Off Limits, Brother's Best Friend Chapter 122

Chapter 122: You Don't Own Me 

Brianna

“I told you, you aren't leaving until I say you can.” Callan's voice was dangerous and low.

If I wasn't nervous before now, I would definitely be a dripping mess. Since I couldn't get away from him, all I could do was look away from him but even that, he wouldn't grant me. His hand came to my jaw and turned my head to face him, he leaned down enough that our noses could touch by how close we were. I swallowed my nerves down, his eyes flickered to my lips for a single second before he looked back at my face as a whole.

“You can't be mad at me.” He reiterated what he wanted his overall point to be.

“I can and I will.” I let him know through the jaw he was still holding. He used the hold to pull me even closer and forced me on the tip of my nose. His check was heaving and his breath could be heard through his flaring nostrils.

“Brianna, you know who I am, why are you acting surprised?” He asked and his voice wasn't even angry or shouting, it was this false sense of calm now.

“Fine, you say I couldn't be mad at you for fucking other women.  But you know what I can do?” I leaned just an inch further up on my toes so that our foreheads could almost come together. His eyes were darting all around my face, trying to read me.

“I can make a decision not to fucking put up with it. I am done, Callan.” I shoved him off me when he wasn't expecting it and it actually put a few inches of distance between us. And enough for me to step back, not for long though. He grabbed my arms and pulled me flushed against him. Grabbing a fistful of my hair, he tipped my head to look at him.

“You aren't done with me until I say you are and we weren't done, Brianna.” That his venomous voice resurfaced and then the rumble of his warningful voice.

“I don't want to do this long distance bullshit if it means nothing to you but only a physical attraction.” I looked away since I couldn't get away from him once again.

The only thing between him and I was my clutch purse and he had me against him and held my arms there. I could see some internal battle flickering behind his alluring eyes. He was eclipsing the light from his living room in the way he towered over me where I stood. He rolled his jaw to regain some control before he allowed himself to speak again.

“Brianna, stop thinking about something that doesn't need fixing. Nothing has changed.” He pointed out his opinion.

“Things have changed, I am not Bryce's little sister who you would see in passing and the allure of temptation attracted you to me. We have spent real honest time together, we have come to know each other and I am not some alluring temptation anymore. You have fucked me already, repeatedly and it becomes real when you betrayed your best friend for a second time just to have me.”

He didn't react to my words, he just continued to stare at me and it was setting me on edge more than the screaming was.

“Callan, I am tired and I have a really big day tomorrow, please let me go.” I finally asked him in a defeated voice.

“This isn't over, Brianna.” He released me but his warning was clear.

I didn't want to disagree and have him grabbing me to argue again. I don't have time for this, nor is it even fair for me to pour my heart into this when his heart isn't in it at all. This is about control and possession, I have already lived that life twice with two shitty men, my father and Ezekiel. And I won't let Callan Harold be the third man. I am growing as a person and I think I have finally found my backbone. My heels clicked over his hardwood flooring and his own shoes cracked behind me as he followed me to the elevator.

“When are we going to speak again? I will let you go now, but this isn't over, Brianna?” He restated. I pressed the elevator but he stood in my way until I responded to him.

“I don't know, I am very busy and you aren't my top priority.”

I knew it would sting a little to belittle him on my list of things to care about this week, by his clenching jaw, it did its job.

“Well, make me a priority or I will come find you myself but you won't like my method, Brianna.”

The tremble in my hands gave way to the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

“You can't keep threatening me, do you know who you are acting like, my father and Ezekiel. Controlling me and trying to instill fear in me and disrespecting me. I won't live that again, Callan Harold! No matter who you are or what damn city you own, you don't own me.” I yelled and then brought my voice down to a simmering warning like he uses.

For once, he looked taken aback, he didn't expect to be compared to the two men I hate in this world. He didn't expect me to call out his toxic behavior but I did. The Brianna who let him beat up Zevier and still sleep with him anyway or tell who I could or couldn't hang out with, that Brianna stayed in Port Harcourt when I moved to London. This Brianna in front of him isn't that girl anymore.

“I am not them” that was all I could say.

And when I shoved past him, he didn't stop me this time. I stepped into the elevator and watched his fire flickering eyes pin me in place. His body language, his gritted teeth and his deep stare, all told me this was a waste but for now, he let me go and that was all I needed. When I got to the apartment and into my room, I released a long held shaky breath. That argument was intense but I didn't back down and I am proud of myself. I had to shake this heaviness away and think about tomorrow's event so that I will be sharp and doing my job right and also enjoy myself. I deserve to enjoy this dream job that is right here at my feet. I pulled an outfit out and laid it over the upholstered bench and then I finally let sleep come to me.

******

The next morning, I had to run errands for Janet. I had to pick up her dress and heels from one place and grab a gift bag from a different location that she was waiting on. Later today, I am going to be with Amos for the behind the scenes snapshots he will get of the models in preparation for their big shows. I was supposed to take some notes for Janet and the writers to look back on when they go to witte the actual articles. After the intensity of last night's confrontation with Callan, Amos's easy going attitude was like a balm to soothe this aching feeling I couldn't shake off.

Later today is another fashion show but since two shows ran into one another with timing, Janet split the ground up. Lucy wjd the writers were meant to go to one show and Janet and myself will be at the other. When she and I were alone, she whispered to me.

“Our show will be better, Veekee James will be sitting with us.” She gave me a mischievous smirk and wink before floating off as she always does.

It sent a thrill through me, it is obvious she favours me and I have no idea why other than the fact that she and I just got along at her husband's party. We do work well together as a team too. I was in my treal kimono and thigh high heels and I looked good. I walked these streets with my head held high and when it came time for photoshoot behind the scenes note taking, Amos was playful and energetic. He made the models feel comfortable and at ease and he got a lot of good usable shots because of it. He is good at what he does, both of us even took a picture albeit a silly one.

“Later tonight, when I am all dressed up, you owe me a real picture.” He nudged me and smiled and I promised I would.

Watching the models run around half naked, sit around with their friends to wait for hair and makeup and seeing the stylist pulling outfit after outfit to style the girls, it was a lot of fun and a peek into something most people don't see. The people out there waiting for the show to begin, they see the final touches and perfect outcome. Back here is where it is all really happening.