“Ha!” Brooke mock-laughed, though without any real amusement at all. She wasn’t going anywhere with Stavo. Regardless of whether her dad dragged her to this banquet by her hair or not. Brooke would rather shave it off than stomach a night on Stavo’s arm. “I know what a banquet is,” Brooke hissed. Did he think she lived under a rock? Obviously she didn’t. She’s been at this whole-having a parent in politics thing, a lot longer than he has. His dad wasn’t even the governer yet. There was still a 50% chance he’d lose and she’d get rid of Stavo for good. Though, knowing her dad, that wouldn’t be the case. Failure wasn’t an option. Not if Quinn could help it. He’d pay people off to get what he wants before he lost. “He wouldn’t do that,” Brooke argued as she crossed her arms over her chest. Would he? They barely even knew the Acostas. “Get up,” Brooke demanded, before she stomped her foot like a petulant child and let out a rippling, aggravated scream that ruptured hoarsely from her throat. “No way! Not happening! Absolutely not!” Brooke huffed and she puffed as she left Stavo in her bedroom to run downstairs and confront her father. She didn’t care that he was in his study with Miguel, sharing cigars and spilling tea as Jake and her coined it forever ago. “Daddy, what the hell is going on? There’s an intruder in my bedroom. Make him leave!” She demanded. Quinn looked to Miguel, wide-eyed and apologetically, “You’ll have to excuse her. She’s been going through a rough time lately. Honey, calm down. I’ve invited the Acostas to stay. It’s just for a few days until they find a more manageable and permanent footing. There’s plenty of room. Please, don’t freak out. Besides, it’ll give you and Stavo a chance to get to know one another better.” Quinn smiled as he pinched Brooke’s nose cutely. She pushed his hand away in response and screamed again as she slammed the door shut to his study on her way out. She needed help. And the only person who would hate this arrangement more than her was Jake. So, out of everyone, he’d understand right? Therefore, Brooke texted him. And was in the middle of convincing him to meet up with her when Stavo appeared downstairs in the center foyer with her. “I don’t care what my dad says, you’re not staying so don’t get comfortable.”
As Brooke folded her arms across her chest, her boobs were slightly pushed up, making them more obvious, which Stavo took full advantage of. Brooke had a nice big rack for such a small, petite girl. Jake was lucky, but now his time has passed. And since Quinn wanted him to move in on his daughter, he will. Why not? Sure, she was bitchy and controlling, but how incredible would it feel when he finally puts her in her place? By the end of his visit, Brooke will have fallen for him, or have fucked him, at the very least. Either way, something was bound to happen with all this tension in the room. “Why are you so pissed?” Stavo sat up and sprinted toward the door as Brooke ran down the stairs like a bratty 10-year-old. What a tattletale. “Pff.” Stavo turned back around to get a nice look at Brooke’s bedroom one last time before he descended the stairs and met her in the foyer. She still looked pissed, which meant daddy didn’t listen to her. But Stavo already knew he wouldn’t. Business was more important than her broken onyx nail, so to speak. “Why do you insist on hating me, Brooke? What have I ever done to you?” Stavo neared closer, standing over her with his arms crossed. He expected Brooke to check out his sturdy muscles, but when she didn’t, his ego deflated. What was it going to take for him to melt the princess? Maybe if he acted more like her type—which was evidently, frat boy. Stavo would need to study Jake’s way. The way he speaks, the way he moves, and the way he interacts with Brooke. She misses him; so she’ll cling to any reincarnation. As a psychologist major, Stavo knew what he was thinking would work. “Just answer me this one question and I’ll get out of your hair. Are you and Jake really over?”