Chapter Twenty-Eight
Joseph
The morning light streams through the tall windows of Adriel’s city house, casting a soft glow over the sleek, modern dining room. I sit at the breakfast table with the others, the clinking of cutlery and the hum of light conversation filling the space.
As I sip my coffee, my thoughts drift back to yesterday. Watching Adriel in his element was incredible. I’ve always known he’s good at what he does, but seeing him work; the way he commanded attention with ease, the way he thrived under the spotlight, it gave me a new level of appreciation for him.
It also became strikingly clear that his job is no walk in the park.
Talent alone isn’t enough—it takes an immense amount of skill, experience, and grit to do what he does. Just standing there in front of the camera, hitting pose after pose, was exhausting, and I only had to do it casually, just for a day. I can’t imagine having to do that time after time. And even more, I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like on the days he has to act—to embody a role completely, with the camera rolling and an entire crew watching his every move.
Goodness knows I’d crumble in an instant under that kind of pressure. The thought of performing, of putting yourself out there like that, with so many eyes on you, makes my chest tighten just thinking about it. I’d much rather just be behind my desk.
But more than anything, what stood out the most was how much it meant to him that we were there. It wasn’t just another day at work to him—it was personal. Having us there, sharing in his world, even for just a few hours, meant everything. You could see it in the way his face lit up every time he caught our eyes, the way his energy seemed to double just knowing we were part of it. It isn’t just his job; it is his passion. And for one day, we got to be part of it, too.
I look around the table, at Silas with his usual calm composure, at Danae as she softly laughs at something Adriel just said, and at Adriel himself, who’s practically glowing. I feel so lucky. Grateful. This isn’t just a family…it’s a home. And I’m part of it.
The conversation is easy and light. Danae teases Adriel about his overly fancy coffee collection that he showed her earlier, and Silas listens, a faint smile tugging at his lips. It’s rare to see him so at ease. Adriel responds with some over-the-top explanation about how his coffee choices are an art form, and I can’t help but chuckle.
Silas suddenly turns to me. “Check in with the office,” he says. “Let’s hope they’re not missing us too much.”
“On it.” I pull out my phone, smirking as I scroll through my emails. Everything seems fine. Nothing urgent, no fires to put out.
But just as I start to relax, a notification pops up. It’s from a news site. My thumb hovers over it for a moment before I open it. And then I see it.
My heart almost stops. The headline is bold and impossible to miss:
“Sensational New Quartet to Take the World by Storm.”
Underneath, there are pictures of us from yesterday…walking into the studio, laughing, looking, well, stunning, if I do say so myself. My breath catches in my throat.
What the hell?
I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of it. “No way,” I mutter under my breath.
“What is it?” Silas asks, his sharp eyes narrowing as he catches the look on my face.
I can’t even think of the right words to say. I simply turn my phone toward him. He leans in, his brow furrowing as he reads the headline. Danae scoots closer, her eyes widening as she takes in the images and the words beneath them.
“Is this real?” she whispers, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Before I can answer, Adriel’s laughter cuts through the moment. He’s on the phone, grinning ear to ear. “Really? They posted the ad already?” he says, his voice brimming with excitement.
“Adriel,” I say, gesturing for him to look. “I think it’s more than just the ad.”
He ends his call and comes over, peering at my phone. His grin only widens. “Oh, wow. You guys are trending! Everyone’s talking about the gorgeous mystery people.”
Danae gasps softly. “Trending? Us? Why?”
Adriel shrugs, his tone light but his expression proud. “When people as good-looking as us show up on screens, it tends to turn heads.”
I feel a strange mix of emotions…excitement, bashfulness, confusion. I’ve never been the center of attention like this, and I’m not sure how to feel about it.
Silas, ever the pragmatist, asks, “How is this happening so quickly?”
“Welcome to the world of fame,” Adriel replies smoothly. “One spark, and suddenly everyone’s watching.”
Just then, his phone rings again. He glances at the screen, smirking. “Hold on, guys. It’s my agent.”
We watch as he answers the call, his face lighting up almost immediately. “You’re kidding. No way! Hold on, I’m putting you on speaker. They’re going to want to hear this,” he says, his excitement spilling over. He taps a button and places the phone on the table.
“Adriel!” The agent’s voice bursts through the phone, breathless. “You’re not gonna believe this. The pictures of you and your family? They went viral overnight. Social media is losing its mind trying to figure out who you all are. The ad company decided to drop the campaign early because of how much attention those photos are getting. And get this—media outlets are already crawling over each other to book interviews. One of them wants you and someone from the family on a talk show. Today.”
