Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 39

Peace Offering

ARABELLA’S POV

“I’ll just make this clear, you abducted me! I didn’t choose to be in this car,” I mumbled under my breath, my hands fisted at my sides as I stared straight ahead, the view of the dark night and busy road distracting me from the man beside me.

The said man didn’t glance at me or acknowledge my words. In fact, it was almost like he’d tuned out my entre existence the moment he started the engine.

Unable to resist, I turned to look at him, watching the sharp angles of his face and the way he’focused on the road, his muscles flexing whenever he took an abrupt turn. He didn’t need to say a word for me to know he was pissed off. His jav hardened every other second, and veins popped out on his wrists from the way he gripped the steering wheel.

I was staring too much, and I was sure he noticed, but he didn’t acknowledge that either. Rolling my eyes, I straightened up and turned my attention back to the road. He was the one who basically coerced me into his car just hours after humiliating me in front of my coworkers. If anyone was supposed to be pissed, it was me, and I was.

After some time, Alvise stopped the car in front of his restaurant, the Chinese one. Sickened by the silence and suddenly annoyed, I turned to look at him. “I’m not interested in eating whatever you bring today,” Lsnapped.

He glanced at me, his eyes finding mine, the look on his face telling me he couldn’t care less. And just like that, he stepped out of the car. I rolled my eyes and leaned back in the seat like I usually did whenever he went in there to get food.

What I didn’t expect was for him to shove his hands into his pockets and narrow his eyes. “Step out.”

I raised a brow, confused. “Why?”

He stroked his chin and turned around. “Don’t ask me stupid questions,” he said. Then he threw over his shoulder, his addictive accent now more pronounced, “Get out of the fucking car, Arabella.”

I didn’t want to listen to him, but the tone in which he said it told me his patience was already worn thin. Swallowing hard, I got out of the car and followed behind him, refusing to close the distance. I heard the car click shut moments later, implying that he’d locked it with his key.

If I was annoyed before, stepping into the restaurant with him only worsened it. Despite the restaurant being ridiculously big and spacious, almost every single person seemed to pause whatever they were doing to look at us as we walked in. However, I wasn’t delusional enough to think they were looking at me.

Despite the obvious class and opulence the women present seemed to have from their expensive dresses and elaborate updos, their eyes widened as they openly gawked at Alvise, like they were the first in their bloodline to see a man like him.

The men, however, seemed intimidated and straightened up, even going as far as throwing their arms around their dates or holding their hands. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the dramatics, especially because I knew the man walking in front of me and leading me to a table at the far end didn’t care.

He looked up, those blue eyes staring into my soul. “Peace offering?”

I didn’t let his cold stare get to me. “Yes. You think you can humiliate me, then go on to buy me food, and all will be well

Alvise dropped his phone on the table and stroked his chin, his eyes still on mine. “What are you driving at?”

“You kicked me out of the conference room and questioned my work ethic!” I said, dumbfounded by his nonchalance. “You think this…” I pointed at the menu tablet. “…will serve as an apology?”

Alvise tilted his head to the side. “Apology?” His eyes twinkled with dark amusement, like the prospect of me thinking he cared enough to apologize was amusing. “I’m not trying to apologize.”

My stomach twisted uncomfortably, a new wave of anger pulsing through me. “Then what is this? Why are we here?” I shot back, my voice filled with bitterness.

He tapped the table once, his stare now bored and lazy. “I’m hungry. That’s what this is.”