The luxurious study of the Alcove mansion had never looked more intimidating. The velvet chairs, once comfortable, now felt stiff under me, and the elegant mahogany table resembled an interrogation desk in some secretive, high-stakes boardroom.
This wasn't just a pre-date talk, it was a full-on vetting process designed by my four overprotective brothers, who seemed to have an endless supply of tests and "formalities."
My brothers, who were always way too serious when it came to my love life, were gathered around the table, each holding a clipboard with their specific "requirements."
I sat there, anxiously fidgeting with the edge of my dress, trying to will away the knot forming in my stomach. This was beyond ridiculous, and I was about two seconds away from bolting when Marcus, my eldest brother, raised his hand to silence the room.
"Xandria," he began, his voice formal and calm as though I wasn't his younger sister. "We're doing this for your own good."
I shot him a look that could burn a hole through steel. "This is insane. I'm going on a date, not a corporate merger."
Theo, ever the stoic medical genius, adjusted his glasses without glancing up from his clipboard. "Think of it as a necessary precaution. You understand, right?"
The door creaked open, and in walked Ethan Soren. Confident, handsome, and completely unaware of the absurd test that awaited him, Ethan had no idea what was coming.
He locked eyes with me, and I gave him an apologetic smile, mouthing a silent sorry. His nod back told me that he understood—he knew my brothers were a bit... intense.
The Date Extermination Squad had intervened yet again.
Ethan stood tall, clearly trying to maintain his composure as my brothers sized him up. They didn't even bother acknowledging me anymore, their collective attention zeroed in on Ethan like predators circling their prey.
Marcus, the leader of the pack, was the first to break the silence.
"Mr. Soren," Marcus said, his voice dripping with the kind of business authority that made people tremble in boardrooms, "please, have a seat."
Ethan nodded, keeping his calm as he took the empty seat directly across from Marcus. I could feel the weight of the moment, as if Ethan were about to be grilled by a Fortune 500 CEO. Not exactly the romantic start I had envisioned.
Without wasting a second, Marcus slid a thick packet of papers across the table. The sound of it hitting the wood made me flinch.
"Before you take my sister to Julian's art gallery," Marcus began, "there are formalities. Our family takes Xandria's safety and well-being seriously. We've prepared some questions to assess your… suitability."
Suitability? I groaned inwardly. Who did they think they were? The CIA?
I mumbled under my breath, "This is beyond ridiculous." Ethan flashed me a quick smile but didn't waver. He was bracing himself for whatever was coming next.
Theo, always the logical one, chimed in, "It's just a precaution. We'd like to avoid any… unfortunate incidents."
Unfortunate incidents? Really, Theo?
Marcus cleared his throat, adopting the same look he wore in high-stakes business meetings. His sharp, calculating eyes never left Ethan as he flipped through his notes.
"Let's start with your business ventures," Marcus said, his tone all-business. "Ascension Corp, correct? Founded when you were… fifteen?"
Ethan nodded, a bit surprised at how much Marcus already knew. I wasn't. Marcus never stepped into any situation unprepared.
"Yes, that's right," Ethan said, his voice steady. "I started Ascension Corp as a tech solutions company. We specialize in enterprise software, AI integration, and cloud-based services."
Marcus leaned forward, eyes narrowing as though he were dissecting every word. "You IPO'd after just a year and a half. Impressive. What was your market cap at the time of the IPO?"
Ethan smiled, clearly proud of what he'd built. "We hit just over $1.5 billion on the first day of trading."
The room went quiet. Even I had to pause for a moment, processing just how successful Ethan was. Julian whistled under his breath, and Dante shot him a raised eyebrow. Theo glanced up from his clipboard, mildly impressed.
Julian grinned. "Looks like we've got a mini-Marcus on our hands."
Dante chuckled. "You sure you didn't clone yourself, Marcus?"
Marcus, ever composed, gave the tiniest nod of approval. "Quite the accomplishment, especially before your senior year. I wasn't expecting that level of competency. But Ascension Corp's stock has been volatile. How are you managing the risk?"
