romance club catalog

"Guess your shady business deals finally caught up with us, huh? Always expanding the family ‘fortune’ your way. Now look where that got us. You got a plan to get us out of here, or are you too busy counting dirty money in your head, Hodge?"

The older man shifted uncomfortably in his restrained state, his face betraying a mix of anger and regret.

"I was just trying to salvage our family's legacy after his death. Meanwhile, you were off playing Mr. Artist."

"And look where that 'salvage' got us, big bro? Tied up and at the mercy of some goons. Real stroke of genius."

Their harsh exchange was abruptly cut short as they heard the sound of footsteps approaching outside the warehouse. The brothers fell silent. The rusty door swung open, flooding the space with bright light. In the doorway stood two burly men, their clothes stained and old scars covering their skin. They looked dangerous. The kidnappers stepped forward, brandishing handguns. Both brothers tensed up, instinctively shifting closer to each other as the gravity of the situation set in. This isn't just about their personal issues anymore. It's life and death now. The taller goon strided towards them, his steps slow and menacing.

"Well, well, looks like we've got us a pair of siblings. The infamous Baker Brothers, huh?"

Brian clenched his jaw, eyes flicking between the masked men, his mind racing. Hodge was unnervingly still beside him, calculating.

"What do you want?", Brian spit out.

The goon just laughed, crouching to eye level.

"Oh, nothing much. Just a little... 'chat' about your family’s debts. And since Daddy’s not around... His baby boys get to pay up.", the man threatened them while he tapped the metal gun against his palm.

Hodge exhaled sharply, finally speaking, low and cold.

"Tell us who sent you. You're insane if you think I am going to hand over the family fortune."

The goons stepped closer, the barrel of his gun hovering inches from Brian's forehead.

"See, your father owed us. And debts like that... They don't just disappear."

"Let my younger brother go and name your price."

"Oh, we will. But first, let's see how loyal you both brothers really are."

The deafening BANG of the gunshot echoed.

"Brian!! Noooooo..."

But instead of flesh, the bullet was embedded in the concrete wall beside Brian’s head. A furious, guttural snarl tore through the warehouse as a blur of fur launched at the goon’s arm.

"Sam?!", Brian’s voice cracked in shock.

Brian's dog, Sam latched onto the gunman’s wrist. The animal's teeth sank deep and the kidnapper howled in pain, dropping his weapon. The second goon staggered back just as Sam whirled around. Hodge seized the moment and rammed his shoulder into the distracted second thug, sending him crashing into a stack of crates.

"Sam, hold!!!", his owner screamed as he frantically worked his roped hands toward a jagged piece of metal on the floor. Sam tore the ropes easily releasing both brothers. Amidst the chaos and violence, the sound of Dominic's familiar voice broke through the pandemonium.

"Hodge, Brian! This way!"

Turning, the brothers discovered Dominic, Hodge's employee holding open a side door, an escape route in the shadows.

"Let's go!" Dominic yelled motioning urgently.

Brian's eyes widen as he spots his girlfriend, Catherine in the doorway beside Dominic. Fear and relief mingled on her face.

"Kitten?!"

"What is she doing here?!", Hodge muttered who was also caught off-guard.

But there was no time to waste. Dominic beckoned them again, more urgently now.

"Come on, before more goons arrive!"

"Catherine shouldn't be..."

"Brian, I'm not about to stand on the sidelines while you two are in danger. We go together.", she argued with her boyfriend as her ice-blue eyes blazed with determination. And the boys knew there was no time for arguments now.

All four escaped with Sam trotting protectively beside them. As they burst outside into the night, Dominic's car was parked nearby, in the shadows. They sprinted toward it.

"In, in, in!", Dominic hissed as he hopped into the driver's seat. The rest scrambled into the vehicle. Brian and Hodge were in the back, Sam was wedged between them, while Catherine took the passenger's seat. Instantly, the doors of the car slammed, and Dominic floored it. Tires screeched as the car took off. Hodge glanced out the rear window, checking the street.

"Anyone followin’?"

"Not that I can see. For now."

There was silence except for racing breaths until Brian broke it, addressing his girlfriend.

"Kat, you shouldn't have come."

"You were in danger."

"I know that, but you could have been hurt. It was too dangerous. We could have handled this."

"Didn't look like that. Besides I was the one who figured out your disappearance first. And I wasn't going to just sit there, waiting and wondering."

"I know you were worried, but..."

"But what, Brian?"

