"Mara! We have to go if we want to make it on time." I heard Alec shout from the living room.

I picked my phone up from my bedside table and made sure to slip a couple of bills on its casing before leaving the room. I carefully made my way down the stairs, making sure not to trip and worry Alec.

Alec looked up from his phone just in time as I took the last step off of the stairs. A smile finds its way to his face and walked closer to me. "You look amazing, as always."

I smiled. "Thank you. Were you busy just now?" I asked him as his phone buzzed again. He looked serious while he was on the couch just a moment ago.

He shakes his head. "Nothing important." He said, carefully taking my hand and placing it on his arms. "Well, nothing more important than my sister."

I looked at my brother in thought. Has he always been this sweet or did he become tenfold sweeter? "Alec." I said, my voice reprimanding him. I don't want him to put all of his things on hold for a dinner we could always have.

"I promise." He said, chuckling to himself. He offers his arm to me again. "We should go." He said, reminding me about the reservation we absolutely cannot miss.

Oddly enough, Alec was driving the car we were in. But I wasn't that surprise to see Emil driving behind us at a decent distance.

I looked at Alec, a smile threatening to show. "You just can't help yourself can you?" I asked him. I didn't wait for him to reply as the valet opened my door. I can clearly see Emil on that car, looking ashamed of himself.

Oh well, I guess no matter how I look at it, it won't matter. For as long as Alec feels I'm in danger, their presence won't ever be far behind from us.

"I just want them around in case something happened. They won't be inside while we have dinner." Alec said, reassuring me. He grabs my hand and carefully helps me up the stairs leading to the door. "Ramirez." He quickly said, barely looking at the woman who is in front of him.

"T-this way, sir." She said, stuttering as she clumsily grabs two menus from the pile beside her. She maneuvers us through the tables and onto the elevator. Once on the third floor, she directs us to a private room with the most beautiful view of the city.

"This is amazing." I said in awe of the magnificent view in front of me. I took my coat of and carefully slung it over the chair and walked near to the window. "You got this reservation just today?" I asked him, disbelieving at how influential Alec is.

He shrugged his shoulders as the woman puts the menus on the table situated at the middle of the room. She says something about a waiter coming to get our orders and dashed out of the room without another word. "You have that too, baby girl." He said.

I raised my eye brow at him. Confused by his words and by what those meant.

"You're a Ramirez. You can do what I can." He said with a sad smile as he stood beside me.

"Are we still talking about the reservation?" I chuckled slightly uncomfortable. I could see his reflection on the window. He looks too serious to just be talking about simple reservation.

"I' thinking of stepping down as soon as you get your inheritance." He said, as I stare at his reflection in the window. His jaw tightened, as if the very thought is painful to even say it out loud. Still, he did say it and all the words are taken away from me.

He tilts his head, looking at me with a lazy smile on his face. "Don't worry too much yet. It's still a few months away." He said.

"Alec.." I couldn't even continue what I wanted to say as I just stared at my brother's fake smile. I didn't know whether to call him out on it or just to stay quiet. Knowing Alec, there's a lot of reason behind every decision. He's always been a careful person. He would never make up his mind if he didn't have all the facts in his hands.

A waiter enters the room and Alec quickly walks back to the table. "Are you ready to order, sir?" The waiter asked, as he stood back after putting down the glasses of water on the table.

"I don't know." Alec said as he looked at me. "Are we?"

I nodded my head, faking a smile for the one person who stayed strong for me despite everything. "Of course."

I was disappointed to find out that he had left earlier than expected because something urgent came up.

Emil was already waiting for me in the living room to pull off an explanation that Alec no doubt instructed him to make. Before he could utter a word, I dismissed him and the other bodyguards. Emil dejectedly walks to their office without a word.

To say that I was disappointed, was an understatement. I don't really know if I should be angry that he dodge me again. Or amused at how skilled Alec is at dodging upcoming confrontations.

Without thinking twice, I pulled out my phone and sent Alec a message, He might now be able to read it right away, but hen he does I want him to know that this conversation will happen whether he like it or not.

