~011
~ OLIVIA
A sound came from the other side and I turned to face Damien, Gabriella, Tasha, Juliet, Roxanna and Brisa, who were all bursting into the room with huge grins on their faces.
"Our plan worked!" Damien exclaimed.
I raised an eyebrow, curiosity getting the better of me.
"What plan?" I asked, looking at Brian for answers. He smiled sheepishly and explained.
"Your friends and Damien helped me gather the courage to confess my feelings to you."
My eyes widened in surprise. "You guys orchestrated this?" I asked, stunned, glancing at my friends who were all nodding and smiling.
Roxanna chimed in, "We got to know Brian had feelings for you and you also felt the same way towards him,so we figured it was time he took a chance."
I playfully rolled my eyes, laughing. "You guys are something else."
Brian took my hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm glad they did," he said, looking into my eyes. I smiled, feeling grateful for the unexpected twist of events.
My friends cheered and clapped some more, congratulating us on our new relationship.
I turned to Roxanna, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not sure if I should be upset that you all kept this a secret," I said, trying to sound stern.
But before she could respond, Brian interrupted, his eyes locked on mine.
"Honestly, Via, I don't care if you're mad at them. I just want you to know how I feel. I love you."
My heart skipped a beat as I smiled, feeling my cheeks flush. "I love you too," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
Our friends erupted into a chorus of "awwws," and I felt my face grow even hotter with embarrassment. Brian chuckled and pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me tightly.
We turned on the music and danced for a few minutes. We popped some champagne and did many other stuffs .
As we wrapped up the celebration, the exhaustion finally caught up with everyone, and they bid their goodbyes.
Brian, Damien, and I were the last ones standing, and we hopped into Brian's sleek, black sports car, heading to my place. The night air was filled with the soft hum of the engine and the occasional chirping of crickets.
As we cruised through the night, I turned to Brian with a curious expression.
"You never answered my question earlier," I said, my eyes locked on his. Brian raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance.
"What question?" he asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. I pressed on, my curiosity piqued.
"About all the properties – the houses, the pharmacy, the hotel, the cars... What's the story behind all that?"
Brian's smile grew wider as he leaned back in his seat. "I guess I never got around to telling you. I'm the heir to the King's Group, and it turns out, I'm the sole beneficiary. I've got a pretty impressive portfolio – two hotels, seven estates, four mansions, three pharmacies, two malls, a private jet, and a collection of luxury cars."
I stared at him, my mind reeling with the sheer scale of his wealth. "You own a private jet?" I asked, my eyes wide with surprise.
Brian nodded, chuckling. "Yeah, it's one of my favorite things. I love the freedom it gives me."
Damien, who had been quietly observing from the backseat, chimed in, "And don't forget about the yachts, Brian. You've got two of those too."
Brian laughed, "Ah, yeah, the yachts. Those are definitely a favorite pastime of mine." I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around the extent of Brian's wealth.
"I think I'm starting to realize that I don't know much about your life, Brian," I said, smiling at him. Brian's expression softened, and he reached out to take my hand. "I'm glad you're interested in getting to know me better, Via. I promise to share more about my life with you."
As he squeezed my hands gently, I felt a spark of excitement at the prospect of uncovering more secrets about this enigmatic man beside me.
Brian's eyes locked onto mine, a mysterious glint that left me curious.
"There's something else I need to tell you," he said, his voice low and hesitant.
I leaned in, intrigued. "What is it? I'm listening." Brian hesitated, his words tumbling out in a staccato rhythm.
"It's a secret...I mean, it's just that...I..." I encouraged him, my voice gentle. "Come on, your secrets are safe with me."
Brian took a deep breath, his eyes darting around before finally settling on mine. "Actually, I'm a telepath," he blurted out, the words spilling forth like a dam breaking.
I felt a jolt of surprise, my eyebrows shooting up. "A telepath?" I repeated, trying to process the revelation. Brian nodded, his face tense with anticipation.
But instead of fear or shock, I found myself smiling. "Wow, that's perfect," I said, my voice filled with genuine excitement. Brian's expression transformed from apprehension to astonishment.
