Red Roses

C H A P T E R 3

MELANIE

His restaurant? The Lotus is owned by him ? I blink.

I don't know what kind of person I thought would own this place. It's so zen like. Even though it is a fast food joint. With minimalistic decor yet a warm glow to make it feel homey you would never think this neck and hand tattooed man wearing all black would own this place.

Chuckling, "I know that, I just meant what are you doing in PJ?" Brian asks stepping to stand next to me.

A tall, blood red haired, caramel skinned woman appears from behind Royal. Her almond shaped eyes twinkle in delight as Brian gasps besides me. "Sky !?" He laughs engulfing her in a hug. "I haven't seen you in forever!" They both laugh when Royal pulls the woman out of Brian's embrace and possessively throws his arm around her waist.

The woman leans against Royal and puts her hands against his in her hips. "Royal has been hiding you in Australia for almost a year now !" Brian says to her. She smiles widely revealing her perfectly white teeth. These three are giants around me. I feel so small.

"Eh, you know how much we love traveling." She says looking down at me. "Oh, where are my manners!" She moves out of Royal's embrace. Her shin length white dress hugs her body perfectly with the thigh high slit revealing her perfectly toned leg. Her black high heels adorning her pretty feet. She sticks out her manicured long French tipped nailed hand, "I'm Skylar, and that is Royal, my boyfriend." Her smile never faltering. She is so beautiful.

I reluctantly stick my small hand in hers. "Melanie, uhm, Brian's friend ?" I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear feeling very conscious about how I look as I look up at Brian for help.

Brian chuckles, "Silly me. This is Melanie, Melanie this is Royal, the one I just told you about and this is his girlfriend of 2 whole years, Skylar. She also happens to be my best friend of like, 10 years !" He smiles looking at Skylar. Royal clears his throat demanding attention.

He looks at me directly in the eyes. "Nice to meet you, Miss Melanie." I gulp silently. I don't know what it is, but the intensity of his eyes on mine and the way my name rolled off his tongue with his thick voice caused my mind to glitch.

I smile softly not knowing what to say but most importantly because I think I have lost my voice. "And to answer your earlier question Brian, I came to check out my businesses here in PJ, I can't disappear forever and think they will run themselves." Royal states at his brother.

He doesn't look a day over 23, yet he just said businesses. Does he do Botox ? Looking up at Brian, he also doesn't seem older nor younger than Royal. He did say he was his brother but could that mean twins ? They don't look alike at all. The only thing that they resemble in are their noses and height, but that's it. Scrunching my eyebrows I look between the brothers as they all talk amongst each other.

"-tomorrow night sounds good. Mel ?" I catch the last bit of the conversation. Looking up at Brian, I blink in confusion. He chuckles seeming to see that I wasn't concentrating to their conversation. "Dinner ? Tomorrow night ?" He smiles. I raise my eyebrows in realisation. Another outing in two days. This is stretching my limit and comfort zone here. I quickly think over the pros and cons as I look between the six eyes looking down at me.

"Uhm, I'm working tomorrow night actually." I say realising that I promised Ellie to fill in for her again tomorrow night. That girl is really getting used to this but I'm not complaining, I get her paycheque for the shift.

"Don't worry about that, I happen to know your boss, I'll get in a word for you." Brian smirks. I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion.

"Uh, no it's fine really and I do need the extra money." I say remembering that I promised myself to buy a new couch for my living room considering how filthy my current one is.