Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 9

Like You

I’m literally over this job,” Sierra announced dramatically as she leaned back in her chair behind her desk.

I giggled as I typed away on my computer, trying to finish the mountain of work we’d been handed just a few hours ago! “Don’t I know it.” Llet out a tired breath. “The things I do for money.”

“At this point, using money as motivation isn’t even working anymore. That’s how exhausted I am.” She sighed dramatically. “Now I’m just plotting how to marry a billionaire.” She paused before shaking her head. “Girl, I won’t even mind a multimillionaire.”

I threw my head back and laughed uncontrollably at her theatrics. “Yeah? We’re not being picky anymore?” I teased.

Sierra nodded enthusiastically, a wide grin spreading across her face. “Exactly, girl.”

Biting back another laugh, I waved her off and returned to my work.

We’d been working nonstop for the past two weeks. Apparently, in the coming weeks, our company would be entering some sort of partnership with an important corporation, and we had to clear out all pending collaborations and wrap up every unfinished project beforehand.

Things had become so serious that the founder’s son, who’s also the CEO, had started showing up regularly. That alone was enough to tell everyone how important the deal was. It was unusual because Christian Horald rarely showed up at the office. In all the time I’d worked here, I’d only seen him a handful of times.

Still, I knew him to some extent. We’d had a few interactions before, and he was probably part of the reason Sierra and I had been retained as full–time employees after our internship.

11

The thought reminded me of a conversation I’d been meaning to have with Sierra. I looked up from my screen. “I heard Christian might be here today.”

Her eyes immediately snapped to mine. “Shut up.” She sat up straighter in her chair. “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? 1 would’ve gone home and changed into something better.”

My eyes widened at her bluntness before I quickly assessed her outfit. She was wearing blue palazzo trousers paired with a crisp white dress shirt. “You look good. I don’t know what you’re talking about,”

“Yeah, but I could look better.” She huffed. “Have you seen that man? He’s hot.” She fanned her face dramatically. “Too hot.”

I rolled my eyes. Well, it wasn’t exactly untrue. Christian was very good–looking. But for some reason, every attractive man I came across ended up being mentally compared to Alvise, and unfortunately for them, they always fell short.

“You do all this,” I said, pointing at her, “but the moment you actually see him, you don’t say a single word.”

She shot me a pointed look. “Nah. Because I’m a girl’s girl.”

I frowned. “What’s that even supposed to mean? How does that relate to this situation?”

This time, Sierra rolled her eyes. “Girl, you have to be the only person who can’t see that man likes you.”

I blinked. “Sierra, don’t start with your conspiracy theories.”

She chuckled. “You’re either oblivious or too caught up in your Russian–British Alvise to notice.” She tapped her desk thoughtfully for a moment. “But I’ll give it to you. Alvise is hot. Like, very hot. I’ve always said this, and…”

“Sierra!” I practically yelled, cutting her off. Heat rushed to my–cheeks as I scrunched up my face. “That was weird.”

We shared a knowing look before bursting into laughter. It was practically common knowledge that Alvise was attractive.

Back at university, girls couldn’t stop talking about him and Sierra was no exception. Though she’d always made it clear tha: she simply appreciated God’s craftsmanship from afar and would stay away because she knew I liked him.

Personally, I’d never thought she needed to do that. At the time, Alvise and I barely interacted, so it felt unfair.

Talking about him now reminded me of our last encounter two weeks ago and how he’d stormed off without so much as a glance in my direction. His parting words had sent chills racing down my spine. I’d been so unnerved by the tone of his voice that I’d slammed my apartment door shut and bolted it the moment he left.

I hadn’t seen him since. I didn’t even know if he was still in London,

Archie and I hadn’t had a proper conversation lately because I’d been buried under work, and since he was usually the only person who somehow knew what Alvise was up to, I had no information whatsoever.

“Says the one who was daydreaming.” She scoffed. “Now don’t change the subject,” she said as she rested her elbows on my desk. “Do you seriously have no idea Christian likes you?”

My best friend stared at me as though I’d suddenly grown a second head. “I don’t think he’s nice to everyone. And I’m pretty sure he’s only nice to me because of you.”

“Hmm.” She narrowed her eyes. “And why do you think Leah gives us such a hard time?”

“I’m done arguing about this.” I raised both hands dramatically in surrender. “You’re way too deep into your conspiracy universe.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur of magazine edits and the endless stream of tasks Leah kept dumping on our desks. She seemed more upset than usual. Sierra suspected it was because Christian didn’t show up. By the time we finally finished with our work, it was already eight o’clock.

I stretched my arms as we walked toward the exit. “The last time I checked, I signed up for a nine–to–five job. Nobody mentioned staying at work until after sunset.”

Sierra let out an exhausted breath as we stepped outside the building. “My paycheck this month better be enough to buy a Lamborghini. Otherwise, I’m quitting.”

I nodded solemnly. “Agreed.”

Once we reached the busy street, the guy Sierra had been talking to for the past few weeks was waiting in his car and called usver. He wanted to take her out to dinner.

“Sure, but we’ll need to drop Arabella off first,” Sierra told him.

He nodded immediately. “Definitely.” He got out of the car and opened the back door for me.

“Oh, thank you both so much,” I said politely.

I was about to get into the car when I heard Sierra gasp beside me. I turned toward her, but she was staring at something behind me. Frowning, I turned around. And then it was my turn to gasp.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Sierra breathed. Her eyes were fixed on the man striding toward us with bold, confiden steps.

I couldn’t say a word. Not even when he stopped directly in front of me, close enough for me to catch the rich scent of his cologne.

My gaze flickered from his perfectly tailored dress shirt to his piercing blue eyes. He held my stare, the intensity in his gaze making me increasingly uncomfortable.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. Then he spoke.

“Come with me.”