Chapter:-One

Rose's pov:-

Wearing my black boots, I exited my apartment and locked the door. Putting the keys in my handbag, I started walking towards the elevator, but suddenly I was stopped by someone calling my name.

"Roseeeeeee!!!!!" I heard a cute voice scream behind me. I smiled and turned, already knowing who this was. Turning, I saw my baby running towards me with a big smile and open arms.

I giggled and bent down on the floor to pick her up. She jumped into my arms, snuggling into me.

This is Flora, she is just three years, and I love her. She lives next door to me with her mom, who divorced just when she was born.

"Got you," I said, standing and twirling her around. She just giggled and looked at me with her doe black eyes. So beautiful. I raised my eyebrows and asked.

"Hmmm.... why are you running alone here??" I asked, pinching her chubby cheek. She laughed and held my hand in her hand.." i-" she just started talking but was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Florida!!" I looked up and saw Amelia. Flora's mom ran towards us. She is beautiful and young at the same time. She is just 27 and a charming lady. Treats me just like her own younger sister.

She looked at us and sighed in relief. This little devil must be naughty today. I can see the exhaustion on Amelia's face. I smiled at her, and she smiled back, walking towards us.

"Flora, how often do I tell you not to run like that? I got so scared when I couldn't find you," she scolded, and Flora just gave an innocent smile and whispered, "sowwy."

I smiled and tickled her, which made her laugh.

Her mom laughed too.

"Rose, thank god you caught her. She had been very naughty from the morning," she said, squinting her eyes at Flora, who pretended she wasn't seeing her. I smiled down at her.

"So mischievous, huh?" I said to flo, bouncing her a little.

"Nuuuu," she said innocently, playing with my hair.

"Hmmm...Flo, this is not good. It would be best if you weren't a naughty girl. Look how worried she was," I said, looking down at her.

"Nuuu, I just wanted to meet Roseee," she replied, looking at her mom and then at me. I laughed at her cuteness and nuzzled her cheek, which only made her giggle more.

"So now happy?" Amelia asked with raised eyebrows and a smile.

"Yuppp vewyy," she said, hugging me tightly.

I laughed, hugging her tight, but suddenly she pulled away and looked up at me with a frown.

I frowned "what happened?" I asked

She stared at my handbag for a while, then back at me and asked, "Roseee going somewhere?"

Her mom noticed, too, and asked.

"Yeah, Rose, where are u going??"

"Hmmm yeah, going to meet my dad. I haven't met him in a while, and he is going crazy, " I said with a chuckle.

"Oh, that's good. Enjoy your time with him," she said with a motherly smile and patted my head.

She always gives me motherly vibes. That's why I love her.

"Thanks," I said, smiling at her.

"So flora sees Rose is busy today, so we have to go," Amelia said, taking her from me.

She whimpered a little and hugged her mom with a huge pout.

"Awwww, what's wrong, flo? Why so sad??" I asked her in a baby voice. She played with her mother's necklace and said, "I thought you would come with me shopping," she said through her pout.

Awwww, why so cute??

"I am sorry, Flo, but I will come back soon, and then we will have a sleepover, promise," I said, showing her my pinky finger.

"Yes, flora, you can stay with her overnight," Amelia said, slightly bouncing.

"Promise??" She asked, looking at me.

"Promise," I said, and we connected our pinky fingers. After locking the promise, she smiled widely again.

"Soooo... Amelia, I will meet you guys in the evening, ok" I said, and she nodded with a smile.

"Okay then, see you soon," I said and turned to leave, but Flo's voice stopped me.

"Roseee," I turned back with a smile and raised eyebrows." hmmm."

"My chocolate," she asked with her hand out.

"No! No sugar, you already ate a lot," Amelia said sternly.

"But.." she pouted at her.

"No buts, Rose, not gonna give you any candy this time, and you leave, or she will not let you go," Amelia said, scolding me too.

"Ahhh yeah, I need to take something from my apartment. You go ahead, "I said with a smile.

