"What the hell Ezra! Omg! I can't believe this! "

Ezra looks at Stel's over excited self. While cutting the vegetables for dinner. Sighing ,while putting them into the boiling water in the stove.

"I am not going Stel. He is a stranger, I don't even know him"

She rolls her eyes to only have Ben intervene this time. Picking a broccoli from the cut vegetables and placing it in his mouth.

"So what? Aren't we all strangers in this big round earth?"

Ezra roll my eyes ignoring him. To see him picking up the cut tomatoes as well and she smack his hand this time. Giving him her infamous look.

"Don't Ben. These are for the soup!"

He raises his hands in surrender and Ezra just sighs.

"And first the earth is not round it's geoid and second ....I am not going on a date with any man. You get that?"

Stel and Ben share a look winking at each other , while Ben manages to slide out Ezra's phone from her pocket.

"But Ezra... atleast tell us his name?"

"How does he look like? Is he handsome?"

Stel asks while Ezra tries the taste of the soup. Ignorant of Ben standing behind her. Searching for a strangers name in her contact list.

"He goes by Nathan Williams. One of the investors who came today."

A smirk covers Ben's lips as he opened the contact saved by the name of Nathan. To only send a message.

"Hi ! I umm ..can we meet tonight..if you are free?"

Ben looks at Stel's hopeful eyes, to only nod. And she smiles, continuing to distract Ezra, with the stranger's hot topic.

"See Ezra I know you are scared of strangers but you can atleast try to know him. You yourself told me that he seemed very friendly and you felt comfortable in his presence."

Ezra seemed to be lost in thoughts. Not able to decide. While her phone vibrates in Ben's hand.

He looks at the screen to be only surprised at the words the stranger used.

Sure beautiful. I will pick you up at 8.Just send me your address.

Ps: Always free for you.

Ben looks up to see Ezra still distracted and he types the message with a smirk on his face.

Aunt Mary will kill her if she comes to know a boy picked her up. She is just too protective of her little Ezra.

We can meet at the Eds Club. What's say?

"I know Stel I said it...but I don't know..."

"Just try Ezra. Try coming out of the shell you have made around you."

The phone again vibrates.

I never realised that you would like to go to a place like that. But if you wish, it's my command beautiful.

See you there at Eight.

"Done!"

Ben exclaims, to only have Ezra to look around. Her gaze stops at the phone in his hand and she stills.

"Ben Reed. Don't tell me you-'

"I did it already cupcake. You have no choice left"

She pulls the phone from his hand to see the last sent messages to only have the phone nearly slip from her hands.

Ben and Stel do a high five while Ezra looks at them flabbergasted.

"What the hell guys! How can you do this!"

"And what's this? Eds club? You fuc*ing choose a club and not just any but the very club owned by Reeds?"

Ben winks at her, to only have her look at him in disbelief.

"I thought you will be more comfortable there as it's owned by us only. What's the big deal?"

Ezra lifts her hands in the air, to only hold her her hair in her hands.

Turning her back on them.

"Oh god! What am I going to do now?"

"What? You will get ready and slay him with your looks Ezra! Damn I am so excited for this! "

Stel says, pulling her along to only have Ezra send daggers at Ben. Pointing her finger at him.

"You are dead when I come back Ben. I swear I will kill you for this!"

Ben chuckles, bowing to her.

Your wish is my command, beautiful

He says mimicking Nathan's last words to only hold his stomach in laughter.

"You are dead! I will kill you!'

. . . .

"This is too revealing and body hugging Stel!'

"It's stopping my blood circulation!'

"Oh shut up Ezra! If you continue to wear those loose boys clothes everytime...this is gonna happen when you wear a dress"

"But why can't I wear jeans and top? This is so uncomfortable!"

"Shh stop pulling it down! You look hot and sexy girl!"

"Stel please-"

"Ezra!"

"Stel!"

"Are you ready girl-"

Ben stills as soon as he enters. His eyes widening as he saw Ezra dressed in something like this for the first time.

