What is UP children! I am backity back back!
Now before you tell me off...I did mention I wasn't going to update for a while, BUT I AM BACK!
No need to keep stalling so here you gooo ~
Not many things ever fazed Brandon DeCaro. He was a man of stoic emotion and little to no concern for anyone other than himself. But waking up next to his ex-girlfriend, playing his wife was something that aroused some feeling he never wanted to experience.
The moment Brandon's eyes fluttered open; Stella's face was nuzzled right into the stupid pillow wall she had built to keep them apart. Her even breathing fanned into his face, and he couldn't stop himself from basking in her faint fruity scent as he stayed on his side. Her face was so damn close that if he were to reach out, he could gather her whole body in his arms.
The damn pillow wall did little to nothing and she was laying right on top of it.
"Fuck," He groaned softly, sitting upright to avoid any unconsented thoughts that flooded into his mind. His gaze flickered back to her sleeping expression before running his hand through his unkempt hair and slipping himself out of bed.
A quick glance at the wristwatch that was placed on the bedside table, it was way too early to wake her up now. Brandon's natural body clock got him up at 6:30 in the morning and usually, he would take the moment to go through his routine of checking through his emails and agenda for the day, but today his mind was elsewhere.
Attempting to find himself some spare clothes, he pulled the covers back over Stella's shoulders before taking his leave out the door. The moment the doors closed behind him, Brandon caught sight of the figure sitting outside on the balcony that was down the hall.
He could tell immediately by the placement of the chair that his father was up early too.
Brandon and Mr DeCaro were never close. He was his first son but there was never a moment in his life where Brandon felt as if he was ever treated as a son. More like an heir to carry his father's legacy than a boy who could play games and have a childhood. Mr DeCaro was never around either and whenever he was, his hooded gaze never cared much for a little boy who wanted to show his father his crayon drawings.
Brandon stepped outside, feeling the warm breeze on his bare shirtless skin as he leaned against the doorframe in just his slacks. Mr DeCaro turned his head upon his arrival, a ghost smile on his lips as he sat in his favourite chair beside the small table.
"Son," He gestured for Brandon to walk in. Brandon felt himself stiffen at the way he was addressed. Mr DeCaro always called him 'son' but the word had no meaning behind it. It was just a name. "Coffee?"
Brandon lifted his hand up to decline but walked onto the balcony anyway. During this season in New York, 6:30 am was the perfect time to see the sun peek through the horizon and where Brandon's balcony gave an exceptional view of it.
"How was your sleep?" Mr DeCaro began, watching his son stand by the balcony railing with his back turned to him.
"Great," Brandon replied back absentmindedly, his eyes cast to the flaming orange hue that broke through the dark night sky, "Although, I didn't appreciate the maids taking my spare clothes," He added bitterly, and Mr DeCaro laughed.
"You must forgive them, one grandchild isn't enough you see," His father joked heartily, and Brandon scoffed back. If only it were apparent that his father didn't actually have any grandchildren considering Nic wasn't his.
Brandon found it sort of laughable how much his father adored Brandon's alleged son but could never make the time for his own. "I'll have the maids bring breakfast and some clean clothes to your room,"
He flickered his gaze back to his father, "Don't, my wife is still asleep," He found the words blurting out of his mouth faster than he could process them and both men just stared at each other in surprise.
A knowing smirk plastered itself across Mr DeCaro's aged face as Brandon cursed himself out internally for giving such a damn about her.
His wife.
This was such a dangerous game he was playing. Bringing Stella back into his life was by far one of the worst decisions he's ever made and there weren't many to count. Having her play his wife meant he couldn't even keep her at arm's length, and he hoped to God she had set the rule herself to never fall for him during it.
"I must admit, I was a little sceptical you never mentioned her, especially with a child. I thought maybe you had tried to pull the wool over my eyes," Mr DeCaro spoke lowly, and Brandon stiffened at his father's words.
Mr DeCaro was no amateur, he reigned the hotel industry for years before Brandon remodelled it towards contemporary revolutions. The man had built a chain of hotels from the ground up and laid the foundation for Brandon's success. He knew it wasn't going to be easy to fool his father and he never expected him to buy it in the first place.
Brandon calmly gathered his monologue to sell out the fake marriage, but his father continued, "Now I see why." Mr DeCaro smiled, a look on his father's face Brandon hadn't seen before, "You're in love with her, aren't you?"
