Silas was being mean to Daniel. The last couple of months my crush on Daniel really skyrocketed. I was now in that dumb phase where I believed everything he did was endearing. I don't know why this was even a phase, cause I wanted it to stop right now.

I like it when people simp for me, not the other way around.

I was in the kitchen to get a refill for the chips. August came hungry to the party and that mixed with Nicolas was just a disaster, but luckily Theo came prepared. I'd laughed at him when he brought six bags of groceries over to our mansion for my birthday party. Now I was more than grateful for him.

"You got a crush on big eyes?" Silas had followed me.

He leaned against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. I didn't even have to look to know that he was giving me his familiar glare.

"Daniel?"

I understand why he calls him 'big eyes'. Daniel had the most beautiful big brown eyes that I've ever seen. Sometimes I could get really lost in them. He was nice enough to never call me out on it, but Cecelia wasn't.

"You know that I'll kill him, right?"

I turned around so fast that I nearly dropped the bowl I was holding.

"Don't you dare!" I snapped angrily.

If he touches my Daniel, he'll regret the day he was born.

"So you do like him." he snarled.

I rolled my eyes. I didn't want my brothers to know but it was so obvious. I couldn't hide my crush to save the world. Only Daniel was oblivious to it all which was both a blessing and a curse.

"I do. We're not together." I shrugged.

Though I really wanted to be with him.

Silas neared me and cupped my chin with a very dark look. I suddenly remembered how angry he got when Amelia was texting Chase. None of my brothers liked the idea of me dating. Not even Theo, who was giving me stern looks when I was smiling at Daniel like a lovestruck puppy.

"You're too young to date."

"I'm sixteen."I argued.

That was a normal age to start dating, especially a guy my age.

"Exactly."

I rolled my eyes and he raised his eyebrows as a warning. I pushed him off me and walked back outside. He followed closely behind and when I reached the door to the backyard, he placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I'll tell Hector." he smirked.

That terrified me. Hector and I are better now than how we started. I could still fight with him but he was nicer to me. But he's still strict about the rules and he's a no-bullshit type of person. If Silas told him that I liked Daniel, I was probably never allowed to see Daniel again.

I stood there for a while trying to control myself. No more showing today. Hector would be here soon from his appointment. I'll just busy myself with Yuna. She made me cookies, but Nicolas ate all of them. Now he was basically flirting with her only because she makes the best cookies. Cecelia was shooing him away but he's like an annoying mosquito.

Before I could go over there, something caught my eyes. I dropped the bowl in pure shock and stood still for a minute.

Tracy and Morgan.

They're here.

They're fucking here.

Morgan did that cute thing where she stood on her tiptoes and waved with that adorable grin. Tracy stood next to her with a wide smile.

My best friends from London are here.

What the actual fuck?

I don't know who started to run first but we met each other midway. I haven't held them in literally a year. That's how long it's been since we've seen each other in real life. I've kept close contact with them over social media and FaceTime but I preferred this.

I'd nearly forgotten how good their hugs felt. Tracy had grown a bit but Morgan was still her tiny self. When I took a closer look, I noticed that nothing had changed. They still looked the same and that felt nice.

I wondered if I had changed a lot to them?

"Since when are you this tall?" Tracy laughed.

She used to be the tallest of our group but now we were the same height.

"You look really pretty." Morgan smiled.

I felt tears burn in my eyes and hugged them closer. So much had changed for me this past year but our bond was still the same. I still felt so happy when I hugged them. There was no awkwardness or unfamiliarity.

We were still best friends.

So much had disappeared from my old life but they've never changed.

It made me feel emotional as fuck.

"I hope you like your surprise."

Hector smiled at me. I gaped at him in shock. Did he arrange this? I thought he had an important business meeting that he couldn't rearrange.

"Your brother flew us over to surprise you!" Morgan told me excitedly.

"In a private jet!" Tracy jumped up and down in excitement.

I was happy to have them here but I was still shocked.

Hector did that for me?

"I can't believe that you're here."

The tears finally fell. Tracy pulled me closer while Morgan patted my back. After everything that I've been through, this was all I needed.

It sounds so fucking cheesy but to be surrounded by the people you love the most, truly matters.

"Now stop crying, you look ugly."

Of course, Leonardo had to ruin this beautiful moment.

I looked up from Tracy's shoulder only to see him smirking at me. Theo stood next to him and slapped him against the back of his head with a warning glare.

I soon forgot about my stupid brother as I introduced Morgan and Tracy to the others. I didn't even get the time to worry about the possibility that my friends won't get along. Morgan and Eunha got along almost immediately while Tracy laughed with Cecelia and August. Daniel was still a shy little cinnamon roll but he tried to participate in the conversation.

"I hope you like your surprise. Your friends will stay with us for a week." Theo kissed my cheek while wiping away my tears.

"Really?!" I asked excitedly.

He nodded with a warm smile. I beamed up at him while he squeezed my cheeks. He always commented how cute I was, even though I'm sixteen now.

I even have a car.

But no driver's license.

My parents weren't able to make it to my birthday party so they sent me their gift. It was a car. A fucking car. I didn't even know how to drive but I owned a car.

Now I'll have to learn how to drive so that I won't let the present go to waste.

The rest of the party went great. We fooled around and it was nice to have all my friends here in one place.

A lot has changed in a year including me. But as long as you're surrounded by the people you love, you can't get through anything.

Ew.

That's fucking cheesy.

Don't tell Nicolas I said that.

///////////////////

After I put Tracy and Morgan to bed, I entered Hector's bedroom. He was standing next to his bed and placing his signet and huge Rolex on his bedside table. It was already late at night and even my oldest brother was going to bed.

