needed a break from my life." He takes a few steps towards me.

"Now that you've told me your motives you can go away now," I hand him the empty glass.

"Vicky, I_"

"Please don't," I stop him halfway through his sentence.

"Maybe you're right," I say staring straight into his eyes refusing to seem weak and gullible like the Victoria he knew back then.

"Maybe I'm better off without you after all."

"Vicky."

"I've heard enough Christopher you can see yourself out."

"Goodnight Vick," he walks out taking his glass and the wine bottle from my nightstand leaving me broken just like he did the last time.

I'm an Idiot and delusional for even thinking that the "Christian Reed" felt something for me.

Me. The maid's niece.