"Great. The perfect time for a lover's spat.", Hodge commented and rolled his eyes.

Dominic cleared his throat awkwardly, keeping his blue eyes on the road but unable to resist interjecting.

"Uh... Maybe save the yelling for after we’re absolutely sure we’re not being tailed?"

Sam let out a soft whine and nudged Brian’s hand with his wet nose as if saying to relax and make peace. The dog owner exhaled sharply, fingers curling into Sam’s fur. When he spoke again to her, his voice was quieter, rougher with worry.

"Catherine, just promise me you won’t do that again."

"Only if you promise not to get kidnapped, Mister Brian Baker."

Hodge snorted at her answer. Never mess up with Catherine Hill, The Snow Queen. Even Dominic cracked a smile. The tension in the car eased a little as the city lights blurred past the windows. After a while, the group arrived at Hodge's secret storage warehouse, an unassumingly grimy industrial building on the outskirts of the city. Brian cast a glance at his brother as they filed out of the car.

"You have a place like this and never thought to tell me?"

"It's not exactly a vacation home. More like an emergency hideout."

"This is like the Batcave. If Batman was addicted to collecting old TV sets...", Dominic noticed and whistled at the Baker's collection.

Sam trotted ahead, sniffing around curiously.

"Guys, listen... Until we can't figure out who’s behind this and how deep the threat goes, Hodge and I will stay here. We can't risk your lives, either."

"Which means we start tracing our father’s old enemies. Someone with enough grudges and resources to come after us directly.", Hodge explained as he pulled out a burner phone from a hidden compartment.

Catherine crossed her arms, frowning. "Just hide indefinitely?"

Brian hesitated. Sam whined and nudged his hand again, as if sensing his conflict and then he answered. "No. We strategize first. Then we act."

"Agreed. But this time, we do it together, little brother."

"Great. More sibling bonding in a creepy warehouse. Not something I actually want to."

Then the younger brother, Brian caught his dog scratching his ear with a paw which made him smile. A momentary distraction from the tension. Hodge was already scrolling through the list on the burner phone, muttering something about too many enemies and too little time. Dominic glances around awkwardly before trying for humor.

"So... does this place have Wi-Fi, Hodge?"

"What part of 'emergency hideout' implied high-speed internet to you?"

"A man can dream."

"Okay, priorities first... Dominic, Sam and I make sure nobody follows us out of this hide-out. Then we figure out who wants you two dead."

"Agreed. But we also need to find out why now."

Sam, Brian's puppy, tired of the tension, plopped down with a dramatic thud and rolled onto his back, paws in the air demanding belly rubs.

"Be careful, boys.", she requested while rubbing the animal's fur.

Brian hugged Catherine tightly, taking a deep breath of her familiar scent.

"We will. I promise. No unnecessary risks."

Hodge watched them from a distance, arms crossed. Dominic clapped Brian's shoulder.

"We'll keep a low profile and check in soon. Be careful."

"Dom, take care of her."

"Of course. I won't let anything happen to her."

To calm his nerves, Catherine gave Brian a lingering hug and kissed him tenderly before speaking.

"You better come back to me, okay?"

"I will. I promise. Sam will look after you while I'm gone. Don't worry, we'll get through this, Kate."

They watched Catherine and Dominic disappear with the dog into the night. Brian exhaled sharply, turning back to his older brother.

"Alright, let’s dig into Dad’s old mess and figure out who wants us dead. The sooner we figure this out, the sooner our paths can divide again."

While the boys were hiding, Catherine was at Brian's home with his dog feeling much safer. Only until she found a mysterious letter attached at the front door which was saying:

It was indeed a spectacular sight for the woman, but only if she knew that this event wasn't really a Charity Event at all, but only a disguise to cover up the older Baker's shady and illegal business deals.

The young woman was dressed in a form-fitting dark blue dress that hugged her hourglass figure. The dress with a low cut neckline, revealing a hint of cleavage had a slit that went up to her thighs, highlighting her long, shapely legs. Her hair was styled in loose waves, and her face was covered with makeup.

Hodge Baker, the businessman, was dressed in a tailored black suit. He stood near the bar, chatting with a group of other businessmen. A glass of whiskey in one hand.

As Catherine approached, his dark eyes flickered with surprise and recognition before a smirk spread across his lips. He excused himself from the group and turned toward her.

"Well, well... if it isn't my dear brother's lovely Catherine. What brings you to one of my events? Brian certainly didn't come with you... unless he's hiding somewhere?"