"Damn."

He lowly whispers to only have both the girls to turn around to look at him.

"Ben! Please tell Stel to allow me to change this! I don't feel comfortable in it...plus I look like I am desp-"

"You look perfect Ezra."

He just says that. Making her go still. Her eyes to widen as she stares at him.

The words lost somewhere.

Taking a jacket from her wardrobe, he places it on her shoulders , to whisper in her ear.

"You innocence is the most beautiful weapon Ezra. All these external things are just an addition to it."

Winking at her, he pulls her along.

"Come on let's go."

. . . . They were walking down the hallway, when suddenly they see Aaron coming towards them.

He seemed busy in a call.

Untill, his eyes moved up to set on Ezra and he stills. The words he was going to say seemed lost as he couldn't take his eyes off the girl in front of him.

Her eyes widen as soon as they met his, to only lower.

Her hands immediately moving lower towards the hem of the dress as she felt uncomfortable under her gaze.

But he didn't take it away.

Looking at her from top to bottom. He almost clenches his fist, to only have his eyes stop at Ben.

A smirk evident on Ben's lips as he saw his brother realising the true beauty of the girl he always hated.

He doesn't stop them, he doesn't ask them anything.

With those emotionless grey eyes set back at Ezra's innocent face, he walks beside her. Making his cologne to wash pass through her senses.

She clenches her fists in front of her chest, breathing in deeply.

To only shake her head, trying to come out of her thoughts.

"Ezra. Come"

Ben says and she nods at him. While they walk down the hallway.

Ben looks back at Aaron over his shoulders. To see the phone tightly clenched in his hand.

And footsteps heavy.

Ignoring him, he looks ahead , showing Ezra the way. As they walk towards their car.

For Ben to drop her at the Eds Club.

Where a beautiful stranger was waiting for her.

.....

It was half past 10 when Ben returns, placing the car keys on the table. To be only surprised to see his big brother sitting on the sofa, having a drink.

"Phew bro ! You scared me!"

Aaron looks up at him, keeping aside his laptop.

"Is this the time to come back Ben?"

Ben just sighs, falling down on the sofa. And placing his feet on the table.

"Oh come on Bro! Now don't be my second mom! Even if you all try...I can bet that you won't be able to change my habits now."

"Plus..."

Ben looks at his watch to only roll his eyes.

"It's just 22:40 bro! The real fun begins at this hour!"

Aaron folds his hands together, to look at Ben with narrowed eyes. Making the smirk on Ben's face to vanish.

"You are not a teenager Ben. You are grown up man now. Behave like one."

Ben scoffs, to only make Aaron jaw to harden.

"Behave like you and do what? Work like a machine, disregard others feelings? Ignore my family."

"Oh please bro I am happy the way I am. "

Aaron doesn't say anything. Just stares at his brother. His grip on the glass tightening.

"Atleast I was there for her when you were not. Atleast I could give mom a shoulder to cry on when she felt low....to tell her it will be fine." . . .

"Unlike you who didn't even pick our calls when Dad was in the hospital."

No one dares to remind him of the incident. Except for Ben.

Even though he was the youngest in family and the most notorious one. He was not afraid to speak his mind.

He spoke what's true, without fearing anyone or anything.

"Ben I had my reasons-"

"Go fuc* with your reasons bro! Nothing is above family."

"The girl you go around calling an Orphan? The girl you hate was there, taking care of all of us like family! When it should have been you! "

Aaron stills ,a heaviness settling in his chest. As he remembered that time.

But no matter what he couldn't say anything.

He couldn't justify his actions.

"Responsibility? He talks of it now?"

Getting up, Ben shakes his head in disbelief to only walk away from there. When he stops, listening to him calling.

"The girl went with you. Why are you back alone?"

A smile comes on Ben's lips as he turns around, chuckling to himself.

