Tamara Ramirez

I have resigned to my fate. For now.

Fighting all of them would only be a futile attempt to escape the contract. It has been signed and there is absolutely nothing I can do if I do not want to embarrass our name to hundreds of people in the business world.

Deflated and bored, I slumped against my chair as I waited for the twins to arrive. I just finished my last class for the day, and I am dying to do something fun for a change. I knew Apollo and Artemis know something we can all do. They are, as I like to call them, party people.

"Apollo!" Artemis' loud and angry voice made my head snap in the direction of the door. The blonde beauty was red in anger as she stomped after her twin. Apollo, on the other hand, looked relatively calm. "I can't believe you did that!"

Apollo shrugged as he sat on the chair across from mine. "I don't like her." He turned to me, brushing his hair back with his hand. "Hey, future Mrs. Franco."

I rolled my eyes at him. It seems like the media's speculation is not just a speculation anymore. Last night's dinner confirmed the 'relationship' between Dustyn and me. Besides, someone from the restaurant staff, I'm assuming, snapped a picture of our hands under the table last night. Dustyn was holding my hand that was placed on my lap. "Shut up. It's not like I had any choice."

"Apollo, don't change the subject, you asshole," Artemis grumbled, dropping her bag on top of the table. "Hey, Mara." She greeted me with her wide smile, which vanished when she looked at Apollo again.

"What did he do this time?" I asked her. Curious as to why she was this angry with Apollo. The twins have the habit of arguing in public but they avoid shouting at each other. It does make them both look like children.

She turned to me. "He called Clarissa a good-lay! In the middle of the damn hallway too!" Her hands outstretched as she emphasized her point.

I laughed at her disgusted face. Her blue eyes flitted to me and she glared at me. "Oh, you think that was funny, huh?"

I nodded my head at her and turned to Apollo. "And I can't believe you slept with that walking contraption."

Apollo raised both his hands in mock surrender. "I did not sleep with that... woman."

"Then?"

"Some of the football team members were talking about it in Calculus."

"Gee, Apollo. I thought you slept with her." I said, wide-eyed while holding back my laughter.

Apollo glared at me, disgust bright as day on his face. "I know I sleep around a lot, but that woman had more bedmates than I ever did."

"It's not a reason to embarrass her!" Art said. Apollo just shrugged his shoulders at her and went back on scrolling on his phone.

I sighed and looked at Art with pity. When Apollo is done with a conversation, he won't be persuaded to explain his actions further. That's just his kind of stubbornness. "Art, just buy yourself a coffee."

"I hate you both!" She grumbled but made her way to the counter to order.

"So, there's a party on Friday. You wanna go?" Apollo asked, mischief twinkling in his eyes. By the way, he's looking at me, he already knows I would say yes. He just prefers not to ask while Art is around for she might change my decision.

I nodded my head at him absentmindedly. "Whose party?"

His smile widens further at my inquiry. "It's a frat party. It's going to be wild, T." He's practically jumping with joy from the inside.

"Let me guess, booze and sex?"

"Lots of sex." He said, winking at me.

I shake my head at him. "You're such a horny bastard, Apollo."

"Just in demand."

"Stop. You're making me want to hurl."

Apollo laughs at my obvious dislike of his 'ways' or whatever it is he calls it. "So, I'm taking that as a yes, then?"

I nodded my head, smirking at him. "Definitely."

Artemis came back with two mocha cappuccino in her hands. She placed one in front of Apollo then one in front of her as she plops down beside her twin.

"Thanks, Art," Apollo said, grinning at her. Art waved him off with annoyance. "Oh and Tamara is going to the frat party with us."

"WHAT?!"

Apollo and I looked at each other before bursting into laughter at her surprised reaction.

My feet were propped up on top of the coffee table while watching a rerun of The Originals. I was shocked when the security code was put in and the door opened. Alec's signature cologne was the first thing I smelled. He already saw me, so I decided against running to my bedroom to hide.

I was not ready to talk to Alec yet, just as I'm still avoiding Dy.

I felt his presence behind me, before his lips touched the top of my head. "Good evening, baby girl." He greeted softly before moving further into the kitchen.

I could hear him rustling around before it got quiet and the door to his room opened and closed.

I breathe out a sigh of relief.

I couldn't concentrate on watching Klaus and Elijah's argument. I was too busy listening to any sound that might indicate Alec's presence in the open space again. When the door didn't open again for ten minutes, I let myself get engrossed in the series I was watching.

I almost fell off the couch when harsh, loud, and fast knocking resounded from our 'main door' that leads to the rest of the mansion.

"Delivery boy is at the door stupid brat!" It was Amelia's nasally voice. She must've not seen Alec come in or she's stupid to think my brother would not do anything. "Open this damn door, Tamara!"

I'm glad for the security detail of this apartment right now.

I chose to ignore her and I covered my ears with both of my hands. Her voice was unbelievably nasally this evening if that was even possible. Rolling my eyes, I lay down on the couch and covered my face with one of the throw pillows.

Alec's door was suddenly slammed and he walked with calculated steps to the door. I sat up from the couch and watched him. His similar gray eyes met mine before he opened our 'front door'. What is with these people banging and slamming doors, this evening?

Amelia stumbled in and fell on the floor right in front of my brother's huge, scary figure. Wide-eyed, she nervously glanced at Alec. "A-alec." She got on her feet fast, her eyes landing on my smug smirk. She looks so scared of Alec, it's laughable. "I didn't know you were home."

