Gideon's POV

Four years.

It's been four long years since I've roamed these familiar halls. Nothing had changed in the White household; everything remained as I had remembered. White walls, white marble floors, and white furniture embodied the pristine family themselves. Living
here must have felt like living in a dream, everything was perfect.

I had very fond memories of this place. I recall staying here more than my own home. Actually, that wretched house was never a home to me. It was more like a prison and, yet, it sat just across the street from this one. A perfect comparison of heaven
and hell.

I shake the unpleasant thoughts from my head and try to remember how happy this place made me. The White brothers were my best friends for the longest time, until I decided to reside in Europe for four years.

I was hoping to rekindle a relationship with them by accepting an invitation to their "Annual Summer Charity Ball" held in their spacious house. That event held a special place in my heart; many memories were made last time I attended it.

The Whites have been throwing charity galas and costume balls since I could remember. They held at least four within the year and attended various events held by other rich families. However, everyone knew that the Whites threw an event better than any
other. Their house even has a ballroom for their gatherings, which no other family has been able to top. Hell, European parties couldn't top the Whites.

I admire the spotless white marble floors of the ballroom and the gold trimmings as I meander around the room. I mind my own business, just silently watching everyone interact. Young couples danced across the floor to the live band that was performing,
waiters went around with champagne flutes, and everyone seemed to be elated.

" Son of a bitch! That can't be Gideon Cross." The familiar voice brings a smile to my face.

I turn to see Joshua White, smiling like an idiot.

My best friend.

He pulls me in for a quick handshake and pat to the back, " Have you finally gotten sick and tired of that God awful French food?"

I shrug and find myself insanely excited to see him again. Despite meeting many great men in my line of work, Joshua was always the greatest friend I've ever had. We've known each other since birth.

" It feels really good to be back home. How are you, man?"

He brushes a hand through his dirty blonde hair that's now grown passed his ears. He chuckles nervously, " Well, I'm actually newly engaged."

I pause dead in my tracks and arch a brow at him, " Wait a minute. You're engaged? The biggest playboy in New York is engaged?"

He gives me a knowing smirk and laughs, " Yeah, it's still surprising to me too. Karlee is different than other women though. She doesn't appease me or agree with everything I say because I have money." His murky greenish-brown eyes glint with familiar
humor, " To be honest that girl has me by the balls and she knows it."

I sigh and try for supportive tone, " Well, I'm really happy for you man."

I wished I was truly happy for the fool. I never saw a relationship last that wasn't based off of money or family ties. He would get hurt, it was inevitable.

It might sound harsh to say that, but why have high hopes when happy endings are slim to none?

I keep my pessimistic thoughts to myself while Josh and I walk through the ballroom and fall into conversation like nothing has changed. He still makes me crack up laughing, even after all these years. It was hard to get me laughing, I had adopted a serious
nature over time. However, Josh never ceased to make me smile.

I never realized how much I truly missed his company.

Suddenly everything disappears from my mind. I don't see the dancers waltzing across the floor or hear Josh speaking any longer. All I can focus on is her.

Aurora.

The radiant Aurora White was a mere yard away and I could feel my pulse quicken just by the sight of her.

She was wearing a beautiful white gown with an open back, exposing her smooth pale skin. Her hair was shorter than I remember; it was cut to her shoulders with messy curls that were pinned back with a diamond hair clip. I couldn't see her face, only her
back, but I knew it was her.

I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I just couldn't believe it was her, in the flesh. I see an arm resting on the skin of her upper back and I snap out of my daze.

At her left, a copper headed man holds her close to him. I roll my eyes once I recognize who it is.

My brother Christopher Vidal has always had his eyes on Aurora. I should've known that he's staked his claim on her by now. Nonetheless, I wanted to talk to her.

I just needed to see her again.

Josh realizes what I'm staring at and chuckles, " Oh yeah, I'm sure Chris told you all about him and Rory."

I furrow my brow angrily and huff out, " I didn't even tell my family I was back from Europe yet."

He gives me a quizzical look, but doesn't say anything. He's always known that I've never been close with my family and knows it's best not to bring it up.

He shakes his head as if removing an unpleasant thought from his head, " Anyways, Chris has been pestering her all year for a date. Aurora hasn't said much about it, but she's never really dated before. That could be why she's brushed him off, but your
brother is persistent. After all, they were basically matched together by our mothers the second they were born."