He took a slow sip of his whiskey, his gaze studying her with undisguised interest.

"Hodge, thanks for the invitation. I love supporting Charity Events", she thanked him, which surprised the man as he didn't remember inviting her.

"How noble of you. Though I doubt my brother shares your enthusiasm. He avoids my establishments like they're cursed", he answered her with humor while trying to figure out how she got invited to his illegal party. Then he remembered the night he was drunk in his office, daydreaming about her while making the guestlist of this occasion.

"What are you thinking?", she asked which pulled him away from his thoughts.

"Since you're here... Let's make sure you enjoy yourself properly. With or without my brother, you're my guest."

Hodge signaled to a server, who immediately approached with a fresh glass of champagne for her.

"Uhh... Thank you."

"After all, charity is all about... generosity."

The double meaning in his tone was unmistakable. Especially because this wasn't a charity event at all, but only a way to cover tonight's shady and illegal business deals. As Hodge passed her the glass of champagne, he lowered his voice, leaning in ever so slightly.

"You do know this isn't just a charity event, right?"

There was a glint in Hodge's eye, daring her to guess. The corners of his mouth twisted into a lopsided smirk, as if he were enjoying her ignorance. He took a small step closer, closing the distance by just a sliver while his gaze never left her.

The older Baker brother couldn't help but admire the way the dress accentuated her figure and how her hair framed her pretty face. The crush he harbored for her in secret was as strong as ever, maybe even more. If only she were his and not his brother's. What did she even see in Brian? His younger brother hated him already, he wanted to mend things with him, but if he ever found out that he harbored secret feelings for his girlfriend, he would never forgive him. Brian would hate him even more than before. Standing this close to her while she was unaware of his attraction. The businessman took another sip of whiskey, using it to keep himself from doing something reckless. Then again, he was a little drunk already.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft which surprised Catherine.

"Hodge, I..."

"Catherine!!"

Hodge's eyes narrowed when he heard Brian's voice behind him. His grip on the glass tightened briefly before he slowly turned his head to face his younger brother.

"Brother."

His tone was cool, betraying nothing of the jealousy and frustration brewing beneath the surface. He lifted the glass of whiskey to his mouth and took a long, measured sip. His deep gaze never left Brian.

"Brian, you came?", Catherine gasped.

Brian Baker walked over to them, his eyes briefly scanning Hodge. When he glanced at the glass of champagne in Catherine's hand, his expression wasn't entirely pleased.

"I came to keep an eye on things."

The younger Baker's tone was casual, but there was a warning. He stood slightly closer to Catherine, protective and almost possessive. Hodge noticed. While Catherine was too busy admiring her boyfriend's formal clothing style.

Brian was dressed in a sharp tailored suit. The material hugged his lean muscular frame in all the right places. The dark blue jacket, the white button-up shirt beneath it was crisp and wrinkle-free, showing his attention to detail. His chestnut-brown hair was combed back, revealing the sharp edge of his jaw. His expression was neutral, though his brown eyes never left Hodge, watching his every move. Then Catherine spoke again.

"I thought you wouldn't join.", she wondered.

Brian shifted his stance slightly, one hand slipping casually into his pocket as he kept his gaze steady on Hodge. His posture was relaxed, but there was an unmistakable tension in his shoulders.

"Plans change, my kitten. Especially when I hear my girlfriend's attending one of my brother's... events."

"Well, I'm glad you came. Let's have fun."

Brian relaxed a bit, the tension in his shoulders softening as he offered Catherine a slight smile. Despite his dislike for his brother's lifestyle, seeing her happy is what matters most to him.

"Of course. Anything for my girlfriend."

He glances at Hodge with a silent challenge, while resting his hand now on the small of her back.

Just then, one of the men Hodge was talking to earlier gestured for him, indicating that he was needed elsewhere. A barely contained scowl flickered across Hodge's face before he reigned in his annoyance. He downed the rest of his whiskey and set the glass on the bar.

"Duty calls. Have fun, little brother."

His gaze lingered a moment on Catherine, giving them both a brief nod before retreating to attend to whatever shady business was waiting.

Brian exhaled quietly, watched Hodge walk away before turning his full attention to his girlfriend.

"Now that we have the place to ourselves to enjoy... Even if I still doubt my brother would do some charity work. I just want you to be happy."

His hand still rested gently on her back, and he nodded toward the dance floor where couples swayed to the music.

"Kat, care to dance with me, or would you rather inspect the buffet first?"