Usually, he heads down from his office at three in the morning to get up at five in the morning.

I would be dead by then. I need my sleep.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Now I had to collect all my courage and balls because I was nervous. I was about to confess to him. I was about to tell him something that I've never directly told him.

"I want to thank you for flying my friends over. I'm really grateful and happy." I started.

He nodded simply because that's sometimes how he communicates.

At first, I didn't understand his emotionless expression all the time. But now I just feel bad for my older brother. He had to take care of all his siblings and was so busy at work. We didn't make it easy on him and I felt bad because of it.

"Come here, old man." I opened my arms.

I decided to go with his nickname to take out the awkwardness. It wasn't awkward but I felt awkward.

"I'm not old." He rolled his eyes but pulled me in for a hug.

I know. But I love teasing him.

"I'm happy that you had a lot of fun today." He caressed my hair.

I smiled against his chest. My face was pressed against his chest, so that meant that I didn't have to look him in the eyes.

"I love you." I confessed.

Phew.

Finally.

I got it out.

I've told all my siblings before that I love them but it was directed at all of them. The only ones that I've said it to directly were Victor, Amelia, and of course Theo. I was planning on saying it to the others as well but I felt the biggest need to say it to Hector.

He's been my rock and I haven't even told him that I love him.

"I love you too, little one."

My smile grew and I hugged him tighter. I felt warm inside and very loved. Today was just a reminder to me that I have a lot of people that love me.

///////////////////

Tracy and Morgan kept commenting on how handsome my brothers were. It made me barf, quite literally. Especially when Tracy told me how nice Silas' butt was.

I threw up shortly afterwards because you know why.

My brothers are good looking, I'll have to admit that, but they already have such big egos.

Let's not make it worse.

Thankfully, they quickly stopped talking about them when they met Alexander Ferrari.

I didn't expect to see him in the restaurant we were having lunch at. I haven't seen him since the Christmas party. But he hadn't changed much. He was still so fucking delicious.

The restaurant that we were at was quite famous, so there was a line. Tracy and Morgan didn't mind waiting. We giggled about all the things that we've done the past week and I was sad that they would leave tomorrow morning.

"How-" the waiter was cut off by someone who skipped the line.

We stood third in line, so it was almost our turn. I got annoyed that someone skipped the line because we've been waiting for the past thirty minutes.

"You can't just-" the man who stood first in line tried to protest until he saw who skipped the line.

Alexander Ferrari.

He wore a stylish grey suit and the hot august sun shone on his hair, making it a bit lighter than his dark brown shade. He looked a bit tanner than when I last saw him but his green eyes were still shining with mischief, especially when they landed on me.

"Elena Cassano." He smiled.

The people around me gaped. My surname was well known in the city. I was still trying to get used to it. The shocked and scared glances people gave me when they heard my name.

Alexander waved me over and I felt confused. I didn't want to skip the line but suddenly the three couples in front of us hurriedly stepped aside for me. My friends gaped in shock and I felt embarrassed but I pulled them along.

"Cassano's don't wait in line, Elena." Alexander placed his hand on my shoulder.

I could feel my cheeks blushing. Not just because I was embarrassed but also because that's what he did to me. My friends were watching in excitement and I knew they'd demand who he was once we were alone.

We stepped inside the restaurant. It was modern and very nice. Alexander led us to the back and pointed at a table for us to sit at. I don't know why he was being so nice and thoughtful.

"Any recent butt-kicking I should know about?" He held me back before I could sit down.

He was referring to that one time when I beat up Chase Graham. That felt like a century ago to me, especially because the asshole switched schools after that. I don't think it was because he was scared of me, I think my brothers had a 'nice' talk with him.

"I punch Silas now and then." I shrugged.

Punching Silas is fun!

I have an entire strategy worked out. It was important not to do it when there was no one around. Usually, I did it when Hector or Theo was around, they never allowed Silas to hit me back. But they would scold me, so I now did it when Greta was around.

She'd punch him as well.

"He deserves it." Alexander nodded with a grin.

Before I could sit down, a woman walked up to us. She had long blond hair and dark brown eyes. She wore a very tight dress that showcased her round boobs. Mine still had a lot of growing to do, sadly.

"I've been waiting for you for thirty minutes already!" She whined.

Oh, he was here on a date!

Shit.

I tried to get away from him but he tightened his grip on me. The woman caught that and glared at me.

Fuck.

"Are you ditching me for a child?!" She demanded angrily.

I'm not a child! I'm a teenager. Don't know if there's a difference but I felt like there was.

"Chloe, be nice." Alexander waved her off.

"My name is Zoe!" She snapped.

"Same thing."

Damn, this man.

It was very shitty of him to forget the name of his date. It was literally the bare minimum.

The woman scoffed and stormed off. Alexander didn't look slightly bothered so I pocked him in his side.

"Your date just stormed off." I told him.

"She just went back to our table." He shrugged.

"Why would she do that?" I questioned.

If a guy didn't even bother to get my name right, I wouldn't give him my time of the day. That's so disrespectful.

"You're adorable, Elena." He squeezed my cheek.

That wasn't what I wanted to be called by anybody except Theo sometimes. So I pushed him away and went to sit down with my friends.

He may be a sexy motherfucker, but he clearly doesn't know how to treat a woman.

My crush plummeted even more down the drain.

"Who's he?" Tracy demanded.

"My brother's business partner."

"How old is he?" Morgan asked giggling.

"Twenty-one."

"Not that bad." Tracy grinned.

I hated to admit that was what I first thought as well. But I was not going to wait until I was older to shoot my shot with him. He was terrible.

Sadly, I'm not that good at keeping my word.