Chapter 11 - Old wound

Troy's POV

I put my jacket on the couch and poured whiskey into my glass. Then I placed the glass on the coffee table after taking a sip and collapsed onto the couch.

My assistant called me, informing me that she arranged the meeting with an Arabic businessman as I asked. After replying to her, I ran my hand through my hair as I placed the phone on the coffee table and sighed, closing my eyes.

I leaned my elbows on my thighs and sipped my whiskey, while staring at the yin-yang tattoo on my inner wrist. Why couldn't I forget Rose? She got under my skin, and I couldn't get rid of her. I exhaled sadly as I finished my drink and went to my bedroom.

"Rose! Rose!...No!" I screamed and woke up, drenched in sweat. I ran my hand through my hair, trying to control my breath as I sat up on the bed. My heart was still pounding.

I leaned towards the bedside table and grabbed a glass of water. I sipped it, throwing the cover away, and stood up after placing the glass on the bedside table. I approached the floor to ceiling window and looked through it, lost in my thoughts. The sun was rising slowly, lightening the darkness of the city.

I closed my eyes as I leaned my forehead against the window and whispered desperately. "Why? Why can't I forget you?"

****

I parked my car in front of my parent's mansion and got out of the car. I noticed Liam and Romeo's cars beside my parents' cars. Today was our traditional Sunday family dinner. All family members who were in New York this day attended this dinner. Otherwise, we had to hear a lot of lectures from my mother. Then Dad would give us another lecture about why we made our mother upset. So not attending this dinner while being in the city was out of the question. On the other hand, I liked it too. With our busy schedules, it was the best idea to see each other, keep in touch and be close with the family.

After greeting each other, we started having dinner.

"So Liam, who was that blonde girl I saw beside you this morning?" Sienna asked, giving him a mischievous grin and took a sip from her grapefruit juice.

"Probably another victim." Romeo commented and gave Liam a teasing smirk.

"Look, how he knows! Of course, experience is talking." Liam mocked, grinning devilishly.

My father, Aspen gave Romeo a dirty look, rolling his eyes. Despite the fact that Romeo and Sienna got married a few years ago, my father didn't still like him so much, telling that Sienna deserved someone better than Romeo. However, I didn't think he would think differently if my sister got married to another man, not Romeo. For him, Sienna would always be his little girl. He was so protective of Sienna. Actually, not just him, Liam and I were protective of her as well.

I sighed, smiling slightly at them, and put a piece of my fish into my mouth. Then I sipped my wine, lost in my thoughts. I still couldn't forget about that day. Could she really be Rose? This question haunted me.

"Are you okay, Troy?" My mother, Serena asked, concerned, interrupting my thoughts.

"Yes, I am just tired." I replied and forced a smile.

"You work so much. You should take care of yourself." She admitted, worried.

"I am fine, Mom."

"You don't even spend a lot of time with Kate either. You should make time for her. She is going to be your wife. You should put her first, not after your job." My mother commented firmly.

"Mom, I don't. There is no problem between us. Don't worry." I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Family comes first. Don't forget it." She reminded me firmly.

"Yes, I know, Mom." I nodded, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Maybe she isn't the right girl. Because of it, she comes after work." Liam commented nonchalantly, getting all attention on himself.

I bit my lower lip as sadness crossed my features. Romeo looked at me, worried. I averted my gaze and took a sip from my red wine.

Romeo cleared his throat and teased Liam, smirking. "Since when has my little brother-in-law become romantic?"

"I am an artist. I am always romantic." Liam replied smugly and winked at Romeo.

"Drawing naked women isn't romanticism." Romeo commented and sipped his wine.

"Are you jealous, dude? And don't cheapen my talent, please. You didn't say I was bad when you saw those canvas." Liam teased him, smirking, and winked at him. "By the way, do you know how many requests I receive from women who want me to draw them?" He added arrogantly.

Sienna raised her eyebrow, looking at Romeo angrily. Romeo gave her an innocent smile and mouthed that Liam lied, he didn't look at them.

