At 9:30 AM, Esme arrived in New York and she looked around searching for her brother. Then, she saw a card with her name. She smiled and strode toward his direction but she stopped when a woman beside him is clinging in his arm.

She pressed her lips and just walked toward them.

​​

"How's the flight?" Laurence asked.

"It's great." She said.

"By the way, Alexis, this is Esme. Esme, Alexis."

Alix the blonde girl smiled at her.

"Hi."

She's tall and has that body to die for and she's beautiful.

"Hi." Esme greeted back.

"Laurence said a lot about you. And he's right, you are adorable."

Adorable? She asked her mind if she heard it right. Somehow, she didn't want to see Laurence or Alexis together. She didn't want to see them both.

"Oh, I—I," She looked at Laurence. "Can I go to my penthouse now?"

"Sure." Laurence took her LV bag and he pulled his hand from Alexis. She kept her cello with her and they went out to take a taxi. Then, Laurence tells the address for her penthouse.

She and Alexis are both in the backseat and she watched the traffic outside. She's been here more than two times to see the school that she's going to visit with her triplet's cousin and with Laurence.

"You okay?" Laurence asked her and she only nodded. "Do you want to eat first before we go to your penthouse?"

"No. I need to rest and practice later."

Laurence nodded and he didn't ask anymore because she seemed to be not in the mood. Esme reached her temple. She is now having a headache. Not just because of jetlag but also, she's been sleepless for days. So, in her sleepless nights. She practiced and practice every piece that she might play in her audition.

Soon, they reached the building close to Julliard. She looked around it's wide and it's the million-dollar price. There are at least three rooms in this penthouse to a beautiful view from the 28th floor. She went directly to the master's bedroom which is her room with her bag and cello.

"Esme," Laurence followed her after he murmured something to his girlfriend. He entered her room and she removed her shoes and her jacket. "Are you alright?" He asked.

She only nodded.

"I already set up your kitchen and we can have dinner tonight."

"I'm fine. I don't want to ruin your plans with your girlfriend." She said it flatly. "Besides, I just want to relax and I can order my food."

"Esme," He exhaled. "I am your brother. I should take care of you."

"I'm eighteen, I don't need someone to take care of me."

"I'll buy your medicine. How about that? I'll just leave Alexis here."

"No need. Just take her with you. I don't want anyone to be in here. She's not my visitor, besides, I want to be alone for a while. My audition is in two days."

"Okay." Laurence nodded.

She turned back as she took her bag to the walk-in closet that she owns and she started putting it there. The door closes and she took the tablet nearby and checked as Laurence and Alexis are leaving. The girl kissed him passionately and he responded and they murmur something maybe about sex.

Laurence left with his girlfriend and she enabled the alarm. She wasn't hungry even. So, after she put her clothes back there neatly, she went to the kitchen to check something to drink. She took a glass bottle of water that is still sealed and with the Dragon Empire logo from the cabinet that has locked. She took it and went to her room.

She went to her bathroom and prepared her bath. She filled her jacuzzi tub and poured essential oil and an amount of bubble soap.

<><><><>

Laurence smiled at his girlfriend and they went to the café to eat.

"I didn't know that your sister owns a penthouse," Alexis said.

"She's spoiled by our mom and dad. She's really gifted."

"How come that you are still in the dorm?"

"I like the dorms." He said casually.

"That means that your sister is richer than you?"

"Yeah," Laurence said. When Alexis learned that he could afford anything in this world. She finally noticed him. Back then, she doesn't notice him. She's one of the cheerleaders and from the sorority house of Alpha. "She has this blog and that's where she gets lots of money." He explained to her shortly.

"Oh, I see."

She ordered her usual favorite and they eat. Laurence looked at the dessert that he bought and thought about Esme. Maybe she's just tired but somehow, every time that they see each other after a long time, she would fling her arms around him. He missed it badly.

Maybe it's because of the kiss after he left. He was stupid enough to kiss her but he couldn't help himself. Now, he's dating someone to get it out of him.

"Are you okay?" She asked. He nodded.

"I'm just worried about her."

"Hmm, you worried about her too much even though you aren't her blood," Alexis said. So, yeah, he mentioned that. "Are you sure that she's just a sister to you?"

"What are you implying?" Laurence asked. Alexis shrugged.

"Well, I had fucked my step-brother and it's not impossible for you to feel something toward your sister."

Laurence sighed.

"You don't understand."

"I understand it completely." Alexis chuckled. "You always talked about her and nothing else. Laurence, if you don't want to be with me, it's fine. It's not like you are worth it."

From her words, 'it's not like you are worth it' makes him realized that Alexis thought that he's someone rich. He is indeed reached and she might've researched about him.

"So, you just approached me because you wanted to fuck me or buy you things?"

Alexis stopped. Did she say too much?

"You know what? You are just like other girls." He put out his wallet where he has thick cash on it and he put money that costs more than their food.

He stood.

"Wait, Laurence," Alexis called and followed him but he walked away leaving her.

<><><><>

Laurence bought foods that she would like except for the milk tea. Then, he went to her penthouse and locked the door. He put it in the kitchen and called out for her.

"Esme!" He went to her room and a musical piece is playing. He entered her half-open room door and the bathroom is open. "Hey, sissy!" He called.

"What?"

"I bring something to eat."

"Why are you here?" She asked. 

"I know that mom said that you can kick me out. Are you kicking me out? I bought foods as compensation."

After a few moments, she came out wearing a thick robe. She approached him, lousily and he spread his arms for her. Esme wrapped her arms around his waist and shove her face to his chest.

"Why are you feeling down?" He asked and inhale her scent. 

"I'm just tired. Also, the musical piece is lonely." He kissed her top head and caressed her hair. She looked up at him. "Where's your girlfriend?"

"Well, she needs to take care of something. Dress up. We are going to eat."

She nodded and she went to her closet. Laurence realized how adorable she is whenever she would look up at him. He scratched his head. Damn, he needed to get it off from his head. He took the foods to the family room and he set it up and turned on the chimney.

He took the tablet and turned on the television and search for something to watch. His phone started ringing and he checked it. He answered the call, his mother might be worried sick.

"Hey, mom."

"Are you with Esme?"

"Yeah."

"I have been calling her."

"Maybe her phone is dead. She's in her room and she's fine."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Okay, stay with her. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

"Love you, bye." His mother hung up and Esme approached him and sat on the bean bag couch near the coffee table and she took a slice of pizza.

"Mom called."

"Hmm?"

"Is your phone dead?" He asked.

She stopped for a while and run inside to rummaged to find her phone. Finally, she had it. She forgot to turn on her phone. She went back to the family room and put her phone over the table and it started vibrating. She waited until it stopped then she checked the notifications.

"So, what happened?" Laurence asked.

"I forgot to turn it on."

"Hmm." He took a piece of pizza and started chewing on it.

"Did I ruin your plans with Alexis?"

"Nah," He said, and he checked his IG account, and Alexis posted a party in their sorority house this weekend, and she's making out with some man. He put it away. He doesn't deserve to be treated that way. Besides, Alexis is not healthy for him.

"I did ruin your plans with her." Esme bounced her head like she finally understands. "You know, I am not a minor anymore. You can go to parties and do whatnot. It's your life. You don't have to focus on me that much. I'm not a little girl anymore."