I'm so sorry for the time it took to post this fic. This is chapter 9 Brother and Sister. I hope you guys enjoy it.
Disclaimer: Kendrew and Milena are the only new things in this chapter that belong to me.
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Tom had been seen Kim for a month and already everyone in town was wondering who this mysterious girl was. Tom's mother started calling him nonstop, she wanted to know who this social climber was, as soon as she saw her she knew she didn't belong in their circle, her clothes were simple with a boho twist, she had long hair that reached her back in curls and she smiled too much. If Tom wasn't answering it was because he had a deep interest in this girl and she had to make sure he forgot about her, someone like her didn't had a place in her family.
Since Tom wasn't answering her calls, she decided to pay him a visit. "Good morning Haley." Mrs. Oliver said to Tom's secretary.
"Mrs. Oliver!" Haley said surprise to see Tom's mother in there, he wasn't going to like this.
"Haley where are your manners?" Mrs. Oliver said pompously.
"I'm sorry. We weren't expecting you. Would you like to take a seat while I call Tom?" Haley asked nervously.
"No I'm going straight to his office; don't want him making any excuses."
"But Mrs. Oliver he doesn't like to be bother. Please let me announce you." Haley insisted.
"I'm his mother I can bother him as much as I like." She said walking to the door of Tom's office and she pushed the door.
"Mom! What are you doing here?" Tom said shock.
"I think you know what I'm doing here Tom." She took the paper she was carrying and throws it in his desk "Now who is this girl and why are your arms interlocked? Are you together?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm seeing her." Tom said confronting her.
"Where did you found her? Can you see the way she dresses and the way she carries herself? Is embarrassing, all my friends are talking about it."
"Like I care what your friends think, she is better than all of you put together." Tom said pissed.
"I can't believe you are talking to me like this, I'm your mother and I deserve your respect. I don't like what this girl is doing to you."
"The one that has to like her is me not you." Tom said.
"Well I want you to stop seeing her, I can't allow this! at first I thought it was a fling so I let it go but a month has pass and you are still going out with her!" she said outraged. "if you want to have fun with her at least hide her."
"I'm 25! I can decide for myself I don't need you telling me what to do." Tom was losing his patience. "and I'm not having fun with her, I'm not going to hide her." Tom practically screamed.
"Thomas! Our reputation is in jeopardy, this girl is not good for our image. What its wrong with you? I have never seen you act this way before for a woman."
"I don't care about reputation or image anymore! All this hypocrisy! I can't stand it! she makes me happy! Why should I discard her? To make you happy? All you care is you, you and you! What about me? What about what I want?" he screamed at her.
"I can't believe you think I'm selfish. I want your happiness, she won't make you happy, she is too different from you, she doesn't belong here, how can you be happy with someone like her?" his mother questioned him.
"I'm not stupid you just said she makes you look bad in front of your friends, this is not about me is about you." Tom accused.
"Your father will hear about this. Sooner or later you'll realize what a big mistake your making." She snapped and left the office.
Tom looked out the window, why was life so complicated? All he wanted was Kim it was so simple.
"Tom?" Haley called softly.
"Yeah Haley?" He asked.
"Are you ok? I'm so sorry she didn't let me announce her." Hailey apologized.
"Don't worry, you know how she is and I'm fine."
"She came because of Kim didn't she?" Hailey dare to ask.
"Yeah she wants me to get rid of her." Tom said with a disgusted look.
"You know I don't understand rich people, why is it so bad to go out with someone that doesn't belong in your circle? The rest of us don't care."
"I really don't understand either it's ridiculous."
"Do you want me to call Marc? Jason called, they are going to the new Italian restaurant for lunch and he wants to know if you are going."
"Yeah I need to get out of here. You can take the rest of the day off; I don't think I'm coming back today." He needed fresh air.
"Ok" Haley went to her desk and called Marc and Jason.
Marc picked Tom in front of the building and took him to Alfredo's.
"Tom! Glad you came, you rarely have lunch outside the office." Jason said he was sitting in a table with Zack and Adam.
"Yeah well my mother paid me a visit I needed to get out of there." Tom said "Hey guys how are you?" he said looking at the others.
"She doesn't like Kim, does she?" Adam asked.
"No, she doesn't even know her and already she disapproves of her." Tom answered
"You are not going to stop seeing Kim right?" Jason asked he knew Tom's mother could be very persuasive and Tom usually did what she asked of him.
"Of course not!" Tom said defensively.
"Great because I like her, she is the sweetest thing ever." Adam said.
"Well you know my family is having that charity event in 2 weeks and I want you to bring Kim." Zack said.
