Chapter 32

On the morning of December 25th, Aurora sat at the table with Adelaide and Kai, who had spent the night in the guest room. She sipped the bitter coffee prepared by her sister, or at least tried to stay awake, as she had barely slept the night before.

The intercom's ring awakened the girl, who was almost dozing off on the chair. Adelaide answered the call and returned to the kitchen seconds later with a puzzled look.

"Alex is in the lobby; he said he wants to talk to you," Adelaide informed, sitting down next to Kai.

Aurora finished her coffee, grabbed her coat, and left without saying a word. She already expected that Alex would seek her out to talk about what happened last night, and if he didn't, she would do it herself. Her sleepless night had given her time to reflect on various family-related issues.

Upon reaching the lobby, she saw Alex standing up from a chair when he noticed her presence.

"Sorry for interrupting. You should be enjoying Christmas," he said.

"It's okay. I have the whole day to finish the rest of the feast," Aurora joked, eliciting a slight smile from him. "Let's talk somewhere else; people around here have very keen hearing!"

"As you wish," Alex replied. They left the building and began to walk side by side on the lightly snow-covered sidewalk.

"Just so you know, I've prepared a list of questions I want to ask you, and I won't accept blank answers," Aurora warned.

"I have many questions too, but I'll let you start," Alex said.

"Alright. First, why do you hide that you're a Callahan?"

"The name 'Callahan' carries a lot of power and attracts fake friendships. I don't want to be surrounded by people without knowing if they're genuinely my friends or just interested in my family's money. So, I've kept it a secret since I moved to New York."

"I understand your side, but why didn't you tell me? Do you doubt my loyalty and Lucca's?"

"It's not that, Aurora. I tried to tell you back when you were studying journalism, I swear I tried, but I couldn't find the right moment," he explained sincerely. "It was worse when Lucca talked about his admiration for Tristan," he added, rolling his eyes.

"I noticed yesterday that you and Tristan don't get along."

"We never did. The years we spent under the same roof are a part of my life that I wish to forget," he replied with a certain coldness, looking at the sparsely busy street.

"What do you mean? You lived together?"

"Uncle Callahan kicked him out, and my mother, who had a big heart, welcomed him with open arms into our house in Canada."

Aurora remembered her conversation with Xavier, where he mentioned that Tristan spent a decade away from New York. The pieces were starting to come together. But what could have been so terrible for Alex to refer to Tristan as if he were a monster?

"If Mr. Callahan despises him so much, then why did he hand over the company's leadership to him?"

"I don't really know what happened between them, but I'm sure my uncle didn't hand over the presidency willingly."

She sighed. She noticed that Alex didn't want to talk about it anymore, and she would respect that. She wouldn't miss the chance to learn about Tristan's past, as Alexander was the only one who could tell her in detail. As for recent events, she would ask Xavier, the "loose-lipped" one.

Aurora had no more questions for Alex and encouraged him to start his interrogation about Tristan. He seemed intrigued and curious about the relationship between Aurora and the mysterious man.

"How did you meet him?" Alex asked, referring to Tristan.

Aurora responded with a lie. "Griffin introduced us," omitting the incident of the near-accident.

"How did you meet Griffin?" Alex questioned.

"At the hospital. I wasn't feeling well, and he was the doctor who attended to me. We became friends after that, especially him and Adelaide."

They continued the conversation, with Alex asking about the relationship between Aurora and Tristan. She assured him they were just acquaintances and tried to explain that Tristan wanted to talk to Adelaide about Griffin. Alex didn't seem entirely convinced but let the subject go.

Then came the unexpected question. "Are you a lesbian?"

Aurora was surprised and vehemently denied it. She explained that the kiss with Rose was a misunderstanding and that she liked men. Alex was understanding, and the situation eased with a smile.

***

Later, Aurora was passing through the building's lobby, still thinking about her conversation with Alex when the elderly lady caught her attention in a peculiar way.

"Two handsome men in the morning? You're doing well, young lady," the lady teased.

At first, Aurora responded with a tough attitude, but then she noticed the double entendre and asked about Tristan.

"While you were out with one, the other lover came looking for you here," the old lady replied, handing a package to Aurora. "I might start charging for deliveries! That businessman showers you with gifts!"

Aurora took the package and rushed to the stairs, eager to open Tristan's present. Upon opening the box, she was surprised to see a new and sophisticated camera. It was much more expensive than her old one.

Aurora sighed, wondering how she would explain the expensive gift to Adelaide. After all, just a few days ago, she was lamenting the lack of money to buy a new camera.

Despite the dilemma, Aurora couldn't help but appreciate Tristan's gesture. He was slowly winning her heart, and that unexpected gift only made her more intrigued and attracted to him. The mystery surrounding Tristan was deepening, but Aurora felt she was willing to unravel it, even if it meant facing unexpected challenges.

***

At that moment, Tristan thought that Aurora had already received his gift. He knew how much she loved photography. He observed how she talked about it after lovemaking, the words flowing from her mouth with an enviable passion. That's why he felt guilty on the night he accidentally broke her camera.

While Aurora looked at the broken object in her hands, Tristan pretended to be asleep in his bed, witnessing the girl's sad expression. He felt the need to do something to change that.

He wanted to have personally handed the gift to see the happiness on her face, but she wasn't in the building, so he decided to stay away from her for a while, at least until the end of the holiday season. He thought she would enjoy spending time with her family during these days, and he wouldn't interfere.

This time would be good for him too. He had been wandering without commitments in the past few days and thought that maybe the constant occurrence of thinking about the girl was because his mind was too unoccupied. During this "free time," he would try to keep busy with training to improve his skills.

Tristan had been in the training room for hours, ignoring every time the maids came to offer him something to drink or eat.

