Facing Brandon’s cold side reminds me of the first time I met him—the man I thought couldn’t be defied. Especially now.
We’re sitting on what feels like miles apart in the backseat of his Mercedes without talking, but the tension between us is thick and palpable. I ache to reach out to him, run my fingers over his chest, embrace him, and ask him what I can do for him, but I’m afraid he will reject me.
I watch the window quietly, wondering where we are going. A couple of minutes later, we stop by a towering building in the middle of the city. Brandon steps out of the car first and lets John open the door for me.
“What are we going to do here exactly?” I ask, but even John doesn’t answer and lets me walk first. Brandon waits for me patiently and unexpectedly holds my hand firmly and possessively.
“I want you to be on your best behavior today. Can I count on that?” he demands.
I swallow dryly. “Yes. I think I can do that.”
“Good girl.”
When we walk to the building, several men in suits approach him immediately and Brandon nods casually. The men in suits march briskly and usher us to a restaurant, oddly, without even a single customer inside. A waiter joins us quickly and leads us to a table.
We perch on the chair, sitting next to each other, but there’s another empty seat across us as though we’re still waiting for someone. The men and John stand behind us as if they’re our security guards. I suddenly feel a tightness in my chest.
“What’s really going on?” I ask.
“You’ll see,” he says passively. He crosses his legs and leans on the chair.
I don’t like this awkwardness between us anymore. He suddenly changed overnight. If he doesn’t want me anymore after all those confessions I told him, why can’t he just tell me?
I sigh. “If we can just talk about this at home—”
“Aha!”“Drake.” I shut my eyes and seethe, then look at my boyfriend. “Brandon, did you set this up?”
Brandon doesn’t answer and leans forward. “Thank you for coming here despite your busy schedule, Mayor Mallory.”
A smirk curls on Drake’s lips, and he doesn’t blink. “Anything for Alayna, I’m willing to cooperate. I had a feeling I’d be meeting you eventually,” he states arrogantly.
I slap my palms on the table. “Wait. I’m… I’m not doing this with both of you,” I drawl breathlessly. “Please.”
“Well, this wasn’t my idea.” Drake shrugs.
I clench the fabric of the linen, shaking, and look at Brandon. “Why would you do this? How could you?” I accuse.
“Told you you’d resist, didn’t I?” he whispers.
I don’t feel like breathing the same air with both of them in one compressed space. I spring up. “I can’t…” I shake my head. “I can’t do this.”
Brandon catches my wrist and yanks me down. “Sit down.”
Drake’s eyes darken.
Coldness crawls up my limbs then travels down my toes. My lips tremble in panic. I shift my gaze back and forth between both men, who seem to have started a staring contest.
“So, Mr. Lucien…” Drake crosses his legs and clasps his fingers above his knee. “Why don’t we get on to business?”
“First things first,” Brandon speaks up. “Whatever it is you want from my girlfriend, you will have to tell me first.”
Drake’s eyes narrow. “I don’t think it’s going to be that easy,” he challenges, then cocks his head. “Don’t you think so, Laynie?”
“Go to hell, Drake,” I curse.
“I’ve been there, and I’m not going back soon,” he says, then smirks. “I’m here to resolve the problem.”
“And I think her problem isn’t your business anymore, mayor“Mr. Lucien, I’m not sure if you understand the situation precisely,” Drake asserts firmly.
“Oh, and I’m completely aware,” Brandon presses on.
Drake’s expression hardens. “You told him?” he asks me, but I answer him with silence. He then clasps his hands again. “Fine. Then I won’t have to explain.”
“Because there’s nothing else to explain, Drake,” I declare proudly.
“Oh really, did you?” Drake dares.
“Yes, so you can’t use that on me anymore.” For the first time, I feel a little free from his manipulation, that there is no need for me to hide because Brandon finally knows. He might be mad at me now, but he knows.“Every detail? Every fucking thing we did?” His eyes glimmer again. “I bet you still didn’t. I bet he doesn’t know you used to kneel in front of me when you’re begging me to fuck you, right? How about when you wanted me to tie you up and make you come?”
“Don’t. Please don’t do this, Drake.” My blood pressure rises, and the iciness I felt earlier is gone and turns into fire. I feel like burning in shame and disgust. I swiftly shift my attention, worried about what he will do next, but Brandon remains calm in his seat. His jaw ticks.
