Chapter 14
Visha
“Since when the fuck is Aiden back? Why isn’t he in a different fucking universe? And why the fuck did he have to get involved with my Aoi?” I slam the door behind me. “You said you wouldn’t get involved. Did you make them meet just to screw me over?”
Bellami peeks up from his pile of documents as if he wants to stab me for bothering him. Well, he’s not the only angry man in the room.
Bellami is an asshole but not a liar. If he says he’s not involved, then it’s true. The one I have to murder is that bastard, Aiden. Cool, at least I won’t have to be an only child after having murdered my kin out of jealousy.
“Then why is he friends with Aoi? There was nothing about him in the report Linda sent me. You can’t tell me that this is only a mere coincidence.”
Bellami doesn’t answer. Either because he doesn’t know or because he doesn’t care. The door swings open behind me and the one person I don’t want to see at the moment waltzes in like the entire fucking world belongs to him.
“Well, seems everyone’s here.” He smirks, turning to me. “Why’d you introduce yourself to Aoi as Andrew? What’s your deal?”
I’m gonna fucking kill him.
“My deal?! You’re the one who got in the middle of us rekindling!” I point an accusing finger at him, holding myself back from cussing out his entire ancestry. “How do you even know him?”
“That’s none of your business. We’re remarkably close and that’s all you need to know so back off,” he shoots back, slapping my hand away.
“Back off, my ass. He’s mine. Aoi and I have real history. You’re just a placeholder.”
Aiden crosses his arms over his chest smugly. “Aoi and I have a special relationship, got it? I think I’m literally in love with him at this point. And you’re just a kid. What makes you think Aoi would even want you when he can have me?”
I want to retort but he’s not wrong and that carves a thin line across my chest. Aiden is basically the perfect choice. He has the looks, the experience, the career and they’re close in age.
Bellami speaks up for the first time since Aiden strolled in. “Wait a minute. Is he the one you called the best fuck of your life yesterday?” He groans in disbelief. “Jesus, Aiden. Way to go.”
“You’ve got the best sense of timing, dude,” Aiden deadpans. “Couldn’t have chosen a better moment to ask?”
Shaking his head, he goes back to his documents as if he hasn’t just unleashed hell upon us. My head snaps to Aiden, ready to send him to the fucking morgue.
“You slept with him? I can’t believe you! When?” I yell, feeling rage crawl in my veins. “You piece of shit. Attends up peu que je te défonce la gueule.3”
“Did he just cuss me out in French?” he asks my brother who exhales and nods, barely paying attention. Aiden flashes a cocky grin. “Whatever, two days ago he came up to me in a bar and took me to bed. Jealous much?”
The guy in the report was him?! “You son of a bitch!” I raise my fist, ready to punch him until I recall that I shared Aoi’s bed last night. I cross my arms over my chest, smiling proudly. “Well, we’re even then.”
“The fuck you mean even?” Realization dawns on him and anger flushes his cheeks. “You’re the bastard that gave him those hickeys?” He strides up to me as if he’s about to rearrange my face with his fists. “You impudent rascal.”
Bellami raises his voice and slams his palm on the desk. “Shut the fuck up, both of you!”
Oh, for fucks’ sake.
“You want to fight over some man? Fine, but do it out of my sight. You two morons don’t seem to realize how much work I have to take care of.
” He leans back in his seat and crosses his fingers in front of him.
“Pursue him. Both of you do your thing to win his heart without getting in the way of the other. I won’t be taking sides.
You both know I don’t want to choose between my brother and my best friend, so don’t even think about it. ”
I’m still furious, but he’s right. I have to be mature and fight for Aoi with all my might no matter who stands in my way. Aiden is not a threat to my future relationship with Aoi. If he gets in the way, I can always pay a hitman to get rid of him. I’ll just have to frame it as an accident.
Easy, no big deal.
“He’s got no chance of winning,” Aiden scoffs. “How do you even know Aoi? You two are from different worlds. I doubt someone like him would get involved with a kid like you. And why did you give him your second name? You didn’t answer earlier.”
