Stalker Girl: The Pretender

Four: You're A Little Weird

Nero- Doomsday

X

"Do you think she's dead?" someone whispers next to me. Instinctively, my hand shoots out when they try to reach for me. My hand clasps tightly around their wrist.

"Oh, s**t," Sonny falls back but doesn't break free from my grip. I open my eyes to find that I'm lying in the middle of the hallway outside my bedroom. "What the hell are you doing on the floor, Little sister?"

"Someone was asleep in my bed," I groan as I push myself up to sit on my calves. I remember coming home and opening the door to see someone sleeping in my bed. I just shut the door and made myself comfortable on the floor.

"And you couldn't crash in another one?" he asks amused. I grin.

"I don't know, man. I was tripping," I laugh. I raise my hands and stretch my aching back until it pops. I do the same to my shoulders and my neck before I attempt to get up. My boots thud loudly on the hardwood floor as I get up. The door to my room is pulled open to reveal a pretty redhead wearing my pink satin robe. "What the s**t?"

"Oh, s**t," Sonny whispers behind me.

"What's going on?" the girl asks.

"What the f**k are you doing in my robe? Get the f**k out of my room, right now," I growl at her.

She flinches when I push past her and freeze when I see him lying in my bed. My heartbeat begins to pick up as I take in my sheets wrapped around his bare hips. He's sitting up on his elbow, sleepy eyes squinting. His dark hair wavy hair is messy. Sticking out in every direction. Never would have guessed a fro hawk. I take a step back running a hand down my face, trying to calm myself.

"This is my room," I inform him calmly. "I'm gonna shower. Don't be here when I get out," I spin around to point at the little redhead. "Keep that. I'm never going to wear it again. You look gross,"

"s**t, I'm sorry," he rolls out of the bed with my sheets wrapped around his waist. "I didn't know. I just took a room. I didn't mean any disrespect. Yeah, yeah. We'll be out of here before you're done with your shower,"

My breath caught in my throat at the sound of his early morning voice.

"No, no. I'm not kicking you out. I know you have press s**t. I mean my room. I don't want you in my room. You and your companions can stay as long as you need," I clarify.

"Really?" he nods, jaw flexing. Oh, you sexy motherfucker. Where the f**k have you been all of my life? "Thanks. I'll clean all of this up then,"

"You can leave it. I'll have one of the staff members will do it. Just go," I spin around and head to my closet to get some clothes and head into the bathroom.

A burst of laughter comes out of me as I start the shower. I smack my forehead against the glass as I try to take deep breaths. I can't believe that just happened. I turn around and watch as my face turns bright red with embarrassment. My face is a mess. My mascara is halfway down my face. My mouth is puffy and stained red with the remainder of my lipstick. My bird's nest of hair has confetti and streamers tangled into it. My fishnets are ripped to s**t. And my bodice has wet stains on it from things I spilled on myself last night.

"f**k my life," I choke out as I plug my phone into the speaker next to the tub. I grab the pick comb and try to brush out the confetti from my hair and then perform my morning routine before taking a shower.

Once I'm ready for my morning workout. I head down to find everyone in my dining room. I huff a laugh as I make my way over to my kitchen. No one ever goes in there. I honestly can't ever remember any of us going in that room. It's a family room and my family isn't one to gather too often. As I start to prepare my detox smoothie, Nicolas Cirillo and his manager Sonny walk into my kitchen.

"Good morning," they both greet me and take a seat at the stools on the other side of the kitchen island.

"Good morning," I greet before starting the blender.

"Bonjour, Miss Exael," Giovanna, the head of the household greets me. I flinch when she puts her hands on her hips giving me a playful glare.

"Good morning, Gio. I forgot to text you last night that we were going to be having guests. I'm so sorry," I stop the blender. She comes over to me and takes my cup.

"C'est d'accord. Présentez-moi a vos amis," she motions the two guys behind me.

"Right. Gio this is Sonny and his client uh, Nicolas?" I offer.

"You can call me Nick," he gives her an awkward wave. In this lighting, his hazel eyes turn apple green.

"This is Giovanna. She's head of the household. If you guys need anything ask her. Gio, our guests will be here for a few days with press duties. Make sure they're taken care of. Also, have someone completely change the dressing on my bed,"

"D'accord. Je vais commencer le petit-déjeuner. Une heure,"

"One hour?" I complain.

