Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 28

Surprise Dinner

I sucked in a breath at his sharp tone and the way his expression hardened. This conversation was taking a turn I’d never expected, and I didn’t know how to feel about it.

“Don’t ask questions you’re not willing to know the answers to, Arabella,” Alvise said firmly and then he pushed himself off the car, unlocked it, and slid into the driver’s seat.

Suddenly, the brooding men dressed in black suits, whom I hadn’t even noticed standing in a secluded area/stepped forward and got into different cars. Two vehicles drove off first, followed by Alvise’s, and then the rest fell in behind him. leaving me standing there, stunned and exasperated.

I didn’t know how long I remained outside, but it was long enough for my legs to start aching. Letting out a tense breath I headed back into the building and made my way straight to my office.

Sierra watched me carefully as I walked to my chair, sat down, and closed my eyes..I heard her sigh. “Don’t want to talk about it?”

I nodded, and thankfully, she didn’t press any further. The rest of the day passed in a blur, and before I knew it, Sierra and were standing outside after work, chatting while waiting for our ride.

Suddenly, a car pulled up beside us, making me jump back in alarm. Ever since what happened with Jude, I’d become far more wary of cars.

Beside me, Sierra giggled. “Girl, calm down. You can’t recognize your own brother’s car anymore?”

I clutched my chest just as Archie stepped out. “You scared me!” I yelled.

He smirked. “You get more dramatic every day, Little B.” He ruffled my hair before turning to Sierra. “How are you?”

She giggled and bit her lip. “Well, I’m fine now that you’re here.”

I grimaced and looked away, pretending to gag. Sierra had always flirted with Archie, even before he started dating Francesca and got engaged, and apparently, that wasn’t changing anytime soon.

Archie chuckled. “Come on, you two. I’m dropping you home today.”

My eyes widened. “Really? Thank you! We were just waiting for our ride.”

He shook his head. “Go ahead and cancel it. Let’s go, girls.”

Sierra cancelled the ride while Archie opened the back door for her and the front passenger door for me. I usually tried to sit in the back with Sierra, but Archie always insisted one of us sit in front.

“I’m not your unpaid chauffeur,” he’d say.

Once we were on the road, I glanced at him. “Did you get off work early today?”

I was surprised because he usually clocked out at least an hour after I did, which was why he was never able to pick me up. He nodded. “Yeah. I got off pretty early today. I’ve been craving some good Chinese food.”

From the back seat, Sierra groaned dramatically. “Now you’ve made my mouth water.”

Archie smiled. “Good. Because I’m taking you girls out for dinner. My treat.”

I grinned. I loved Chinese food, but ever since my favorite restaurant in London closed down, I’d never found another place that made it the way I liked. Whenever Archie travelled outside London, I’d shamelessly beg him to bring me Chinese food on his way back.

It sounded ridiculous, but if his flight wasn’t too long, the food usually made it home in time to be reheated before it spoiled.

i sealed excitedly. “Oh! Life is finally worth living again.”

Sierra hummed in agreement. “Exactly! Thank you, Archie!” Archie laughed and kept driving.

“Archie?” I called, glancing around.

He looked up. “I didn’t book it recently. I made the reservation almost three months ago.”

Before I could speak again, Sierra beat me to it. “But… they only officially opened about two months ago.”

“That man is seriously full of surprises,” Sierra muttered, shaking her head. “I would’ve never guessed he was opening a restaurant here.”

I was still trying to process everything when another thought hit me. “Oh! Archie, you won’t believe who’s technically my boss now.”

Archie leaned back in his chair. “Who?”

Sierra and I exchanged a glance before answering in perfect unison. “Alvisel”

Archie lifted a brow in surprise, but his attention was quickly drawn to something behind us.

Then a familiar voice spoke. “Yes?”

My head whipped around so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash.

My eyes locked with his as I blinked, trying to convince myself I wasn’t imagining things. Standing there in a fitted black dress shirt and tailored black trousers was Alvise. Beside me, Sierra gasped and jabbed me under the table with her finger.

“You’re late, man,” Archie said casually as Alvise walked over and took the seat beside him.

Ruined By My Brother’s Best Friend

“You…” I trailed off, staring between the two of them. “You knew he was coming?”

This looked at me as though I’d suddenly grown a second head. “Of course.”

Alvise leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze settling on me. “Now,” he said smoothly, “weren’t you just calling for me?”