He picks up on it, narrowing his eyes. “Unless it won’t? Is that why you hired a publicist?”
“Keeping tabs on me?”
“If it concerns Iris, yes.” Almost awkwardly, he admits, “And because you’re my brother and I worry about you too.”
A flashback rises to the center from our childhood. We were playing on the street when one of the neighbors’ kids wrongly accused me of hitting him to his father. The man came barreling down, ready to slap me without hearing my side. He had barely raised his hand when Kian shoved him back and stood fearlessly in front of me like a shield. Even though he himself hardly reached the man’s waist, Kian roared, “Don’t you dare come closer to my little brother.”
The man was shaken and stumbled back a step. The other kids piped in and outed his son as the liar, making both scamper away.
In that moment, I had felt the most loved and protected. Like nothing could harm me as long as I had my big brother. To have lost that security years later without an explanation had destroyed my trust in people. If your own blood could discard you, what could you expect from a stranger?
As I digest Kian’s words, an inkling of the same safety and pride from back then surges in my veins. Unlike then, I can fight my battles now.
“I appreciate your concern.” It’s new territory for us, especially for me, because of our rocky history. After he confessed the truth and explained his side of the story, it tookme a while to let go of the anger. God knows I have a lot to make amends for.
I almost tore him and Iris apart. As much as it pains me to admit and watch them be in love, I know they’re soulmates.
“I can handle whatever comes my way.”
“I know that, Nathan. But if you ever need my help, you only have to ask. I no longer care about what happened between us in the past. I’d like to start fresh,” he confesses, his gaze warm. “It also means you need to fix your friendship with Iris. I will not meet you behind her back. Tonight is the first and the last time. Stop letting her think you’re the bad guy. Apologize and be her friend again.”
“You would be okay with that?” I raise a brow in disbelief. “I admitted to being in love with her. Aren’t you worried I’ll try to win her over?”
“You also gave your word to never come between us.” Tilting his head, he boasts, “Besides, we both know you’ll fail.”
“She’s better off without me, Kian.”
“You’d rather have her hate you than be her friend? If that’s your way of punishing yourself, you’re a fucking idiot.”
“I’ve made my decision.”
He scrutinizes me silently before sighing. “Then we’ll go back to being strangers. It’s the only outcome.”
“I know.”
“I’ll respect your decision.” Back to business, he asks, “Tell me what you need.”
“I need Sonya’s contact information.” My father is unaware that the woman he used and kicked out is back in the city and has been living right under his nose.
“Are you thinking of confronting Rakesh?”
“I’m just getting all my ducks in a row when the time comes.” Tapping my fingers on the desk, I share, “Father will use the news of the fake engagement to sidle the remainingtwo board members to his side and take me down in the next shareholders’ meeting.”
“Don’t take offense, but do you really want to lead Singhania and Sons?” Caressing his jaw thoughtfully, he elaborates, “Rakesh will never stop backstabbing you until he wins even at the expense of running the legacy into the ground. Dash and I are discussing expanding our company. Invest and join us. Be an equal partner.”
“It’s a generous offer.” I know Kian isn’t inviting me as a pity gesture. “But I’ll decline. I owe it to our grandfather to save the company. Joining you and Dash will be akin to running from my problems. It’s also better if I keep my name as far away from you and Iris as possible. You’d do the same if you were in my position.”
“True.” His lips tilt up. “My offer has no end date, if you ever change your mind in the future.”
“You’re looking for a sneaky way to have me in your life, brother.”
“Never said I didn’t have an ulterior motive.”
I chuckle, shaking my head.
Smirking, he pulls out his phone and types. A second later, my phone pings with a text.
“It’s her number,” he says. “I’ll let her know you’ll reach out.”
