HER WORST NIGHTMARE

Elena Hart had been in love with Alexander Blackwell for three years, and she had never once regretted it. If anything, she considered herself unusually lucky because loving Alexander had always felt easy. He never made her question where she stood with him, never turned every conversation into a competition and never made her feel as though she had to fight for his attention. He was patient when she was stubborn, affectionate when she was difficult and irritatingly good at knowing when she was upset even before she admitted it herself. That evening, however, Elena was beginning to suspect that being engaged to Alexander came with one unavoidable disadvantage which is his identical twin brother. She stood in front of her bedroom mirror, fastening a diamond earring while studying her reflection. Her dark hair had been swept into a loose, elegant bun, and the black dress she had chosen for the evening fell perfectly around her figure. Her mother had insisted that the dinner was important enough to require something elegant, although she had refused to explain exactly why. Elena had stopped asking after the third unanswered question. Instead, she had focused on getting ready and waiting for Alexander to arrive. Her phone vibrated on the dressing table, and she picked it up with a smile when she saw his name. I’m downstairs, Elena typed back immediately. You could have come upstairs, his reply appeared seconds later. Your father would have a heart attack, she laughed softly. That was exactly the kind of answer she expected from him. Her father had always been fond of Alexander, but there were certain boundaries he still expected him to respect, particularly when Elena was involved. She slipped her phone into her clutch, sprayed a little perfume onto her wrists and left her bedroom. The moment she reached the staircase, she heard voices coming from the entrance hall. Her parents were welcoming the Blackwells, and from the sound of her mother’s laughter, it seemed everyone had already arrived. Elena descended the stairs, adjusting the strap of her clutch, and immediately spotted a tall man standing near the entrance with his back toward her. He was wearing a black suit, and his dark hair was styled exactly the way she liked it. She didn’t bother thinking twice. Alexander had always looked unfairly good in a suit. She walked toward him, slipped her arm through his and rested her head briefly against his shoulder. You could have come upstairs, she murmured with a smile. I wouldn’t have complained. The man beside her went completely still, and Elena frowned when he didn’t respond. She lifted her head, waiting for him to turn around. When he finally did, the smile disappeared from her face so quickly that it almost hurt. Damian Blackwell looked down at her. For several seconds, neither of them spoke. His dark eyes moved slowly from her face to the hand still resting around his arm, and then back to her eyes. The corner of his mouth lifted into a smile that immediately made Elena regret every decision she had made since leaving her bedroom. You should probably let go now, he said calmly. Elena released him as though his sleeve had suddenly become dangerous. Her face heated instantly, especially when she noticed her mother trying desperately not to smile and her older brother, Daniel, looking as though someone had just handed him the best entertainment of his life. Elena glared at him. What are you laughing at? Daniel shook his head, barely managing to keep a straight face. Nothing, I just think this is the funniest thing that has happened to me all week. You thought he was Alexander, he added, and that was enough to make Damian’s smile widen. Elena looked back at Damian. What are you doing here? He raised an eyebrow. I was invited. She stared at him. I meant why are you wearing a black suit? He glanced down at himself before looking back at her, because I own black suits. Her lips parted in disbelief, you know what I meant. Damian shrugged, apparently not. Elena folded her arms across her chest and looked away, silently wishing Alexander would appear before she said something that would get her into trouble. Unfortunately, Damian seemed to be enjoying himself far too much. For what it’s worth, he said, I was wondering why you were suddenly so affectionate. I was not being affectionate, Elena snapped. You were holding my arm. Because I thought you were someone else. I see. The amusement in his voice made her glare at him again. Don’t sound so pleased with yourself, I’m not. You are. Damian’s smile became almost lazy. Elena, if I wanted to make you uncomfortable, I could do much better than standing here. Her hatred for him was almost impressive. It had started when they were children, although neither of them could remember exactly what had caused it. Their families had known each other for years, which meant Elena had grown up with both Blackwell twins appearing at almost every birthday party, holiday dinner, charity event and family gathering. Alexander had always been easy to love. Damian had always been impossible to tolerate. If Elena said she could finish a puzzle in twenty minutes, Damian would finish it in eighteen and spend the next hour reminding her. If she won a tennis match, he would tell her he had been distracted. If she came first in an academic competition, he would congratulate her before casually mentioning that he had come first in a harder category. Damian had turned irritating Elena into something of a lifelong hobby, and Elena had never been the type of person to let him have the last word. Before she could continue the argument, a familiar voice came from behind her. There you are, Elena turned, and the irritation on her face immediately disappeared. Alexander was walking toward her with a smile, his navy suit