"Mr. Tristan," a maid called, seeing him lying on the mat wearing just sweatpants while doing push-ups. She almost drooled over his muscles and sweaty body.

"I said I'm fine. Leave me alone and go about your business," he ordered without interrupting the physical activity.

"Sir, this time I didn't come to offer you anything. I came to inform you that Mr. Xavier just arrived."

He stopped with the push-ups, sitting on the mat.

"Tell him to come here."

"Yes, sir," she made a final bow and hurriedly left the room.

Tristan got up, went outside the mat, picked up his water bottle from the floor, and took a long sip.

"I hate this place!" he heard the voice of the taller man as he finished coming down the stairs. "It smells like wet dog in here!"

"Shut up, big ears."

"Hello to you too!" he forced a smile that soon faded. "Is it possible that even during my vacation, you won't leave me alone?"

"Such consideration for your friend," he pretended to be hurt.

"I should be the one saying that!" Tristan took another sip of water, ignoring his friend's indignation. "Funny how you only remember we're friends now that you want something, but you forget it when you pile me with work and throw my phone against the wall!"

"Don't mix work with personal life. And I did buy you a new phone, didn't I?"

"A very expensive and beautiful one, indeed," he smiled again.

"So stop complaining." He set the bottle aside and went to the shelf in the corner, picking up the wraps and wrapping them around his hands.

"Why did you call me here? You're not going to use me as a punching bag, are you?" he asked, a little afraid of the answer.

"Do you remember when I told you about Alex?"

"Alex?" he forced his memory. "Oh, yes! Your cousin from Canada. What about him?"

"I want you to research him. Give me all the information you find useful when you come back from vacation."

"Okay, but why so much interest all of a sudden?" Xavier asked, curious.

"I found him yesterday..." Tristan replied, staring at his friend. "At Aurora's house."

"It had to be! That little one is always involved... By the way, I have something to tell you, but first promise me you'll still consider the idea of not turning me into your punching bag?" Xavier requested.

"Spit it out," Tristan replied, walking over to a punching bag and starting to punch it, getting ready for the news.

"Yesterday, my family and I went to my favorite restaurant, and there was a little problem..." Xavier said, slowly heading towards the exit.

"What does that have to do with me?" Tristan inquired.

"The thing is, we ran into Adelaide, and now she knows that Aurora has been lying about her whereabouts."

Tristan delivered a final, stronger punch than the others, and Xavier was surprised the bag held up. However, suddenly, sand started to pour out of it, and Xavier swallowed nervously, frightened.

"You told her?!" Tristan questioned, looking at Xavier, who was already at the door.

"N-n-no! It was Seraphina who said that she's not and never was friends with Aurora!" Xavier quickly replied, almost incomprehensible.

"And you didn't even try to stop her?" One step towards Xavier was enough to make him tremble in fear.

"I tried, but you know how my sister is!!" Xavier explained hastily.

"Damn it..." Tristan muttered, clenching his fists. "Get out of here before I tear you apart!"

Xavier didn't think twice and ran away, nearly tripping over his own feet as he passed by one of the maids who asked if he was okay, but he said nothing and kept going up. She ignored him and descended back to the training room, seeing the boss with his back turned.

"Mr. Tristan."

He sighed, maintaining his composure, and then turned to the woman.

"What is it?"

"Your brother is in the room. He wants to talk to you." Tristan furrowed his brows slightly at the unexpected visit.

"Tell him to wait; I'll take a shower first."

He walked past the maid, noticing her eyes glued to his body. Tristan ignored it and went upstairs, walked into his room, and entered the bathroom. He undressed and let the hot water from the shower fall on his body as he felt his sore bones.

During the quick shower, he thought about what Xavier said. He would have to be more careful when meeting Aurora, and she needed to come up with another, more convincing lie.

After showering, he dried himself with a towel and put on a comfortable shirt and pants. Then, he left the room and saw a smiling Griffin standing in the middle of the living room.

"What's the reason for the visit?" Tristan asked, stopping a little distance away from the older man.

"Isn't it obvious?" Griffin replied, raising one arm and shaking the small bag he was holding. "It's Christmas!"

"I don't celebrate that kind of thing."

"But I do! Here, I bought you a present." He handed him the bag, and Tristan looked at one of the maids in the corner of the room.

"Put it in my room."

"Yes, sir." She took the bag and left.

"Why didn't you tell me Alex is in New York?" Tristan inquired, not even knowing if the older man was aware of his cousin's whereabouts.

"I thought you knew. I mean, you used to live together, and at some point, he must have mentioned his dream of living here and becoming a music producer," Griffin replied.

Every day, Alex talked about that dream, but Tristan never made an effort to pay attention.

"How long has he been living here?" Tristan asked.

"I think it's been about three years, not sure," Griffin scratched his neck. "I used to ask him about you, but Alex only said you decided to pursue accounting."

"He only said that?" Tristan questioned in a serious tone.

"Yeah, why? Are you hiding something else?" There was no response, and Griffin gave up, realizing that the younger one wouldn't surrender. "Okay, I won't insist. Just let me know if you already have plans for New Year's?"

"Yes. I'll stay home with several bottles of whiskey," Tristan replied, while the other made a bored face.

"Don't you think it's better to come with me to Central Park and watch the fireworks up close?"

"I'll pass."

"Argh! Come on, Tristan!" He didn't want his brother to be alone on New Year's Eve. "Dad won't be there, and neither will any other member of our family. It'll be just me and some friends from the hospital."

"Hm..." Tristan muttered without enthusiasm.

"Please!" Griffin insisted, he even thought he might need to kneel, but before proceeding with such humiliation, Tristan gave him an answer.

"Okay... I'll go." This made the doctor's smile even wider.