The words hit like a shockwave, the room falling into a sudden, loaded silence as we all try to process what we just heard. I glance at Silas, who’s sitting stiff and unreadable, like he’s carved out of stone. Next to him, Danae’s wide-eyed, her lips slightly parted as if she can’t decide whether to laugh or panic. And me? I’m somewhere between amusement and disbelief, struggling to wrap my head around it all.
Adriel ends the call with a crisp, satisfied click, leaning back in his chair like he just won the lottery. His grin is sharp, a glint of excitement sparking in his eyes. “Well, superstars,” he says, dragging out the words as his gaze sweeps across us, “what do you say? Who’s coming with me for the interview?”
Nobody answers right away. The silence stretches, not awkward, but weighted. I can feel how much this matters to him, how much he wants one of us to share this moment. And honestly, we all know who it should be. I mean, come on—this is his moment, but it’s also theirs. Adriel and Silas. Two brothers stepping into the spotlight together. The idea practically writes itself.
Silas leans back in his seat, his arms crossed over his chest. There’s a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, one of those rare ones that tells you he’s already made up his mind. “We’ll do the interview together, brother,” he says, his voice calm but sure, like there was never really any other option.
The look on Adriel’s face? It’s something else. Pride, excitement—hell, maybe even a little relief. Whatever it is, it’s warm. You can feel it radiating off him like a wave. For a second, he just nods, like he’s letting it all sink in. Then he claps his hands together. “Perfect,” he says, standing up and dusting off his jeans like he’s ready to take on the world.
He turns to me, his grin softening into something more playful. “You and Danae,” he says, nodding between us. “Should go check out the city. Stretch your legs, maybe hit up some shops. Make a day of it.”
I glance at Danae and feel a jolt of excitement rush through me. “Sure,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual even though my chest feels like it’s buzzing with anticipation.
Danae smiles at me, her eyes lighting up with something I can’t quite place but already love. “I’ll go get ready,” she says, her voice soft but tinged with excitement as she rises from her seat. There’s something graceful about the way she moves like she’s gliding instead of walking. She tosses me one last look before heading out, and I feel a grin tug at my lips.
Adriel and Silas are already deep in some kind of planning, their voices a low hum in the background. But me? I’m still watching Danae’s retreating figure, the thought of spending the day with her sparking a quiet thrill in my chest.
The drive over to the mall is comfortably quiet and we reach it in a few short minutes.
The city hums with life as Danae and I step into the mall. She’s glowing, her excitement infectious as she flits from store to store, trying on everything from elegant dresses to casual jackets. I trail behind, carrying bags and laughing at her over-the-top poses in the mirrors.
“You’re beautiful,” I say at one point, meaning every word.
She grins, twirling in front of me. “Almost as beautiful as you,” she teases, her laugh bubbling up like music.
We keep walking, letting the hum of the bustling mall fill the space between us. There’s something soothing about the rhythm of people moving past—the low chatter, the click of footsteps, the occasional bursts of laughter. It’s not the kind of silence that feels awkward; it’s comfortable. She’s a step ahead, her hair catching the fluorescent light as it swings with her movement. I don’t say anything because I don’t need to. Just watching her, being near her, is enough for me.
Then something catches my eye, pulling my focus like a magnet. A store. Lingerie. Not just the delicate kind—this place is unapologetically bold, selling all kinds of spicy, sensual outfits and…kinkier stuff. But it’s not the store itself that stops me dead in my tracks. It’s one piece in particular, a smoldering, red-hot set fitted perfectly on a mannequin. The outfit is provocative, intricate, almost daring. And the moment I see it, my brain does one thing: puts it on her.
It’s like this thing was made for Danae—crafted with her in mind, down to the very last lace detail. I’m rooted to the spot, just staring.
She’s a few steps ahead and doesn’t notice at first, but then she turns, her brows furrowing as she realizes I’m not by her side. Her gaze flicks from me to the mannequin, and when she catches where my eyes are fixed, something changes in her expression. Her cheeks bloom with this warm, soft pink, and her lips press together like she’s trying not to smile.
I can’t help it—a smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth as I meet her eyes. Mischief. It’s written all over me, and I don’t bother to hide it. “You would look so good in that,” I say.
The blush deepens, flooding her face now, and she shakes her head almost instantly, her hands coming up like she needs to physically push the idea away. “I could never take myself seriously wearing that,” she says, her tone flustered but still laced with laughter.
What? She can’t be serious. How could she not see it? It’s so obvious it hurts. She’s stunning—effortlessly, maddeningly so—and the idea of her not realizing that feels almost offensive.
