The Coldwell

Three at the dates

For Dante and Vanessa, the strange interaction between the two girls had gone unnoticed.

"So you'll be staying with Vanessa for a while?" Dante asked, unsure why it made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Yes, I'll be staying," Tanya replied as she sank into a chair, took a cushion, and placed it on her lap.

Dina observed her and Vane; those girls were indeed so alike, they were close to being identical twins. She could see that they came from a family with very good genes.

"Why are you staring at us like that?" Tanya asked, feeling uneasy about the girl's persistent gaze.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb; it's just that you two are so similar."

"Vane is my younger sister, but as you can see, God gifted us with the same beauty."

"How modest," Vane said, then threw another cushion over Tanya, while Dante found the newcomer somewhat arrogant.

Moments later, Darius arrived with some snacks; they were going to watch movies that night, and the last thing he expected was to find Tanya there.

"Hello," he greeted upon entering and finding her in the living room.

"Armand, let me introduce you to my sister, Tany. Tany, this is Dina's boyfriend," both Darius and Tanya understood immediately.

"Pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine."

Vane went to the kitchen to prepare some snacks and drinks, with Tanya following closely.

"Since when is Darius dating Dante's sister?" she asked almost in a whisper while helping to serve the drinks.

"I don't know. He arrived in Italy at the Damasco's house."

"Who's cute?" The two girls became nervous upon hearing Dina's voice behind them, hoping she hadn't overheard.

"The actor from a new series, but shhhh, my brother-in-law might get jealous if he knows he's Vane's favorite actor, her dream love." Tanya had a knack for making up things that got her out of trouble.

"Ahhh, and indeed, yes, don't let him hear you. My brother is too jealous," she said while laughing.

The three girls returned to the living room, placing the snacks and drinks on the coffee table. Then, Darius turned off the lights to watch the movie more comfortably.

The guys had chosen an action movie, the girls a romantic one, and unable to agree, they ended up putting on a suspenseful film.

Tanya sat alone on a chair, while the other couples sat together. Dina was almost tucked under Darius's arm, and Vane was similarly with Dante.

Vane was thankful that Tanya had arrived; these movies gave her the creeps, and she knew she would have nightmares that night.

While the couples were immersed in the movie, Tanya discreetly observed them. Dante had his gaze fixed on the screen, Vane covered her face to avoid seeing the unfolding scene, and Darius embraced Dina, who had leaned against his chest, and he seemed comfortable with it.

"Well, girls, I have to go. I have a lot of work tomorrow," Darius said shortly after the movie ended.

"I have to go too."

"Well, goodbye then," Dina said, leaving with Darius. Dante remained standing, as if he wanted to say something to Vane, but he said goodbye coldly.

"See you tomorrow. Remember, there's a lot of work in the office. I have several meetings, so we should leave a bit earlier than usual. We'll go together as always."

"Alright, see you tomorrow," Vane accompanied him to the door. Upon returning to the living room, Tanya started laughing.

"What's going on?"

"Haha, that boss of yours is colder than an ice floe. I can't deny he's attractive, but he looks more like a Russian mafia boss. Instead of wanting to kiss him, seeing him makes you want to run away," Tanya joked.

"Haha, be careful, he might hear you. He has a terrible temper when he sets his mind to it," Vane replied.

"I think Darius really likes that girl. She's beautiful, and I believe Cupid has struck him."

"Don't let my mom or grandma hear you say that, or all hell will break loose. According to them, Dante can't fall in love; he's just supposed to preserve the species, as if he were a feelingless stud."

"I want to confess something, cousin."

"What's going on?" Tanya noticed that Vanya's face turned serious.

"I'm tired of everything. I don't want the life we lead anymore, but rebelling means completely abandoning the family."

"I know what you're feeling. I've felt that way at times, but Grandma wouldn't forgive us. She'd see it as an offense."

Vane insisted that Tanya sleep with her. She was very scared, and she couldn't sleep alone. Besides, she couldn't show up at the office exhausted.

"Just this once. You're a big girl now, not a child anymore," Tanya said, laughing. Vane had always done the same thing since they were little, forcing her to sleep with her.

"You know you can't stop loving me." Vane stuck out her tongue, and Tanya responded in the same way.

Vane fell asleep right away, but Tanya couldn't. The sensation from the contact with Dina was still imprinted in her mind. It had never happened to her before, and it felt strange.

In the morning, Dante came to pick up Vane to go to the office together. A little later, Tanya heard the doorbell, and upon opening it, she saw Dina.

"Could we have breakfast together?" she asked, holding a tray with some food plates. The aroma was exquisite.

Tanya agreed immediately, and they spent the whole morning together.

At Dante's corporate office, Vane entered the copy center, completely focused on her work. When she turned around, she felt like she bumped into someone. Looking up, she saw it was Dante.

"Do you need help?" he asked. Vane thought his voice sounded huskier than usual.

"No, I'm done," she said as she stepped back.

"Well, I really don't know anything about this," Evenus said, placing one of his hands behind his head as he tried to understand what the girl had just told him.

"I think even though our baby is very small, we should start decorating its room. I want to choose each piece of furniture. It will be a much-loved and spoiled baby by its parents."

"That's right. I'll accompany you to buy what's needed, and we'll choose it together."

Katrina smiled tenderly, and Evenus leaned in to kiss her passionately.

"When will you ask for the divorce?" Katrina pulled away to ask him, breaking the romantic moment.

"Give me a little more time. Her parents are going to invest in my new project. Asking for a divorce now would make them stop their investment."

"Will you always need them?"

"No, it's not like that. But my fortune is tied up in various projects. I don't have the liquidity to push the new one forward. For this occasion, I need them."

Katrina smiled; she knew perfectly well that Evenus had nothing more than the crumbs his in-laws gave him. Despite being in front of the companies, they were the owners—or rather, Evenus's wife was.

Darius had tried to go out alone with Dina, but the girl invited Tanya everywhere they went, and that was starting to bother him. He had to talk to his cousin and make things clear.

The girls chatted animatedly all the time, while he walked behind them, often ignored. Apparently, they had become good friends, and their dates had turned into three-person outings, with one person clearly being extra.

He would have to call Tanya because he couldn't go to Vanessa's apartment if Dina wasn't there. If she saw him there without her, there could be problems. Also, at that moment, Vane was at the office; only Tanya was in the apartment.

"Hello."

"Tanya."

"What's up?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Tell me."

"I just want to ask you that the next time I have a date with Dina, you pretend not to notice. Make whatever excuse you want, but I need you to let me be alone with her."

"Alright, I'll do it. Don't worry."

Darius ended the call feeling satisfied.

Tanya placed the phone on the bedside table, returned to bed, and an arm pulled her. She smiled before responding to that kiss. She knew she would have problems, didn't understand how it had happened, but the truth was that she was enjoying what she was feeling and had no intention of stopping it.