Nick’s Obsession (The Billionaire’s Obsession 3)

“I guess I have.”

Max helped me out of my chair and walked me to the car where Miles was waiting for me, “I’m glad you’re going to see dad. I know it’s not something you’re looking forward to, but it will be okay. I promise.”

I turned to look at him, “Nick will be right beside me so I’m sure it will be okay. Thanks for lunch, it was lovely.” I admitted to him, “If your schedule is free later this week we could do dinner at our place Thursday night.”

Max smiled at me, “Sounds great, Emily, I’ll be there.”

He opened the door for me while I climbed inside the car, getting comfortable in the backseat. I glanced at Max and waved at him once he closed the door. He waved back at me, looking more at ease than a few days ago. I guess it was because of me he was looking so uptight and angry. My good mood today affected him too, I was glad we could move forward without holding grudges.

***

Entering the club Brandon’s girlfriend Sacha waved at me, her whole face lighting up.

“He is in the office.” She called to me, looking giddy with herself.

I couldn’t help but wonder what they had been doing in his office. I once witnessed them having a good time on top of the counter she was standing behind, like hell I wanted to witness it again. Trying to banish all the images of them banging out of my mind I knocked on his door and waited for him to call out. I stepped inside once he did and closed the door behind me. We had a lot of catching up to do and by the looks of it, I had Brandon’s full attention.

“Em.”

I smiled, taking a seat across him on the one-seat, “Not buried in work today?”

“I managed to get a lot done last night.” He got off his desk chair, walked around his desk and took a seat next to me on the empty one-seat, “So what’s been going on? You sounded stressed a few days ago yet today you look good. Happy.”

“Let’s start with the big news.” My lips curled up to a big grin which made Brandon a bit wary of me, “I’m engaged.” His eyes trailed down to my hand and trailed up again to meet my gaze, “Nick was planning to ask me, but I didn’t give him time to do the whole romantic pop the question thing.” I told him, knowing he was wondering where the hell my sparkling engagement ring was.

“Sounds like you.” Brandon’s eyes danced with amusement, “So you’re getting married?”

I glanced down at my fingers, “Yeah, I guess I am.”

Brandon reached out to me, making me look up to meet his gaze, “That’s big news, Em. Congrats.” He leaned back in his chair, “You guys are already solid, this is the most logical step, isn’t it?”

“It was to Nick, not so much to me.”

“But Nick convinced you to take that step anyway.” The look in his eyes changed, he looked more serious, “You might not believe me, but I’m glad you’ve met him. He changed you and for the better, but you’ve changed him as well. You two helped each other grow. I could actually picture you walking down the aisle to marry him.”

That meant a lot to me. Brandon and I had been through a lot and I was glad our friendship survived the blow. Brandon had been in love with me, at least he thought he was. Nick and I getting in a relationship had been hard on him, but now he was the one telling me he approved of us. That he imagined me walking down the aisle to marry Nick. I knew Brandon well so I also knew when he was being sincere. So his words made me cry. I didn’t mean to, but lately, I was more emotional than usual and now I just let the tears stream down, not giving a damn. Brandon reached out to me, wiping the tears away.

“You’re being silly.”

“I’m not.” I muttered, “You saying that to me means a lot to me.”

Brandon pulled me off my chair and pulled me in his lap, holding me tightly as he let me cry, “Yeah, you’re totally being silly here.”

Once I calmed down Brandon and I walked out of his office to get a drink. Sacha poured me a glass of water while Brandon got himself a coffee to get him through the day.

“You feeling better?” He asked me, sounding amused.

I sipped from my water, “A lot. I can’t help it okay.”

He smiled at me, “I know. You think it’s a good idea to go to Tokyo?”

“I’ll be fine. I still have four months to go.”

His eyes lingered on my swollen stomach, “I can’t wait to meet the little guy.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I clutched the cold glass in front of me as the topic of family came back, I had to tell Brandon what was on my mind. It was why I came to meet him in the first place.

“I’m going to pay my dad a visit this weekend.”

That made Brandon’s mood drop, I didn’t even have to look up to see it, “I thought you said you were never going back there.”

I nodded, “I did say that.” I confirmed, “But I’ve been talking with Nick about it then I talked to Max about it and I figured that I might have to push some grudges aside to move forward in life.” I looked up to meet his gaze, “I’m becoming a mother, I shouldn’t let my child think it’s okay to live that way. Life is way too short to keep upset about things that happened years ago.”

Brandon stared at me for a long minute, his eyes searching mine. His face was void of any emotions, it even felt like I could hear the wheels in his brain turn. He was analyzing me and I feared for the worst. I didn’t expect his face to light up and his lips to curl up in a grin.

“You’re all grown up, Em.” I was tearing up again seeing the proud look in his eyes, “You’ll be a great mom to that little boy.” He reached for my hand and gently squeezed it, “I love you.”

I wiped my cheeks, trying to get rid of the tears as I smiled back at him, “Love you too, Bran.”