Chapter 57

Ella

Another day, another dollar come my thoughts as I currently sat waiting at the kitchen island for my brothers. Having gotten up extra early the next day, I decided on trying to surprise them with a surprise breakfast, wanting to do something sweet for them like they always did for me.

Glancing towards the closest clock, I moved to see it read 7:30 in the morning, which meant my brothers should all be up by now. Reece and Dylan each having important shareholder meetings to attend too, while Caleb on the other hand, needed to spend time practicing for his next upcoming race. A race he promised I could attend. One that took place in about a month just shortly after Dylan's Met Gala event, which was taking place next week.

A Met Gala, I sigh dreamily. My eyes dancing with happiness. The one night I would be able to dress up for a black tie formal event and spend it with Dylan. A small piece of me wishing that Caleb and Reece could attend as well, but Reece promised me that I would have my own moments with them another time.

Like a Mascarade ball, whispers my thoughts.

My thoughts silently reminding me of Reece's Mascarade ball. A ball held once a year in honor of collecting money for profitable charities as well as for those to mingle and dance until they couldn't anymore. The money then being donated to the charity of one's choosing. A charity that Reece was allowing me to pick for this year's ball.

Lost to my thoughts, I failed to notice anyone else moving to enter the room until I suddenly felt warm strong arms come to wrap themselves gently around my waist before pulling me flushed against a sturdy chest. Warm lips now against my cheek as they move to whisper softly against my ear.

"Good Morning Stellina (Little Star)."

Blinking, I once remember that name being used by my parents. It was Italian that much I always knew but never had a chance of figuring out the meaning behind it. Until now.

Glancing towards the person in greeting, I can't help but smile. Reece being the first to arrive as I move to hand him his morning cup of coffee, his eyes arched by the gesture.

"Stellina?"

Resisting the urge to blush, I quickly move to reply again, "I wanted to surprise you each with breakfast. I hope you don't mind?"

"Not at all, Stellina" answers Reece his body moving to sit down next to me. My curiosity now getting the better of me as I finally move to ask him about the word.

"What's that?

"What's what?"

"Stellina? You said it twice now and so did mom and dad at one time."

"It means little star. And in some way you are, you're our little star, always shining in our vast sea of darkness, like you're the only one who can light up our lives without even trying."

Blushing at the compliment, I tried to shake it off. "You flatter me."

"No flattery needed. You shine so brightly already, like a diamond. A star even. And because of that, you belong to us" replies Dylan, having heard our conversation as he becomes the second to arrive, giving him that moment of opportunity to hear mine and Reece's conversation.

Smiling at the new addition to the room, I quickly turned to greet him as well, "Morning"

"Good Morning, Stellina"

Spotting all the yummy food that I spent hours working on beforehand, Dylan arches an eye but refrains from commenting as he moves to take a seat as well, Caleb being the last to arrive and bringing up the rear as he moves to join us for breakfast.

"Good Morning" yawns Caleb only to pause. Never one to be a morning person, yet knew that he couldn't afford to sleep in as he had an important race coming up and needed to be ready for it. Having gotten the text just after our love-making session yesterday by the pool.

"Good Morning, sleep well?" I teased softly.

"Mmm... No... But we'll need to fix that soon. I miss having you within my arms" admits Caleb a hint of teasing going on within his own voice as well.

"I agree with Caleb, we'll definitely need to fix that and soon" chimes Dylan, suddenly catching on to what Caleb was hinting at, as was Reece.

With another blush rising, we all finally move to sit down and enjoy the breakfast that I created, each of us sitting and enjoying the breakfast like a family. A thought that causes me to pause, but only for a second as I move to shake it from my mind before going back to eating the food.

A few short minutes later which actually turned into 45 minutes later, Reece, Dylan and Caleb were each just finishing up with breakfast just as Grant and Hayden both come walking into the room. Oblivious that they had missed out on breakfast.

"Good Morning. You missed breakfast" I chime, having hoped that they would have joined us this morning.

"That's okay Princess, but thank you for the offer, but Hayden and I can always grab a bite to eat on the way after dropping off Reece and Dylan at the Office." muses Grant, his hand now ruffling my hair as he tries to make light of the situation that was before us.

"Oh and by the way, this came in the mail for you. Not sure who it was that sent it but figured it might be important," adds Grant, moving to lay a blank white envelope addressed to me on the counter. Something about the way it was addressed made me think that something bad was about to happen if I opened it.

"Thanks, I'll look at it later" I murmured, hoping to avoid the creepy-looking envelope as much as I could. Not wanting to deal with it until I could safely hide away back upstairs and within my room.

"Are you sure?" asks Caleb, the envelope catching each of their attention as well.

Hesitating slowly, I slowly move to look at Caleb and then to Reece and Dylan before looking back to Grant and Hayden, because in all reality I wasn't so sure I wanted to see what was inside of it. A part of me screaming to just throw away the envelope and forget what was inside of it. Biting my lip out of habit, I slowly move to take the envelope within my hand. The envelope slightly heavy, which meant there was something inside of it as I move to rip it open, careful not to tear anything that was inside of it.

Here goes nothing, come my only thoughts as I move to open the envelope, only to freeze by what was inside of it. My hands shaking as I sat there holding photos, photos that were of me, my friends, my family, including my brothers, a photo even including yesterday's incident with me kissing Caleb within the pool. Tears beginning to rise as the pictures sit staring at me, reminders that I'm always being watched and without my permission.

"Ella?" calls Reece softly, having been the closet to me as he carefully moves to see what was inside the envelope, only to pause, a growl rising as he did.

"THAT'S IT! Dylan, I want Adam to check all of our security feeds. I want to know if anyone was seen on or near the property. I want him to look at everything" barks Reece, aware that Caleb and I had made out over at the pool. As Caleb had rubbed it into their faces yesterday. A gesture that made me blush because I had been thinking naughty thoughts and wondered how much Caleb had told them about their encounter by the pool.

"On it" grunts Dylan, already on his phone, while Reece moves to take the photos from my hand. A small note stuck to one of the pictures. The note short yet straight to the point.

I'm always watching Princess ~ N.

Nicholas. It had to be him, yet without any sort of proof that he was the one behind the harassing, we had no way of proving it was him. Harassing me for an unknown item that he claimed was in my possession even though I had no clue what it was or if it truly even existed. Warm arms now encasing me gently as I move to hide my face deep within their chest. Accepting the warmth that it provided even as my own fears clouded my mind. My body fully aware of my brothers and the promise to protect me at all costs rising.

The need to feel safe and secure washing all other things away for the time being as I slowly try to digest what I just saw with my own two eyes.