Second Impressions Series

OLIVIA

After two excruciating hours, we arrived at our destination.

It was my first time here, but I knew that December in the Hamptons wasn’t as friendly and pleasant as the summer stories I’d heard. In these dark winter months, East Hampton felt desolate.

We drove through a white wood panel gate and I saw a huge luxury cottage beach house.

Its tall French windows glowed with the warm light from within, making it look alive and surprisingly cozy, like a painting.

On the steps up to the house, two women in uniform stood waiting in the cold with the wind blowing on their faces.

I looked at the driver wondering why he didn’t receive the same treatment from their employer. He deserved worse. Shithead.

They approached the car as we stopped. The driver got out and stormed up the stairs, leaving me alone. He spoke to the staff, pointing at the car as he gave them the keys.

Maybe he quit? That was unexpected. Even though he was getting on my nerves, I’d planned on checking him out over the next two weeks.

It was more than getting on my nerves, though. I had to admit that I was still processing how much he intimidated me.

My eyes followed him until he entered the house.

One of the women opened the door so I could get out of the car. “Miss Summer, welcome to the Rothschild state. My name is Rosie. Please follow me. Someone will bring your baggage to your room.”

Finally, some hospitality.

Her reddish hair was pulled tight on a neat bun making her sleek face sharp. Her freckled face did little to hide her age.

I got out of the car, feeling like a misfit but shook the feeling right away as I kept looking at the house.

“This is beyond beautiful,” I muttered, feeling like a stranger spoke instead of me. I was not easily impressed, not even by wealth. But beauty…

“This is just the guest house, Miss. The main house is right there.” She pointed with a genuine smile on her lips.

I gasped at the manor’s presence. Mother above. It was located steps from the beach, now covered in a light layer of snow.

The guest house looked like a treehouse in comparison, but my jaw dropped as I entered the foyer behind Rosie.

My Gosh! How much good taste can my eyes bear? White in different textures, beige and wood contrasting colors, and light gray rock details with gold accents. Could it be real gold?

Luxury meets coastal.I was speechless.

It was like walking through an exclusive interior design store with the same delicious smell of candles you take home to fantasize about how your dream house would look like.

This was it, this was my dream house, and it was just the guest house near the manor.

I recognized the sound coming from the next room, undeniably my sister’s laughter.

I walked toward her voice into a living room where three figures stood. Sarah and a blond man, probably her new boyfriend Alexander. And…

Is that the driver? Yes, he was greeting my sister like they already knew each other.

“Darius, thank you for bringing my Ollie.” She beat her eyelashes as only she could, an act reserved for people she wanted smitten. I knew this routine so well.

So his name was Darius.

She was being extra nice to him. I was getting the feeling that I missed something. Something in the back of my mind was telling me that I’d fucked this one hard, and not in a good way.

Was Darius someone important? Wasn’t he just a driver?

Sarah started making squeaky sounds as soon as she saw me, jumping up and down while clapping. Alexander was looking at her bouncing boobs. Good boy.

“Ollie, I’m so happy you made it!” She ran toward me, and the handsome blond man followed her while she leaped with her arms wide open to give me a hug.

“Sorry for the delay, but our family chauffeur had an inconvenience,” she explained, squeezing me with her arms.

“It’s okay,” I mumbled.

The way she said “our family” surprised me. Since when did she consider herself part of this family?

“Alexander, please meet my sister, Ollie.” Sarah had the biggest grin ever.

Alexander greeted me with a warm smile.

“A real pleasure to meet you, Ollie. Please feel at home,” he said politely, bringing some warmth to my face.

Alexander held Sarah’s waist and kissed her head. The way she closed her eyes and pressed herself into his chest made me frown. Weird. They looked so in love.

It was almost too sweet to believe that my little sister, for the first time, was in a relationship.

Did they love each other?

“Darius saved the day by bringing my dear Ollie,” Sarah said, clinging to Alexander.

Darius stepped forward, walking like royalty, so uptight and serious.

Of course he’s not a simple driver, dummy! Maybe he was a family friend coming for the holidays who offered to give me a lift.

My hands started sweating, and my heart pounded.

This fucker was making me nervous. I looked around, but my eyes betrayed me, fixing on his chiseled chin and those lips that closed in a tight, thin line as soon as he glanced my way.

Those silver eyes terrified me, sending a shock to my nerves in a sudden jolt.

I would never admit how unnervingly attractive he was, but my body… My body was reacting inappropriately to someone I was sure I didn’t like, and would never like. Never!

“Are you okay?” Sarah asked, seeing how flushed I was.

“I guess I should also thank you, Ollie,” Alexander interrupted before I could answer. I watched him blankly.

“If it weren’t because of you, Darius probably would have skipped the whole holiday and stayed in the city.” He patted Darius hard on the back.

Darius looked at Alexander and smiled. I could see his bulky arms tight in his tailored suit while he returned the back-patting to Alexander.

Why was I starting to get warm?

“I need to check on Anna and get some work done,” Darius said. “Dinner at eight?”

“Yes, brother,” Alexander replied.

Brother?

I froze. I replayed everything he had said as I watched them. One blond and one brunet, both tall and muscular, some similar features here and there, yet so different.

Alexander had the features of an angel, while Darius was a demon sent from hell to torment me. He was a bad, bad person! Being hot was part of the booby trap. I was staying away from his hot ass.

“I will come with you. I need to discuss something.” Alexander kissed my sister goodbye, leaving us alone.

Sarah squealed and hugged me again. “This makes me so happy! I can’t believe you’re here! Thank you for not bailing out!”

She continued to mumble, unable to hold her happiness, a bubble of joy. “Now that you met his brother, you are only missing his parents! Just please, don’t do anything weird, Ollie. Please?”

“So, he is his brother?” I snapped. This was worse than I thought. “Isn’t his brother’s name Rob, Robert, or something?”

“Darius Robert Rothschild,” she laughed. “Robert is the name the media knows him by, but his inner circle calls him Darius”

Fuck. My. Life.