Chapter 3 03

I rolled my eyes. "Got a little bit of a cold, Daniella?" I teased, crossing my arms as I leaned against the doorway.

She grunted, shooting me a glare. "Shut up," she snapped, her voice hoarse from what I could only assume was the cold or a combination of too much partying and not enough sleep.

I obliged, biting my lip to hold back the chuckle, and slid my suitcase under the bed. I yanked my clothes off, leaving only my matching hot red bra and panties set on, the one I'd bought for Daniella as a Christmas gift. But after she pissed me off with some bullshit earlier, I decided to keep them for myself. She could deal with it. I flopped onto my bed, intending to get some sleep before whatever event we had to attend tonight.

But no matter how hard I tried, sleep just wouldn't come. I kept staring at my twin sister, unable to ignore the differences between us. Daniella had long, golden blonde hair that cascaded past her shoulders, like something out of a fairy tale. I, on the other hand, had dyed mine jet black, keeping it cut just below my shoulders. She was always pristine, with creamy skin that looked like porcelain, while my arms were covered in tattoos. My skin was a canvas of ink, images, and colors forever etched into me.

I glanced over at her again. She was in the process of folding her pink sweater with a practiced motion. She had that perfect little life. One I could never seem to fit into. Not because I didn't try, but because I didn't want to try. She was carefree in a way I could never be. She didn't have piercings, except for her ears. Me? I had a tongue piercing, two lip piercings, ear piercings, a belly button, clit, and even nipple piercings. I was the one who took things too far, the one who defied every rule.

"You need to be up before the guests get here," Daniella hissed at me as she neatly placed her sweater in the open drawer, her movements like a ballet dancer.

I groaned, pulling the duvet up over my head in protest. "Wake me up then," I snapped back, voice muffled by the covers.

It felt like I had barely slept before Daniella decided that the time had come for me to get up. The door opened with a soft creak, and she stood there, looking every bit like the picture-perfect angel she always was, in a yellow dress that made her look even more radiant. I briefly wondered if I could ever pull off something so clean and beautiful, but then remembered our mother's rule about not showing off my tattoos. She thought they were... vulgar.

I sighed, pulling the blanket up around my head, wishing I could get just a few more minutes of peace. But, no. Daniella had a mind of her own.

Nolan's POV

She was different. Not what I was usually attracted to, but she had something.

I wasn't the type of guy who chased after girls with tattoos or piercings. I liked the clean, polished kind. The ones who could blend into any social situation without causing a stir. But when she walked in, everything shifted.

I had been talking to my father's business associate, discussing shares and mergers, when I saw her. She entered the room like she owned the place, her presence demanding attention. I excused myself from the conversation, pretending to sip on my cup of Coca-Cola as I felt my heart rate quicken.

Her eyes were sharp, scanning the room. Bored. Detached, like she didn't belong in this world. But there was something magnetic about it. Something that pulled me toward her.

I saw Daniella standing beside her, and that's when I made the connection. This was her infamous twin. I'd heard all about her but never actually seen her before. I couldn't decide whether that made her more mysterious or more frustrating to me.

Her hair was dark, chopped in a style that framed her face and just fell below her shoulders. It was a stark contrast to Daniella's long, braided blonde hair. Where Daniella had pristine beauty, her twin had a raw, untamed energy.

Her black dress was skin-tight, hugging every curve, and she paired it with black heels that clicked sharply against the floor as she walked. I couldn't help but notice the tattoos-so vibrant and colorful-running down her arms and partially visible on her chest. I was curious how long it took her to cover her body in all of that ink. Her whole persona screamed defiance and rebellion.

I couldn't take my eyes off her.

Her eyes met mine across the room, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. There was something in those eyes-something mischievous, daring. She smirked, and my stomach tightened. I hadn't even realized I was staring until her gaze flicked over my face, and I hastily looked down, feeling heat creep up my neck.

I turned to face the champagne table, pretending to be absorbed in my drink. I was still trying to compose myself when I saw a pair of black boots enter my line of sight. I froze.

Slowly, I lifted my gaze, my breath catching in my throat as I looked up to find her standing right before me. She was taller than I expected, and the proximity made my pulse spike. She was wearing that same smirk, the one that made her look like she knew something I didn't.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I was completely at a loss. She tilted her head, as if amused by my speechlessness, and I couldn't help but wonder if she was aware of the effect she was having on me.

"Well, well," she said, her voice dripping with casual confidence. "You're Nolan, right?"

I nodded, still not trusting my voice. "Yeah, that's me."

"Nice to finally meet you." Her tone was light, teasing. "I've heard a lot about you."

I chuckled nervously, hoping it didn't sound as awkward as I felt. "I'm sure it's all good things."

She raised an eyebrow, her smirk turning into something almost... predatory. "Some of it."

I swallowed hard. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Before I could respond, Daniella appeared at her side, her expression a mix of surprise and irritation. "Tori, you're not supposed to be messing around with him," she snapped, her tone suddenly sharp.

Tori-the twin. I should have known.

I felt the tension in the air shift, like a storm gathering. I wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into, but one thing was clear: this night was going to be interesting. And not in the way I had expected.

Tori looked at her sister, her lips curling into a smile that could only be described as dangerous. "Don't worry, Daniella. I'm just getting started."