"I don't know Zack, you know my parents always attend that event and maybe she won't be comfortable there."
"They have to meet her sometime and if she is going to be with you she will have to get use to this kind of thing, this way we'll introduce her and I think she'll be at ease because is me." Zack said.
"I'll ask her but I can't promise you she'll say yes." Tom said.
The Studio
Kim was in the living room watching TV "Kim every single paper has your face in it, doesn't that bother you?" Rocky asked her.
"Honestly is a bit disconcerting at first it was surreal, everyone stares at me in the street is weird but I think I'm getting use to it." Kim answered.
"I have seen the way those paparazzi harass you, doesn't that bother you?" he couldn't understand how could she stand it.
"Well to tell you the truth they just fallow me and ask me ridiculous questions. They just make me laugh if you are nice to them they don't push you."
"I still think you don't have to deal with that." Rocky said.
"Rocky, when are you going to accept that I'm going out with Tom? We have talk about this thousand of times." Kim asked him "I'm fine! If I wasn't I would have stop seeing him and it wouldn't kill you to be more nice to him."
"I'm sorry, I just… I'll try to be nicer. I know he's not bad."
"It bothers you that he is rich."
"I just don't trust rich people, to me they just care for materialistic things, is like everything for them is a toy, they play with it for a while and when they get tired they just toss it away."
"You think Tom is just having fun with me and when he gets bored of me he'll leave me?"
"It looks like he really cares for you but I have Google him and there are plenty of articles that say he never dates for more than a month and all the girls in the pics are rich."
"Maybe he is serious about me, I have talk to him before about this, he just dated women his mother picked for him, he didn't really like them." Kim explained to Rocky.
"His mother picked his dates? Isn't he old enough to do that?" Rocky said mockingly.
"Rocky don't start and don't tell anyone, he told me that privately. I'm just telling you so you leave him alone."
"ok,ok I will leave him alone. It's obvious you really like him and there is nothing I can say or do that will change your mind."
"No there is nothing you can do about it; maybe you should get a girlfriend so you can concentrate more in your life than in mine."
"I don't need a girlfriend I'm fine by myself thank you."
"You should ask Aisha on a date." Kim said hinting he had a thing for Aisha.
"Aisha! Are you crazy! I don't like her! Why would I ask her out?" Rocky sounded like he was caught.
"You don't? Then what where you doing up yesterday waiting in the kitchen for her to arrive from her date?" Kim asked teasingly.
"What?" Rocky said embarrassed. "I was making a milkshake!"
"for 2 hours?" Kim asked.
"I like the kitchen it makes me feel comfortable." Was all he said.
"Then why did you reprimand her when she came in? and why did you snap at her this morning when you found out she was going to have breakfast with Carl today?"
"I did not reprimand her nor did I snap at her!" Rocky said defensively.
"Well I differ. Just hurry Carl is going to win if you don't." Kim said standing from the couch, she took her purse and walk out the door leaving Rocky speechless.
She took her phone and dialed Tom's number.
"Hey Kim, I was about to call you." Tom said
"Hi Tom, I was wondering if you guys are coming today to the show." Kim was walking to the nearby subway station.
"Yeah, of course, I have to admit that the first time I almost had a heart attack, I thought you were going to kill yourself every single minute but I'm mentally prepare this time."
"I know, don't worry about me I'll be fine like always." Kim assured him
"What are you doing right now" Tom asked her.
"I'm on my way to cirque I have to start getting ready you know warm up, stretch, practice and get dress."
"I'll be there with the guys at 8."
"I can't wait to see you." Kim said.
"I can't wait to see you either"
"Are you ok? You sound a little down." Kim asked noticing his sad tone.
I'm fine I just receive a visit from my mother and it didn't go well." He explained.
"You fought with your mother because of me didn't you?" Kim asked sadly.
"It doesn't matter, we can talk after the show, I don't want you to worry about me you need to concentrate ok"?
"Ok see you later" Kim let it go for the moment.
"Bye" he said and hanged up.
Cirque de la Lune
Tom went with the guys to the show, they saw the performance and after it they went to the back to see the Kim, Trini and Billy.
"Hey guys you did incredible like always" Zack said.
"Thanks Zack, is nice to see you guys here" Trini said.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world." Jason said.
"Well do you guys want to do something right now?" Kim asked.
"We could go have a drink." Zack suggested.
"Yeah let's go." Billy said.
"Um Jason can you give Trini and Billy a ride?" Tom asked he wanted to talk privately with Kim.
"Yeah sure come on guys" Jason said without asking.
