I placed my paintbrush down before stepping back to admire my work. A bouquet of white roses. Those are the only things that have been in my mind since I've been receiving strange gifts.

"That's the simplest thing I've seen you do." Tobias chuckled.

"Thanks, I guess."

"I'm hosting a dinner tonight for a couple of my friends because they want to meet you." He sighed. "And it's a pr stunt."

"Copy that."

"And tomorrow, my parents got us courtside tickets to the Lakers game." He nodded.

"Will Lauren be at the dinner?"

"No. Sorry about the other night. I know that was kind of off guard, I didn't expect for y'all to meet like that."

"It's whatever. It's your place, you can do what you want." I shrugged.

He remained silent and sat down on the couch. I began adding fine detail to my painting.

"I know you like fashion design, but have you ever thought to do an art gallery? I mean your artwork is beautiful." He smiled.

"I mean yeah, but I paint to decompress, and making it a hobby will take my joy of painting away."

"Who taught you."

"My fathers money."

"Oh."

"You know Tobias, we know nothing about each other." I started.

I know this wasn't a real relationship ordeal, but I'd at least like to live with someone who I knew. I didn't know his likes or dislikes or what made him mad.

"What do you want to know about me?"

"What's your middle name?"

"Avery."

"Can I ask you a question?" He raised his eyebrow while grabbing a magazine.

I nodded.

"How do you and Lauren know each other?"

"We were best friends once upon a time, along with Kelsey." I sighed while turning towards him. "But our families got entangled into business together and that didn't go so well so that caused us to split."

"Small world."

"Okay, now I have a question for you."

"Shoot." He cracked a smile before placing his phone down.

"What do you do besides work?"

"I like to watch sports."

"Boring."

"What's boring about watching sports? It's exciting."

"It's exciting but everyone watches sports."

"Everyone paints." He responded in a defensive tone. I chuckled before sitting on the single couch across from him. "So what's the creative thing you do?"

"I smoke weed and do whatever my mind tells me."'

"You smoke weed? I haven't smelled it."

"I haven't since I've moved here but yes. You should try it out one day. It relaxes the body, I use it as a way to meditate."

"I could use anything right now."

"Seriously?"

~

Tobias patted his chest while coughing. I chuckled before grabbing a bottle of water and handing it to him.

"You're not supposed to breath it in." I smiled.

He took a sip of the water and handed me the lit bud.

"Try it again, just don't breathe it in. Keep it contained in your mouth." I handed it back to him. He nodded doing as I instructed. "Good now blow it out."

We passed it back in forth for about five minutes before putting it out.

"Now you just have to relax and let it take you." I reclined my seat.

He nodded. "Will this make my car smell?"

"Yeah, but I have a spray that'll eliminate it."

He nodded. We sat in silence as the jazz music played.

"Can I ask you about something?" I questioned while looking over towards him. He nodded.

"Go ahead."

"Have you been sending me white roses?"

"No, but I've seen them around the penthouse and today you were painting someone. I figured you were going through a phase or something."

"No." I chuckled. "Someone has been sending me a bouquet of roses each day with a note attached to it."

"Sounds like a secret admirer."

"More like a stalker. One said something about truth and how it'll come to light." I shook my head. "I just wish whoever is sending it would man up and come to me."

"Maybe it's someone playing a joke."

"It's a weird joke."

"I wish I had a creepy stalker."

"Oh don't worry. I'll leak your address on Twitter so you can" I smiled. He chuckled while looking out the window. "Can you feel it?"

"Yeah, I feel strangely, relaxed."

"Okay now, what is your mind telling you to do right now?"

"I'm starving."

"I know a place." I smiled while opening the door.

"Oh, are we walking?" He followed after me making sure to lock his door back. I nodded and walked down the street.

"There's this amazing diner that I ate at when I got the munchies."

"Diner?"

"Yes. Don't worry, they're clean and the food will literally transcend you into heaven." I grabbed his hand while walking us into the diner.

"Athena! Where have you been?" Charlotte exclaimed while stuffing her notepad and pen in her apron.

"I've been busy." J smiled while hugging her. "Can I sit here?"