His tone was playful now, eyes warm. The tension from before was entirely gone.

"Let's dance, Brian."

Brian led his beautiful girlfriend toward the dance floor, his hand still on the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd. They found an open spot, and he turned to face her, one hand gently took hers, while the other rested on her waist.

He began to lead her in a slow dance, his movements smooth and graceful. The music washed over them, soft and elegant, adding an air of intimacy. As they moved in sync, he drew her a little closer, close enough to catch a hint of her perfume.

"You look stunning," he whispered, his voice huskier than before.

"You look handsome. Glad you came so I could see you in a suit."

Brian's lips curved in a faint smile, appreciating her compliment. He tightened his hold on her waist, drawing her even closer, their bodies now nearly pressed against each other.

His gaze drifted down to her dress, the way the fabric clung to her figure, emphasizing her curves. He wetted his lips, visibly fighting the urge to lean in and taste her. Instead, he focused on the music, leading her through the steps.

Pairing: M!Jules x Flint

Raiting: G

Birthday: January 9th 2000 ♑️

Current location: New York, moved in with Brian

Occupation: Figure Ice Skater & recently started to study sports at an uni

Eye color: Light green

Hair color: Brown -> Blonde

Accessories: Mother's pendant and Brian's gifted ring

Languages: English

Three adjectives: friendly, stubborn, impulsive

Fears: Her biggest fear of losing her new friends and loved ones like she lost her parents. Even failing them and herself again which separates her from figure skating again. Terrible nightmares haunted her for days.

Dream job as a child: Figure Ice Skater

Favorite colors: White & Light Blue

Symbol: Snowflake with a crown (The Snow Queen)

Favorite animal: Cat (because of Brian who calls her his kitten) 🐱

Hobbies: Ice skating 🧊⛸️

Likes: getting painted by Brian, hanging out with friends and cuddling with Brian's dog.

Dislikes: being too much supported by friends. She wants to become an independent woman.

Secrets: Her depressing past... Getting sexually harrassed by her principal, her work with Ocean, taking addictive painkillers that she stole from a pharmacy and her mother. And more. Only her close friends know something about this.

Family: Isabelle (mother) & Robert (father)

Role in a group: The beloved one

Lover: Brian Baker ❤️

Pet: None. Brian did offer her to have her own dog or cat, but for now Brian Baker's cute and playful dog, Sam is enough 🐶

Couple edit [on the left] created by @choiceswithmika

She watched them: Emma—pink-haired and pink-cheeked at the table, entertaining a group of people with swooping gestures and a big grin; Xavier, broad-shouldered and hovering by Emma’s side with that stupid, dopey smile on his face; Fabian, with his bruised knuckles and a surly expression, nursing a wineglass; and her brother, Declan—ice-cold and composed as ever, with his hands in the pockets of his suit as he spoke to some politician whose name Tiffany had long since forgotten.

And her. Athanasia Pierce made her way through the party with the same decisive stride she’d had all those years ago, but everything else about her was of a stranger. Her hair—longer now, tied into a swinging ponytail, framed her face; pale and thin. She was taller, prettier; her hands fidgeted with the ties of her dress. Still uneasy, and restless as always. Perhaps that was why she’d always gotten along so well with Lily.

Tiffany swallowed the alcohol, bitter in her mouth, and approached her.

Athanasia looked up from the journal in her palms and met Tiffany’s gaze. Her eyes—spring-green and lively—instantly hardened, her expression tensing slightly. Tiffany faltered for a second, unable to explain to herself what she wanted, but then smoothed over her countenance, hand at hip.

“Tiffany,” Athanasia murmured.

“You still carry that little journal around?” It’s one of the many things she remembered about her; the girl with her hair in neat braids, a notebook at her belt and ink splattered all over her fingers. Tiffany had scoffed at it then, and she still found it ridiculous.

She stiffened. “These are the notebooks Amelia gave us.”

Tiffany had thrown hers away. She had no use for journals; and why would she use a Polaroid camera when she had a perfectly fine phone? She placed a hand on her hip and nodded to Athanasia’s necklace—the delicate pendant with a sapphire swinging daintily from the chain. With one manicured finger, she lifted it. “Honestly, it’s beautiful, honey, but it seems a little out of your budget. Did you steal it?”

Now was where Athanasia would roll her eyes and take her leave. Tiffany prepared herself for the usual, satisfying, huff of her breath as she blew out her bangs, the tap of her shoes as she ground her heel into the ground and turned away.

