Her Father's Expectations by Chevel Grant (classic children's novels .TXT) 📕

known Demetrius was in love with his sister from the time when Reina was seventeen and they had gone over to Demetrius's mansion.
Lorenzo had asked Demetrius what were his intentions towards Reina. Demetrius had looked him squarely in the eyes and responded "I intend to marry her". Lorenzo was drink a glass of wine at the time and it damn near choked him to death. "She is just seventeen!" Lorenzo had protested when he had finally gotten back his voice. Demetrius had leaned back casually in his chair and replied "I'll wait".
Whatever happened while he was gone had made Reina not even want to look in Demetrius's direction and he hated seeing Reina like this. He would kick Demetrius's ass if he had anything to do with it. Carly smiled and excused herself to follow Reina to her room leaving the two men to talk. Lorenzo got up and poured himself a brandy from the condo's bar. "Pour a glass for me" Demetrius told him. When both glasses were filled Lorenzo gave one to Demetrius and they sat at the bar. "How was Japan? Did the business deal workout?" Demetrius asked. "It did, si. What I want to talk about right now is my sister" Lorenzo told him as he set his glass down. "What about Reina?" Demetrius asked. "What happened in my absence? My vibrant little sister has seemed to have lost her spark" Lorenzo lowered his voice. "It is a long story, Lorenzo" Demetrius replied. "I have time and Reina and Carly won't be down for maybe an hour or two" Lorenzo told him. "Malik took Reina to one of my clubs. He got her drunk and was about to take her to his condo to take advantage of her- Demetrius put his hand up to stop Lorenzo from talking. "I got there in time and took her home. Not to my house but to my parents. The next day well... some stuff happened- Demetrius chanced a glance at his best friend who was looking at him but remained quiet. "After that I got a call that one of my jets crash landed no one got hurt though and I had to give a public statement on what happened. Reina went home and I left. I tried calling her but Carly answered the phone and told me she didn't want to talk to me. After that I got a call from Cybil and I was so confused about Reina that I met up with Cybil yesterday and ended up seeing Reina and Carly at the restaurant I took Cybil to..." Demetrius couldn't finish what happened next. He couldn't just tell his best friend that his little sister told him to leave her alone.
"My father expects Reina to marry Malik" that got Demetrius's attention immediately. Lorenzo nodded. "Why?" Demetrius asked, his throat tightening and his heart constricting. "Because he thinks if Reina does, it will make his business thrive. With a son-in-law like Malik Conner a lot of opportunities would come my father's way" Lorenzo shook his head. Demetrius looked at him in utter shock. That explained so much! He never did understand why Reina was hanging out with Malik when she gave him the impression that she hated Malik. "What do you think?" Demetrius asked. "I think my father is an egotistical asshole! Reina deserved a better father. Thank God Antonio became her father figure, maybe if he didn't Reina would have grown up thinking all men were like our father" Lorenzo shook his head and sighed. "I didn't know" Demetrius said. "Do you still love her, Demetrius?" Lorenzo whispered. "I do. It has only gotten stronger" Demetrius replied. "Well it seems to me that she doesn't know that. We have protected her from men before but I don't think we can stop Malik. He has father on his side" Lorenzo told him. "Reina is very precious to me. She is priceless. I don't know what I would do if i lost her" Demetrius whispered. "You better fix whatever has made her weary of you then" Lorenzo said as he resumed his drink. "I will" Demetrius replied.
Lorenzo's Concern

