Falling for My Billionaire Best Friend

TRINITY

I felt insignificant. That’s what I felt earlier, but who am I to fight? When the head doesn’t want me, then so be it. I worked hard to be a part of the company, but my hardship and experience are all gone to waste. I guess I just don’t belong there.

There’s a little regret on the part of my brain. If I only follow my passion as an artist or an architect, I won’t be here alone jobless in the middle of these graves.

My heels dip in the soft green grass as I saunter toward Oli. I always came here when I missed him. Being with him, I find it comforting.

I wrap my arms around myself when the wind blows my hair. I slow my pace when I’m a few steps closer to Oli. The flowers I placed on the granite plate last week are still here, and they start withering.

Placing another grasp of white calla and stargazer, I set aside the old one. I wipe away the withered petals that fell on the plate. I trace my fingers where Oli’s name is engraved while feeling the pang inside my chest.

“Hey, Oli. How are you? Missed me, huh?” I sit down on the grass and lean my palm to support my weight. I tuck my hair behind my ear as I blow a breath.

“Guess what Oli? Remember my best friend that I told you about? Well, he’s back, and he’s still mean, but he looks different though. More mature, I guess, but he’s still a bully.” I chuckle when I remember Bash called me goldfish.

“He doesn’t want me in finance, though. It’s sad, isn’t it? I guess I should start sending resumes and start job hunting. I’m sure Mom and Dad won’t be pleased with what I did. I kinda quit, eh.” I blow the strand of hair away from my face.

“I just quit the job that I worked hard for years.” I look down at his name, hoping he will tell me not to give up. My tears are running down my nose. I wipe them away with a sniff.

“I missed you so much Oli.” I sigh. “I wish you’re here to comfort me, you know. I’m so lost without you. I don’t know what to do anymore. I thought I’m so strong, but I know I’m not. I’m still the weak Kiara and never changed. I’m still the coward, the weakling, and a loser.” I lift my eyes and stare far for as long as my sight can reach.

“Take me Oli, I need to be with you,” I tell him slowly as I look back down.

“I’ll be here soon. I love you so much, Oli.”

***

I fish out the keys from my red Selena Grace coach bag. It’s from my best friend Lizzy because I can’t afford to have one.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I need a good rest before I start job hunting. I unlock the door open only to freeze in my place. “Jesus Christ!”

I cover my eyes with my bag, and I can still hear shuffles and clinking of the belt. My face heats with embarrassment.

“K, what are you doing here?” Luke is still panting.

“Since when are you doing that on the couch, Luke?” I groan, and I still can’t see their faces.

“Poor innocent eyes, K. We’re decent now.” Ryker sounds amused.

I lower my bag slowly with half-closed eyes just to make sure they have clothes on. Placing my hands on my hips, I glare at them. “Aren’t you two supposed to do that in your room? Do we need to disinfect that couch?” I love them both, and they never cross the line. We both respect everyone’s privacy, but I don’t know what to think after what I just witnessed.

“K, we’re not having sex,” Luke answers, rolling his eyes.

“Yet, but if I didn’t show up in like ten seconds, you might ruin the couch or worse, I need to call the sperm exterminator for that!”

“We always did that in my room.” Ryker doesn’t say anything as he sits down opposite Luke.

“But that’s not what I just saw a moment ago.”

Ryker chuckles. I scowl at him because they still think it’s funny.

“We’re about to go there. I swear. Why are you here early? To catch us?”

My stomach churns. “I resigned. Clean your mess, and Ryker put your shirt on. No walking half-naked in this apartment.”

“Got to get another shirt.”

I raise my brows, and I see a hint of a smile on his face.

“Oh, god! Gross.” I wrinkle my nose.

“Like you never did that.” Luke laughs.

“Did what?” I raise my voice a little bit. Okay, I did raise my voice.

“Blow a dick, duh.”

My eyes widen. My mouth gapes. Unbelievable.

Ryker’s rich laugh is echoing in our living room.

“Not funny, Ryker! Go take Luke’s shirt, please?” I beg because I can’t take any more of this conversation. I just cried at Oli’s grave, and now I am talking about sex with my friends. It’s not that I’m inexperienced, but I had only sex with one man.

“His shirt is too small for me, K.”

Luke is a half foot shorter than Ryker with a runway model frame, unlike Ryker, he’s bulkier and taller, but they’re of the same age.

“Ugh! I should get inside my room.” I stomp past them to the hallway. My room is at the opposite end of our apartment.

We’ve been here in this apartment since our senior year in college, and it’s the closest to the Hughes Building, but right now, it’s useless no matter how close it is. It has three bedrooms and two baths, a spacious living room, a small kitchen, and a small balcony.

“You didn’t answer my question, K? Why are you here so early?”

I stop. “I told you I resigned. Clean your mess, guys!” I yell and walk to my room.

I change to my blue cotton short shorts and a white t-shirt with a glittery kitten printed in front. I head out to our kitchen after washing away the stain of tears on my face. I stop to halt when I hear Ryker is yelling in our leaving room. I can’t quite understand what it is about, but why are they fighting? Not just a moment ago, they’re BJ-ing on the couch.

My brows furrow when I hear another familiar voice, and it’s not Luke. It’s Bash. How did he know my apartment? Did he come for me or he’s lost? I faster my pace to the living room when I see him, his driver is already in between Bash and Ryker with wide arms to stop the two from exchanging blows. They both look pissed.

“What the hell is going on here? I just left to change for a few minutes, and now you’re all about to rip everyone to shred!”

