Shit.
Brandon fucking came to blow up my life.
But I can’t react. Not here. Not now. Not when we’re about to pitch the most important deal of our lives.
McNeal’s brow furrows deeper as the silence stretches. Austin doesn’t say a word. Noah just stares at me, completely blindsided.
“So…” McNeal finally says, his tone sharp, confused. “You lied to me? All this time, you told me you were engaged.”
I take a breath that barely makes it past my throat. There’s no point in pretending anymore. Not with everyone watching. Not with the truth hanging in the air like smoke.
“Yes,” I say. “I’m sorry. But let me be very clear—we’re really dating.”
McNeal remains standing at the head of the table, disappointment tightening every line in his face. “So you thought faking an engagement would… what? Make you look more stable? More trustworthy?”
I nod, the shame burning through me. “At the beginning, yeah… I thought it would make me look more reliable, more put-together. But things changed. Eva and I… what we have now is real. I care about her. This stopped being a lie a long time ago.”
He shakes his head, clearly pissed. “You let me believe in something that wasn’t true. That doesn’t sit right with me.”
Brandon scoffs, shaking his head with a bitter smirk. “Ofcourse he lied. Guys like him always fake it to make it, latch onto whatever gets them ahead. Guess Eva was just another stepping stone.”
My hands clench at my sides, but he doesn’t stop.
Brandon lets out a cold laugh. “Plus, Eva’s always had a thing for playing house with whatever guy made her feel special that week. Guess you’re this year’s winner.”
The red behind my eyes comes so fast I don’t even realize I’m moving until my fist crashes into Brandon’s jaw.
The room explodes.
Austin’s voice is a blur as he rushes over, grabbing my shoulders, and pulling me back. “Esteban! Back the fuck off!”
Brandon stumbles back, clutching his face as he glares at me with venom. I can feel blood pounding in my ears, but I don’t care. I point at him, voice shaking with fury. “Eva told me how you’ve been practically stalking her. Don’t youevertalk about her and never contact her again. You didn’t deserve her then, and you’ll never deserve her now.”
At my words Noah looks at Brandon with fire on his eyes. Brandon straightens, brushing a hand over his busted lip. He turns to McNeal and mutters, “Well. That was… professional.”
McNeal says nothing, just stares at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. The disappointment in his eyes is worse than a thousand punches.
He adjusts his cufflinks and looks around the room, still stunned. “I’ll contact you both soon. I need time to think about this deal. I don’t like being lied to my face.”
And then he’s gone. Just like that. Taking our future with him.
Brandon throws me one last smirk before following him out.
The door shuts behind them, and the silence that follows is deafening.
Noah turns to me, his face a storm. His jaw ticks, eyes sharp with something close to murder.
“I told you to stay away from my sister,” he growls, voice low and dangerous. “I knew I couldn’t trust you. Why the hell did I even let you near her?”
I say nothing. What could I say that won’t make it worse?
“You promised me,” he shouts, stepping forward. “You promised me you weren’t going to touch her! Have you slept with her?” His voice cracks on the last word, fury radiating off him in waves.
I stay silent. I deserve his anger.
Austin steps in between us. “Noah, calm down, man. Let’s talk this through?—”
“Don’t!” Noah snaps, pushing Austin back with a sharp jerk of his arm. His eyes are locked on me. “Say it, Esteban. Be a man and say it.”
