Me
No. I didn’t see him. Did he come looking for me?
Aaron
We should talk. I feel like we’ve had no time to catch up since Mom and Dad arrived.
Yeah, and whose fault is that?
I wait for a long time, trying to figure out what to say to him.
Me
Sure. Whenever you’re free.
It’s late.I’m hungry and exhausted as I walk through Aaron’s poorly illuminated hallway. As usual, the place is empty. I can’t comprehend why my brother would waste millions on a property he never actually uses. If I even make a comment about this, he’llprobably start lecturing me about long-term investment and the value of real estate. Those who are wealthy think differently, and Aaron probably views each dollar as an opportunity to triple its value.
But what’s the point in being rich and having all this money if you can’t even enjoy the things you buy?
I throw my keys onto the kitchen island and grab a cold bottle of water from the fridge. It’s twenty past eight, and a faint aroma of coffee lingers in the kitchen. I just remembered—didn’t we agree to meet here at eight? It seems Dominik is running late too.
I’m decide to take a quick shower to wash away the dirt and exhaustion from the daily hustle of New York. As I walk toward my bedroom, I noticed a beam of light at the end of the hallway. It’s coming from my room. The closer I get, the gentle glow exuding from it intensifies, causing my heart to pound in my chest. The door is slightly ajar, and I strain my ears, hearing faint shuffling noises coming from inside.
My instincts kick into overdrive, and my senses sharpen as I try to make sense of the situation. Who could be in there? My mind races with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last.
“Hello? Aaron?” I call out, hoping for a response, but I am only met with silence.
A strong sense of fear tightens its grip on me as I cautiously move toward the open door. I consider calling Aaron’s phone, but a part of me is too curious, maybe even slightly excited. God, how sick is that?
I take a deep breath and push the door open, preparing myself for whatever is on the other side.
My jaw pops open because I wasn’t expecting to find this…
Dominik is standing in the middle of my room, surrounded by papers and sticky notes. He finishes scribbling something onto a pad before he looks up at me, grinning like an idiot.
He seems completely at ease, as if he’s in his own bedroom.
“What are you doing here?” I bark out.
“You’re late,” he states casually, which only angers me more.
“What the hell is all of this?”
I try to ignore how devastatingly beautiful he looks amidst the notes in my personal space. I’m torn between wanting to rip his throat out and to run around, reading every scattered note.
My skin burns with desire when those dual-colored eyes look at me. I hate that the most. How much I want him despite knowing it’s wrong and how much I despise his existence. No matter how many times I remind myself or repeat it, my need for him remains unchanged. I’m doubting my ability to hide it at this point. My mind is consumed by the memory of his lips against mine, back when he pinned me against the wall in that dimly lit stairwell at work.
“Another gesture, I guess. This one isn’t as grand though, and it’s just for us, so you can’t get mad at me for it.” He smirks, arching a dark brow as he steps aside to reveal my bed, which is covered in purple and white sticky notes.
My legs seem to move on their own, and when I get close, I notice a beautiful hardback with delicate foil lettering and weathered design… It looks like a special edition ofThe Sorrow of Young Wertherby Goethe.
Picking up the book, I grab the first note:
"I possess so much, but my love for her absorbs it all. I possess so much, but without her I have nothing."
“What is all this?”
“I thought you could use a reminder,” he whispers.