Brandon's mouth parted slightly at the accusation, and he felt himself run cold. In love? With a woman who broke his heart and cheated on him 4 years ago?! Had his acting skills flourished that well to convince this man that he was in love with Stella?
"Yes," He forced out a slight smile trying to keep the grimace to himself.
Mr DeCaro nodded with a small smile, but his delighted expression slowly vanished replaced with a look of seriousness. Brandon straightened up from cursing himself at his father's sudden expression, "But Brandon, the public knows now that the DeCaro Industries has a fine heir,"
A look of sadness but determination flashed over Mr DeCaro's eyes and Brandon had already suspected it was coming. This conversation was bound to happen sooner than later. "He needs to be raised to become your successor now," He noted, and Brandon cringed at the idea.
Despite Hotel DeCaro being built by Brandon and his father, the wealth accumulated by DeCaro Industries were generational. They revolutionised the business industry but bringing forth new chains successfully every generation. Every generation of the DeCaro bloodline that is.
One that Nicholas was not a part of, or so he thought.
"He will inherit it if he wants to," Brandon bit back and his father's lips pressed into a thin line at these words.
"He is your first-born son, it is his legacy to take over for you," Mr DeCaro said pointedly, and Brandon sighed exasperatedly.
He has had this conversation with his father many times when he was younger about not wanting to inherit DeCaro Industries. Every time it ended with harsh words being thrown around and, in the end, Brandon succumbed to the pressure.
Nicholas wasn't even his son, but for some reason Brandon felt his temper rise at the idea of forcing the child to become something he didn't want to. Brandon was polished and raised in a strict manner since the moment he was born, forced to excel in his classes and not was kept from having a normal childhood.
By the time he was Nic's ages, he was an emotionless and sombre child who knew laws of physics but never played with a toy. "It's his choice, not his legacy,"
Brandon never wanted to have a child for that very reason. He knew if he ever had a child with the proper DeCaro bloodline, the unfortunate kid would be shackled to the same fate he was. It was not something he wished to put anyone through, especially a kid born out of his love for someone else.
"I am not having this conversation right now, father," Brandon added abruptly, walking towards the doors that lead into the hall. He needed to leave at this moment or there will be an argument he was not ready to have right now.
"Brandon!" Mr DeCaro called out hastily, turning his wheelchair to meet his gaze. Brandon could see the look in his father's eyes, and he stood with his back turned but his head cast over his shoulder.
Mr DeCaro was not an immoral man, but the reason he was so desperate to see Brandon have a family before he passed was to give him that stability of having an heir. "I understand you asked your wife to keep him away to give him a childhood, but when he is old enough, he must be properly disciplined to take over as the next heir,"
A sigh escaped Brandon's lips as he turned his head back to face away from his father, "That's where you're wrong, I'm not raising an heir." He exhaled before turning his burning glare back to his father, "I'm raising a son,"
The words felt more real than he intended to.
Without another word, or a moment to listen to his father's reply Brandon stormed out of the balcony and back towards the room he so desperately tried to escape from earlier this morning.
The door rattled open harsher than he intended to before it slammed shut behind him with a loud bang. Stella stirred in her sleep, a small groan escaping her pink lips before she turned over under the covers and pulled the pillow closer to her.
A half smirk tugged at his frown at the way she continued sleeping. This woman could sleep through an asteroid impact even if it shattered half the planet. He was glad she was finally getting her sleep though; she seemed a little exhausted from the move and raising a child on her own couldn't have been easy for the last 4 years.
Albeit Brandon never expected to have his old flame back in his life, he certainly didn't expect himself to be defensive over the wellbeing of a child that wasn't his. Thankfully Nic would never truly have to succumb to the strict ways of being an heir because they would eventually part ways, but his father was right.
The world thought Nicholas was Brandon's first-born son, which means for now, shareholders and major financial figures were going to push for him to be properly disciplined with the same cruelty Brandon was.
Stella had agreed to play the part as his wife to give Nic a life filled with everything he wanted and a pathway to succeed in life.
As the stand-in heir to the DeCaro throne, Nic would be abundantly successful in life if Brandon kept this charade going, but he would lose the chance at a real childhood growing up.
As he stood by the side of the bed, watching Stella's chest rise up and down evenly to signal her deep slumber, he traced his gaze over her soft features. He knew that inheriting DeCaro Industries was not something Stella would ever want for her child if she ever found out the strict lifestyle it entailed.