"Une heure. Pas plus," she scolds me and walks away but doesn't leave before tossing a glare at me over her shoulder. "You are still recovering," in her thick French accent.

"What are you healing from?" Nick asks.

"Kevlar bruising," I say pulling my shirt up to show them black splotches on my abdomen. I laugh pulling my shirt down. That was a fun week.

"Oh, s**t," Sonny laughs. "You're cut,"

"She's gotta be able to withstand Kevlar bruising," Nick smirks. "No s**t. Any fracturing?"

"Yeah, two ribs on the right," I nod. "Back side,"

"Listen, Red. We don't speak a lick of French," Sonny shrugs. No one calls me Red, but they are guests so I guess I have to let it slide.

"Oh, no biggie. Gio speaks English. She's been in our family since I was a kid. I'm fluent. If you guys have training and s**t. I have an in-home gym here. It has a sauna and indoor pool. It's heated. Make yourselves at home. Just try not to break anything. Some of the s**t in here has been in my family for generations,"

"All right," Sonny nods. "Thank you for the hospitality,"

"No worries. Thank you for last night. By the way," I smile. He really came through for me. Will had a great time.

"Last night?" Nick asks looking from him to me.

"The win," I nod. "That was a f*****g crazy knockout. I haven't seen my brother laugh that hard in forever. I was a little worried because I had never heard of you before but Lance vouched for you and I'm glad we took that leap of faith,"

"Une heure," Gio comes back over to us and hands me my smoothie.

"Thank you, Gio. She said breakfast will be done in an hour. What time do you guys have to be in the city?"

"One thirty," Sonny answers.

"I recommend you guys leave around twelve-fifteen then. Not a lot of traffic at that time but it's a commute,"

"Will you be having breakfast with us?" Sonny asks.

"Uh," I look between them.

"It would be rude of you not to," Nick shrugs.

"It would? Oh, um. Okay," I nod. "We'll all have breakfast together. I'm going to hit the gym-"

"Skip it," Nick cuts me off. "We don't work out the morning after a win,"

"Usually because we can't," Sonny laughs. Nick grins. Wow, he has a really pretty smile. Perfect teeth. How can I say no to that?

"Not today. Volt was a b***h," Nick smirks.

"Yeah," I agree. "I'm really sorry he tried to drug you. What a f*****g nut sack,"

"No harm done," he shrugs.

"Except for the guy we fed your pets," Lance and my brother walk into the kitchen with Kaylee trailing behind them. My brother crosses his arms over his chest. I can feel his disapproving glare behind his shades.

"Will," I grip my cup tightly.

"You had an incident and you still got faded with us last night?" he shakes his head.

"I took care of it. There weren't any other incidents,"

"Frankie could have died,"

"Oh, please. It was a f*****g tranq. How was I supposed to know he was a f*****g punk?"

"Actually, that was on me," Nick raises his hand. "I nailed his mom last August after a fight,"

"You were letting me make an ass of myself back there and didn't say anything?" I scoff. They both laugh. The f*****g audacity.

"Who the f**k are your friends?" Will demands glaring at them.

"Oh, right. Nick, Sonny. This is my brother William. Will this is Sonny Macentyre and Nicolas Cirillo. He's the fighter that put Volt on his ass,"

"And you f****d his mom?" my brother grins. Nick laughs. "Why is that name familiar, X?"

"He's Seb's kid," I tell him.

"You know my uncle as Seb?" Nick asks.

"Yeah, we've had him over a couple of times for roulette. Great guy," Lance answers. "Greek, man in the silver suit,"

"Oh, yeah. Sebastian. How is he? I haven't seen him in like two years," Will says.

"Sounds about right. He got married. Has a baby girl on the way,"

"Aww," Kaylee coos. I smile at her agreeing.

"Out," Gio shoos us. "Aller dans la salle familiale. East wing,"

"All right, all right. We'll go," I motion them to go out.

We all walk out to the family room in the East Wing. My bother takes over the hospitality talking to the guys like they're best friends. The other six guys in the dining room join them and I slip away to the gym. Once inside, I go straight for the treadmill. I play my music and start today's cardio. It's all I've been doing since Monday. All my aching ribs allow me and if I stop, it ruins my perfectly calculated schedule. When that happens I feel completely off balance. It's not intolerable but still, it doesn't fair well for those around me.

A scream rips out of my chest when I turn around after my workout and see him standing there.