She nodded and turned to leave.

I took out a small candy pack from my handbag and showed it to flo, who was looking at me over her mom's shoulder and was walking away.

Her eyes sparkled, and a big goofy smile took over her face.

."shhh, I said with my index finger on my lips and slowly followed them until I was slightly away.

She imitated me and put the finger on her lips, and I gave that candy in her hand. She grabbed it and looked at it like she had got a treasure.

"Hide," I mouthed.

She nodded and hid it in her pocket.

"That's my girl," I mouthed, and she giggled, waving at me.

When they got inside the elevator, Amelia looked at me and waved. I waved back.

"I love u," flo shouted, and I giggled.

"I love you too I said, imitating her. When the elevator closed, I heard some people in the hallway chuckle, and I laughed, shaking my head.

"I shouldn't have done that," I said, and an elderly woman walked past me.

"But you did," she said, and we both laughed.

I started going towards the elevator and entered inside. Pushing the button for the ground floor, I started waiting.

Hmmm. Ohh, I haven't told you about myself...ahh...I am Rose...Rose Maxwell, age 18, and currently studying at a college in New York. I am in my second year of the business program. I have only my dad in my family. My mom died when I was in front of me. It was a car accident. I don't remember much, but we were going somewhere, and dad followed us. Dad picked me up, and we talked with mom standing far from us. And then...then came that car which ruined everything. Dad used to blame himself for being unable to save her and our family, but eventually, we moved on.

I sighed at those painful memories and got out of the building. I have always been alone. Dad loved me like a princess, no doubt, but I didn't need just material stuff; I Needed love, care, and affection. And those who promised me they would protect me....they left me alone when I was just 10. And yeah, they used to come to meet me all this time but never stayed. I cried and begged them to stay. I wanted them to save me from all I was going through, but they never did.

Oh, who are they?....my brothers.

Dad used to be busy with his work I was always alone. This was why school became my favorite place because it helped me kill time and be safe. After all, I was around people no one could hurt me, but on complimentary days or vacations, I have always been left alone with those monsters. He said he was too busy whenever I asked dad to be with me. When I asked what he does, he said we owned a business but never took me. We have enough money to live a good life, but...

I sighed

Still, my life always felt empty and painful. I survived those dirty years, so I moved to live separately when I completed h school. Dad didn't like the plan, but he had to agree. And now I have some good friends; my life started being pretty typical.

I smiled to myself at my progress, jumped out of the bus, and started walking towards dad's apartment building lost in my head I was so lost that I hit my head against someone's back.

"Ohh i... I am sorry I was not looking ahead," I said, apologizing, but when I looked up, my eyes met with two pairs of brown eyes. He smiled cheekily at me.

"It's okay, cutie," he said, and I blushed.

This is so embarrassing. I looked up at him

again. He had lightly tanned skin and a perfect jawline. Dark brown eyes and hair.

He was handsome, though.

"Hmmm, if you're done staring can we continue," he said with raised eyebrows and a smirk.

My whole body started heating up. I am sure I am red like a tomato. I looked down at my feet.

He chuckled. "Am. I am Jorden," he said, slightly bending and looking at my face. I looked up at him and said, "hmm, i...i..am Rose, " holding the strap of my bag tightly.

He seems to notice that.

"Heyy, don't be nervous, it's fine...you must be the daughter of Maxwell, right," he asked with his tilted head.

How does he know??

I was looking at him with wide eyes and shock. He laughed and snapped his fingers in front of my face." Don't be too shocked, muffin. I know because I am his business partner and came here to meet him."

He said with a grin.

"Ohhhh," I muttered, slightly flustered at that nic name.

"Hmm, I knew he had a daughter, but he was so cute I didn't know that," he said, sliding his hands into his hoodie's pockets.

I blushed and smiled. I am not good with compliments; I am trying to figure out what to do.

"So here to meet him too," he asked.

"Yup," I said, slightly bouncing at my toes.

"Fine, then let us go together," he said, holding my hand. He started walking, and I was red and lost.