Satisfied with my threat, I put my feet up on the couch and turned on the TV. Now that my simple intention to talk to Alec before he left failed, I have nothing better to do.

I didn't know how long I've been binged watching on the couch. I only became aware when Emil suddenly came out of their office, looking uncomfortable.

"What?" I asked, my eyes going back to the show. Re-runs are the best way to pass some time.

"Sir Dustyn is outside." He said.

I nodded my head. "You can let him in."

"Um. Sir Alec never mentioned anything about going out today." He said, unsure of how to say what he wants.

"Well, he doesn't have to know everything. Besides, this is Dustyn we are talking about. I doubt it'll matter." I told him as I walk to open the door.

Dustyn smiles as soon as he saw me at the door. "Hey there. Your up pretty early." He said. He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. "Can I come in?"

I nodded my head, opening the door wider for him. "Yeah, your bestfriend ran away before I could confront him." I answered honestly as Emil took a step forward and closed the door for us. He made sure to lock it securely before disappearing again.

Dustyn raised his eyebrow at me, his eyes filled with amusement. "He is your brother you know."

I rolled my eyes. "Details." I said, waving his comment off.

He let out a laugh. "Anyway, I brought donuts." he said, putting the box down on the coffee table.

"Thank you." I told him as I got back on the couch and continued watching my re-runs.

Without warning, Dustyn pulled me up a bit and sat down, resting my head on his lap. I looked at him wide-eyed but he just looked forward like he didn't just do that.

"Are we spending the day out or in?" He asked, stroking my hair.

I couldn't help but close my eyes, relaxing from what he's doing. I don't know what it is about stroking my hair, but I somehow always relax whenever someone does it. "In. I'm not in the mood to be proper."

My eyes quickly opened when I felt warm breath over my face. Dustyn has leaned closer. Just a little more and our lips would be touching. "Would this include?" He asked, his voice barely a whisper.

I swallow the lump in my throat, my eyes wide and staring at him. I wasn't able to form an adequate answer. I saw him smirk before closing the distance and claiming my lips.

I felt like my heart stopped beating as Dustyn kissed me slowly. His lips molding with my own as if they were one. Unlike the other times we've kissed, this one is hot, passionate and demanding. He's taking everything he can and demanding even more as the kiss deepens.

"Mara." He said slowly. He eyes full of passion as he stared at me head one, letting me know just how much he wants me right now. I can see the pure desire on his eyes and the control he's trying so hard grasp. "You make it hard to control myself."

I stayed staring up at him, completely forgetting about the show that has now become a background music. Although, my heart's beating is louder than anything.

"No worries. Just a few months and I can spend all the time in the world with my favourite person." He said, smiling at the idea.

"Huh?"

He laughed before dropping a soft kiss on my plump lips. "I love you, shortcake. I've never been so glad to have signed a contract."

I never imagined that the first person I would love is the person who basically watched me grow up. The same person who messed up our kitchen trying to learn how to bake cookies just to make me smile. The same person who spent hours driving me around the city when I cried about not having a mother like the other kids in my school. The same person who encouraged me to follow my passion for photography at such a young age.

Dustyn came back at the right moment.

When he showed up at the parking lot at the university, I coudn't believe my eyes. I remember being surprised and frozen before breaking out into a run just to meet him again. When he hugged me, I felt relieved. It was just like back then. Back when nothing ever scared me except for the girls at school. That hug, it felt like I was finally home. Completely at peace.

I never thought that it was because I had these underlying feelings for him. Feelings that I didn't think I would ever feel for him.

Denial was my greatest enemy but as soon as I accepted my feelings, it felt wonderful. Amazing. Like nothing could ever poison this feeling and make it into something ugly.

All of these just from one man. An amazing man who never ran away despite witnessing my greatest nightmare. A man who has showed me that he'll support me at every turn.

"I love you, Dy." I said in a whisper.

As always, his eyes widened before they softened and looked at me lovingly.

I placed my hands on either side of his face before pulling his head down for another kiss.