Chapter ninety one
Chapter ninety one
Brandon pov.
“You’re just going to ignore me?” Drake tilted his head, settling comfortably into the chair across from me like he belonged there, that same infuriating smile playing on his lips.
I kept my gaze on the screen in front of me, tapping my foot against the ground to steady myself. My pulse was too fast, my thoughts too loud. Just his presence was enough to drag everything back—memories I’d buried, feelings I’d sworn were long gone.
“Why are you here?” I asked, my voice flat, controlled—barely.
“You used to love having me here,” he scoffed, leaning back in his chair like he owned the place, arms crossed, completely at ease.
I flinched before I could stop myself, his words scraping against something I’d tried so hard to bury.
“Used to,” I said, forcing my voice steady. “Not anymore.”
“Why?” He tilted his head, that same mocking smile creeping back. “Because I broke your heart?”
My jaw tightened. I didn’t answer.
My hands had already started to shake, subtle but enough for me to notice. I curled them into fists under the table, pressing my nails into my palm like that would ground me, like it would stop the memories from slipping through.
Get a grip.
But it wasn’t working.
Of all days… where the hell is Kingsley?
I dragged a hand over my face, exhaling sharply, trying to steady my breathing before he noticed just how much he was getting to me.
“You’re shaking.”
“Because you’re disrupting my peace,” I snapped, the words slipping out before I could filter them. “Why the fuck are you here? You left me.”
He didn’t even flinch. If anything, his smile deepened. “But I’m back now.”
“Back for what?” I let out a dry, humorless laugh, shaking my head. “To pick up the pieces you left behind, or to finally take full control of my company?”
“Brandon…”
“Don’t you fucking dare call my name,” I snapped, the words cutting out sharper than I intended. My lip curled, disgust twisting in my chest. How dare he? What made him think he could just walk back into my life like nothing happened? Like I’d just… accept it?
“You need to calm down,” he said, like he always used to—like he still had that right. His gaze dragged over me, slow, assessing. “You’re overreacting again.”
“Because you’re here,” I groaned, dragging a hand through my hair. My body wouldn’t settle. My pulse was racing, sweat gathering at the back of my neck. This wasn’t good. Not good at all.
Shit. If I lose control—
Where the fuck is that asshole I call my boyfriend when I actually need him?
“Brandon, I know what happened between us—”
“Us?” I let out a hollow laugh, the sound rough, almost unhinged. “Us?”
I leaned forward, eyes burning into his. “After you slept with my brother? After you blackmailed me—and Mr. Cole—for money?” My voice rose with every word, disbelief and anger tangling together.
“Us, Drake? Us?”
“I’m sorry…”. He whispered. My whole body stiffened as I heard those words I had waited so long for him to say to me. Sorry? Sorry?
I let out a quiet, disbelieving breath, dragging a hand over my face as I turned away from him.
“Sorry…” I repeated under my breath, the word tasting bitter. “Why are you here, Drake?”
“I want you back”.
“Drake…”.
“I’m serious, Brandon”. He stood up from his seat and walked to my side. I sat there frozen as he turned my chair around to face him fully, forcing me to raise my eyes up to meet his… used to be gorgeous amber eyes.
“I want you back, I know I made a big mistake by agreeing to your father’s request. But I regret it now, I really do want you back. I will give back the shares if that’s what it takes for you to believe me”.
“I—I don’t… you’re too close…” I stammered, my chest tightening. My hands wanted to push him away, to shove him off me, but they wouldn’t obey. My mind flashed back to being small, trapped, the way the world had always felt like it was closing in and where he used to be the only thing that grounded me.
“Tell me, the replacement..” Drake pressed, voice low, almost teasing. “Is he better? Does he know you better than I do?”