16. Chris

The sky resembles a canvas covered with layers of crimson, orange, and yellow paint. As night creeps closer, clouds form flaming arms towards the sinking sun.

It serves as symbolism for my dark mood.

“Sir, you cant enter without an appointment,” one of the waitresses I met says, looking nervous.

“Tell your boss that if he doesnt want me to cause a scene, he should let me in.” I point to Perezs office, and she closes her eyes.

“Fine, I will do just that. Just please dont do anything when Im gone.”

I shrug, and she hurries away to his office.

I pace the hallway, feeling restless. Yesterdays night hasnt left my mind.

What was he doing with Gianna, and why did she defend him at my expense?

The waitress comes back, looking relaxed. “You can go in.”

I pat her on the shoulder and walk to his office. The door is open, and Perez is sitting on his desk with his arms crossed. The bruises from yesterday have now turned purple. It gives me a sense of pride.

“To what do I owe the honor of your visit?”

I feel like punching the smirk off his face. “Cut the crap. Tell me what you were doing with Gianna.”

He has the guts to pretend to look puzzled. “Why dont you ask her that? Why go through all the trouble of coming here if you could just ask her?” He chuckles lightly. “Oh, I forgot. She doesnt want to see you.”

I step closer to him, and he places a hand between us. “If I were you, I would control my anger. Thank your stars I didnt press charges against you.”

I scoff at his ridiculous threat. “And you think I would be put in jail? Think twice, fool, Im Chris White; nobody bests me.”

“How could I forget?” His nostrils flare in anger. “You use your affluence to remain at the top and push the rest of us down.”

I let out a laugh devoid of mirth. “You still blame me for your clubs failing? You are still as pathetic as ever.”

He suddenly jumps from his desk and pushes me back. “Yes, because its all your fault.”

I rub my forehead at the incredulous situation. “I cant believe this.”

“You better believe it. Ive just started with you, and you are already this pissed. I wonder what you will do when I start to bring you down little by little. Starting with your dear Gianna.”

I grab him by the collar, enraged. “Dont you dare bring her into this.”

He looks as if he has just discovered something and smirks. “Wow! Youve really got it bad for her. I never knew I would see the day when the almighty Chris White would be so concerned about a woman other than his sister.” He laughs hysterically. “I guess I got the right one.”

I tighten my hold on his collar, pushing him against the desk. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Why not? Didnt your fucking father bring me into it when he destroyed my fathers business just because of one mistake?” he spat, pushing me off him.

I cant believe my ears. “Instead of learning from your fathers mistakes, you still blame my family?”

Perez Sanchez is the son of the bastard that betrayed my father. We were all family friends. In fact, Perez was my first friend before Luke, and they never got along. Apparently, he bullied Luke behind my back.

We drifted apart as soon as we discovered his fathers misdeeds. I would have fought for our friendship if he hadnt seen us as the enemy.

Now, he has declared himself my rival, pursuing several means to destroy my hard work.

While his dad tried to take over the total shares of our textile company, Perez has made it his personal mission to create clubs wherever mine were. It feels so stupid, but I could only watch him try and fail every single time.

The toxicity is part of the reason I moved to New York.

“Yes, I will always blame you. You killed my father!”

“I wish I did. I wish I had sent those inmates to kill him. Its not my fault that your dad has a lot of enemies. He deserved what happened to him.”

He tries to punch me, but I take his hand and wring it behind his back. He scrunches his eyebrows in pain. “Does it hurt?” I huff. “Thats little compared to what your foolish family put me through.”

He scoffs but ends up wincing in pain. I point at his face in unrestrained anger. “Stay the fuck away from Gianna and Nala.”

He smiles despite himself. “And if I dont?”

I smile. “Then I will end you.” I let him go, and he fell recklessly against his desk.

I walk out with a newfound resolution. I am done sitting back and watching his plans to get me out of business fail. Its time to end him.

The waitress looks shaken as I walk past her. I dont need anyone to tell me that she witnessed everything. I wave at her before I leave.

