STUNNED

"Why are you saying that about your best friend Nicolas?" I was taken aback when he said such a thing about Gérard.

He exhaled a sigh. "Lucia, I'm very familiar with him. He won't touch you or do anything to you because you're my sister, and what I'm trying to say is, dress properly and don't give him the impression that you want or like him.'

"I never said I liked him,' I explained. Those words, he just said now, gave me a strange feeling.

"Your actions said it, and it was the first time you saw him.'' He continued to sigh. "I hate leaving you with him, but what can I do, Lucia? We need money, and he's the only person who can help me right now. That's why I'd like you to stick around with him for a while. So, when I've sold this house and finished paying for the one I'm about to buy, I'll come to pick you up and you'll come live with us. I'm pleading with you, Lucia. I'm not saying you shouldn't love or have a boyfriend, it's normal to like or love someone and I'm not against you having a boyfriend. But, I just don't want you to do that with him.' He fixed his gaze on me and I nodded.

"He's my friend, my best friend at that, he's successful and he has everything in him, anything a woman wants in a man and sometimes I envy him.'' He chuckled. "He's very handsome and wealthy. That doesn't mean he wants to settle down and …'

"Why are you saying all this to me? You've made your point already,' I cut in.

"Exactly…'

"He's your best friend, you know him so well and you don't want him, oh, I mean me to get hurt. I get that.'

"I've seen girls get hurt, because of him. Even my fiancée is his ex,' he blurted out.

"What!!!! I was flabbergasted.

"Shush?' He demonstrated his hand to his mouth and motioned for me to shut up.

"Are you sure, she doesn't have any feelings for him,' I asked my brother, didn't he see any other girls go out with.

"No, she doesn't, and that was in the past, Lucia.' He replied.

"To be honest, I don't like where this is going, you could've chosen someone else and that could've been better bro?' I retorted.

"Why are you reacting this way, Lucia,' he raised an eyebrow and stared at me. "Listen, I told you about this doesn't mean you should use it against her. She is a good person, that has a heart and we both love each other…'

"I'm not trying to use it against her, Nicolas. The idea of her being your fiancée is…it doesn't fit and you never know…' Nicolas cut in.

"I know her very well and I've been in love with her for years now, Lucia.' He defended. The more I hear about this fiancée of his, the more I get angry. What is wrong with Nicolas anyway.

"Wait a sec. How long?' I asked.

"Six years,' he answered.

"How did you guys meet,' I asked.

He deep sighed. "When she was hanging out with Gérard then. He introduced her to me, so that was how we met.' He said.

"Hanging out or dating,' I asked. I know him, he won't want to put in that part.

He deep sighed again. "When they were dating, Lucia. Come on, this is not such a big deal, we've passed all this and she really doesn't have feelings for Gérard anymore and that's a long time ago. So, I see no reason why she would want to hang onto her feelings for him?' He elaborated.

"Nicolas, I know some girls are pretenders and maybe she knows you're in love with her and decided to use you to dump her emotions.' I almost shouted at him. This is so annoying.

"Don't talk about her like that,' Nicolas scolded and that was when I looked at him very well.

"Wow! Wow.' I clapped my hands and laughed.

"I'm serious, Lucia. Don't go against her and besides, you're supposed to be on my side. Support me and instead, you are against her.' He was getting angry, and I didn't like where this was going.

"Okay, I'm sorry about this bro. I care about you, that's why I've been like this,' I suddenly smiled at him.

"I know, little sis.' He started laughing. "And don't talk about her again, okay?' He chuckled.

"Okay, I hear you.' I quickly said. My brother's fiancée was his ex. Did Gérard know about this and how does my brother feel about that? Doesn't it bother him, that his best friend has fucked and do sorts of stuff to his fiancée before? What if his fiancée, already or maybe still has feelings for Gérard. It makes me wonder, sometimes, how adults understand stuff like this and how is my brother even coping with this all. You're getting married to a girl and that girl is your best friend's ex. What if this girl just wants to get close to my brother. I don't trust this girl at all. And, the fact my brother seems so in love with her.

Damn!

"I won't be a disappointment to you, Nicolas. I promise,' I smiled at him and then he hugged me and rubbed my back with his hands.

I didn't want to disappoint him and I meant what I said.

We Both talked and chatted for a long time. It was getting late and I wanted to sleep and it was already *LIGHT OUT*

After a few days, it was already the weekend. So, with Mrs Rose's permission, I set out to meet Gérard. So we can discuss the lessons he planned to teach me. I summoned a taxi, and it began to move. I was getting nervous because this was the first time we'd be alone and talking face to face. I'm not sure what he's like or what his behaviour will be like. How was he going to act, why was he teaching me, will he be hot, soft, or strict with me? What will he be like, will he welcome me with open arms or will he push me away? How is he going to sleep? Oh my gosh. Right now, I'm not sure what I'm thinking. Fuck! I said to myself, "Get your head straight."

As soon as I arrived, I followed the address Nicolas had given me and found myself in a mansion.

"Wow!" I exclaimed I had no idea it was going to be such a big place. I got out of the taxi and paid for it. I stood in front of the gate, and an old man opened it, saying he was expecting me and inviting me inside. Gérard had to have told him to let me in, and I hadn't even told him I was coming, oh, I know. My brother must have informed him that I would be arriving today. I walked over to the glass door and opened it. But, man, it was so thick, and who lives like this, with a glass door at the front door? Won't a thief be able to easily break-in?

I looked around the mansion and the setting was stunning and luxurious. My brother was correct when he said he was filthy rich. I stepped inside and shut the door as soon as I could. When I saw him push a lady against the wall, kissing her roughly, I was taken aback. He was already removing her clothes, and neither of them noticed that I was there with them. I should have knocked, if I had known.