Come back upstairs.
Stupid brother
Now.
Me
Are you kidding me? I was there two seconds ago.
Couldn’t he have told me earlier? I’m sure he did it on purpose to force me to walk back up and tire me out.
I groan and turn off the ignition. It better be important because I don’t have time to waste with him when I can spend that time with my precious Aoi instead.
After striding to his office, I shut the door behind me and cross my arms. “What’s up? You’re lucky I was still downstairs or else I wouldn’t have bothered coming back.”
“Sit down. This is important.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Sit. Down,” he orders through gritted teeth, his words closer to a threat than a demand. “Tu sais que je déteste me répéter.4”
I oblige and take a seat opposite him. Bellami massages his temple before leaning back in his leather chair. The air chills my bones as his gaze settles on me with the intent to utter the worst and ruin my morale.
“As you know, I’ll go back to France with Francesca once the situation here is under control,” he says, locking his unshakeable dark eyes with mine. “What you might have suspected already–if you’re as intuitive as I believe you are–is that I will have to appointsomeone to take over the New York branch when I go home.” Bellami rises from his seat and turns his back to me as he stares out the window at the city underneath. “I wanted to appoint you, but now that I see you acting like a teenage girl in love, I’m not so sure anymore.”
“Bellami-”
“You’re my pride and joy, Visha, but I can’t put you under so much pressure and responsibility unless I’m sure you’re ready. I know that having found the man you’ve been searching for, you want to stay by his side forever.” He turns to face me, a soft smile curling his lips. “I understand but you have to toughen up. You’re the future of this corporation alongside me, and I want you to show the world what a true Lacroix you are.”
“I know I haven’t been mature, and I’m sorry, but seeing Aoi with Aiden just infuriated me. I-”
“I don’t care, and neither should you.”
I gawk at him, stunned by his harshness. How could I stop caring about Aoi being with someone else than me?
I can’t.I won’t.
“Aoi isn’t yours. You’ll be allowed to fuss once you get your hands on his heart. Stop acting like a child and do what needs to be done. You’re twenty-three for fuck’s sake. When will you learn?”
I jump to my feet. “And what’s the right thing to do according to you? You seem toalwaysknow better than everyone else. Since you’re so perfect, how about you tell me what the fuck I should do?”
“Don’t raise your voice at me young man.”
“You speak so easily of my behavior, but of course you wouldn’t understand. You already have everything. You have thelove of your life by your side while I might never get to be bymyone and only, because I’m not good enough.” I slam my fist on the desk. “I’m not like you!”
“Then become the man you want to be!” he snaps. “I don’t want you to be like me. Be the man you know he needs, and the man you knowyouneed to be. Step up, grow up, smarten up and go get him as a real Lacroix would. Stop whining like a little bitch.” He sighs. “How could I ever entrust you with this company if you whine about a simple man?”
He’s right. I have to do something instead of complaining about being a failure. There’s no way I’ll achieve anything unless I step up and act.
I hold my head down, listening to the sound of his footsteps as he walks over to me.
“You’re so much more than you think, Visha. I know how formidable you are and all the accomplishments you hide from others. You’re far from being a failure, and it’s time you see it, too.”
He grasps my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. I flinch at the contact, and before I can shove his hand off, he removes it.
I laugh because that’s all I can do. I can’t make promises of grandeur, nor can I claim he’s wrong.
Bellami pulls me into a tight embrace and speaks against my ear, “I’m proud of you. More than you know.”