Athanasia did not do that. Her expression was one of contemptuous disinterest, her lips curving in a sneer. She jerked the necklace out of Tiffany’s fingers and said, flatly, “You know, Tiff, a lot about this town has changed since I left. But I’m glad to see that at least you’re still the same.”

She turned on her heel and returned to the table, leaving Tiffany standing there, feeling strangely hollow and not at all victorious. She usually brushed these remarks off. Declan must’ve made about a thousand sneering comments to her by now, and none of them bothered Tiffany in the slightest. No mocking had ever affected her, regardless of who it came from.

So why was the feeling in her chest oddly painful?

“You look like you could use a drink.”

Daniela’s voice in her ear was low, monotonous; the gleam in her eyes betrayed her sardonic amusement. She handed Tiffany a crystalline glass of amber. “Why the long face, Tiffany?”

Tiffany exhaled, accepting the drink. “I’m perfectly alright, Daniela.”

Contrary to her older brother Fabian, Daniela had left Windrose Bay the first chance she’d gotten and had never looked back. As if remembering it now, Daniela’s hand closed around Tiffany’s forearm. Her voice pitched low. “What did you say to her?”

Tiffany tried to snatch her arm back, but the other woman’s calloused grip was firm and unrelenting. Her eyes slid unwittingly down to the open neck of Daniela’s gown before rushing back up. ”Why do I always have to have done something? Why couldn’t she just have said something to me?’

Daniela glanced at Athanasia’s retreating figure and snorted. “Athy’s not mean.”

Unlike you. Tiffany felt the unspoken barb, and it cut deep. Draining her drink, she turned to the other girl, sneering. “Why are you here?”

“To be honest, I didn’t know Amelia invited me. My roommate intercepted her inivitation.” Daniela aimlessly played with the tassles on her sleeve. “I think she’s invited the whole damn town, and then the full list of her mother’s very respectable friends.”

Tiffany couldn’t help the odd half-laugh, half-scoff that left her. “She’s…enthusiastic, to say.”

“Amelia? I daresay Vivienne is more enthusiastic about this wedding than her daughter.”

”Why are you really here, Daniela?”

Tiffany’s ever-searching gaze took her in: the way her strong, calloused hands were toying with her dress, the messiness of her shaggy, dark hair, the sun gleaming off of her brown skin. She knew her intimately well—the restlessness in the rhythm of her fingers, the urgency in one foot always perpetually turned away, the casual ease with which she came and went.

And so she knew there was nothing Daniela hated more than Windrose Bay—stifling, claustrophobic Windrose Bay. The chamber of all of their nightmares, the loaded gun from their pasts.

Daniela’s smile dimmed ever so slightly. “Maybe I’m here to stop you from pushing any more of our friends into the pool.”

“…I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tiffany’s heart sped up. She hadn’t meant to push Athanasia that evening, despite her irritation. But her mother’s words had been ringing in her head like a metronome, and Athanasia had looked up from her glass with that infernal curiosity sharp in her eyes and echoed them, and before Tiffany knew it she was moving, sending the other girl into the pool with an obscenely loud splash.

That night, her mother’s brief praise for getting Julian Sanders’ attention had almost made it feel worth it.

“No, you do, Tiff. You know.” Daniela’s lips were pressed into a flat line, her hands still. She turned to face Tiffany, her face serious. “You know this has been your problem since forever. You want affection, but you only give contempt. You chase people to keep them with you, but then you push them away. You’re drowning, but you want us all to clap and point and say, wow, look how well she’s swimming. Just let me help y—”

The words left Tiffany feeling stripped bare, which was odd, considering that her dress was the most suffocating thing she’s ever worn. The wounds stung underneath Daniela’s scrutiny, and automatically, she was saying, her voice as cold as she could make it, “There’s no need. Quite unhealthy to project your feelings onto me, Dani—if I need a diagnosis next time, I’ll make sure to talk to a psychiatrist.”

The look on Daniela’s face changed faster than Tiffany could decipher—from earnestly open to disappointment to unreadable, perfectly neutral. Her voice, when she spoke, was flat. “I see. Well, enjoy the party, Tiff. Good talk.”

All around her, the festivity was lively and bright. Her brother was nowhere to be seen; Amelia and Oliver were giving some sort of speech to the crowd that Tiffany couldn’t make out. Everything sounded vaguely muffled, as if underwater.

Tiffany lifted the glass to her lips and drank.