Despite the child not being his, Brandon had bought them both into his dangerous world and he knew he had to do whatever it took to protect them from it.
Stella's POV
The moment my eyes fluttered open; I was graced with an empty room. Part of me expected Brandon to still be here but he usually woke up early in the morning even when we were together and didn't stick around for anything after on most days.
The covers on the side of the bed Brandon was supposed to have slept on looked like it hasn't even been touched let alone any traces of him ever sleeping there.
I pursed my lips and scoffed playfully at how dejected I used to get when he would leave my apartment at the crack of dawn to attend business meetings. Of course, I never blamed him for it, but looking back at it now, I don't know what I expected anything more from him.
The bed shifted under me as I slipped my legs out of the covers and tucked my feet into the slippers by the bedpost. I was still dressed in Brandon's button-up shirt with its long arms reaching down past my fingers as I rolled up the sleeves to make it a bit more comfortable.
My phone on the bedside table lit up with the time. 8:25 am.
Nic doesn't usually wake up till 9 am or later so I should get back home before then. Sky told me he didn't wake up after I put him to bed before Brandon and I left so hopefully he won't be anxious if he wakes up before I get back to the penthouse.
My thoughts were cut shorts as a knock rapped on the door and I quickly smoothed out the shirt I was wearing in case it had ridden up, "Yes?" I answered hesitantly.
"Madam, sorry to disturb you, Young Master DeCaro sent some clothes for you to attend breakfast," A woman's voice called out from the other side, and I assumed it was one of the maids considering the way they address Brandon.
"Oh, Y-Yes, come in," I replied to her, and the door parted open to reveal a small woman holding a pile of clothes. I return her smile before grabbing the end of the covers I had left a mess on the bed before she quickly rushed over, "Please don't bother with that madam, the housekeepers will take care of it,"
"It's okay," I shook my head, rearranging the pillows I had tossed around to avoid her the trouble. She nodded her head in thanks and I smiled back. I was a guest here; I didn't want to make more of a mess for them.
The maid had placed the clothes she had brought in on the dresser and I unfolded the outfit that they had prepared, lifting it up to see what it was. It was a simple flowy mid length sundress with a light-yellow hue and elegant white flowers sprinkled on the fabric. There was also a pair of simple white flats to go with it. "The young master said you particularly liked yellow, so he picked out this design,"
I was surprised Brandon still remembered little details like my favourite colour. Of course, my taste in clothes is a bit different from what it was back then but the dress was beautiful. "It's gorgeous," I thanked her, not daring to ask how much it was. The fabric was thick and the scrunch detail that tightened the waistline looked skilfully handstitched.
A piece like this doesn't come cheap.
I slipped into the dress after a quick shower, pulling on the flats and brushing out my hair. The dress looked even better when it was on, I felt like a little girl being spoilt with a princess dress as the airy fabric flowed over my legs gracefully.
He had gotten my size perfectly.
"Madam, breakfast is ready downstairs in the garden," The maid gently knocked on my door, requesting to guide me down from the room. Grabbing my phone, I quickly walked out of the room, following the housekeeper as she led me down the stairs.
The villa was quiet compared to last night and aside from the staff who maintain the house, I hadn't seen Mr DeCaro, or Brandon for that matter.
"Where is-" I paused as she gazed at me expectantly. None of the staff call Brandon by his name, "-my husband?" My stomach fluttered calling him that as the housekeeper smiled at me.
"He's waiting for you in the garden," She came to a stop by the large double doors that led out into the terrace.
My jaw almost dropped at the beautiful white pillar gazebo that stood at the end of the stone-lain path. Ivy threaded from the bottom of the pillars, climbing their way to the top as bright lavender-coloured flowers dropped down from the ceiling. Hedges lined around the path that circled the gazebo following the large roman architecture style pillar that held the veranda from where stood.
My heartbeat in my ears when I caught sight of Brandon seated on the elegant white iron chair by the table where breakfast had been arranged. His eyes flickered from the document he had in his grasp to my face upon my arrival as I walked towards him.
He had traded his grey slacks from last night to a loose dark green pullover polo and a pair of tan pants. The polo was devastatingly short sleeve which revealed his biceps with every flex of his muscles. I couldn't also help but noticed the streaks of black ink that peeked out from under his sleeve hem as he stood up to approach me.
Had Brandon gotten a tattoo?
"Good morning, Cara," His deep voice greeted me, and I stood flustered for words. "How was your sleep?"
