Chapter 51 She’s irresistible
Dante’s POV.
“You look so pale, is everything okay?” I said, as we walked along each other.
“I’m fine, I didn’t sleep well…” she murmured.
My hand slipped to hers. “You don’t look fine.”
She tried to release them. “It’s hurting me.”
“I got breakfast for you. Coffee, milk, no sugar. And pancakes.”
“Thank you.”
“We will be going for a business banquet tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get that arranged. You’re having a meeting with the executives by noon.”
“You’ll attend with me.”
“Me? I’m just a secretary… you don’t have to.”
“It’s an order. Not a request, Isla.”
We both paused and stared at each other.
“People are watching us. They’re going to talk.”
“Let them talk. It doesn’t matter.”
“Do you care about their feelings or mine?”
“Can we not do this right now?” She shied her eyes away from mine.
A small smile left my lips. She looked cute whenever she was angry or upset.
“I’ll send you the dress for tomorrow’s event. Make sure you send me pictures of you trying them out.”
“Can you stop being shameless?” She teased.
“If I was shameless I wouldn’t have expressed my feelings for you.”
We both laughed, moving toward the meeting room.
The meeting was a brief one. I didn’t get my eyes off her.
The way she demonstrated, the way she answered questions, and her confidence.
It’s almost a year and she’s doing much better than she was when she started.
It made me very proud.
“You improved so much. I’m proud of that.” I applaud her.
“I had a bad encounter with your brother last night,” she started.
The smile on my face faded. “You had a disagreement?”
She raised her hand. There was a little bruise on them.
“He hurt you?” I held them softly, my words breaking.
“He tried to force himself on me.”
“What the fuck!” The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them.
The workers around us paused. They all turned, paying attention to us.
“Did I employ you to work or gossip?” I yelled.
They all moved, returning to their seats.
“Follow me to the office.”
“Let me see. Are you still in pain?” I asked, pulling out a first aid box.
I gently applied them on the surface of her skin, making her hiss in pain.
“Why would he do this to you?”
“He was furious about where I was two nights ago. I think someone told him we were together.”
“Who dares to do that right under my nose?” I grunted my teeth.
“I’ll talk to him when we get home.”
“You don’t have to… I’m fine.”
“I have to. Nobody dares to touch what’s mine.”
My heart sank now, the blood on my body pumped so fast.
Even if he was my brother, he shouldn’t have touched or hurt her. That wasn’t part of the agreement.
After hours of meetings, the day finally came to an end.
I already texted my brother to meet me at our usual spot, the office of our late grandfather.
“Brother,” he greeted. “You called me.”
“Yes I did. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sure I am,”
“I saw what you did to her wrists last night.”
There was silence between us for a moment.
“She told you about it?” He lit up a cigarette.
“Did you touch her last night?.
“I didn’t mean to,” he bluffed. “I didn’t expect her to react that way.”
“Do you still remember our agreement! I begged you to take care of her, not want her..”
“Why do you keep fighting for something you know isn’t yours?”
His expression went blank. “Why didn’t you send me to the altar if she mattered so much to you, either?”
“The only reason I really haven’t been all out is because you’re my only brother.”
“I can’t bear to see you fighting with me.”
“Leave her alone. She’s mine, I get to decide for her.”
“That isn’t love.”
“It’s possessiveness, not love.”
“It’s not possessiveness, it's the freedom I gave to her. She gets to choose what she wants and nobody dares to say anything about it.”
He kept looking at me, eyes wide. Even if I had to protect Isla from him, I still couldn’t bring myself to having a misunderstanding with my own brother.”
All this years it had been just us. He had always had my back.
And I didn’t joke with whatever that had to do with him.
“Okay, brother.” He said, turning towards the door.
“I love you, brother.” He said.
The doors behind him click in a soft sound.
I agree that I haven't been fair to him lately, and have taken advantage of him so many times.
But I still love him the most. We’ve gone through the bad and good days together and I didn’t want to be seen as an unfilial brother.
“Did you see the dress I sent to you?” I asked.
“Yes. They’re all good. I just find them too expensive.”
“Expensive are good on you,” I replied.
“Send me a picture of what you look like on it.”
“You look so pretty. Those clothes are doing justice to your body. I love them.”
“You look charming.”
“Which of them are you picking?”
“Ummm… they all look good. I’m taking the red one.”
“That’s a great idea. I love the red one too.”
“I already talked to my brother. He won’t feel less of yourself anymore.”
Her face lightened with a bright smile.
“Thank you very much. And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you involved.”
“As long as it’s you. I wouldn’t hesitate to step in honey.”
“Stop teasing. My legs are still numb from two nights ago.”
My stomach dropped. I couldn’t stop laughing.
“Did I hurt you that badly? I’m sorry love.”
“I’ll just take something to ease the pains off.”
“What are you doing?” Our eyes locked on each other.
There was this unspoken feeling that lingered between us, and it didn’t need to be expressed.
Somethings are just meant to go with the flow.