"So how did it go? With your mom I mean." Kim asked when she and Tom were in the car.
"She wants me to stop seeing you." Tom said plainly.
"Oh um so are you… um do you want to stop seeing me?" Kim asked nervously.
"What? No Kim I'm not going to stop, I don't want to and I'm not going to." He said reassuringly.
"I really don't want your parents to hate you because of me, I understand if you don't want to see me anymore."
"That's not what I want, it would break my heart. Kim we been going out for about a month I think I want to formalize my relationship with you, so I want to know right now if you want to be my girlfriend. I want to be able to say to people this is my girlfriend not just some girl that I'm seeing.
Kim froze she knew he was going to ask her that at some point but she wasn't expecting it at the moment.
"Tom um I don't know what to say, are you sure? You just had a fight with your mom because of me. You are not asking me just to piss her off right?"
"No! I would never do that, I just want our relationship to be more serious, when my mother went to see me it was clear to me that I have no intention of going out with no one else I just want to be with you and I hope you feel the same way."
"Well then if you are sure, then yes I want to be your girlfriend." Kim said smiling and looking at him.
"Really?" Tom asked taking her hand; it was all he could do since he was driving the car.
"Yeah like you said we been seeing each other for a month and we obviously have feelings for each other so yeah."
"I'm so happy right now. One day Kim, I don't want to freak you out but I know one day I'll marry you."
"Well I think is too early to think about marriage at this point but it doesn't freak me out. A lot of people think I'm just the flavor of the month and this makes me see you really are serious about me."
"Of course I am! I'm so sorry you have to deal with all the things the tabloids say, none of it is truth. Things are harder for us than they should be."
"I know, don't worry about it, you are nothing like they portray you and I know that."
"Listen Zack wanted me to ask you if you wanted to go to a charity event his family organizes every year." He said changing the subject.
"With socialites and stuff? Um I have nothing to wear to that kind of event and your parents are going to be there right?" Kim asked freaking out; this was something she didn't expected so soon.
"Yeah, I know is intimidating but I attend a bunch of these events, I'm practically obligated to go and don't worry about what to wear I'll send someone to help you with the clothes, I'll pay for everything, the dress, makeup, hair and I think that meeting my mother in public will be a good thing that way she will have to behave, she wouldn't dare make a scene in front of a bunch of people." Tom said hoping he was convincing her.
"Normally I wouldn't accept the money for this but I really don't want to look like a fool there so I'm going to accept the help, when is this event?" she was already nervous.
"Is in 2 weeks" he replied.
"Ok at least I have time to prepare mentally." She really was nervous; she was going to be completely out of her comfort zone.
"I'm sorry" Tom apologized; he knew this wasn't going to be easy for her; this was a whole different world for her.
"Don't be, you have done things for me it won't kill me to do this for you." Kim reasoned.
Tom just smiled she was so understanding and he didn't had to manipulate her into doing things, she did them willingly because she wanted.
"So we are here." they reached the restaurant and found the others they had a nice time with them.
One week later
Kim was waiting Milena, Tom sister, in a boutique, she had never met her before and she was nervous she didn't know if Milena was going to like her and she was afraid she was like her mother, Tom reassured her that his sister supported him and that she was dying to meet Kim, he decided that there was no one better than his sister to help Kim with the outfit and that way they could spend some time together and get to know each other.
She was sitting in a couch when she saw Milena come in the boutique, she recognized her from the pictures she had seen of her, Milena had long black curly hair she was slightly shorter than Tom and her skin was a bit lighter, she was very elegant and pretty, and she had a welcoming smile.
"Kimberly?" The girl with long black her asked.
"Yeah" Kim stood up "You must be Milena."
Milena smiled and gave Kim a hug "You are so beautiful no wonder why my brother is crazy about you." Kim blushed. "So you need my help for the charity right? Well don't worry you are on the right hands."
"Thank god! I'm really nervous, I'm scared to death." Kim said honestly.
"Don't be, I'm here to help." Milena reassured her "my brother said you guys met in Ireland, isn't that romantic?"
"Not really we met at my grandparents B&B and I really disliked him at first he was a jerk to me and then I found out he was like that with everyone."
"Well he must be in love because I have never seen him act the way he is acting before, he is like a new guy."
Milena knew how to make Kim blush "so you have a 4 year daughter right? What's her name?"
"Yeah she is the prettiest thing you'll ever see, her name is Adriana." Milena answered proudly.
