"I'm so sorry for her attitude, Nikos. She's just... not a people's person" Bella apologized in behalf of her daughter's rude behavior towards him which Nikos hadn't forgotten yet.
He could still feel his body tensing up from what just happened. For the first time, he got humiliated and he couldn't accept it. Nikos jaw tightened as his blood boiled in rage, his hands slowly formed into fists like he was ready for an intense fight!
Huh! Who was he kidding? It was just a woman. A beautiful woman with an attitude. Nikos found himself calming down as he remembered that he wouldn't fight a mere female. So he dropped his anger real quick and faced everyone with a smile.
Everybody started to mind their own business when the atmosphere cleared up. Elders were busy discussing about businesses and investments while the younger ones talked about their travels, hobbies and experiences over some things. On the other hand, Nikos remained silent, not even joining the conversation, and his eyes were still focused on one direction--- stairs.
"Hi, baby. I'm glad you could join us" Franz smiled, getting up from his seat and immediately pulled one chair out for his little sister.
Nikos quickly eyed the girl who was slowly approaching the chair next to Franz. She sat down without saying any word, looking half asleep as her eyes were still slightly closed.
"Here, eat your food and you can go back to sleep" Franz said after preparing the food on her plate. He even got the drinks ready for her.
"I'm still tired..." she rubbed her eyes again, laying her head on the top of Franz shoulder.
Nikos blinked at the beautiful sight in front of him. He was speechless, barely touching his food as he was too occupied watching someone being obliviously pretty.
"I know, baby girl. But you have to eat. You
already missed your lunch" Franz reminded her and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
The redhead started to eat slowly.
"Kuya Franz, don't be too obvious that Red is your favorite sister, hmp!" Chianna pouted, from the opposite side, right next to Nikos.
"That's not true" Franz protested, still in his usual cold tone voice, looking at Chianna with a furrowed forehead.
"So defensive, kuya Franz" Samantha teased, making their whole family chuckled.
Nikos would have laughed along with them but his eyes were still glued on the girl who seemed so focused on eating only. She never lifted her head up to talk to any of them, not even once! Even when Chianna was mentioning the favoritism subject.
The redhead just remained silent, acting like she heard nothing but herself only!
"Shall we enjoy the food now?" Franz sighed, and went back on eating his own food.
But his other cousin started the teasing again which led everyone to hyper up and started talking about every reason why they agreed on Chianna's little outburst.
"You've always been someone to always take care of Red, like you were some kind of a parent. Therefore, Chianna was right. Red is your most favorite little sister!" Clark pointed out--- (brother of Samantha and Stacey).
"You're always giving her allowance too. Heck, I won't be surprised if Red is a freaking millionaire now, kuya" Chiara stated with a smile on her face.
"Please, not you too, Chiara" Franz groaned in frustration when the kindest sister joined the conversation.
Still, Nikos was amazed on how composed the redhead was. If the situation was reversed, he would never keep his mouth shut. He would reason out for himself.
A loud bang on the table stopped all of them from laughing and automatically turned their heads to the redhead, tightly holding the spoon that she used to make thei epic sound to startle everyone.
"I'm going to bed. Goodnight and thanks for the dinner" she said, pulling Franz for a hug and kissed him on the cheek.
A little creased appeared on Nikos forehead as curiosity had gotten into him at that moment. For just a short period of time, he could already see that there was something weird going on between Franz and the redhead. Their closeness was just different from the others and no one questioned it but him.
Nikos sat up properly when he noticed that the redhead was scanning each person in the room, probably her way of paying them some respect.
Nikos clenched his jaw when her tantalizing violet eyes landed on him, sending icy cold stare towards his way yet he found himself sweating and out of breath.
Fuck!
He could not help but to curse at the back of his mind as the redhead was still gazing at him intently, making him so intimidated. He never had been so nervous just because of a female species of a human being, just now.
Maybe, she was exceptional!
"Flynn..." she uttered, making everyone glancing back and forth at the both of them, confused.
Nikos created a confused look on his face too as he did not know what was she talking about.
"Flynn? Is that even a word, Red?" Chianna broke the tension and smiled awkwardly, disliking the fact that her little sister was ogling the man who owned her heart.
"Nothing" the redhead shook her head and turned her back on them.
But before that, Nikos already caught the disappoinment in her eyes, like she was expecting something from him.
"Nik, just don't mind her. She's just like that from time to time. She must have been calculating some formula in her mind that she said it out loud" Chianna explained, contradicting what Nikos had in mind.
"Chianna, our little sister is not weird, okay?" Chiara corrected her twin, disliking the words she used to describe their little sister's sudden action.
"I didn't call her weird" Chianna reasoned out and rolled her eyes.
"Yes, you just did. Red is just too smart, okay?"
Chianna decided to seal her lips and said nothing afterwards. She faced Nikos instead, and started talking about some stuff that they both enjoyed.
"So, how do you like our place so far?" Chianna asked Nikos excitedly as they approached the pool area.
"You serious? It's amazing. You should've brought me here a long time ago" Nikos said and sighed in contentment.
"See? I told you, you would love staying here. Too bad, you didn't want to, before"
"You should have convinced me more back then. I would have booked the next flight with you, princess"
Chianna's heart melted once again upon hearing the word 'princess' coming from Nikos' mouth.
"Nik...." she uttered his name, almost in a whisper, slowly getting closer towards him.
"Hmm?" Nikos turned around, only to have his neck be pulled by Chianna.
Her natural naughty smile reached her seductive eyes with her lips parted, waiting to be kissed.