"G-Good," I squeaked out hastily as not to seem too lost in my own trance. Brandon's lips spread into a smile, and I found myself staring at him admiringly once more as he approached me.
I didn't even have a moment to move back as his warm hand wrapped around the ruched design on my waist, pulling me closer so that his lips brushed against my ear, "That dress looks bellissima [beautiful] on you, amore mio [my love]," He murmured softly against the tip of my ear, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
My eyes widened at his words as I whipped my head to stare at his mischievous smirk. Before I could cuss him out for stepping out of line with this fake marriage, a voice behind me quickly halted me.
"Ahh darling! Good morning," Mr DeCaro's greeted me heartily and I spun around hastily, giving him a quick bow in greeting. His caretaker stood behind him, an expressionless face beheld as he waited for Mr DeCaro's needs.
It was just for show! I reprimanded myself.
"Mr DeCaro, good morning," I replied nervously, standing beside Brandon who hadn't let go of my waist. He even took it the extra mile to pull me closer so that his hand slipped down to my hip as he smirked at me.
My eyes flickered to the table of warm breakfast goods spread out on the white iron table, "Will you be joining us for breakfast sir?" I asked, making the excuse to pry away from Brandon's hold to walk to the table.
"No no sweetheart, I have some business to take care of," He declined politely. I could see Mr DeCaro's eyes flicker from smiling at my face to meet Brandon's gaze.
Immediately, it felt like a sudden tension had clouded around the two of them as they locked stares with some unspoken hostility. I knew Brandon wasn't exactly close with his father and was always agitated when it came to the subject of it, but for some reason he looked extra annoyed this morning.
"Enjoy your breakfast my dear," Mr DeCaro said, turning his attention back to me, and I nodded back with a smile.
Mr DeCaro cast his eyes to his caretaker who took the signal to escort him down the garden path towards the front gates.
Brandon turned to me once his father was out of earshot. A sour scowl on his face in comparison to the smug mood he was in moments before, "Sky is bringing Nicholas over once he wakes up," He informed me emotionless as he took a seat back at the table without acknowledging me.
My heart clenched at his sudden change in tone as if once his father was gone, he was no longer playing this loving husband charade. I took a seat in front of him quietly, my eyes casting over the food that was extended across the round table.
I hope this fake marriage was going to come to an end soon. Any more of this playing with my feeling that Brandon was doing was going to end in another heartbreak for me.
"We have a charity ball tonight, so the day is yours to do whatever you'd like," Brandon's voice derailed my train of thoughts as I cast my eyes in his direction but his gaze remained focussed on the documents he was flicking through, "You can take my personal driver if you need to go anywhere,"
I nodded to his words and reached out to grab the coffee server situated in the middle of the table. Despite the plethora of different breakfast dishes spread on the table, I wasn't in the mood to eat any of them.
I needed to get my head on straight.
Before I could reach out and grab the coffee serve, Brandon's fingers laced around my hand and flicked it away, "Don't have coffee before breakfast, Cara, it will interfere with your cortisol levels," He told me chidingly before moving the server away.
"I'm not a child Brandon," I retorted back feeling insulted he would tell me what to do 4 years after our relationship ended.
"No, but you don't take care of yourself," His piercing chocolate eyes flickered to me as he piled the papers he was looking at together.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as Brandon sat up from his relaxed positioned and reached out for the plate of buttery croissants.
"I had the kitchen make these for you, since you loved these on that Paris tour," He told me pointedly, placing the plate full of warm, freshly baked good in front of me.
I sat flabbergasted in my seat. The Paris tour? I remember that week long visit I took to France with the designing team for the Fashion in France exhibition. Fresh croissants and thick hot chocolate in Paris was an experience worth dying for and I remember I raved about it for days after.
However it was towards the latter months of our relationship where Brandon was constantly distracted and couldn't even make the time to pick me up from the airport when I landed back in New York.
Thinking back, I had found out I was 2 months pregnant the week after I had come home so I had brushed off how upset I was by the fact that I had something else to look forward to.
He placed took one of the beautiful porcelain cups with an elegant flower design before pouring some of the hot chocolate in the server beside the coffee. "Here, drink this instead,"
"I'm not hungry," I declined quickly feeling my heart jump into my mouth at the way he was reprimanding me in an oddly caring way.