Ethan didn't miss a beat. "We've diversified our offerings and reinvested in AI development. We've also secured contracts with multinational corporations, which have stabilized our valuation."
Marcus leaned back, clearly satisfied with the answer. But of course, my oldest brother wasn't about to give Ethan an easy pass. "Very good, Mr. Soren. But remember—success in business doesn't necessarily mean you're suitable for Xandria."
Next up was Dante, whose mischievous grin was impossible to ignore. He had his phone in hand, casually scrolling through what I could only assume was code or something equally techy. He'd been waiting for this moment.
"Alright," Dante said, flashing Ethan a wicked grin, "let's see how sharp you really are. Security is my field, and I did a little poking around. Nothing too invasive, of course… just enough to see how secure your company's servers are."
I buried my face in my hands. Of course, Dante had hacked into Ethan's company. Of course.
Ethan, however, remained calm. "Our servers are protected by a proprietary AI-driven firewall. We've contracted one of the top cybersecurity firms for penetration testing. I'm confident they can handle any threat, including you."
Dante's grin widened. "Touché. Most people crack under my test. You've got solid defenses, Ethan. I like a challenge."
I groaned again, wondering how many more "tests" Ethan would have to endure.
Julian was up next. He tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the table, his artist's gaze evaluating Ethan not from a business or tech perspective, but from something far more abstract. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he prepared his own round of questions.
"You're taking Xandria to my art gallery," Julian began, his voice slow and deliberate. "So tell me—what's your opinion on abstract impressionism? And do you actually appreciate art, or are you just using the gallery to impress my sister?"
Ethan sat up a bit straighter, sensing this was unfamiliar territory. He took a moment before answering.
"I'm no art expert," he admitted, "but I do appreciate it. I admire how abstract impressionism conveys emotion through unconventional forms. It reminds me of entrepreneurship—the unknown shapes the journey."
Julian arched an eyebrow, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "That's deep. I'll give you a pass for now. But if you butcher the meaning of one of my installations, I'll make sure you remember it."
Theo was last. Calm, clinical, and ever the doctor. He shuffled through his clipboard as though preparing to present a medical case study.
"Let's discuss your health," Theo said, all business. "Any chronic conditions? Family history of hereditary diseases? How's your stress management?"
I shot Theo a look, my face heating up with embarrassment. "Theo, he's fine. He's not your patient."
Theo ignored me. "Preventative measures are key to a healthy lifestyle."
Ethan smiled politely, still playing along. "I'm in good health, no major issues so far, but I appreciate the concern."
Theo simply nodded. "Good. I'll be monitoring your vitals remotely during the date, just in case you experience any… elevated stress."
I nearly choked on my disbelief. "Theo!"
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the room fell silent. My brothers exchanged looks, as if having a secret telepathic conversation. Marcus, as always, was the one to break the silence.
"Ethan Soren," he began, "after much consideration… you passed."
I blinked, unable to believe what I'd just heard. "Wait—he passed? Like… you're actually letting me go on this date?"
Dante smirked. "He survived, which is more than I can say for most."
Julian grinned. "Just try not to mess up at the gallery. My sculptures have a tendency to 'react' to bad company."
I rolled my eyes as Ethan shot me a look of victory. He'd done it. He'd survived the Date Extermination Squad test.
As we headed for the door, Marcus called out one last time. "Remember, Ethan. We're always watching."
Julian held up a tiny, discreet camera with a wink. "Smile for the family archive, Soren."
I groaned, pulling Ethan out of the room before they could embarrass me any further. As we stepped into the cool evening air, Ethan turned to me with a grin.
"Well, that was… intense."
I sighed, but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, you could say that."
Ethan chuckled, and I realized that maybe, just maybe, I had finally found someone who could handle my brothers. But as we walked toward Julian's art gallery, I had the sneaking suspicion this wasn't the last test Ethan would face.
After all, the Alcove family didn't let anyone off easy.