Sold?

Chapter 42: fourty two



The date was really casual, it wasn't at a high-class restaurant with a booked floor and really, I was thankful for that.

Rather, it was a normal restaurant with good food. We did sit in the executive diner but it was still good.

"Say, Lexus?" I finished my steak and looked over at him. There was something I really wanted to ask him.

"Hmm?" He had finished his food way before me and was staring at a text he just got.

"Can I make some changes in the house?"

He placed his phone down and looked at me, "Changes?"

"Well you know, the place just looks so monotone. It looks too colorless. So I was wondering, maybe I could add a bit of- red?"

He smiled, "Red?" He nodded, "Red is a good color." He then reached for his pocket and placed his black card in front of me. "Go ahead."

"Really?"

He nodded, "Dessert?"

I smiled.

I can't believe I'm actually living this life. It seems too good to be true.

"Lexus."

"Hmm?"

I bit my lower lip. I have to say it. I have to tell him that I want to know.

"I know you aren't really willing to tell me-" He narrowed his eyebrows, probably getting the hint, "But whenever you want to-"

"You want to know everything about me and why I chose you?" He cut me and completed my line.

I nodded, "Hmm."

He didn't answer, averted his eyes and began thinking about something.

What is it that he doesn't want to tell?

He sighed and looked at me.

"There are some parts I want to tell you more than anything else but others, I don't. And those some parts that I do want to say are very important to me but I don't know what you'll feel about them." He looked away, "And-" He shrugged, "I just think it's better to skip that part."

"I really would love to know one day." I said in a low tone, " Because if it's something that binds us together I don't think it will be something I won't like."

"... Maybe..."

***

I walked around the house utilities and furniture section.

I had been spending my days making the penthouse a bit more- happier.

As I walked around I heard a familiar voice calling out to me.

"Rose~!" As I heard summer's voice I turned around to see her running towards me. A man behind her who oddly looked familiar yet I had never met him before.

Summer ran into my arms and I picked her up. The man walked to me and stood a few inches apart. His hair jet black and his eyes grey, tall, maybe in his late thirties? Handsome and somewhat tired.

"Rose, this is my daddy!" Summer pointed at the man.

Oh! That means he's Lexus's brother, right?

"Nice to meet you miss Rose. I'm Eli Xander."

"Nice to meet you too, I'm Rosalie."

"I heard a lot about you."

"Me?!"

"You're the one and most likely the only one who's close to Lexus."

"I wouldn't really say I'm close to him."

"But you're his girlfriend. And the only girlfriend he's ever openly stated."

The only girlfriend he's openly stated? I don't like those words...

"Yes I am..." I am right?

Wait, come to think of it. He never said it directly to me. Sure he treats me really nice but he never told he loved me, he never really said he liked me either.

Wait! Let's not get so negative.

If he didn't like me he wouldn't be treating me like this!

He must like me...

"Miss Rose-"

"Just Rose is fine."

"Then Rose, if you have some time to spare, maybe we can talk?"

"Ah yes."

***

Eli looked around the place as he sat in the lounge of the penthouse.

"You were the one who added color in the house besides black and white weren't you?"

I brought in a tray with a glass of juice for Summer and tea for Eli.

"Oh! How do you know?"

"Because knowing Lexus. He would never put in the effort for something like this." He smiled, "This place actually looks like a home."

I sat down, "I asked him if I could do it. It looked so lifeless before. So you know I decided to add a bit of color, especially red." I sat down on the other sofa.

He looked at me, "Red." He nodded, "Red is a good color."

Deja vu!

Lexus said the same thing.

"So what did you want to talk about Eli?"

"Ah right." He patted Summer's head who was gulping down her juice, "You can probably guess but Lexus isn't very attached to anyone, and he's so not attached to his family."

Ah... I actually only saw him alone so I didn't know.

"He's fond of Summer." He continued, "Probably because he doesn't want her to grow up as we did. And there are a handful of people he likes and trusts."

Yeah well. I know of Diana and- and- yup, no one else.

But come to think of it.

His mother loves him. I saw it in her eyes in the hospital. There was guilt there too, but there was love as well.

"He is- selective I guess."

"Him turning out like this is our fault. He doesn't trust people and he doesn't let anyone in BUT he let you in."

"..." I'm not quite sure about that either.

"Rose. There are things my mother and I did wrong but we want to make it up to him. I really want to apologize to him but he wouldn't let anyone in. He wouldn't meet anyone either. After ages, he met mom at the party in Paris and it was something he couldn't avoid since it was a public event. Other than that no one from the family sees him. I- and mom. We want him to reconcile with us."

"What about summer's mom?" She came once to drop her here.

"Step-mom." Summer added.

"Raina, well she and Lexus have never talked. So I guess Lexus never cared about her dropping Summer here."

"Yeah, she didn't seem like the talkative person either."

Eli laughed bitterly, "She gets a bit grumpy since I can't give her enough time. I'm a surgeon and I'm extra busy. She doesn't really like that but honestly she's not a bad person."

"Yeah." Summer nodded, "She just doesn't know how to act like a mom."

I giggled. This kid is too mature for her age. Eli tapped at her shoulder and told her to go play upstairs.

Eli sighed, "I'm ten years older than Lexus."

Oh! That means he's thirty eight. "I was the reason my parents actually got together but that was all. In their relationship there was no love but they tried. They decided to have Lexus, thinking it might make things better."

"I see..."

"But it didn't work out, we were struggling financially and our father turned abusive."

He paused for a second, "As an older brother I should have been there for Lexus but as soon as I turned eighteen I ran away from home and Lexus had to suffer my part as well."

Oh... I really want to know the details!

The main door banged open.

"Get out of the house Eli." Lexus entered the place in fury, "Get out this instant."


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