We walked for a while in awkward silence, and then I asked, "aren't you pretty young to be a business partner" I asked, looking up at him while walking.

"Hmm, so I shouldn't be??" he said, arching his eyebrow.

"Nooo...I am just saying," I said, looking at my boots with a pout.

He just laughed. "I am just playing muffin. Don't take it seriously," he said, looking down at me and then ahead.

I smiled up at him.

"You just need money, that's it," he said with a shrug.

True!!! Money means power.

We were standing outside the elevator waiting.

"Hmmm, so you are a student," he asked, turning towards me.

"Yup," I said again, bouncing slightly at my toes. He laughed at that and patted my head. I glared up at him.

"Oops, sorry, someone doesn't like that," he said, surrendering his hands.

I laughed. He is cute.

We got inside the elevator when it was finally here. Pressing the floor button, I asked, "why were you walking? You could have come here in your car."

"Hmmm yeah, but I like to walk, so why not? He said with a wink making me blush.

"You blush so quickly, "he said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, I am shy, dumbass," I muttered.

"Sorry?" He asked with a frown and a smile.

"Nothing," I said, looking at my reflection in the door.

Hmmm, I look good. Smiley.

After some time we were there, we walked through the hallway and knocked at my dad's luxurious apartment door. Yeah, luxurious.

After some moments, we heard footsteps, and then the door opened with my dad smiling.

"Daddy" I screamed and jumped on him, wrapping my arms and legs around him.

No matter how mad I stay with him. I love him more than anything in this world.

He laughed, stroking my hair and moving us left-right. "I missed you," I said, slightly sniffing.

"Awww, I missed you, too, princess," he said, kissing my forehead.

We stayed like that for a while when dad spoke.

"Now get off. We have another guest," he said, and I looked at Jorden over my shoulder. He was looking at us with a smirk leaning against the door frame. I got off of dad, and they both greeted each other. I folded my hands on my chest and huffed.

"What's wrong, princess?" Dad asked, closing the door and walking us to leave the room.

"I don't like when someone steals my attention," I said, moving to dad's room to use the bathroom.

I heard a laugh behind me" I am sorry, muffin," Jorden shouted.

I smiled and closed the door behind me.

After around 5 minutes, I left the bathroom and returned to the living room. When I saw no one, I called, "dad ?"

"Here, princess," I heard his voice from the kitchen. I hurriedly went there and saw a good meal on the table.

"Dammm, I am hungry," I said, sitting on the chair and picking up my fork and knife.

I inhaled the food, and it was like heaven.

"Can I eat now?" I asked, looking up at dad.

"Of course, let's start," dad said, and we started eating.

During eating, I looked over at Jorden, who was already looking at me with a smirk.

I blushed and focused my attention on my food. After eating, I did some dishes and cleaned while they discussed some deals.

And like that, we spent our whole day talking and doing other stuff. Jorden became a pretty good friend, but I am not meeting him again anyways.

After making dinner for dad, I hugged him goodbye and left the apartment. Daddy was busy when I was growing up, but he provided me with everything. If I lost my family, he did too. He lost his wife....his son. I love my dad the most, and I never want to hurt him after telling him the bad stuff that I have been through when he was out.

I was about to get on the bus when a car stopped in front of me." hey muffin, want a lift" he asked with a smirk, but I said, "nooo, I can go myself. Somebody just told me they like to walk, so I am following them too," I said sarcastically.

"Damm, I was just kidding, but that was also not a lie," he said, telling me to get inside. I did, and he started driving.

"Would you like to tell me the way? I am not Google Maps," he said with a chuckle.

I nodded, and after 25 minutes, we were back at my apartment. I was about to get out, but he held my hand, making me look back at him with a frown.

"Nice to meet you, muffin hope we will see each other again," he said, kissing the back of my hand.

I blushed "aaa.. yeah," I said and

I jumped out of there, running into my apartment building. I stood there and saw him driving away; that smirk never left his face.

Hmm...weird what was he thinking???