Bellami peers up from his papers. “I was wondering, too. You should’ve just told him who you were. He already knows you.”
Aiden cocks a brow, pushing for an explanation. “Go on. Enlighten us.”
“Aoi saved me from the Keytons and raised me for three years until Bellami dragged my ass home with him. You know the rest.” I glance at my brother who resumes shuffling through his documents, but I know he heard and just doesn’t want to acknowledge it.
Aiden uncrosses his arms as his expression softens. “I had no idea it was that Aoi. Fuck, this changes a bunch of things.”
“Exactly, so don’t get involved with him. Aoi is too good for someone like you.”
He takes a step forward. “Someone like me? And what’s that exactly? Hmm, Andrew?”
“I didn’t mean to give him my second name, okay? I panicked and messed up. Happens to everyone.” I groan, throwing my hands in the air. “I should’ve told him, but I wasn’t thinking straight.”
Arguing with Aiden is the worst.
That man has a way with words and always knows how to tug the worms out of my nose. He’ll push through until he gets what he wants, and that makes him a dangerous opponent.
“He knows you’re a Lacroix but didn’t figure out who you are?” he says, skeptically. “That’s odd. He should’ve already figured out your identity by now. That is unless he has no recollection of you. Maybe he already forgot all about you. Guess you weren’t important enough in his pretty mind.”
My brows draw together. “Shut up. Aoi would never forget me!”
He would never forget me.
Our life together is not so easily erasable.
Aiden huffs. “Then how do you explain that he doesn’t fucking remember you? Huh?” He laughs arrogantly. “Keep lying to yourself. In the end, you know you’ve got no chance with him.”
“I’m gonna kill you.”
“Visha,” Bellami warns. “Don’t start.”
“You were scared to tell him because you knew damn well, he’d see you as the kid he saved and not a man that’s in love with him. You’re pathetic,” Aiden mocks, bashing every insecurity of mine. “You better own up to your lie sooner than later, or I will.”
“Fuck you. You won’t do shit.”
I glance at Bellami for support but am not surprised by his lack of interest.
He’s always been like that. Sometimes, I wonder if he even gives a shit about me.
Blood holds no meaning.
We’re nothing to each other.
“Let me tell you this,” he says. “When he finds out who you really are, he will be so mad at you that he’ll never speak to you again. And when that time comes, I’ll be there to comfort him.”
My fingers curl into a fist at my side. If he doesn’t shut his trap in the next second, I’ll punch that grin off his lips. Bellami exhales loudly and both Aiden and I turn toward him, dreading the wrath that will befall us now.
“Out. Both of you, get out of my office before I get security to do it.”
Well, he doesn’t have to tell me twice. Disobeying that glare and tone is suicide, and I can’t die yet.
I rush out of the office and out of the company.
Aiden follows close behind. I know he wants to keep mocking me, yet somehow, he’s keeping it in.
That can only mean he’s got tricks up his sleeve, and I won’t like them.
We don’t bid each other goodbye as we both climb in our respective cars, and he drives off. I flip him off from behind the steering wheel.
What? He’s a jerk. I’m allowed to be petty.
Aoi hasn’t called yet nor texted in response to my offer, and I’m starting to wonder if he’s simply not interested.
But I can’t lose hope yet! I’m Visha Andrew Lacroix, and I will get what I want.
He and I are meant to be together and therefore we will.
Nothing and no one will get in my way.
I stare at the dark screen of my phone, hoping that due to some miracle, Aoi will text me. I end up throwing the phone on the passenger seat when the screen flashes brightly. I hurl myself on the device and suck in a deep breath, trying to chill the fuck out.
Stupid brother
Come back upstairs.
Stupid brother
Now.
Me
Are you kidding me? I was there two seconds ago.
Couldn’t he have told me earlier? I’m sure he did it on purpose to force me to walk back up and tire me out.
I groan and turn off the ignition. It better be important because I don’t have time to waste with him when I can spend that time with my precious Aoi instead.