fitting perfectly against his broad shoulders. Unlike Damian, who always seemed to carry himself as though he had been born already prepared to argue with the world, Alexander had an effortless warmth about him. His eyes softened when they landed on Elena, and she immediately walked into his arms. You left me alone with your brother, she complained, wrapping her arms around him. Alexander laughed softly and glanced over her shoulder at Damian. Apparently, she thought I was you, Damian said. Alexander looked at Elena, then at his brother, before bursting into laughter. Elena pulled away and lightly hit his chest. Don’t laugh. I’m sorry, he said, although the smile on his face made it obvious he wasn’t sorry at all. You’re enjoying this? A little. She shook her head, but she couldn’t stop herself from smiling when he leaned down and kissed her forehead. You look beautiful tonight, he murmured. Thank you. Damian made a quiet sound from nearby, and Elena immediately turned toward him. What? Nothing, he said innocently. You clearly have something to say. I was simply wondering how long it takes you two to become unbearable. Alexander smiled. You could leave. Damian glanced at him. I was invited. Elena rolled her eyes while Alexander laughed again, and for a moment the three of them stood there like they had done countless times before. Dinner was served shortly afterward, and Elena found herself seated between Alexander and Daniel while Damian sat directly opposite her. She would have preferred almost any other arrangement, but her mother had already decided where everyone would sit, and Elena knew better than to start an argument over a seating plan. The meal began with ordinary conversation. Their parents discussed business, Charlotte talked about an upcoming charity event, and Daniel complained about his younger sister borrowing his car without asking. Alexander occasionally leaned toward Elena to whisper something that made her smile, and every now and then she caught Damian watching them from across the table. At first she ignored him, but after the fourth time she looked up and found his eyes on her, she finally frowned. What? Damian took a slow sip of his water. Nothing. You’ve been staring at me. I was looking at you. That’s called staring. He shrugged. Elena leaned slightly toward him. Do you have a problem? No. Then stop. I wasn’t aware you could control where I look. She stared at him in disbelief, and Alexander leaned closer to her with a quiet laugh. Ignore him. I’m trying, she whispered. You’re doing a terrible job, Alexander replied, and Elena had to bite back a smile. Their father eventually placed his glass down, and the conversation around the table slowly died. There is something I’d like to say, he announced. Elena looked up immediately. Her father exchanged a glance with Alexander’s father before smiling. As most of you know, the Hart and Blackwell families have been close for many years. We’ve shared businesses, celebrations and more family dinners than I can count, and it has always been important to both families that the relationship between us remains strong. Elena’s eyes moved toward Alexander beneath the table, and she felt his fingers slip into hers. She squeezed them gently as her father continued speaking. Tonight, however, we have another reason to celebrate. Her father’s smile widened as he looked directly at them. Alexander and Elena are engaged. The room erupted in congratulations, and Elena laughed as her mother stood to embrace her. Charlotte came around the table next, followed by Daniel, who raised his glass dramatically and announced that he was accepting gifts on behalf of the couple. Alexander remained beside Elena, one arm around her waist while everyone celebrated them. She felt warm, happy and completely certain that she had chosen the right person. Then she looked across the table and saw Damian. He wasn’t smiling. For a brief moment, his eyes were fixed on his brother, and something unreadable crossed his face. Elena had seen many expressions on Damian over the years, but this wasn’t one of them. There was no teasing amusement or arrogant confidence. He looked genuinely affected. Then he lifted his glass and looked directly at Alexander. Congratulations, he said quietly. Alexander nodded. Thank you. Damian’s gaze shifted to Elena. I’m happy for you both. She hadn’t expected that, and for a second she didn’t know what to say. Thank you, she finally replied, and Damian simply nodded before taking a sip of his drink. The rest of the dinner continued with laughter and conversation, but Elena found herself thinking about the moment. She had expected Damian to make some sarcastic comment. Instead, he had congratulated them without a single irritating remark. Maybe, she thought reluctantly, he wasn’t completely impossible. She immediately rejected the thought. No, She was simply tired. After dinner, Elena slipped onto the terrace to get some fresh air. The evening was cool, and the city lights stretched beyond the garden in a beautiful blur. She rested her hands against the railing and closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to enjoy the quiet. The door opened behind her several minutes later, and she assumed it was Alexander. If that’s you, she said without turning around, I need five minutes. A familiar voice answered, disappointing. Elena opened her eyes and turned around. Damian stood in the doorway. Of course, she muttered. He walked toward the railing and stopped a few feet away from her. For once, he didn’t immediately say something irritating. Elena looked at him suspiciously. What do you want? Nothing. Then why are you here? Because it’s my family’s dinner too. She rolled her eyes and looked back toward the city. After a moment, Damian spoke again, Congratulations. Thank you, she answered