"How old were you when you got married?" Kim asked her
"I was 22, to tell you the truth I should have waited to get married and have children I was so young and I still am, I shouldn't have listen to my mother but she wanted me to settle early because it was what a lady did." Milena said mockingly. "I use to do every single thing my mother said, I'm so glad Tom doesn't allow her to manipulate his life anymore, don't get me wrong I love my daughter and husband to pieces but I wish that I could have enjoy my freedom a bit more, you guys take your time to know each other don't rush into anything please."
"Thanks for the advice; I'm in no hurry to get married, if it happens it happens when the time is right."
Milena started to look for dresses, after a couple of hours of searching they finally found an emerald green dress that looked stunning on Kim it hugged her figured in all the right places they bought golden strap heels and jewelry "the day of the event you have to come to my place my stylist will do your hair and makeup." They were eating in a café drinking coffee; Tom arrived and sat to drink coffee with them.
"Hi brother" Milena stood up and gave Tom a hug."
"Hey did you guys got along well, did Milena treat you right Kim?"
"Yeah she did." Kim answered smiling "She is the complete opposite of you."
'I found a new friend; she is really nice Tom you found a real nice girl this time." Milena said.
"I know that's why I'm with her." Tom said to his sister.
"Well I have to get back to my house, I don't like leaving Adriana too long with the nanny, I remember how much I hated when mom left us with the nanny all day long." Milena said standing up "well it was a pleasure to meet you Kim, see you next week at my place." Kim stood up and gave Milena a hug.
"I'm glad you guys got along." Tom said to Kim after Milena left.
"Yeah your sister is so easy to talk to. I was nervous I thought it was going to be awkward being with a total stranger." Kim said.
"I know my sister she is pretty cool and makes people feel comfortable around her, that's why I decided not to tag along. She is completely different from me she like you is a social butterfly unlike me."
"I noticed that."
"What are you going to do now?" Tom asked her.
"My brother wanted me to see his new work at his gallery; do you want to come with me?" Kim asked.
"Yeah sure, is Saturday I have nothing else to do, so your brother paints?" Tom asked, they never really talk much about their families.
"No he is a photographer, he takes scenic pictures."
"Oh cool nothing strange then, I was starting to worry, art is not my fort. Does he know about us?"
"I haven't really talk to him about you but I'm pretty sure he knows, he reads the papers. I haven't seen him in a while he is always traveling."
Kendrew's Gallery
The gallery wasn't too big but it wasn't small either, it was spacious and you could walk easily without bumping into others.
"Kimberly! Little sis, how are you?" Kendrew went to Kim and picked her up and hugged her "I have a gift for you come with me." He put Kim down and took her hand and walk quickly to the other side of the room to a small office. He took a big canvas and turned it around "this is for you! What do you think? Do you like it?"
"Kendrew is amazing! I love it thank you" she said giving him another hug.
"Oh sorry I didn't saw you there. You must be… no wait you are Tom Oliver right? You guys are together aren't you? I have seen a couple of pics in the papers." Kendrew said.
"Yeah I'm Tom and you are right we are together." Tom said.
"Well I'm Kendrew, Kim's brother as you must already know." He said extending his hand and shaking Tom's hand.
"Sallies gap right?" Tom asked.
"Huh?" Kendrew said confused.
"The picture" Tom said pointing at it, he remembered the place.
"Oh yeah is Sallies gap, have you ever been to Wicklow?" Kendrew asked.
"As a matter of fact there is where we met; Tom was staying with his friends in Riverside." Kim answered for Tom.
"That's unbelievable! Of all places and you guys happen to live in the same city. You met my grandparent's then." he said to Tom.
"Yeah I did."
"Gramps hates me doesn't he?" Kendrew asked looking at Kim.
"He doesn't hate you. He… he just thinks you are stupid that's all." Kim said frankly.
"He doesn't have to worry anymore; I'm not marrying the cooper top eejit, like he calls her anymore." Kendrew said.
"You are not?" Kim asked surprised "what happened? You seem pretty determine when you said you guys were going to get married."
"It turns out that she really was an eejit, it doesn't matter I'm not seeing her anymore, we are done."
"Well I'm not going to lie, I'm glad to hear that. I thought you were going to make the same stupid mistake twice." Kim said.
"You are so honest little sister but you are right, I don't know I just become completely stupid when I fall in love is ridiculous."
"So are you going to show me your new pictures" Knowing his brother didn't really wanted to talk about his romantic life.
"Yeah come on" he said taking them both to a picture frame "well I took this pic in Bratislava you must go, the scenery is spectacular. Have you ever been to Bratislava Tom?"
"No I don't think so; I have been to the Check Republic though." Tom replied
"Well it's almost alike but they have their differences." Kendrew said.
