A NIGHT WITH MY EX-LOVER'S BROTHER

ARIANA's POV

"Your espresso and two slices of pastry." I smiled warmly and handed his order to him.

"Our last order for the day." Quinn drawled right after the man left. She ripped off her apron and tossed it to God knows where.

"Quinn."

"Yes, baby girl?"

"It's till morning." She turned her gaze to the clock and confirmed my words. Her smile fell as she slumped onto the chair.

"Why?! I'm so tired."

"We opened an hour ago, crybaby." I laughed at her behaviour. It was always the same dialogue every day. Quinn was the crazy and free-spirited kind of girl, laughing, cracking jokes, and raining abuses on whom she deemed fit.

She once spent an entire week cussing her mother for not being a fancy, rich ass and herself for not being lucky enough to be born in Spain and work at a mall, just so she could "stumble" upon the famous footballer; Rolando, and marry him.

Yeah, crazy!!!.

I drifted away from the counter and gazed at the fancy tables and chairs set in a diagonal direction with white napkins laid on them. Espresso de Cafe wasn't New York's biggest cafe or some wealthy bullshit. It was a simple roadside cafe, small yet had a homely feeling. Well, I thought that way; Quinn thought it was a prison with glass walls and a direct view to Salvatore Restaurant, one of New York's biggest restaurants.

"Says someone who would work overtime without being paid. Please... At least." She hurried to one of the chairs close to the glass wall and sat. "I can see this beautiful restaurant with all those beautiful cars."

"When will you change, Quinn?" I sighed.

Walking closer, I trailed my gaze to the restaurant; it was everything a normal human being would love - a three-story building, classy interior, a famous chef, paid musicians for entertainment, and, of course, the ground floor was layered with tinted glass, unlike ours. They could see us, but we couldn't.

Strangely, the thought got me trembling; my toes curling on their own. Someone was staring at me; I could feel it. It may sound crazy, but every single day, I got the same feeling. Like there was someone in that restaurant, seated beside their tinted glass wall, watching me; every second, every move.

Mindlessly, I moved closer to the glass, my face pressed against the mirror as I tried my best to see who on the other side was staring. It was tinted glass; there was no way I could see him, but I was far beyond reasoning. Curiosity swirled through me like a hurricane, scattering any reasoning.

I squinted my eyes and stared; I knew the unknown stalker was still watching, probably laughing at my efforts. Just then, I got a glimpse of his eyes; the brightest pair of jade green, dulled by the tinted glass.

The hair on my skin prickled up; my breath seized as our gazes held each other. He raised his cup and took a sip of...

Wait... wasn't that our logo? He was drinking coffee made from our cafe, but I didn't sell coffee to a guy with dazzling green eyes.

His eyes sparked in mischief, like he knew what I was thinking but who was he? And why was he staring at me?

"Who the hell are you staring at?" I snapped out of my thought at Quinn's words.

"Huh?"

"Who were you staring at? Or are you waiting for someone? Your moron boyfriend."

I spun around and shot my right eyebrow up.

"What? I am saying the truth. God, I hate that peek."

"Quinn!!. Leon isn't like that."

Leon was gentle and nice. The whole world knew him as Leonard Zane, the brother to the richest CEO, Franklin Zane, and a party monk, but Leon wasn't like that; he just behaved a little silly. Deep down, he was kind, nice, caring, and understanding.

"Yeah, right. Let me guess: Leonard the party monkey was kind and nice; he flirts with girls, but he's a decent man, right?"

She scoffed.

"That man is a fool, an arrogant one. Girl, have you seen the way he talks to you, like he's doing you a favor by dating you, while it's the other way around. That punk doesn't deserve someone as pure as you."

"Leon does, and please don't talk about him like that. He's nice."

She groaned aloud. "You're hopeless. What do you even see in him? I would have gone for his elder brother. God!!!!, he's so fucking handsome!!!"

There she goes. I sighed and sat across from her. It would take an hour before she finally stops whining about Franklin Zane. He was okay; I had never seen him in person, although I did visit Leon's grandfather, who acted too young for his age. Franklin was named the youngest billionaire in New York, the king of perfection.