"Now he even asks about her. The girl ....ah do you even know her name bro? I bet you don't"

Aaron's patience was running out as he sees drunk Ben getting too audacious with him.

Walking towards him, Aaron looks into his mocking eyes with coldness redefined.

"Where the hell is Ezra Ben. I won't fuc* ing ask you again."

Ben smiles, placing his hand on Aaron's chest.

"She is having the best time of her life away from you bro.You should be happy..that she is finally over the infatuation of Aaron Reed."

"You left her there alone Ben?"

"Aah don't worry, the boy was a decent guy. I am sure he will take better care of her than you ever could."

Aaron's limits have been crossed,as he held Ben's collar to pull him towards him.

"Which guy Ben?"

Aaron asks hoping that it's not him. Hoping that Ezra listened to his advice and didn't commited a blunder like this.

"Which guy dammit!"

Ben speaks up. Pushing back Aaron. To make his hands to drop from his collar.

"Some Nathan guy...they went on a date today at the Eds club. And you know what he calls her?"

"He calls her beautiful unlike you who considers her as dirt."

"You never deserve her but I don't know what she sees in you?"

"Anyways I am so tired. I will retire for the day. "

Ben was drunk and saying things he wouldn't say in his senses. But his words don't effect him.

Instead , he was more concerned about the facts that he was told.

Ben leaves, to oy have Aaron run his hand through his hair. Worry covering his features.

"Dammit Ezra! Why !"

He says to only rush towards the laptop while calling someone on his phone.

His eyes fixed at the clock above as the phone rings.

"Hello. Eds Club. How may I help you?"

"It's me Aaron. Hand over the phone to the security head."

"Sir Aaron? Sure Sir. Just a minute."

There is silence for next few minutes , to only have the security guard speak.

"Yes boss. What can I do for you?"

"Connect me to the security cameras asap. And I am sending you a girl's picture. Make sure she is fine while she is there. Okay?"

"Yes boss"

The screen of the laptop gets connected and Aaron clicks on the pictures, to find a particular brunette with innocent face and a black dress.

His finger stills on the cursor as he sees her there, smiling like he has never seen her smile before.

The reason of her smile sitting in front of her.

Nathan Williams.

And this made him clench his fists. That bastar*! It's not about being jealous, he didn't stop Ezra earlier because of it.

He warned her because of the man that Nathan Williams is.

He was a playboy in college that they attended together in states. A charmer of words, but also a crusader of hearts.

He used sweet words to get close to them , to only fuc* with them and leave them.

A playboy to be exact.

He thought maybe he changed as they both were adults and parties of corporate world now. But it seems old habits don't die that easily.

He was still that double faced Nathan.

The final call of confirmation was still awaited , but somewhere in his heart Aaron knew.

What innocent girls like Ezra were for users like Nathan.

A game.

Just a bloody game.

Aaron's eyes remain at the screen to only see something unusual.

When around 15 minutes later he finally sees it

Nathan's one hand was placed on her back, as he distracted her with his sweet words.

To only hand over a small packet to the waiter behind, winking at him.

The waiter, turns his back towards the camera. Does some shit and turns around to only place two glasses of Champagne on the counter.

Ezra and Nathan both turn around as Nathan picks her glass and hands it over to her.

No Ezra! No! Don't take it!

She moves her head in a no. Smiling at him innocently, to only have him literally place the glass in her hands.

Sh**! The bastard is too smart!

He picks up his own glass next and do cheers with her. And next he knows, the stupid girl gulps the liquid in one go.

Aaron gets up, cursing.

To only pick up his phone and jacket.

"Sh**! How can this girl be so stupid!"

Starting the ignition, he reverses the car. Keeping the call on bluetooth.

"Where is she?"

"We can't trace her boss. They both were here but we can't find them anywhere now."

"See the cameras"

"They were found leaving the club Sir."

Fuc*!

Aaron curses, dialing the stupid girls number to only find it switched off.

Pressing on the accelerator, he speeds through the empty roads, desperate to reach on time.