After striding to his office, I shut the door behind me and cross my arms. “What’s up? You’re lucky I was still downstairs or else I wouldn’t have bothered coming back.”
“Sit down. This is important.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Sit. Down,” he orders through gritted teeth, his words closer to a threat than a demand. “Tu sais que je déteste me répéter.4”
I oblige and take a seat opposite him. Bellami massages his temple before leaning back in his leather chair. The air chills my bones as his gaze settles on me with the intent to utter the worst and ruin my morale.
“As you know, I’ll go back to France with Francesca once the situation here is under control,” he says, locking his unshakeable dark eyes with mine.
“What you might have suspected already–if you’re as intuitive as I believe you are–is that I will have to appoint someone to take over the New York branch when I go home.
” Bellami rises from his seat and turns his back to me as he stares out the window at the city underneath.
“I wanted to appoint you, but now that I see you acting like a teenage girl in love, I’m not so sure anymore. ”
“Bellami-”
“You’re my pride and joy, Visha, but I can’t put you under so much pressure and responsibility unless I’m sure you’re ready.
I know that having found the man you’ve been searching for, you want to stay by his side forever.
” He turns to face me, a soft smile curling his lips.
“I understand but you have to toughen up. You’re the future of this corporation alongside me, and I want you to show the world what a true Lacroix you are. ”
“I know I haven’t been mature, and I’m sorry, but seeing Aoi with Aiden just infuriated me. I-”
“I don’t care, and neither should you.”
I gawk at him, stunned by his harshness. How could I stop caring about Aoi being with someone else than me?
I can’t. I won’t.
“Aoi isn’t yours. You’ll be allowed to fuss once you get your hands on his heart. Stop acting like a child and do what needs to be done. You’re twenty-three for fuck’s sake. When will you learn?”
I jump to my feet. “And what’s the right thing to do according to you? You seem to always know better than everyone else. Since you’re so perfect, how about you tell me what the fuck I should do?”
“Don’t raise your voice at me young man.”
“You speak so easily of my behavior, but of course you wouldn’t understand. You already have everything. You have the love of your life by your side while I might never get to be by my one and only, because I’m not good enough.” I slam my fist on the desk. “I’m not like you!”
“Then become the man you want to be!” he snaps.
“I don’t want you to be like me. Be the man you know he needs, and the man you know you need to be.
Step up, grow up, smarten up and go get him as a real Lacroix would.
Stop whining like a little bitch.” He sighs.
“How could I ever entrust you with this company if you whine about a simple man?”
He’s right. I have to do something instead of complaining about being a failure. There’s no way I’ll achieve anything unless I step up and act.
I hold my head down, listening to the sound of his footsteps as he walks over to me.
“You’re so much more than you think, Visha. I know how formidable you are and all the accomplishments you hide from others. You’re far from being a failure, and it’s time you see it, too.”
He grasps my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. I flinch at the contact, and before I can shove his hand off, he removes it.
I laugh because that’s all I can do. I can’t make promises of grandeur, nor can I claim he’s wrong.
Bellami pulls me into a tight embrace and speaks against my ear, “I’m proud of you. More than you know.”
A stream of emotions deluges inside me at how badly I want to punch him for hugging me. I never know what he’s thinking, but when he speaks up and tells me what I’ve been craving to hear, I don’t know what to do.
His embrace makes my skin crawl.
The beat of my heart picks up the pace and I politely put some distance between us. My lungs constrict as tormenting images pop up before my eyes like a bad horror movie, turning my previous annoyance into dread and revolt.
I know I’m safe, and Brad can’t hurt me anymore after what Bellami did to him, but it doesn’t stop the terror from surging.
He may be my brother, but he filled my heart with hate and fear. These emotions have never been simple to erase and much less accept, no matter what he has sacrificed for me. No matter the blood he spilled when he put the pieces of the puzzle together and figured out the full picture.
We were born from the same womb, but the flowers of the same garden don’t always come from the same seed.
Blood isn’t thicker than the bonds you forge.