Kendrew showed them the rest of the collection and when they were done he gave Kim the picture he had taken for her.
"Thanks for the Pic Ken it's really beautiful." Kim said to Kendrew.
"That's why I took it; I know how much you love it there."
"Are you coming tomorrow to Britannia?" Kim asked him.
"Yeah, probably." Ken replied.
"See you tomorrow then." They said goodbye and Kim left with Tom they went to her place and she prepared them something to eat.
Kim's place
"I'm so happy my brother broke up with that moron." Kim said to Tom.
"This is the first time I hear you talk like that about someone." Tom said.
"Well there is nothing nice to say about her, he is my brother so I get defensive." They were sitting in the kitchen table. The others were in their rooms or out doing stuff.
"At what time do you have to leave work?" Tom asked Kim.
"In about an hour"
"Who the hell works Saturday nights?" Tom asked.
"Performers, that's the price I pay. At least we can hang out during the day and may I remind you that sometimes you work late on Saturdays too?"
"Yeah I forgot, since I met you I stopped working on Saturday's so I can spend time with you. So what did you bought?" He wanted to know what she was wearing.
"Milena told me not to show you." She said.
"Oh come on, I paid for it, I want to see what I bought you." Tom insisted.
"That's not fair and you'll see it next week, another couple of days won't kill you. Come on lets go watch TV before I have to go." She pulled him to the couch and sat next to him cradling her head in his neck. They watch TV quietly for about half an hour when Billy and Trini came out of their rooms, they were going to perform that day too and it was time to go.
"Hey Tom" Trini said "Kim we are leaving are you coming with us?"
"I could take you guys, my car is downstairs." Tom offered.
"Ok let me get my bag." Kim said walking to her room.
"Tom I wanted to ask you if you want to go rock climbing with us next month, I'm gathering a group, you should ask Jason, Zack and Adam if they want to come. Galvin, Regan and Aidan, I think you met them in Ireland, are coming on vacation and we are going to show them around."
"Wow you guys don't do nothing if is not extreme do you? I have never rock climb before but you can count me in, I'll ask the guys if they want to come, I'm pretty sure they'll say yes."
"Great!" Trini said excitedly she saw Kim coming out of the room "Kim, Tom said he is in."
"For what?" Kim asked not knowing what she was talking about.
"Rock climbing in Washington next month." Trini replied.
"We are going to Washington to rock climb?" Tom asked a bit surprised.
"Duh! We cannot rock climb here there are no mountains." Trini said like it was obvious.
"Is that all you guys are going to do?" Tom asked cautiously "Don't you have to work?" he suspected Washington was just the starting point.
"Well they are going to change the stage next month so we'll have 2 weeks of vacation." Billy offered.
"So you are going only to Washington?" Tom asked knowing they were not going to spend two weeks in Washington rock climbing.
"No" Trini said "we are going to a couple of places; um we are going to Alaska, Las Vegas and California."
"You are going to be away for 2 weeks?" Tom asked Kim.
"Yeah I hope it doesn't bother you, I was going to talk to you about it. You can always come with us I mean not only to Washington but the whole trip. What do you think?" Kim asked sensing Toms distress.
"Um I'll think about it, we should go or you guys are going to be late." Tom took them to the cirque, both Billy and Trini thank him and descended the car Kim stay in.
"Tom? Are you mad at me?" Kim asked preoccupied.
"I'm not mad just upset."
"Why? Does it bother you that I'm going away for two weeks?" She didn't saw nothing bad in that. It was just 2 weeks and he could come if he wanted.
"Is not that, is the fact that you started making plans without letting me know. For how long have you guys been planning this?" He asked.
"Well we knew the guys were coming since we left Ireland but we found out about the stage thing 2 weeks ago and Trini's been planning the trip since then. I'm sorry I didn't think it was going to bother you, if I knew I would have let you know from the start, I'm just use to do things without giving anyone explanations but I promise next time I will besides Trini wanted me to invite you."
"Do you want me to go?" He understood what she was saying, they both were use to be free and they did as they please, they couldn't do that anymore now that they were together.
"Why wouldn't I want you to go? You are my boyfriend of course I would love to have you there. Trini only asked you to go to Washington because she knows you have to work."
"I'm sorry I suddenly felt left out. I think I will go with you guys besides I can take 2 weeks off that's the advantage of been your own boss." There was not a chance in hell she was going away for 2 weeks with 3 guys he barely knew.
"You are?" Kim said smiling she gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the lips "well I have to go call you when I get home, ok?"
Tom smiled back at her "ok, be careful."