Pissed Bash blinks and swallows when he sees me yelling. Edmund let go of his arms on Ryker and Bash. Ryker is still half-naked with a flushed face while Luke seems amused as he crosses his arms over his chest.

Ryker coughs. “This asshole was asking about Trinity. He pushed me off the door when I didn’t allow him to get inside,” he explains while glaring at Bash.

Bash jaw clenches.

“Ms. Mallory, I apologize for the sudden interruption,” Edmund says politely.

“It’s alright, Edmund. Mr. Hughes, care to explain what are you doing here in my apartment? The last time we talked, I already have no business with you, your office, and your company,” I say as I cross my arms over my chest.

He looks taken aback.

“Oh! So, you are the Bash Bash!” Luke chirps.

I clear my throat. Seriously Luke?

“Trinity, I am here to apologize for my actions. I admit I judged you, and I shouldn’t have done that. You proved that you deserve to be part of the company, so who am I to judge you when I wasn’t there to see your work. My apology, Trinity,” he says with pride.

My jaw almost drops. Wow! Did he just apologize? What happened to the arrogant prick Bash I knew?

Luke is giggling with his hand on his mouth to suppress his voice.

“I would like to see you on Monday at your new office,” he adds with a tight smile.

“Wait, this douchebag fired you? That’s why you’re here early?” Ryker roars.

My eyes fix on him.

“Watch your language, asshole!” Bash snarls.

Edmund is back on full alert.

“Ryker, Bash, enough! Luke, take Ryker to your room, and I need to talk with Bash, alone.”

Instead of answering me, he grins and walks toward Ryker who is still glaring at Bash. Bash is doing the same. Luke holds Ryker’s hand, dragging him away from Bash.

“Bash, I’ll be outside. Don’t do—” Edmund says.

“I know, I know. I don’t need your daddy role here,” Bash grits his teeth.

Edmund walks away after giving me a tight smile. I nod, smiling back at him.

“Let’s talk in my room,” I say before I walk toward my room. I hear his footsteps following me.

“What’s wrong in the living room?” he asks, may be out of curiosity/

I stop and face him. “I’m not gonna rape you, boss.” I look at him from head to toe.

He looks deliciously hot. Then he smiles.

Jeez, Bash! I just met my fiancé not hours ago.

“Let’s head to the kitchen then,” I suggest.

“What’s wrong with your room?” he asks, but this time, there’s a glint in his eyes.

I lead him to the kitchen without answering his question.

“Coffee?” I offer. “I’ve got a Java coffee, and I think I have pastries here.” I open the cupboard where I stock the coffee canister and grab two coffee mugs. I press the button to start brewing after filling them with coffee granules and water.

“Just a coffee for me, Tri. Thanks.”

I face him. He’s leaning on the kitchen island. “I arrived earlier when I saw the two busy with themselves on the couch, that’s why I suggested for us to talk far from there.” Heat creeps on my face. I notice Bash’s jaw clenches.

“No need to be violent, Bash. They’re good people, and you don’t have the right to treat them like how you did a while ago.”

“I’m sorry. Don’t they have a room?” Bash asks silently.

“Let’s not talk about them. What changed your mind?” I ask, searching for an answer from his gorgeous face.

“Dad just dropped the bomb. I wasn’t ready to hear that from him. I asked him for a month before I let you work in your office, but he disagreed.” I already knew the answers when his dad called me while I was on my way to visit Oli.

“Do you want me to be your temporary assistant for a while?”

He looks at my eyes then shrugs.

“What does it mean?”

“You seemed so excited. So I can’t hold you for too long. Dad surely requests for an assistant position from the HR as of now.” He chuckles.

“So, that guy?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes. The fiancé.”

He nods and seems to relax.

I pour us two mugs of coffee, then I put a spoonful of creamer and a little sugar on my mug. I give him his coffee. I know he used to drink black. He starts sipping his coffee while I’m just holding a hot steaming mug in my hand. I look at his beautiful face.

Why do I have to have such a perfect best friend that I can’t even daydream about? We’re best friends, but we’re from two different worlds. He’s like the white while I am black. He’s the fire and I am the ice. He is gorgeous and I am insecure. I am in love with him, and he is not.

“Tri, what’s with that look?” his voice brings me out from my thoughts.

“Huh?” I ask, blinking.

“I ask you why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“You look sad?” he says with uncertainty.

Because I am.

“Did you visit him?” he asks with hesitation.

I nod slowly. “Yup. I went to visit him every time I felt alone and sad. But I also visited him when I am happy.” I smile at the thought of Oli, but there’s a twist in the pit of my belly.

Why do I feel like I’m not supposed to share this with Bash?

When we were still in high school, I felt so jealous of all the girls he dated. Sometimes I cried at night when he couldn’t see me because he went on a date. I felt my heart crashed a thousand times when I saw him kissing another girl, but he never kissed me on my lips even once.

I shrug and sigh. I feel a thumb on my cheek.

I jar back from my thoughts.

“Don’t cry, Tri. I am here, and I will never go away from you again,” he says while wiping my tears that fall unknowingly.

I grab his hand and press it against my face while I shut my eyes close. I nod curtly, kissing the palm of his hand.

His lips slightly parted when I open my eyes. Our gazes meet. I feel like I’m hypnotized by his stare. I can see yearning and care in those gray orbs. I feel safe with his palm on my face; his thumb caresses my bottom lip. Butterflies start to spread wildly in my stomach that I have never felt in a long time. My body ignites, and Bash never breaks his gaze on me.

The doorbell goes off, and his hand is gone.