My phone rings in my pocket, and I take it out. Its Luke. “Tell me you have good news for me,” I say as a greeting.

“Of course, dont you trust me? When have I ever disappointed you?” He brags, chuckling lightly.

“So, do you have her work address now?” I ask impatiently as I open my car.

“Yes, the company she works at is called Marie Architectures.” He gives me the address.

“Thanks,” I say as I close the door and ignite the car engine.

“Good luck with whatever you are up to. I hope you know what you are doing.”

“I do.” I end the call.

With one destination in mind, I drive off. As soon as I locate her company, I dont waste time getting out of my car and going up to the third floor where Luke said her office should be.

As I walk past, I can see a few people gossiping while some are staring at me. I ignore the prying eyes and enter the elevator.

I meet a young lady inside who is busy pressing her phone. I stay at the other side, grateful that its not filled up. The elevator dings and opens. The girl finally looks up and gasps when she sees me. She looks to be in her late teens.

“You are—wait, oh my god. You were Times man of the year? The youngest billionaire in the world?” As she talks, she keeps walking forward. “Chris White. Oh my god!” Her hand flies to her mouth. “I have the biggest crush on you.”

In her excitement, she blocks the exit and the elevator closes.

I force a smile, not in the mood “I really appreciate that you feel that way about me but?—”

She jumps a little, still squealing in excitement. “Can I take a picture with you? I need to show my friends that I met you.”

“Sure,” I heed to her request. She only lets me be after taking several photos.

“Thank you so much.”

I press the elevator button and quickly step out, relishing in the much-needed fresh air.

A lady passes by. “Can you please direct me to Gianna Hermosas office?” I ask.

Her frown deepens, and she crosses her arms. “Who are you?”

“Im Chris. Her best friends brother.” I explain after finding no better way to introduce myself.

Her eyes flicker from my face to my shoes then back to my face. Its not condescending. Far from it. Its something else that I dont understand. She suddenly smiles, taking me aback.

“Come, I will show you to her office.”

She leads the way, occasionally looking back to make sure Im following. She leads me to the last office on the right side. She opens the door without knocking which shows the level of closeness they have.

Gianna is seated at her desk, her glasses resting on her nose. Lips pursed as she sketches what I assume is a plan.

“Sam, how many times will I have to tell you to knock first before entering?” She doesnt look up, busy with her sketch. She looks so cute and sexy. I never knew I would find a woman whos buried deep in her work, wearing unflattering glasses, sexy.

“You have a visitor.”

She sighs and looks up. Her pencil drops recklessly from her hand. She removes her glasses as if she cant believe Im here.

“You never told me your best friend has a hot big brother,” Sam says, her eyes fixed on me.

Gianna stands with her two hands on her desk, looking livid. “Sam, please excuse us.”

Sam leaves us, and the tension in the air thickens.

“What are you doing here, and how did you find my office?”

I walk forward to her chagrin. “You, of all people, know I go to extra lengths to get what I want.”

“And what do you want?”

“I want you to stay away from Perez,” I state simply.

She looks puzzled at first before she bursts into laughter. “Seriously, this is what you came all the way here for?” She stops laughing and frowns. “You havent even apologized for assaulting my client.”

“You call that loser a client? He was flirting with you.”

“And whats so wrong with that? Why do you care?” she presses.

“I care because that bastard is up to no good.”

She scoffs and starts gathering her sketches. “Hes just a client. I dont care whatever happened between the two of you. Im only doing my job.”

“Your job?” I chuckle lightly. “Is kissing your client part of your job description too?” Jealousy seeps out of my voice.

“What I do with my life is none of your business, okay? Why are you acting so paranoid?”

“Do you like him?” I can’t help myself from asking.

“Like I said, its really none of your business.”

“I dont share my women. If you know whats best for you, you will stay away from that bastard,” I inform her.

She carelessly drops her sketches on the desk and rounds her table to walk to me. “You have overstayed your welcome. Its time for you to leave.”

“Im doing this for your own good. Why cant you see that?”

