Page 11 of Stronger Than Fate

“My brother is here?”

“Don’t worry, I’m leaving and we’ll see each other another day. Can you get my things that are still in his room? I don’t want to go back in there.”

“I can’t believe this! My brother is going to hear from me,” she exclaimed.

At that moment someone knocked on the door and, without being invited in, Henry entered the room. He had also put on a t-shirt and was fully dressed, except for his feet which were bare.

“Who told you that you could come in?” Niky shouted.

“Can someone tell me what she was doing sleeping in my bed?” he asked, pointing at me.

“And can someone tell me what you’re doing here at this hour when you supposedly don’t live in this house anymore and have your own place?”

“You’re so ungrateful! I came to keep you company and see how you were doing.”

“In the middle of the night? And scaring away my friends!”

Niky had gotten up and was facing her brother eye to eye. They were both challenging each other with their gazes, and I didn’t know where to hide.

“Since when do you have these kinds of friends?”

“And since when do you care who my friends are?”

“Niky, you can’t be friends with this girl,” he stated, pointing at me.

Never in my life had I felt so out of place and so embarrassed. These siblings were arguing about me and I didn’t know what to do.

“Why are you saying that? Do you know each other?” Niky asked, looking at me and then at her brother.

“May I speak?” I asked; it was time to clarify things.

“I’m talking to my sister.”

“Shut up!” Niky shouted, looking at her brother furiously. “What’s going on, Dali?”

“Dali?” Henry questioned.

“I told you to shut up!” Niky repeated.

“Although we haven’t been formally introduced, your brother and I have crossed paths several times and, I don’t know why, but he thinks I’m a whore.”

“What?!” Niky exclaimed, her face distorted with surprise.

“The first time we talked I was at my hotel and...”

“Your hotel?” he asked, looking at me with eyes like saucers.

“She’s the owner of the HAY Hotel, you idiot!” Niky affirmed.

“Why didn’t you tell me it was your hotel?” he asked.

“And why should I have told you if I didn’t know you?”

“Keep telling me,” Niky said.

“I’d rather tell you another time and in private,” I said, looking at her, then I looked at him and added: “You know what, I don’t have to explain anything to you. Niky, I appreciate your invitation, but I prefer to leave.”

“You're not leaving until you explain several things to me,” Henry said.