Demetrius's cellphone rang, it was Cybil calling. Lorenzo saw who was calling and shook his head. Demetrius answered. "Oh darlinng! Are you finished with that business meeting of yours?" Cybil asked. "Almost" Demetrius replied getting a little tired of Cybil. "Good! I made reservations at one of your restaurants for an early dinner" Cybil told him. "I will be there when I can" Demetrius hung up. "Cybil Carter I take it?" Lorenzo asked. Demetrius nodded. "Reina is probably going to soon wake up. She is usually hungry when she wakes up" Lorenzo said as he got up and went into the kitchen. Demetrius smiled at how protective and caring Lorenzo became when it concerned Reina. "Does Carly still like you?" Demetrius asked. Lorenzo stilled. "How do you know?" Lorenzo asked. "She is just like Reina. Sweet, humble, caring. Perfect for you" Demetrius joked as he casually leaned on the counter. "Just like Reina for you?" Lorenzo asked. "Do you like her?" Demetrius pressed. "I might but I am not into long term relationships and I would end up breaking her heart" Lorenzo shrugged. He went back to making something for Reina and Carly to eat when they wake up. Demetrius looked at his watch and said "I will be leaving now". "Are you coming to the Lavender Charity Ball being put on for Reina and Carly's accomplishments in the community?" Lorenzo asked. "I will be coming" Demetrius answered. "Will Cybil be with you?" Lorenzo asked. "More than likely". Lorenzo didn't say anything. He didn't understand Demetrius though. How could he be in love with Reina but he would be bringing Cybil to the ball? It just didn't make sense and compared to Reina, Cybil was just another woman and Lorenzo wasn't being biased. He met Cybil and he knew her type. "I'll see you then" Demetrius said as he let himself out. Leaving Lorenzo to his thought which at the moment was on his sister's best friend. Reina must think he is a complete block head for not picking up on the subtle hints she dropped about Carly liking him but the thing is, he did! He just didn't know what to do about it. Demetrius was right when he said Carly was just like Reina.
Flashback: When Reina is fifteen. Lorenzo is nineteen. "Now Reina in life there are men that will only want to use you for your body" Lorenzo was telling Reina. "Why?" Reina had asked. "Because Reinabella men are pigs. They will say all the right words just to get in your pants" Lorenzo replied. Reina was seated on her bed with Mr. Bears in her arms. She laughed and asked "Does that make you a pig, hermano?". "A man has needs" he had replied. "I don't understand" Reina had told him. Lorenzo was feeling very awkward having a conversation like this with his little sister but Carly had told him that the captain of the football team at Reina's private school had set his eyes on her and that he was a playboy. He knew Reina was too sweet and softhearted to understand that men were users so he had to explain it to her. "Men are pigs that's all. Don't listen to all their little pickup lines. Walk away" Lorenzo told her as he got up off her bed and walked to the door. "Hermano?" Reina said. "Si, Reinabella?" he asked her. "Gracias" she told him as he turned off the lights to her room. Flashback ends.

Why Lorenzo Protects Reina

Lorenzo was just finishing up when Carly trotted down the stairs and into the kitchen. She stilled when she saw him. She gave him a dazzling smile and made her way to the refrigerator. "Hungry?" he asked. "Starving" she replied. Lorenzo shared out a plate of food for her but Carly just looked at the food. "Something wrong?" he asked. "I eat way more than you give me credit for" Carly told him. He gestured for her to take more which she did. Lorenzo looked at the plate of food in front of Carly as they sat down at the dining table. He liked a woman with a healthy appetite even if he did only hang out with models who would always complain about all the food given to them saying they couldn't finish it. "What?" Carly asked. "Where do you put all this food because it doesn't show" Lorenzo told her. Carly burst out laughing and Lorenzo could have sworn it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.
You would end up hurting her- Lorenzo thought to himself. He didn't want a steady girlfriend right now. He was in his sexual prime and he didn't want to be tied down just yet. He would just have to keep pretending to be the ignorant brother until Reina and Carly go off to college. Who are you trying to fool?- His conscience asked him. Reina came downstairs still looking sleepy. When she saw Lorenzo and Carly at the table eating she smiled. "Were you guys planning to wake me up anytime soon? Or were you waiting until you finished everything to wake me up?" I teased as I went into the kitchen for my own food. "Sorry, we didn't. It was just a precaution just in case I wanted more food and would have ended up finishing everything" Carly joked. "When did Demetrius leave?" Reina heard herself ask. "About an hour ago" Lorenzo replied. "Oh" was all Reina could say as she took her seat. "When are you planning to come see father?" Reina asked.

When they pulled up in front of the mansion Carly gave her a hug before getting out. "You like her, don't you?" Reina asked. Lorenzo shook his head. "Why not? She is the type of woman you would want as a wife". Lorenzo smiled he remembered when he told Reina the difference between women you had as your wife and women you just slept with. "I don't want a wife as yet, Reina" he replied. "Suit yourself. But when you finally want to settle down, Carly might have already found someone else" Reina said as she got out of the car.
Lorenzo walked to his father's study not even knocking before