Without thinking, my feet move on their own. In two strides, I’m next to her, my hand catching her arm. “Come on,” I say, the grin spreading wider now, teasing but insistent. “We’re going to try it on.”
“Joseph…” she groans, her tone half scolding, half laughing, as I steer her toward the entrance. Her voice has this light, playful edge to it, almost giggly, and it only eggs me on.
“We’re doing this,” I say firmly, holding the door open.
She lets out a sigh, one of those exasperated-but-not-really sighs, and I know she’s caving even before she steps inside. A small, knowing smile plays on her lips, and for a moment, I catch a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
This is going to be fun.
The bell above the door jingles softly as we step into the store, the air inside warm and faintly perfumed with something floral. It’s quieter in here, a stark contrast to the hum of the mall outside. Racks of lingerie in every color imaginable line the walls, some bold and fiery, others soft and delicate. And yet, my eyes go straight to the piece—the one that stopped me dead in my tracks.
Danae is lingering behind me, her arms crossed, an amused but skeptical look on her face. She thinks I’m messing around, I can tell. But I’m not. I stride up to the counter where a woman in her late thirties, with a warm smile and glasses perched on her nose, greets me.
“Excuse me,” I say, nodding toward the mannequin. “That red set over there—do you have it in her size?” I glance back at Danae, who’s watching the whole exchange with growing disbelief.
The woman’s smile widens knowingly as her gaze flicks to Danae and back to me. “Oh, absolutely,” she says, moving around the counter. “I’ll grab it for you. What size are we thinking?”
Danae sputters behind me. “Joseph, I am not trying that on!”
I wave her off, grinning as I give the saleswoman an approximate size. Danae groans, muttering something under her breath. A minute later, the woman hands me a bag with the set carefully folded inside and gestures toward the changing booths at the back.
“Joseph—” Danae starts again, but I cut her off with a look.
“Just try it on,” I say, holding the bag out to her. “If you hate it, we’ll leave it here, no big deal.”
Her lips press together like she’s fighting every instinct to argue. But then she sighs, snatches the bag from my hand, and heads toward the changing room. I watch her retreating figure, my grin widening.
I’m leaning against the wall outside the booth, scrolling absently on my phone when her voice calls out softly, “Joseph?”
I glance up, my heart skipping. “Yeah?”
“Come in for a second.”
I don’t hesitate. The changing room is small, just enough room for the mirror, a little bench, and her standing in the middle. She’s wearing a soft white robe tied at the waist, her bare feet peeking out from beneath the hem.
I close the door behind me, the faint click of the lock loud in the small space. “Well?” I ask, leaning casually against the wall, though my pulse is anything but casual. “Are you gonna show me, or—”
She unties the robe, letting it fall open, then slides it off her shoulders.
Time stops.
I knew she’d look good—of course, I knew—but this? This is something else entirely. The red lace hugs her in all the right places, delicate straps crisscrossing over her smooth skin, the fabric teasing just enough while leaving little to the imagination. She’s blushing, her hands twitching like she doesn’t know what to do with them, and the bashful look on her face only makes the whole thing even more arresting.
“Goodness gracious, Danae,” I breathe, my voice low and uneven. “You look…” I trail off, the words escaping me because nothing feels good enough.
She turns on her feet, a soft laugh escaping her lips. “Stop staring like that.”
“I can’t help it,” I say, stepping closer without even realizing it. My hand brushes against her arm, and then I pull her in, my lips finding hers. The kiss starts slow, like I’m trying to savor the moment, but it doesn’t stay that way. It deepens quickly, my hands resting on her waist, then trailing up her back, pulling her closer.
She responds in kind, her hands sliding up to my shoulders, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. For a moment, it’s just us—no mall, no store, no reality. Just her warmth, her scent, the soft noises she makes against my lips.
But then she pulls back, laughing softly, her forehead resting against mine. “Joseph,” she murmurs, her voice light and teasing. “We’re in a store.”
I groan, brushing my thumb against her cheek. “You’re right. But, Danae…” I grin, my lips brushing hers one last time, “I can’t wait to pick this up later.”
Her cheeks flush again, but she smiles, shaking her head as she ties the robe back around herself.
We walk out of the store, the red set now carefully tucked into a shopping bag in my hand. The mall feels brighter somehow, or maybe that’s just me. Danae is walking beside me, her arm brushing mine, and she’s quiet, her expression thoughtful.
Finally, she glances over, her eyes searching my face. “Did you really like the way it looked?”
I stop, turning to face her completely. “More than any look I’ve ever seen in my life.”