"Legends say he became the CEO at the age of 17, with an IQ of 140. The sexiest billionaire devil. He's so handsome but way too cold. I heard he turned down a date with the owner's daughter." She whispered the last part.

"Owner?"

"The Salvatore."

Franklin visits Salvatore Restaurant? Wait... Could that be... No. what am i thinking??. Franklin was damn busy; he wouldn't spend his day staring at me through a tinted glass.

"Anyway... Guess what?"

With Quinn, you can never "guess what.". 'I don't know."

"There's a new casino opening tonight."

"And I'm out of here." I stood.

"I'm serious, Ariana. Let's go; it'll be fun."

"Your definition of fun is my definition of danger, crazy, and extreme madness. I'm not going."

"Please. I promise it will be fun. Please." She pouted, cutely.

"No. And I'm serious; I'm not going."

```~~~~~~

The loud music thudded at the large hall, accompanied by the loud screams of sweaty teenagers who just didn't know how not to embarrass themselves. I navigated the crowd, clutching unto Quinn for my dear life. The main light dimmed, leaving only the disco ball glowing above us.

To be honest, Quinn was too cute and damn good at convincing someone.

I really shouldn't be here; I should be at home watching Netflix, all curled up in my bed.

"God, I love this!!!." Her screams were muffled by the loud music.

"I hate it here. I want to go home!!!."

She rolled her eyes and dragged me towards the bar. "A little drink will get you moving."

"Drink? I don't drink." I never have, not in my happiest moment or even my saddest. I thinned my lips, and let the emotion weigh me down.

"Why? Just take this. You'll love it. Alcohol is the best cure."

"No. I'm not drinking; I want to go home!!."

"Don't be a baby; chill and move your body, just like them."

Them? I scanned the crowd; the sight of people dancing and swaying their tiny waists was sickening. My stomach churned, and threatened to cough up my lunch. Just then, to make it all worse, my gaze landed on a couple who I could swear must have met each other for the first time today. They lunged onto the chair; the lady was naked, spread wide, and being fucked by the naked guy.

My insides twisted in disgust as my breakfast and lunch made their way back to my mouth. I clasped my lips, trying to stop my vomit.

Kissing was okay, but sex... I couldn't even say it without shivering.

"Ariana, are you okay?"

"Bathroom." I muffled.

"Down the hall, to the left..." I ran off before she could complete her words.

Left? I pushed the door open and emptied my stomach in the sink.

After fifteen minutes of vomiting and regretting why I gave in to Quinn's demands, I washed up and headed back to the s*X area of a club.

"Can you calm down?" I halted at the voice. Who the hell was shouting this loud in their room?

"Calm down, really? So this is what it is. I thought we would come here and party like we used to, like the couple we are, but it's obvious that you only want s*x."

Like she didn't want it. I scoffed, ready to leave when the man spoke, his voice damn too familiar.

"I don't. If I did, I wouldn't be with that plain Jane. Sweetheart, I'm doing everything you told me. You said stay away from her; I did. Then you said woo her and break her heart, and I'm trying to."

"Trying for how long? It's been six months, Leonard."

Strange; he had the same name as my Leon.

"I'm trying, but your friend is one hell of a bitch, always quiet and closed off. She wouldn't even let me kiss her cheeks, so how do you expect me to fuck and dump her? Sugar biscuits, I am yours. Yours only."

"You'll never leave me for her?"

Cheap. I hissed, walking out.

"Who would leave a fine-ass babe for plain Ariana? I am yours."

I screeched to a stop. Did I just...

My name? No... No, I must have heard wrong. It... It must be someone, it can't be my Leon.

I took a step forward, curiosity eating deep into me like a termite, my hands suddenly clampy and shaking.

It can't. I..will just check, just a peek.

I spun around, and peeked through the key hole.

I froze.

My breath hitched as blood drained from my being, the truth came with it's force knocking out my breath and laying waste to my heart.

He gripped her hair kissing her lips like a starved animal.

He..my Leon.

My heart squeezed in an insufferable way. The lady pulled away and settled to undressing herself. In the brick of the moment, her face came in view and my soul left my body.

"C..co..Cora??."