I was shitting my pants.

Mom had brought me along to a board meeting to officially introduce me to the board members. It was happening very quickly. Only yesterday did she tell me that she wanted me to inherit her lively hood. Now I was standing in front of twenty people next to my mom as she introduced me.

"This is Elena Cassano, my youngest daughter. I've called you altogether because I'd like to announce that she'll be my successor!"

Their eyes focused on me and I tried to come over as confident, but I'm sure they could see how nervous I was. I'll focus on my studies and try to familiarize myself with this company and industry. I won't fail. My mom granted me such a big opportunity and I will never let her down.

"You made that decision all by yourself." Aunt Fiona accused mom.

She was in a foul mood, worse than usual. She didn't take the news well. Mom spoke to her before the board meeting and I could even hear Fiona screaming from outside her office.

"It's my company and it was always my plan to hand it down to one of my children." Mom shrugged.

Fiona wanted to protest and argue, but mom held up her hand to shut her up. I've only rarely seen mom like this. She wasn't usually assertive and firm but she doesn't allow people to walk over her. The last time I saw her put someone in their place, was when Ariana's mom wanted to wear white to her daughter's wedding.

"Does anybody else have any objections?" She questioned.

No one spoke up and a weight fell if my shoulders. These were the people that I'll have to work with in the future. If they were against my mom appointing me as her successor, then I would have to work hard to gain their trust and respect.

"That will be all then." Mom clapped her hands.

The meeting was dismissed and mom took me to the cafeteria. It was so big and had a huge assortment of food. I wanted to fill my plate but mom stopped me.

"I have to go catch my plane. I called Silas over to give you a tour around the office."

Silas was leaning against the wall waiting for us. I turned to mom in shock. Was she serious?

"Why Silas?" I groaned.

"Fuck you too, brat." Silas snapped.

I ignored him while mom sent him a stern glare.

"Hector is busy and Theo has a doctor's appointment with Ariana. Silas knows the office very well and he'll take great care of you." Mom squeezed my shoulder.

I sighed deeply but nodded. Mom had to go catch her flight and I would be stuck with Silas. We started at the cafeteria and he thankfully let me eat first. I was so hungry but he wouldn't let me pick out the unhealthy options because he was a health freak.

"I swear if doctors cut you open, they'll just find cake pops." Silas commented as we walked out of the cafeteria.

They had cake pops! So now I was holding two while chewing on a third one.

I rolled my eyes but perhaps he was right. It would be cool if I were made out of cake pops!

Silas took me to the ground level first where the reception and gift shop was. He truly was the most boring guide ever. I could tell that he would rather be somewhere else than here with me.

Halfway through the tour, when we were at the recording studios, he walked away to take a call. I didn't mind because I was talking to Liv, who was my mom's producer. She was a musical mastermind and it was so intriguing to talk to her.

We spent about half an hour in her studio as she taught me how to produce songs. I had always been so interested in music so this was truly heaven on earth to me. Liv was kind and energetic as she spoke. I could see that this truly was her passion.

"Liv!"

Priscilla.

I hate her so much.

Liv's smile fell almost immediately and she rolled her eyes before turning to Priscilla.

"Did you finish my song?" Priscilla demanded.

She was going to sing? I shivered at the thought. Last time I heard her sing, I almost went deaf. It was at grandpa's seventy-sixth birthday and the old man literally cried from joy when she finally finished.

"No. I don't make songs for talentless brats." Liv snapped.

There was tension between them. I watched my cousin's face turn red from anger as she stormed towards Liv. Before I could even process what was happening, Priscilla slapped Liv in her face.

"My mom is your boss and she ordered you to make me a song!" She screamed.

Now, well fuck me. I don't like to get involved in drama but Priscilla was the absolute worst.

"Why the fuck did you slap her?" I pushed myself between them.

Liv held her cheek with an indignant look on her face. If she would want to hit Priscilla back, I wouldn't mind. I'll gladly assist her even.

"Get out of my way, rat!" Priscilla tried to push me aside but I was stronger than her.

For once Silas' training helped me.

"You sing like a fucking dying cat. Do the world a favour and don't try to be an artist." I snapped at her.

Her face was basically a tomato by now. I was waiting for her to explode. She was bratty and spoiled. If she didn't get her way, she'll throw actual tantrums.

It was embarrassing for a twenty year old to still have tantrums.

"You're here again?" A voice spoke up.

I looked at the door and nearly fainted.

Holy.

Shit.

This can't be true.

Holy.

Holy.

Holy.

Shit.

Fucking Belle was standing there in all her wondrous glory.

She was the most popular and successful artist of our generation. I went to her concert trice and it was even better than Disney Land!

Now she was standing in the same room as me. I literally had to pinch myself.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" I whispered to Liv.

Liv got up from her seat and smiled at me. She nodded softly before waving Belle over. I watched with wide eyes how she came closer. I picked up on her sweet perfume and I could feel my knees tremble.

I think that I need to sit down.

Jesus.

"Did she hit you again?!" Belle demanded angry.

