Thirty three
1262 Words
Julian’s POV
Flashback (15 years ago)
“You have to back out, Julian. That scholarship spot is mine,” Ethan sneered as he walked into my room, headphones around his neck, hands in his pockets, like he simply came to borrow something and not ask me to forfeit the one thing that might be my only chance at a better life.
“If you didn't come here to say anything reasonable, you might as well leave,” I said calmly, not even looking up from the book I was reading.
"This doesn't sound serious to you?"
“If it did, you would know.”
“You better not test me, dear brother, or things will get really ugly,” he threatened. His voice was serious, but this time, I didn’t care. I couldn’t afford to care, not when my whole future depended on this.
“Do your worst, Ethan.”
He really did his worst... he got me out of the house earlier than I planned, which would have left me homeless if not for Aunt Margot.
*** End of Flashback ***
“Would you like me to get you anything, Sir?” the housekeeper asked me once I walked through the front door of the penthouse.
“No, thank you. Where is she?” I asked.
“In her room, sir.” She curtsied, her hands behind her back, awaiting an instruction.
I nodded. “You can go.”
“Okay.” She turned to leave immediately, leaving me to my thoughts.
Who am I kidding? This isn’t her fault. She has done nothing wrong. I just keep being a d**k to her for no absolute reason.
“Sienna,” I called out, knocking softly on her door. It was ten minutes past one in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep. Having a pissed Sienna in the same space as me felt more uncomfortable than I thought. Her words from earlier still kept ringing in my head, nagging at me for being so rude to her.
There was no response from her, but a part of me felt I wasn’t the only one having trouble sleeping.
“I don’t know if you can hear me, but please, I just want to talk. You can leave the moment you feel out of it; no pressure,” I spoke up again, pressing my ear against the door, hoping to hear at least footsteps, but still nothing.
I stood silent for five minutes but still got no response from her. I sighed, deciding to let her be. I guess there will be little to no sleep for me tonight.
“I totally get it. We will talk in the morning, I guess,” I said, turning to leave.
As soon as I backed away from the door, it flew open, a wide-awake Sienna standing in front. She was wearing a silk blue nightgown that hugged her body perfectly. I had to remind myself that all of this is just an arrangement.
“Just talking, and I would leave the moment you say something that pisses me off.” She spoke up, her voice blank. She is still very angry at me, that’s for sure.
“Deal.” I nodded, forcing myself to keep in the smile that threatened to make its way through.
She rolled her eyes as she walked forward, shutting her room door closed behind her. I led her to the balcony of the penthouse, loving the way her face lit up at the view of the city from up here.
“I am sorry.” I apologized immediately. I noticed her relaxing more and more, her walls coming down a little bit.
“I do not know what you are sorry for, Julian.” Her voice was devoid of emotion. She really wants to drag this on? Women...
“Come on, Sienna,” I said softly, reaching for her hand that rested on the balcony railing.
She was quick to pull them back.
“You said you wanted to talk; you haven’t said anything.” She blinked.
“I am sorry for everything, Blake. I am sorry for bringing you all the way here; I couldn’t even have guessed your reason for not wanting to go. I would have never insisted. I am sorry for asking you not to come with me even after telling you that was why I brought you. And lastly, I am very sorry for blaming you for what happened at the restaurant. I know I didn’t say the words, but yes, I did feel like it was your fault, which was very wrong of me. I was out of line. You did nothing wrong, and you didn’t deserve the way I treated you,” I said softly, hoping it would work.
“You have a brother,” she stated, totally acting like I didn’t just apologize to her.
“Half-brother,” I corrected.
“He is still your brother.” I didn’t have a response for her; I didn’t want to say anything.
“I never knew you had a brother, and certainly not one you are sworn enemies with.” She continued, her eyes fixed on the city below.
“It’s not something I like to talk about; very few people know about it, and I would like it to remain that way,” I explained. A brother like Ethan being attached to me publicly is bad for me in every way, and I can’t have that. I am really happy we don’t even have the same last name.
“Have you two always been this way?”
“Like I said, not something I like to talk about.”
“Well, if you want me to consider your apology, you better start talking.” There was a hidden smirk on her face that made me smile. Cunning little b***h.
“That’s not fair.” I chuckled.
“Nothing is fair in life.” She shrugged, turning and walking over to the chairs at the corner of the balcony.
I sighed, knowing I wasn’t going to win this one. I walked over to where she was plopping down on the chair beside hers.
She made herself comfortable, shutting her eyes, but I knew she was fully alert waiting for me to talk.
“We haven’t always been this way,” I started, my heart squeezing as I recalled my traumatic childhood.
She hummed quietly, but she didn’t say anything; I didn’t want her to.
“We haven’t been close either, but we were civil most of the times. Although we had our moments, we always found ways to resolve that. Until he pulled the stunt that broke everything. We both signed up for a scholarship to our dream college, but I ended up getting the full scholarship which was open to just one person in a family, while he got half scholarship. Our father...” I paused, taking a deep breath at the mention of the one person I wouldn’t hesitate to kill immediately if I am given the opportunity.
Sienna’s eyes peeked open, her eyes scanning me like she could sense everything I was feeling. She looked at me like she could share my pain and was willing to... it made me uneasy yet a part of me felt... seen.
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