I feel a surge of anger running through me. Christopher doesn't deserve a girl like Aurora. She was beautiful, intelligent, and overall just a good girl. Christopher would turn her into his little doll and manipulate her in every way possible. My half-brother
is the definition of asshole, not someone Aurora should be with.

I look at the way her body tenses as his hand glides down her back. I find myself walking over there, trying to contain the anger towards my brother.

As I grow closer, my heart rate increases. A myriad of emotions pass through me. I'm angry, excited, and nervous all at the same time. It's unsettling to feel this all at once.

Once I'm behind them I clear my throat to alert my presence. She turns slightly to glance behind her, her lovely blonde locks brushing against her shoulder. Then finally she turns completely around and all of my anger dissipates instantly.

She looks beautiful.

I haven't seen her in four long years, however I remembered every inch of her beautiful face. She looked a little older now, however she still had that same innocence etched in her features.

Upon seeing me, her brown eyes widened and she looked completely shocked. Her mouth hung open, searching for words that could express whatever emotion she felt.

I thought she'd be excited to see me, or at least give a smile. However, the girl looked almost scared. Her small voice was barely a whisper, " Gideon..."

I glanced across to Christopher who looked equally as shocked as Aurora. I suddenly restrain my smile and try for ambivalence, " Nice to see you again, Aurora." I give a glare to my brother, " Hello, Christopher."

" Gideon." He says, coldly.

Aurora nervously knots her fingers together and a small smile tugs at her lips, " You're back."

" How could I miss the 'Annual Summer Charity Ball?'"

Chris narrows his eyes at me and grumbles, " Well you missed the last three."

Aurora nudges him and scolds him like a child, " Christopher, don't."

I refrain from laughing straight in his face. One word from her was enough to quiet him.

He rolls his eyes at her, but keeps his mouth shut for her sake.

She turns back to me with a new glimmer of excitement in her rich, brown eyes. I think she's over the initial shock and has decided that she doesn't hate me. Thank God.

I take a look at her small frame in the extravagant gown. I decide to voice my thoughts to her, " You look lovely," white really suits her, " like an angel."

Her face falls, remembering my name for her.

Angel.

She looks down and smiles shyly, " Thank you, I'm sure that every woman in here is swooning over you while you're in that tux."

I go to reply, but I notice Christopher grabbing her elbow. He is possessing her directly in front of me, toying with me. He's practically starting a pissing contest with me.

I notice that Rory's expression slightly dims once he does this. She is obviously uncomfortable, but is too polite to say it.

I'll save her from this ass.

" How about a quick dance to catch up with each other?" I suggest with a small smile to hid the fury building up within me.

Her face springs into a giant grin and it makes my chest heavy with some distant emotion, " Of course."

I hold out my hand to her and she accepts it as we make our way to the center of the ballroom. I place one hand at her back and hold her hand with the other. I feel her fingers brush my coat jacket and suddenly I can remember that same touch over my bare
skin.

My mind always finds a way to think about that one night we shared together years ago. I can recall her soft skin, her nails clawing my back, her gentle moans, and her trembling hands.

I tend to think about that night often. In fact, I've thought about it every fucking day. It was hard to push that night aside, hell, it was harder trying to contain myself around her while she was this close. This one dance could be the death of me.

We sway to the gentle music of the band on stage. The melody to " The Way You Look Tonight" is played instrumentally.

Her head is facing up at me, but her eyes don't meet mine. She avoids my stare, looking immensely tense.

" Rory," I grab her attention, " are you alright?"

She nervously bites her lip, her face settled into a sad frown, " How long are you back in America?"

Ah, she thinks I'm leaving again. Maybe she's nervous I'll stay, maybe she wants me to go back. The thought is unsettling, but I put it aside, " I'm back to running the office from Manhattan. I won't be going back to Europe."

" It's just," she starts, but stops almost instantly.

" Say it," I provoke.

She finally meets my eyes, looking sad and confused, " Last time you came to this event... you left. The time before that, about eight years ago, you came to this same event and then moved out of your home and out of our lives. I didn't hear from you
once you moved to the city, it's like none of us existed anymore."