Glancing at me, Alec raised his eyebrow in clear amusement. "Clearly." Alec takes a step forward, and Amelia tentatively takes one backward. "Get out of our room."

Amelia scurries away like a scared little cat. I couldn't help the smile on my face as I watched her figure disappear from my line of sight.

"I'll be back, baby girl. Get the table ready." Alec said, his voice was soft and caring.

Sighing, I did as I was told. I set the table for the two of us, with no knowledge of what he had delivered.

The smell of pizza reached my nose before Alec could even enter the vicinity. Grinning with satisfaction from ear to ear, I grabbed the forks and spoons and placed them back on the drawers. I washed my hands, sat on the dining chair, and waited excitedly for the food.

I heard Alec's chuckles before I looked up at him like a little kid on Christmas. "Mmm. Someone is excited."

I pouted as he stayed standing before me, holding two boxes of pizza and a bucket of fried chicken on the top of it. "Food" I whined to him.

He shakes his head at me. "Not until you give your big brother a kiss ."

I crossed my arms and looked up at him annoyed. "I am not a kid."

"Yet you act like one, baby girl. It's just a kiss and a hug."

"I thought I only had to kiss you ? And how am I acting like a kid?" I asked him.

"Well, the longer you do it, the higher the price to pay is." He said, smirking at my defeated face.

Standing, I circle my arms around his torso. I felt him sigh and move the food down on the table before wrapping his huge arms around me. "I'm sorry," I mumbled.

"Hey. You did nothing wrong," he said, dropping a kiss on top of my head. "I missed you. Don't get angry at me ever again, baby girl. Okay?"

"Okay." I sniffled as tears began to form in my eyes. It was hard to stay angry with Alec the whole time but I knew I had to show him my anger rather than pretend that everything was fine. Every day, I had the itch to finally talk to him but I stopped myself from doing so. It was so hard to feel so alone even when someone was there with me.

His hands cupped my face and forced me to look up at him. Tears fell from my eyes as I stared at him. "Baby girl, why are you crying?"

"I-I felt so a-alone. I didn't have anyone who was on my side."

He runs his thumbs under both my eyes, drying the tears that have escaped them. "I'm on your side. Always."

"It didn't feel like it," I said and hugged him tighter. Hiding my face away from him.

He sighed loudly and stroked my hair. "My sister is still a baby." I laughed at his words. "Come, let's eat."

Wiping off my tears, I chuckle as I watch Alec eagerly open each food. He looked at me and smiled. He placed a slice of the all-meat pizza on my plate.

Alec started asking me about the past days when we were not talking. Asking about my classes, how I was adjusting to them. I told him everything that happened. The silly fights between the twins. Even the gossip that circulated in the university.

I, in return, also asked him about his last few days. I was curious about how he was handling having Melody as his secretary. However, not once has he mentioned her.

"By the way, we need to find you a designer." He said in between biting on his fourth slice of pizza.

I choke on my drink as his words registered. I released a series of coughs while glaring at his not so sorry smile. "Designer?"

He nods his head. "For your wedding gown."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh. So? Anyone in mind?"

I think over his words for a few seconds before uttering the name of the one person my brother has no guts to face. "Aurora Kaligaris."

Alec stared at me with his mouth hanging open in disbelief. His misty grey eyes stared at me, almost accusing me of what he thinks I am planning. He is not entirely wrong but that is something he does not have to know.

"Mara, anyone but her." His words were firm, like iron.

"I thought I get to decide?" I questioned him, raising a brow at him.

Alec dropped his half-eaten pizza on his plate and started cleaning up. He took hold of his plate, went behind the counter, and started washing it.

"Alec, come on."

He turned around and glared at me. "You know my stance on this, Tamara. I do not want another fight, baby girl. Please."

I sighed. Resting my clenched hands on my lap, I give Alec a nod. "Fine."

"Thank you. Now, get to bed." He ordered with a satisfied smile.

I kiss him goodnight before entering my room.

My brother is still hung up on Aurora, just as I initially thought.

Although Alec and I were already okay, I didn't tell him about my plans. I know he would not be happy and would try and stop. I didn't want him to stop me.

"Oh my god. I'm so nervous, I'm fucking shaking!" Art exclaimed as we entered my room.

I dropped on my bed; hand on my chest as I tried my best to calm the erratic beating of my heart. I was almost ready to persuade Alec to let me go to this party, but I knew he would say no. Therefore, sneaking in and out of the house was my best bet.

"God. I can't get over your shoe collection, Mara." I could hear the envy in her voice, I sat up from my bed and watched Art roam inside the room dedicated to just my shoes.

I got up and followed her, then pulled a pair of Jimmy Choo's red stilettos. "Here. This is for you."

Her bright blue eyes shone with excitement and disbelief as she stared at the stilettos. "A-are you sure?"

Grinning, I shove the stilettos in her hands. "Yes. Now get dressed!"

"Thank you!" She said, giggling in joy as she took off her current shoes and tried on the ones I gave her.

I stand in front of my closet, arms crossed. There are a couple of 'club' dresses in here, as Art called them once when she saw it. I could pass off a romper but the cold weather of New York will freeze me to death.

"Get dressed!" Art's impatient shout made me jump from where I stand. I craned my neck to where she was and laughed at the sight. Her dress was only halfway up as she wiggled her body as she pulled it up.

"Yeah yeah," I said offhandedly.

"Mara!"

"What?!"

"Get dressed before Alec gets here."

"Shit. I forgot about that." I said as I snatched the curve-hugging dark blue dress from the closet.