She rolls her eyes and places her hand on the doorknob. “You seem to be forgetting the fact that we are nothing to each other. You are just my best friends brother.” She opens the door and sighs. “You are giving me a headache with this useless argument. I think it would be best if you leave.”

Before I can stop myself, I hold her wrist, tug her towards me, and close the door. I wrap my hand around her wrist.

“What the hell?!” she protests.

“We’re not done talking.” I ignore her warning and crowd her until her back is pressed against the door.

Im drunk on the way she smells, the way she feels in my arms. My body betrays me. The argument hadnt been enough to prevent my blood from racing to my groin. But being this close to her after two agonizing days of not being with her is making me dizzy.

Her little fists slam against my chest, but it hardly registers. It only serves to fuel my lust.

“Stop unless you want me to fuck you against the door.”

Her eyes widen, and she blushes to her neck. She swallows. “I dont know why you are doing this. We had an agreement that this is nothing more than a good fuck. So, I don’t see why you care so much about who I spend my time with now.” She pauses, cocking her head to the side. “You are acting like a possessive bastard right now.”

I curl my fingers under her chin, tilting her face towards mine. “Like I said, I dont share. You are mine for as long as this arrangement lasts. I dont want to see you with any other man, especially Perez.”

“Some guts you have to tell me what to do.”

“Im not telling you what to do. Im adding my own condition to our agreement.”

“I dont know what you think of me, but Im not fucking Perez, nor do I plan to. You can stop being paranoid now and let me go.”

“You always seem to think that I think the worst of you,” I tell her.

“What do you expect me to think? You have clearly drawn your own conclusions that Im a slut.” There’s a flash of hurt in her eyes.

“For fuck’s sake, Im just trying to protect you.”

She frowns at this. “I dont need you or anyone to protect me. I have done that successfully by myself for over twenty-four years of my life.”

My chest tightens at her words, which carries a lot of pain. “As long as our agreement stands, you are my responsibility.”

I search her eyes, wanting evidence that she will bend to my desires. When I don’t see it, I dont know what else to do but crash our lips together as gently as I can. I want to prove to her that I care, to comfort her.

I have never wanted to comfort someone so badly. I dont even know how to.

It backfires when she rips her body revoltingly away from mine. Contempt is evident on her face. “Lets end this,” she says with finality.

“I dont get you.”

“This is clearly not working. We have a lot at stake, and Nala is not even talking to me.”

“Shes not talking to me either. What has that got to do with this?”

“Everything. Im not about to lose my best friend because of this. And you acting this way is not helping matters.”

A lump forms in my throat, and I forget to breathe. “Is that what you want?”

She nods. “Yes.”

There is so much happening inside my head, so many questions, and emotions. There is too much to wrap my head around. I feel the need to laugh at myself for acting so stupid for nothing more than sex.

I huff and roll my eyes, “Okay. I will give you what you want. That’s all I do anyway.”

With that being said, she moves away from the door. I hurry out and slam the door after me. I almost bump into Sam, whos leaning against the wall. The conflicted look on her face is enough for me to know that she heard everything.

Everything in me wants to turn around and chase after Gianna, pull her into my arms and hold her like I used to. And I hate that I feel this way.

How we started feels wrong. How did we go from emotionless fucking to ending things in this calm, hiding our anger? A part of me wishes that she would run after me and tell me she was just joking. While another part of me is done being pliant.

I dial my trusted right-hand man, Clark, who carries out some of my transactions covertly.

“Whats the next step, boss?”

“Buy him out.”

“On it.”

I end the call and enter my car. My hand grips the steering wheel tightly, trying to rein in my anger.

I know I need time to sort through my jumbled thoughts and conflicting emotions. But theres one thing Im certain of: Im never going to act like a dumb fool for her again.

Im done apologizing and chasing after her when shes not the only woman in the world.

I had no problem cutting things off with Jessica. It shouldnt be hard this time with Gianna. Our arrangement hasnt even lasted a month. I drive off ignoring the growing ache in my chest.