Chapter 12

BRENDA

Something is off with my sister and I can't place a finger on it. Ever since I came back from abroad,she has been acting weird and every time I request her to visit me in my house, she declines, giving an excuse after another.

I remember the day I came back home about a month ago, though she looked warm and welcoming, she didn't appear to be herself. She wasn't comfortable and she always shifted uncomfortably whenever in my presence. I don't know whether Ethan intrigued or intimidated her or what was bothering her. I just can't place a finger onto it.

Then came the day of the house warming party! She was acting weird and I noticed she hugged Ethan and clung onto him for almost a minute until my fiancee detached himself from her.

However, I'm now glad that Stephen is keeping her busy and she even seems happy with her life.

Yesterday after work, I had a lengthy chat with my fiancee and he thinks we will be of a great help if we employ Brianna in one of our companies. Since we have two establishments, one which I'm heading and the other one which Ethan is heading, I've decided to employ her in mine so as to keep a close look on her and also teach her some basics here and there.

This is the same establishment where Stephen is working and I just hope they won't bring their affection to work. I'm sure Steve knows a whole lot about the work ethics here and he won't be stupid enough to mix work with pleasure. I will have a lengthy chat with the two of them when they visit later today as they promised.

Although it's on a weekend, Ethan decided to head to the office to handle some pending chores while I decided to stay back and wait for my sister and her newly found love.

***

Brianna and Stephen arrive around noon and I heave a heavy sigh of relief when I hear Steve's car hooting at the gate. Still in our bedroom upstairs, I press a button on a remote and the steel doors part, allowing them to drive in.

I press another button and the doors come back together, closing behind the already parked car.

As I walk downstairs to welcome my guests, I can't help but marvel on how different Brianna and I are. Despite being twins, born on the same day, same time and brought up the same time, we are totally different. We are far from each other in resemblance, just like heaven and earth. Apart from the similar physical appearance, we're like water and oil!

I am hard working, a go-getter and an achiever and in my twenty three years, I've achieve a whole lot of things in life. I have completely built my life. I've been working all my life since I graduated from the University.

I started from a scratch when we lost everything to our greedy uncle and our parents' business associates. While I spend my time working as a waiter, waiting tables and serving arrogant and abusive clients, Brianna was busy spending all the money I could offer, buying drugs and engaging in other bad habits including going out with sugar daddies, men old enough to be called her grandpa!

All these happened under my own view but I neither questioned nor judged her, assuring myself that since she was the youngest, she'd definitely change and take life at a different perspective.

Immediately we received our money in the trust fund, she disappeared into thin air without a trace nor communication. She even changed her contacts when she felt that I was being a bother to her, not knowing that I wanted to incorporate her in my plan to travel abroad for greener pastures.

When I got tired of trying to look for her, I processed my Visa and waited eagerly as days went by, hoping she was coming back sooner to bid me farewell... at least...only for her to show up a month later, worn out and broke to the core, without a dime on her head.

Shock was on her when I announced that I was traveling to another state for work and she couldn't stop worrying on how she'd survived. She should have thanked her stars that I was willing to help her all through since she is the only family I have left.

I mean, I had bought an apartment for us to live in and I was willing to help her out till she got on her feet. I had great hopes that she was going to change and think about her life....

I hate to say that I was so wrong!

Till now, my sister has not changed even one bit, unless she changes now that she has a loving and dedicated man by her side!

Brianna is the same fifteen year old damsel, clubbing, going out with old men, holding parties in our house, organising orgies, using young boys and girls for her pleasure....the same little spoilt brat who seems irredeemable!

All these I know through her very close friend Tiffany who has been keeping me on toes, always telling me about every little detail about my sister, what she has been upto and her every move!

I don't blame Tiffany though... she has been doing these things in exchange of some money since her family is not well up and she's the only breadwinner. She has to look for ways to sustain them!

“Wow sis, you look so amazing!” Brianna says, snapping me from my reverie. I'm already at the end of the stairs and I'm walking towards them in the living room. My house manager has already welcomed them into the house and told them to feel at home.

She's standing up, ready for a hug and just like we used to do while young, I get into her arms and she leans on my shoulder, still whispering how great I look.

“Ethan must be overworking!” she mutters and that catches me unaware, making me remember something Tiffany told me a few days ago... something that I'd hate to keep in my mind... something that I'd like to ignore and assume it was all malice and jealous from her.... something that Brianna ranted about during the house warming party!