Her words wound me. I remember a young teenaged Rory, waving goodbye to me as I made my necessary move to Manhattan. She was like a sister to me, I looked after her. I knew she was hurt, but at the time I had a lot of my plate. Anything that wasn't work
related became trivial.

I keep my voice leveled and restrained, " I'm sorry you felt that way."

She changes the subject, " I heard you got engaged."

I frown immediately, not wanting to talk about this either. I can tell she's still angry about how I left her flat.

I can't help the bitterness in my voice, " That's long over."

" Oh?" She questions, but she doesn't pester me any further.

I suddenly feel angry once I spot Christopher staring at us. The thought of those two together makes my scalp prickle with rage. They've been shoved at each other since their births, so it wouldn't surprise me if they eventually ended up together.

I always knew it was a possibility for them to get shacked up and I never liked the idea. However, now that could no longer be a possibility. I'd sooner die than let Christopher get near Rory.

Hell, how did Rory let it get this fucking far? Does she actually like the bastard?

With every thought I just grow more furious. I clench my jaw and grit my teeth, " So, are you seeing my brother now?"

She can see my visible anger and her brow creases in honest confusion, " Gideon, why do you look so upset?"

I stare daggers at her, " You know why."

She looks down, her voice is now a whisper, " Please, don't talk about this here."

I stop our slow dance and step away from her, " Then meet me upstairs in five minutes."

" Gideon please-"

" Just do it." I bite out.

She hangs her head in sadness, but still answers, " Okay."

I feel like a giant asshole, but how can she let this happen? How could she date my brother or even think about dating him? She never showed the slightest interest in him before. In fact, I never let the fucker within five feet of her when we were growing
up. He wouldn't get his hands on her while I was around.

I stride over to the bar and order a whiskey to ease away the anger. A drink should be able to subside my raged emotions.

I down the drink and take a cleansing breath.

Time to see her.

I slip out of the ballroom and make a hasty retreat towards the stairs. Not many people linger in the foyer, so I'm able to make a discreet trip up the giant stairway. I go down the right hallway, passing numerous rooms that are only vaguely familiar
to me.

Once I reach the last door on the left, I straighten my bow tie and open the door quietly.

I'm immediately overwhelmed with her scent, something similar to the scent of peaches. My eyes dart over to the lavish queen-sized bed in the center of the vast room.

I smirk thinking about the night I spent in that bed. My amused mood instantly sours when I think about any other man sharing that bed with her.

I can't be angry with her, though. I left her, so she's allowed to be with whomever she chooses.

Except Christopher.

I notice the french doors to her balcony are ajar, she must be out there. I step outside and I'm rewarded with the sight of Aurora, mindlessly gazing out towards the backyard. Her intentionally messy blonde hair is gently swaying with the hot summer wind.
Her back is to me, hunched forward as she leans against the railing.

I move forward and stand next to her, but she hardly acknowledges my presence. Her delicate face is deep in thought, she's thinking heavily about something.

I talk first, " What are you thinking about?"

She shrugs, " I'm trying to figure out why you're here."

" And?"

Her face breaks into an amused smile, " Beats me. It's impossible to find out why you do anything."

I find myself smiling with her, " I've really missed your sarcasm."

Her lips purse briefly before she says, " Then why didn't you ever call?"

Ouch.

I sigh heavily, anticipating that this would happen. Aurora was never one to pretend like everything was normal. She wanted answers to her questions and she wasn't afraid to do what it took to get those answers.

Words seem to escape me. There was no way to describe why I did what I did. I was going have to formulate something for her benefit, " I thought about you everyday."

She turns her head to me, clearly disappointed, " That's not an answer."

I find myself lost in her warm, brown eyes. They were captivating and comforting, yet they were filled with unspoken sorrow. She may not have vocalized her feelings often, but she wasn't good at hiding them either.

My answer to her question wouldn't be one she understood, " I didn't call you because you were better off that way."

" What do you-"

I stop her, " I told you that night that I couldn't give you what you wanted. It was better to just let you be, than to lead you on further."

Her voice is low, but firm, " So I was better off alone, without anyone to talk to?"

" Your brothers were here too. Don't blame me for you isolating yourself."

Her eyes roll and she runs her hand through her messy bangs, " What was I gonna say? 'I fucked Gideon at the Charity Ball and then he left me to go to Europe.' Yeah, I'm sure my brothers would've loved to hear that one."