“Every fucking thing, mayor, if that’s what you mean to say, yes“And you’re not even angry? I’m impressed. Maybe I really lost her for real this time,” Drake says frankly.
“We’re not here to impress you, mayor. I asked you to meet—not only do I wish to know about Alayna’s father, but to simply tell you I can help her from here and that we want nothing to do with you, and don’t waste your precious “I told you it wouldn’t be easy, didn’t I? First, you’re correct, Mr. Lucien. You’re really probably a genius,” Drake says straightforwardly. “Second, it’s true what I told her about her father. Third, I’m not the type to give up easily. And yes, I’m using that to get close to Laynie again—she’s mine to begin with.”
Brandon laughs, but the humor doesn’t touch his eyes. “That’s the difference between us then, mayor. I think Alayna is her own person.”
Drake smirks. “Then why is it that after all these years, she still hasn’t moved on?”
“She can choose who she wants to be and whoever she wants to be with,” Brandon presses. “I don’t know how you managed to confine her into your own rotten beliefs, but if you think you own her because of that, then it is my pleasure to tell you that you are mistaken. No one owns her but herself. Isn’t that right, darling?”
But the knotted strings in my heart loosen, and I start to see hope again. Those were precisely the words I told him before. He wouldn’t abandon me just because of my past—he already accepted me.
Drake’s shoulders tense, and his expression blackens. “Very well. We’ll see about that,” he declares and sets his attention back to me. “I know who you are better than you know yourself. Remember that, Laynie. And oh, a piece of advice to both of you. I’m only willing to help on my terms. Try to consider that before asking to see me again.”
“What do you want?” I finally question, so we’ll get to the point.
“You know what I want, Laynie. It’s simple.”
Me.“Boys?Brandon springs up and calls Drake again, then stops before exiting the restaurant.
“I think you’re mistaking something here, mayorhate My cheeks redden at those words that get me all the time.
Drake sneers once more and continues to head out.
I am finally able to breathe again. “I told you, talking to Drake isn’t a good idea. I can’t believe you did this without even asking me!”
Brandon ignores me and whispers something to John instead. John nods and exits out of the restaurant as well. He draws out his phone and starts typing on the screen.
“Hey!” I call him and hold his arm so he can face me. “I thought you were mad at me, the next you’re not, and then you ignore me. What is your problem?”
He looks at me blankly. “Come.”
He grips my wrist, jerking me outside with him. His chauffeur is already waiting by the car, but I realize John isn’t going to drive this time when he gives the keys to his boss. Brandon shoves me into the passenger side and steps into the driver’s seat.
“Ouch!” I complain.
He then hastily pulls out of the sidewalk to the main avenue.
“Where are we going again? Please, I can’t stand your silence anymore, Brandon. It’s giving me whiplash.”
“Are you sure you told me everything I need to know?” he questions with his eyes still attentive on the road.
My shoulders fall. “Are we going through this again?”
“Yes. Every single part of it—up to the tiniest details I still need to know.”
“I don’t think I can go through that again,” I refuse. “Reliving memories isn’t such a good idea for me. And the last time I told you about it, you asked me to leave.”
“Not this time,” he says gruffly. “And I’m not asking. I’m not giving you a choice this time.”
We continue to drive for a couple of hours. I wish I could take a nap, but I’m very much wide awake, wondering where he’d take me. I’m beginning to see nature with those mountains and valleys, and I admit I’m enjoying the view. A few more minutes later, I finally start to see a familiar road—like I’ve already been here before.
“Brandon, are we… No.”
“Yes, we are.”
“Portland. We’re in Portland?”
“Mm.”
“Your mother’s villa?”
“Yes.”
“And Lydia?”
“Yes, Alayna.” He finally looks at me, and I see emotions in his eyes again.
I look outside the window again, and I can’t help but feel the excitement. I never imagined myself coming back to that beautiful place.
“Are the others coming too? Did you already plan this?”
“No.”
“So this is not planned?”
“No.”
“It’ll only be the two of us there?”
His eyes narrow. “You don’t want it to be just us?”
“I… I’m just surprised, but of course, I want to.”
“Good, because it’s going to be a long night for us.”
Although Brandon isn’t talking much, I like the idea of us being alone together, far away from everyone and everything else. We barely have that time for the both of us, and this might be the only chance I have to make him understand.