Brandon's eyes shifted into a hooded gaze as he gave me an award-winning Brandon DeCaro stern look, "Cara you're not leaving my sight with an empty stomach, so eat it please," He sighed, placing the cup of whipped cream beside my plate before locking eyes with me, "Per me,"
I didn't quite understand what he added in Italian at the end and before I could ask him to translate, a chipper voice cut me off.
"Mama!" Nic squealed; letting go of Sky's hand as he rushed over excitedly. His small shoes clattered on the stone lain path towards the gazebo as I quickly walked down the steps towards him.
I crouched down to his height, letting him wrap his arms around my neck and nuzzle into my shoulder, "I missed you," he admitted cutely into my chest before grinning at me.
"I missed you too, sweetheart," I tapped his nose before planting a kiss on his head, "Have you had breakfast?"
"Uncle Sky got me Fruity Loops!" He exclaimed, pointing at Sky who walked in looking like he had rounded up a herd of sheep or something. I couldn't help the giggle escape my lips at Sky's worn out face.
The DeCaro Mansion butler, Mario who was following closely behind them, stood to the side, observing from a distance.
"Remind me to never have kids," Sky sighed, putting down the stuffed toy and gaming console he had balancing in his grip as Mario collected them off him, "How do you wrangle him, Stel? He's so energetic," Sky groaned and Nic giggled continuing to stay in my arms.
He was a well behaved boy, but he definitely liked to play pranks and be a little overexcited some times.
I watched Nic's handsome little face as his big oak eyes scan the garden and its beauty. I could see the excitement brimming his features with every crane of his neck he was doing, "Is this our house now mama?"
I smiled at him, "No baby, it's not, we're staying here as guests,"
"It can be yours if you want," Brandon's voice cut in and Nic gasped excitedly, both at the idea of having a house as big as this and to the fact that he had only just noticed Brandon's presence as he took the steps down from the gazebo.
For a split second as Nic left my arms to scramble his way to him, I felt my heart pulsate into a spike at the feeling of him leaving me for Brandon. Albeit he was just going to greet him, the way he had taken an instant liking to Brandon enough to run to him with arms wide open made me feel uneasy.
"Hey champ," Brandon ruffled his hair as Nic wrapped his arms around Brandon's leg, stepping on his expensive leather shoes to gain himself from height.
"Is this your house?" Nic asked wondrously, his head bobbling around at all the scenery around him. Brandon nodded in response and Nic's jaw dropped even lower as he pointed excitedly at the balcony overlooking the gazebo. "It has a…bal-comey!"
"His place has a pool and a game room!" Sky chipped in as another marvelled gasp escaped my child's mouth. He was so easily excitable I couldn't help but smile at the moment before me.
"I wanna see it!" He bounced, gripped Brandon's tan pants with both hands.
"Alright, how about we let your mom eat breakfast and I'll show you the aquarium too?"
"Yes! Yes!" Nic agreed, taking Brandon's hand as I stood taking in the moment. How I had dreamed multiple times over the last 4 years of Nic finally being able to spend time with his father.
I had told myself it would never happen and it was going to forever stay a figment of my imagination, but for the first time, seeing Brandon interact with his own son even without knowing it, was enough to make my dream come true.
Even for a short while.
"Cara," Brandon's gaze met mine and a sharp look of concern flashed across his eyes as his eyebrows furrowed. I hadn't even noticed the tears that had brimmed my waterline as I quickly shook my head.
"Alright, you need to promise mommy you're going to behave, okay Nic?" I directed my attention to our son as his glimmering chocolate eyes tilted up to me. The way Brandon was looking at me earlier was the spitting image of the way Nic eyes felt.
I was never lonely without Brandon over the last 4 years because his son looked almost identical to him, not that he would ever see it.
"Okay mama," He nodded before his wondrous look flickered to Brandon.
"Let's go kiddo!" Sky cheered, making his way back inside the house and Nic bounced off Brandon's foot to run after him. My line of sight followed my son as Brandon continued to stay behind me.
"Cara," he called forth my attention once more as he stood beside me. I could see the smug tug of his lip as his face was inches from mine.
"I better not find out you didn't eat breakfast, cattiva ragazza [bad girl]," He added lowly before walking away as if he didn't make my stomach flip with his words.
Oh god, this fake marriage definitely needs to come to end soon before I get my heart broken a second time.
I honestly forgot he was Italian until I wrote out DeCaro and thought wow what an Italian name...
Anyways I'm an idiot.
Update next week!
Love, Star!