I close my eyes, attempting to subdue my anger at her blaming me. It wasn't my fault that she became a recluse after I left.

I can't tame the anger building up within me," Did you ever tell Christopher? I'm sure he'd love to hear about it."

She shoves at my arm in anger and furiously stares up at me, " Hey, don't be an asshole. I would never tell him that, in fact, I've never told anyone."

The anger within me kept boiling and bubbling, forcing me to say things I didn't want to, " So what? Are you fucking my brother now? Are you betrothed or some shit?"

She blinks angry tears from her eyes, her voice wavering, " Things are complicated, Gideon. You being here doesn't make anything easier."

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

I refrain from touching her, knowing I'm too frustrated and confused to be gentle with her, " Are you dating him or not? Cause from what I can recall, you weren't a big fan of Christopher's a couple years ago."

" It would take some time to explain." She grumbles, turning away from me.

I suppress my urge to yell at her, so I bite out through clenched teeth, " Explain then."

She crosses her arms in the way that told me that she was going to be difficult. The determined slant of her chin and the confident posture she held had me almost amused. However, I knew she would be clearly defiant to me.

Her voice grew stern and emotionless, " You left me alone and he was the only one who seemed to care. We became close, he's my only real friend."

My anger slowly fades at the thought of Rory, alone and melancholy in her bed. I feel even worse knowing that I left her here with only my brother as company.

Leave it to Christopher; he had a knack for knowing when women where upset and vulnerable. He probably swooped in to her rescue the minute I left the country. However, what he planned to do with her was still a mystery to me.

What would Christopher want with a prudish and uninterested young girl? I mean Christopher was an attractive looking man who could get a lot of women into his bed, so what does he want with her? I had a feeling she was less than willing to climb under
the covers with him.

I soften my voice in an attempt to ease her uneasy emotions, " Stay away from him, Aurora. He's got some sort of agenda."

She pursed her lips gently and whispered, " Is his agenda to be a friend to me? Is it so hard to believe that he might care about me?"

I step closer to her, gently reaching out to rub away the tears across her cheek. My insides twisted, knowing that she was deeply hurt because of me. It shredded me inside when she cried.

She would never understand that I did what I did for her benefit. I would've broken her innocent little spirit with all the baggage that came with me. She never would know that and that's why she hated me. She would never know that leaving her was the
hardest thing I ever had to do in my life.

Now I was telling her that her best friend was scheming behind her back. I doubted that she would be willing to believe me now.

My thumb brushed her flushed cheeks, then her full bottom lip. Her eyes closed for a second as she tried to figure out what she felt towards me right now.

" I don't want you to hate me." I whisper softly.

" I don't," she whispered back, " tell me that you missed me."

I shut my eyes and breathe out heavily, trying to find the right words, " Christ, I've thought about you every single day since I left."

My confession seems to have only brought about more tears from those pretty little eyes. Her fingers tentatively touch the hand I have resting against her cheek. She absorbs the words slowly, trying to find a response of her own, " I never knew that I
could miss someone so much."

Christ.

I felt like a complete dick for causing her so much pain. I felt even worse knowing that I would probably cause more, but I couldn't stay away any longer. Four years away from her was torture enough.

" I dreamt about our night together almost every damned day." My knuckles brush the sides of her jaw, running down her neck, " The memory of you haunted me every single night and you were thousands of miles away."

She stares up at me, utterly confused and somewhat scared. I wanted her to remember how great we were, how much I missed her. I needed her to feel what we had together, so she could take me back.

I held her face in my hands and leaned down. She leaned up towards me, vying for the same thing I wanted. Just as our lips are about to touch, she pulls away. I'm taken aback at first, surprised by the sheer rejection.

I try to gauge her reaction. Her face is streaked with tears and her lower lip trembles slightly, " I won't do this again, Gideon." She looks away from me and removes my hand from her face, " You should go."

The sharp knife of reality twisted into my gut, knowing that she doesn't want me anymore. She probably hates me for what I've done to her.

I hate me too.

I back away from her slowly, taking a mental picture of her. White dress, that messy halo of blonde hair, and warming glow of my beautiful angel.

I don't have the words to say anything. Instead, I just turn around and leave her on the balcony...

Alone again.