Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 10

WILLOW

Man, that felt good.

Finished

Throughout the conversation, I actually felt like I had the upper

upper hand!

For so long, I had felt like I was shrinking around Marcus. I folded myself smaller so he could feel bigger. I swallowed my own needs so his life could stay convenient and smooth.

I smirked to myself as I walked, replaying the stunned look on his face. He actually didn’t know what to say when I turned the tables on him.

It was quite satisfying; however, what wasn’t satisfying was the fact that my stomach chose the exact moment to growl loudly, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Right. Food.

I pressed a hand to my abdomen with a small groan. I had been running on adrenaline, anger, and bad decisions since last night. I still hadn’t eaten a single proper meal.

“Damn him,” I muttered again, though this time it was less about Marcus and more about how chaos seemed to follow me everywhere lately.

I headed back to the direction of Kath’s apartment, my mind shifting into survival mode.

I really needed to shower, eat food, and have a long sleep. With that, I can pretend none of this was real.

However, life clearly had other plans.

The moment I turned the corner, I slowed when I felt that someone was following me–specifically a car with heavy tinted windows. I frowned and turned around. The car halted, too, making me frown deeper.

175

12:29 pm Ppp.

Chapter 10 Early Duties

If this car was truly following me, it wasn’t being discreet at all.

Finished

Just then, the windows of the passenger seat opened, and a well–dressed old man with pure white hair greeted me with a smile. It took me a few seconds before I realized I knew this man. I had seen him before! Specifically, in the hospital where I first met my father.

“Miss Florence,” he said gently.

His voice was also familiar. He must have been the one I talked with on the phone, the one who broke the news to me that my father had died.

I glanced down at myself suddenly, painfully aware of my appearance. I straightened instinctively and tried to cover up as much as possible. Thank goodness Tristan cleaned me up last night; otherwise, I would have been more embarrassed.

“Yes?” I said cautiously.

He gave a small, polite bow of his head. “I am your assistant. The one you spoke with over the phone. Rocco.”

Rocco.

The name clicked into place.

“Rocco,” I repeated, offering a small smile. “Nice to finally meet you again.”

“I apologize that we have to meet under such rushed circumstances,” he said kindly. “I know this is sudden.”

“That’s… okay,” I said, though my confusion was obvious. “How did you know I was here?”

There was a brief pause.

“I had someone track you.”

My eyes widened.

“You–sorry, what?”

2/5

12:29 pm

ppp.

Chapter 10 Farly Duties

finished

He lifted a hand quickly. “Nothing invasive. Only through information provided to us. I was instructed by your father to find you immediately if needed.”

That did nothing to make me feel calmer.

“Needed for what?” I asked.

“For an important meeting,” he said. “With our highest shareholders. We need your presence as the CEO and the holder of the highest shares.”

“Huh?” I blurted.

He gestured politely toward the backdoor. “Please,” he said. “We can discuss it on the way. We truly need you right now.”

My heart started racing.

“This feels really fast,” I said. “I’m not even–look at me. I just—”

“It’s perfectly fine, Miss Florence,” he said smoothly. “Appearances are secondary. Your presence is what matters.”

My brain felt like it was lagging behind my body. This was happening too quickly. One moment I was humiliating my cheating husband in front of a convenience store. The next, I was being picked up for a high–level shareholder meeting.

Life really had no sense of pacing.

However, as I remembered my father’s concerned face when he told me that I should take care of his company and make sure it continues to run as it is, I realized that this was part of what he left me, and I had no right to run from it.

“Okay,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “Let’s go.”

Rocco opened the car door for me, and I slid inside.

The interior was quiet and intimidatingly luxurious. The door closed with a soft, heavy sound that made everything feel more real. The car pulled away smoothly, and the city blurred past the window.

3/5

12:30 pm P PP.

Chapter 10 Early Dulles

“Where exactly are we going?” I asked.

“To Florence,” Rocco replied.

Finished

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