"You can sit anywhere." She smiled while walking behind us. Tobias and I got settled in the booth and he picked up the menu. "Is this the fiancé?"

"Uh." I started.

"Tobias." He stuck his hand out.

"Charlotte." She shook it. "I like him already."

I chuckled.

"So. I already know, pulled pork on Texas toast, extra pickles with a side of fries and a coke." Charlotte recited while staring at me.

"You know it."

"And for Mr. Handsome?"

"I'll have the same and a water to drink please."

"I'll be back with your drinks." Charlotte walked away.

"I've never had pulled pork on a Texas toast. Is this like a Southern-themed diner?" Tobias furrowed his eyebrows.

"It is and the Texas toast is amazing. It's like perfect buttered and tossed and the barbecue sauce is to die for."

"I'll take your word."

"Okay, I'm still getting to know you so..." I paused while tapping my hands amongst the table. "Two truths, one lie."

"Wow, I haven't played this since junior high."

"You down?"

"Let's go. I'll go first."

I smiled while watching him think to himself. Maybe it was the weed that helped him loosen up to talk to me, but I was seeing a different side of Tobias. A calmer side. His jaw wasn't clenched and his face seemed to be at peace.

"Okay, I broke my leg in three different places, my favorite color is green and I love the temptations."

"The temptations? Whatchu' know about them. But I'll go with the favorite color is green."

"Correct. It's blue. How'd you guess?"

"Well saying that you love the temptations is very random so it had to be true. How did you break your leg in three places?"

"Me and my best friend, he's coming tonight. We were playing polo and I fell off my horse. Then boom." He made a noise of a cracking sound.

"Ouch." I winced.

"Worst pain ever. Your turn."

"I have five tattoos, I hate anything chocolate, I can speak French fluently."

"Oh come on, it's the chocolate one. You eat it almost every day."

"Correct."

"Okay first, you have five tattoos? Where? And you can speak French?"

"Yes and yes. I have tattoos in a couple of hidden places and my mom was creole so I wanted to feel closer to her so I took classes." I shook my head. "Stupid to think, Creole French and French are different, but at least I know another language.

"Say something."

"j'ai faim"

"That was beautiful, what did you say?"

"I'm hungry." I chuckled.

"Ditto."

"Idem" I responded.

We continued our game of two truths and one lie until the food came out. Tobias smiled at the sight of it.

"This looks amazing."

Tobias took a bite of the sandwich and melted into his seat. I smiled while taking a sip of my coke.

"What do you rate it?"

"One million."

~

"Thank you for coming here Eartha." I smiled while fixing my hair. It was in wand curls with a gold clip to the side of it.

I wore an emerald green satin dress with gold accessories to compliment. I was nervous about this dinner. I mean, to mention again, Tobias and I weren't real fiancé and fiancé but meeting his friends gave me anxiety.

This was his inner circle. The people who looked out for him and has his best interest.

Will they like me?

Do they know about Lauren?

Do I have every answer prepared for any question?

"Relax, Ms. Solana." Eartha grabbed my hand. "I have just the thing for you. Someone sent this by the house."

She walked over to the corner and grabbed the bouquet of roses. I sighed as she handed it to me.

"I'm heading back to your fathers' estate. Please don't hesitate to call if you need any more help."

I nodded and pulled out the notecard before setting the bouquet aside. Eartha gathered her things and walked out.

My goddess, Athena. Like the Greek goddess, you are full of wisdom and intelligence. Be the goddess of war and get through your obstacles.

I shook my head and tossed the notecard on the dresser. Weirdo.

I heard a knock on the door, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Come in!"

"Hey, just wanted to let you know that everyone is downstairs if you would like me to walk you," Tobias said. "More flowers?"

"Yeah. Eartha brought it to me. But I don't need to be creeped out for tonight's dinner. I'm ready."

"Just asking permission to hold your hand throughout any time. My friends are hard analysts so they'll notice when something's off."

"Of course, do whatever to sell the show."

He nodded and held his hand out. I grabbed it and we made our way down the steps. We made it to the dining table and awkwardly stood.