"You...you're not scared?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty and wonder. I shook my head, feeling a sense of wonder at the secrets he'd been keeping. "No, why would I be? It's kind of cool, actually."
Brian's face relaxed and a small smile played on his lips.
"I'm glad you're not freaking out." He said, relief evident in his voice. I leaned in closer to him, my curiosity piqued.
"So can you read my thoughts, like right now?" Brian's smile grew wider.
"Actually, I can. But I promise I won't unless it's absolutely necessary. I respect your privacy, Via."
I nodded, feeling a sense of trust was over me.
"I appreciate that." I said, smiling back at him.
**********
~ OLIVIA
~ WEDNESDAY
• 08:45 AM
I was on my way to the staffroom when Gabriel, my ex, intercepted me.
"Hey babe, happy belated birthday," he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. "I'm so sorry I forgot to get you a gift. Let me make it up to you." I gave him a withering look, my eyes scanning him from head to toe.
I stood tall, my eyes narrowing as I gazed at Gabriel. "Don't you dare touch me," I hissed, my voice low and venomous. "Look here, you better listen and listen very good. You and I no longer have any business. And if you care to know, I'm officially Brian's girlfriend, so it's better you stay clear from me or wait for the worst."
Gabriel's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "Are you threatening me?" he sneered.
I smiled sweetly, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "No, dear. It's a warning." With a dismissive flick of my hair, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving Gabriel standing alone in the hallway.
As I disappeared into the crowd, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at having finally stood up to my ex.
Brian's presence in my life had given me the confidence to set boundaries and assert myself. I made my way to the staffroom, ready to start my day and leave the drama with Gabriel behind.
~ BRIAN
~ BREAK TIME
I headed for the restroom but I didn't know that someone was following me. I came out to meet Gabriel waiting up for me outside.
"Hey, we need to talk." I heard him say.
I turned to face Gabriel, my expression unimpressed. "What is it?" I asked, my voice laced with disgust.
Gabriel seemed undeterred by my tone. "Hey, no rush, okay," he said, his voice calm. But I wasn't having it.
"I'm in a hurry," I replied. "I need to meet up with my girlfriend." Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
"Did you say girlfriend?" he repeated, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Of course, I did," I said, my tone firm. "Does it in any way affect you?"
Gabriel's face twisted in a scowl. "Who is she?" he demanded. I raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care?" I shot back.
Gabriel's eyes flashed with anger, and he took a step closer to me. "Answer me," he growled, his fist clenched.
Just as it seemed like he was about to punch me, I instinctively prepared to defend myself. But before things escalated further, I stood my ground.
"You're really something else, Gabriel," I said, my voice cold. "You're still trying to control her life even after she's moved on. Newsflash: she's with me now, and you're just a part of her past."
Gabriel's face reddened, but I didn't back down. "You need to let go and move on," I added, my tone firm.
With that, I turned and walked away, leaving Gabriel to stew in his own frustration.
As I walked off, I heard Gabriel mutter under his breath, "Son of a bitch." I turned back slightly and said with a smirk, "You could tell that to your elder brother when you get home."
I got back and Olivia noticed the look on my face.
"What's wrong?" she asked, concern etched on her features. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Nothing much. Just had a run-in with Gabriel," I replied, my voice tight with frustration. Olivia's eyes narrowed.
"What did he do now?" she asked, her voice firm. I filled her in on the encounter, and she listened attentively, her expression growing more and more irritated. When I finished, she shook her head.
"That guy's got some nerve," she said, her voice dripping with disgust. I nodded in agreement.
"He's still got a lot to learn about boundaries," I said, my eyes locked on hers. Olivia's hand found mine, and she gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"You're doing great, Brian," she said, her voice soft. "You're standing up for us, and that's all that matters."
"Yeah. I love you."
"I love you too."Olivia replied, her voice filled with warmth and affection. We shared a tender moment, the tension from earlier dissipating as we locked eyes. In that instant, nothing else mattered but the love we shared.