"Why should I be? I am happy with my beautiful wife. Every day is romantic and interesting when we are together." Romeo said cockily as he held Sienna's hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. She smiled happily, looking at him, full of love in her eyes.

"Oh shit! Romeo and Juliet on the stage again." Liam commented, pretending to be nauseous, and chuckled. We couldn't hold our smiles and laughed.

"I will see you when you fall in love, Mr. Artist at night and Mr. Model during the day." Romeo grinned devilishly.

"Yeah. Yeah." Liam smirked arrogantly.

I was sipping my whiskey, staring at the stars while sitting on the deckchair in the garden.

"Still thinking about that girl?" Romeo asked, interrupting my thoughts as he approached me, holding a glass of brandy in his hand.

I cleared my throat and mumbled. "No."

He gave me an unconvinced look and sat down on the deckchair next to me.

I sighed and took a sip from my whiskey. "I don't want to talk about it."

He nodded and said honestly. "When you want to talk, you know where to find me."

"Thanks." I gave him a half smile. "Where is Sienna? You two have been inseparable since you found out about the pregnancy." I asked, changing subjects.

He grinned and replied. "In the kitchen. Eating something too creative." I chuckled. "I look forward to when she gives birth because her pregnancy hormones make me crazy sometimes. If it was possible, I would carry our baby myself and give birth instead of her." He sighed and sipped his brandy.

I chuckled in amusement, raising my glass towards him, and clinked the glasses. "Good luck!"

"But don't tell her anything. If she finds out what I told you, she will kill me." Romeo warned me, giving me a threatening look. I grinned, nodding.

"Well, if you don't talk about your London adventures, let's talk about your New York dairies." Romeo stated playfully and winked at me, giving me a sly smirk. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. "How are things going on between you and  Kate? The same boring relationship?" He asked and sighed dramatically.

"Normal people call it a stable relationship." I commented and sipped my whiskey.

He laughed mockingly. "Dude, you don't know how perfect the heat of a fiery relationship is. Make up sex is the best sex ever." He stated arrogantly and winked at me.

"Hey stop! I don't to hear about your sex life with my sister." I warned and grimaced, shaking my head.

"Fine." He rolled his eyes and added. "But I am right. You also know it. You and Kate are more like friends than lovers. You need a fiery woman who would balance you and make your life alive. Two same characters in a relationship make it too boring or destructive."

"Think what you want. I am going." I said as I placed my glass on the table and stood up.

"Where are you going? It is early." He asked.

"Home. I am tired. See you." I said, squeezing his shoulder.

"Look, this is what I was talking about. You need a hurricane in your life." He gave me a cocky smirk.

My expression changed instantly as he said this familiar sentence again which he told me in London five years ago. I waved at him without saying anything and left.

****

My phone rang as I left the conference room. I looked at it while walking towards my office. It was Kate.

"Hi. How are you?" I said as I picked up my phone.

"Hi. Fine. And you?" She replied, but her voice was strange.

"I am sorry, but I need to sign some paperwork before I leave the company. Can we meet up in an hour?" I stated as I walked into my office and closed the door behind me.

"Umm... Actually, I cannot come. Can we cancel our date today?" She asked apologetically.

"Sure, but are you okay? Your voice is strange." I asked, concerned as I placed the file in my hand on the desk and sat down, loosening my tie.

"Family problems." She replied and sighed sadly.

"What happened?" I asked, worried.

"My sister came back, and she and my father had a fight." She replied and heaved a deep sigh.

"Sister? I didn't know you have a sister. Neither you nor your parents ever mentioned about her. I didn't see her photo in the mansion either." I commented, confused.

"It is complicated. My father was angry at her when she left the house. So he ordered to the maids to take all her photos out of his sight."

"Why?"

"Let's say their characters are too opposite. My sister is so rebellious and carefree. She didn't agree to live with my father's rules. As she said she chose to chase her dreams. But my father wasn't happy with it. So... everything messed up."