Priscilla turned pale very quickly. So quick that I thought that she was going to faint any second now.

"Stop treating the staff like shit. If you ever put your hands on Liv again, you'll regret it." She snapped at Priscilla.

Gorgeous and assertive.

I swear that if I weren't straight, that I would ask her out.

That was one big ass joke. Where was I going to get the confidence to even talk to her?

"I'll take this up to my mom." Priscilla muttered.

"Go ahead." Belle rolled her pretty brown eyes.

Priscilla stormed out of the studio which left me alone with Liv and Belle. They talked shortly before turning to me. I could feel my cheeks heat up as Belle took me in.

"This is Elena Cassano, Amanda appointed her as her successor today." Liv informed Bella.

"So we won't be stuck with Fiona. Thank goodness." She chuckled.

I tried to smile but I was still starstruck. Her curly brown hair was up in a bun and she wore simple sweatpants and a sweater. Even in such an ordinary and comfy outfit, she looked absolutely breathtaking.

"Elena-" Silas fell silent once he spotted Belle.

That call of his had lasted almost an hour, so I don't know what he was doing. But he was shocked to see Belle. I frowned confused because this was Silas, nothing shocks him.

Except that one time when I defeated him during arm wrestle. To be honest, none of us knew how it happened.

I think that was the start of my superpowers. They never came back, though.

"You're here with your brother?" Belle asked me while avoiding Silas' eyes.

"Y-yes." I stuttered.

At least I managed to reply.

She nodded and tensed slightly when Silas walked closer. The look on his face slightly took me out of my starstruck daze. There was remorse and pain in his dark brown eyes. He also looked at Belle with so much longing.

I get it, she's so pretty.

"Bels."

I've never heard Silas this hoarse. Maybe he talked to much over the phone or he was intimidated.

"It's Belle for you." She snapped.

He paled but nodded. I frowned confused and tried to catch Liv's gaze but she stepped in quickly. She seemed to want to get over the awkwardness.

"Well, it was nice to meet you, Elena. I hope you'll come around more often." Liv patted my back.

I'd love to visit her more. I was planning on coming over more often so that I could familiarise myself with the company. The best way to that was through employees.

"I will! It was nice to meet you too." I smiled up at Liv.

Then I turned to Belle who was still avoiding Silas' intense gaze. Her beautiful brown eyes fell on me and she smiled tightly.

"You're the best artist I know." I confessed.

Next to my mom, of course.

No one was better than Amanda Cassano but I didn't want to be rude in front of Belle.

Silas was already doing that.

"Sorry if my brother scares you. He's a big idiot." I added.

She smirked slightly while Silas sent me a glare. He placed his hand down on my shoulder.

"Time to go, brat." He muttered.

Did he have to call me a brat in front of Belle? I glared at him before pulling up my phone. This was a celebrity. I needed a picture with her.

"Can we take a picture? Only if you want." I asked her while my cheeks turned red.

Silas squeezed my shoulder with an annoyed look but Belle gave me a soft smile. I squealed out loud and handed over my phone to Liv.

Silas takes shit pictures. All the pictures I forced him to take of me in Italy were horrendous. I was close to muttering him every time his finger was in the picture.

He can be an ass and beats up people but taking pictures is too hard?

Belle was smaller than me by a few inches so she wrapped her arm around my waist. It gave me fucking butterflies.

Am I into girls?

Perhaps.

Imagine dating a celebrity.

Drama.

Paparazzi.

Shit.

No, thank you.

We took a nice picture together and I couldn't stop staring at it. My cheeks were bursting from smiling too widely.

"Bels- Belle, can we talk?" Silas neared her but she raised her hand to stop her.

"I have an album to record and a comeback to prepare for. I'm busy and I don't have time for you."

Something happened between them and it wasn't difficult to put everything together. We walked out of the recording studio and when we entered the elevator, I confronted Silas.

"Belle is the love of your life, isn't she?"

At Theo's engagement party he'd told me about the love of his life that he hurt. They broke up four years ago. The way he looked at Belle. The way they reacted to each other. The tension. The longing.

"Yeah." He sounded defeated.

We were going down to the underground garage. I stared at my older brother. He ran his hand through his short hair and let out a long and heavy breath.

I know that we bicker a lot and that he can really get me to act nasty, but he was family.

Family is everything.

"It's my last one. So you know what I mean by giving you it." I handed him my last cake pop out of my purse.

I always carry around a few. People piss me off often, I need them to stay sane.

It's my way of public service.

Silas chuckled and stared down at me before pulling me in for his bear hug. I snuggled against his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Family is all I need, Elena. As long as I have you, I'll be fine."

He kissed my temple and I pulled him closer. I felt warmed by his words and they were true. Our family was close and we all counted on each other. All of our obstacles, we faced them together. We looked out for each other and if someone hurt one of us, they'll regret ever doing that.

But.

We can't fulfil all his needs and wants. We can't give him romance. And judging by the way he looked at Belle, he needed her in her life.

Family is important but so is love.