"Athena meet my friends. That's Kacey, Valeria, Jacob, Oliver, Alexander, and of course, we're missing someone."

"You know he's always late." Kacey chuckled. She stood up and walked towards me. "I'm Kacey."

Kacey, her family owned a sports team and marketing corporation. I've seen her on social media we follow each other, but we've never had a conversation until now.

We hugged each other before sitting back down in our seats.

"So of course we have all of the questions in the world." Valeria smiled. "Also I believe we've met before."

"Yes, we have! My father did business with yours. But that was ages ago."

"Yes."

"How did you guys meet?"

"At a luncheon, I couldn't help but notice the most beautiful girl in the world." He stared at me while smiling.

Way to sell it, Tobias.

"Sorry, I'm late! Tobias told me to pick up wine and-" The curly-haired boy walked in but stopped.

"Athena this is-"

"Eros?" I questioned.

"Athena?"

"You guys know each other?" Tobias questioned.

"He's my brother." I crossed my arms.

"Half-brother." He corrected while placing the wine down and pulling out his seat. He looked nice. He wore a fitted suit and a gold watch.

"So why didn't you mention that she was your sister?" Tobias questioned.

"I never paid attention to her name." He stared at me. I shifted in my seat.

"That's crazy. Small world." Tobias chuckled while standing up to grab the bottle of wine.

"Very small." I nodded.

"They were telling us how they met at a luncheon." Kacey smiled while pulling a wine opener from her bag and handing it to Tobias.

"Such an alcoholic." Oliver chuckled.

"Like, who carries that in their bag?" Jacob shook his head.

"I didn't know that your father had other children, Athena." Kacey furrowed her eyebrows. "He's only mentioned you."

"Eros and I have the same mother not father."

Eros scoffed and shook his head.

"We don't have to go into depth about this." He said.

Tobias nodded while filling everyone's glass with wine.

Truth is, Eros and I had never met before. He was one of two of my other siblings that my mom had with her former lover. My mother was beautiful and smart, but she was also flawed. She left them to be with my father and to have me.

Eros resented me because of it. We never built a relationship because he didn't want to. I was the villain in the story and he never gave me a chance.

"So Athena." Jacob started. "How do you put up with this stinker's mood swings?"

"She's pretty unbearable herself," Eros said before taking a sip of his wine.

"Excuse me?" I questioned.

"You heard me."

"Dinner is served. Today I have prepared for you, Parmesan crusted chicken with a side of spinach tossed in vinaigrette sauce and creamy pasta." Kaleb rolled out a tray.

He began setting the plates in front of us. When he finished, he bowed before going back into the kitchen.

"This looks amazing!" Oliver smiled.

I stared at my food while the others began to dig in. I took a sip of my wine and looked up. Eros stared directly at me while cutting into his chicken.

"Please excuse me." I stood up and walked towards the kitchen. Kaleb smiled while cutting up strawberries. "I'm gonna scream."

"Just hold in there, warrior." He smiled.

"What's for dessert?"

"Strawberry shortcake, but ten times better."

"Eros is my brother."

"I've been listening to the whole thing. It's like a television show." He chuckled.

"I just wanted to impress his friends, but I'm worried that the way Eros thinks of me will be how the rest thinks of me."

"The best thing to do is go back out there and show who you are. You're loveable, show them."

"Right."I nodded. "Right. I just need to be me. Thanks, Kaleb."

I walked back to the dining table and sat in my seat.

"Sorry about that, I just wanted to see if Kaleb needed any help." I smiled.

I begin cutting my chicken and took a bite.

"So Athena, I read somewhere about your deal with S&W, how is that going?" Valeria asked while taking a sip of her wine.

"It's going okay. We're planning to have a fashion show with the new design in a couple of months."

"Please invite me! I'd love to see your work." Valeria said with her hand over her mouth.

"Of course, I'll reserve you a seat."

~

"Daddy. I need twenty-four-hour security" I questioned while pacing back and forth.

"Why Athena?"

"You know how I asked about the bouquet."

"Yes."

"Well, things have escalated." I sighed while looking around my office that was covered in white roses.