"f**k, you have a set of lungs on you," he laughs.

"You're kind of weird," I step down from the treadmill. "Can I help you?"

"Your brother is looking for you," his eyes moved down my body slowly before they moved back up to my eyes. "Are you really as crazy as people say you are?"

I give him a smile as we walk out of the gym and head over to the East Wing. I'm not a stranger to what people say about me. As we round the corner, my groundskeeper Mr. Federick walks in with Donut, Cha-cha, and Crown.

"My lady," he greets me as my dogs start howling as soon as their eyes land on me. I crouch down when he lets them go. My three Dobermans run towards me little booties waving back and forth with happiness.

"Hi," I greet them laughing at their clumsiness. "Hi, my loves. Did you have a good walk?"

"Reyes wanted me to ask what you wanted to do with the mare that wandered into the property a couple of days ago,"

"Oh, yeah. The one hanging around Hades. Have you guys put up found flyers?" I ask standing up. As soon as I'm on my feet my three dogs stop wiggling around and position themselves around me protectively.

"Yes, no one has called to claim her," he nods.

"Okay, well have Reyes call Dr. Fowler so she can check her. Whatever she needs, Freddie,"

"Of course, miss," he bows. "I'll tell him now. Would you like me to take the dogs outside?"

"I'll take them back later. I haven't seen them in a while. I've been a little busy,"

"Yes," he nods. "I took the liberty to take them to their monthly vet visit," he reaches into his pocket. Crown growls at him immediately but calms down when Mr. Frederick holds up a piece of paper. I take it from him and open it up to see it's an ultrasound picture. "Cha-chie is pregnant?"

"Yes, Miss. She and Crown are expecting," he smiles. I look down at her to see her staring back at Nick.

"Thank you, Freddie," I wave the picture. He finally excuses himself and walks away.

"Why do I feel like they're looking at me with the intention to kill?" Nick asks. Donut growls at him. I whistle lowly. The three of them get behind me as I make my way into the family room. They are. One wrong move and he's dog chow.

"Don't reach for me. Crown bites," I point at my favorite dog.

Well, not my favorite but he is my first dog. Donut is his daughter. She was the runt in Cha-cha's last litter. She almost died. I had to take extra care of her and when it was time to get rid of them, I couldn't let her go.

"Crown," my brother shouts.

My dog's ears perk up but he doesn't immediately run over to my brother. I look down at him and smile. I hold the picture out for him. He gently takes it in his mouth and then prances over to my brother happily when I let him go. Will takes the paper from his mouth and laughs getting down on one knee.

"What's up, girls?" Lance calls out to Donut and Cha-cha. They both look up at me and I give them a nod. The two of them scurry over to him and Kaylee.

"You sent for me?" I ask Will.

"What are you doing? We have guests," he motions to Sonny and Nick. I glare at him. "Oh, come on, X. You're not serious right now. What happened to Exael?"

"I gave you one night. I have work to do, Will. I have to deal with Volts bullshit at Grimace still," I pull out my phone remembering I haven't paid the DJs yet. I start transferring the money to the accounts I was given. "I also want to make sure the headliners didn't f**k up my venue too badly. The mayor wants to host his son's sixteenth birthday this weekend. He and his wife will be showing up at noon. You have three meetings today or did you forget it was only Thursday?"

"You stuck-up b***h," he laughs. "I canceled my meetings. Sit down, Exael. What's the point of being the boss if you don't take the day off once in a while?"

"I'm not the boss, William. You are. I work so you can take the day off," I shut my phone and look up at him. "Give me your phone. The Koreans are going to be f*****g pissed. You asshole,"

He groans but he tosses me his phone anyway.

"Lance. Don't take your eyes off of him,"

"I'm going with her," Kaylee points at me. "You guys suck,"

"Get your own assistant," Lance shouts at me when the two of us start making our way out. I whistle. All three of my dogs rush over to me.

"Leave Crown here," Will shouts.

"Nope. Get your own dog. He doesn't even like you," I call back. "We have twenty minutes before breakfast. Help me sort my brother's s**t out before we lose the Korean account,"

"It's not a very big one," she reminds me.

"Not yet. Once he gets his hands on it. H.E. will be setting up in Seoul next year. I want to see the Buddhist temples. It's also the home of Daisuke Ryun. Also known as the Dokkaebi_King01. The world's Modern Warfare sniping champion. I'm a little in love with him,"