Off Limits, Brother's Best Friend Chapter 146

Chapter 146: Home Sweet Home 

Brianna

Port Harcourt City, Deja Vu. There is always a slight difference each new time I arrived here but the outline us always the same. First, it was Brianna with a broken luggage bag approaching a stranger with a sign that read her name. The second time, it was with luggage that actually worked, approaching a man whose face was familiar to me now and the third time's with about four luggages from a private terminal as I approached a man I already expected to be here.

“Miss, Fletcher,” David tipped his imaginary cap to me.

I had a poor attendant helping me roll all my bags down to the car. David quickly jogged over and took mine away from me as him and the man loaded them into the car.

“No, Bryce, huh?” I bothered asking. He was already coming around the car to open my door, though I told him it was not necessary.

“Well, actually, he was going to come himself this time but I figured why break the tradition.” He admitted and it made me laugh.

“I didn't know you would be so sentimental about driving me. Lastly, I remember you didn't like it very much.” I teased him.

“It has been a long time, Brianna.” He pointed out the year I have been away.

A very prominent fact we all know, I have kept up with David in some ways. Mostly that he is my friend on Facebook and he will like all my posts. We chatted a few times over the past year just asking how the other person is.

“It has.” My voice faded into the background of him turning the engine on.

“I couldn't find your exact flight so I thought I missed you to be honest. I am glad you showed up when you did.” He admitted.

“I didn't end up flying Emirates.” I said and he was confused.

“Oh? Which airline?” He asked, I bit the side of my cheek knowing my answer would very much surprise him.

“I was actually in a private jet with…Dontalla.” I told him.

“Who is Dontella?” He asked 

It didn't click for him, of course I have posted her on my social media page plenty of times before but if you aren't in the fashion industry, or keep up with celebrities, I guess the name isn't as well known to you. I feel like everyone knows that woman's face though.

“Dontella Versace.” I clarified.

“Shit!” I heard him curse to himself.

“This is real, huh? You have really become something.” The fact seems to sink in for him.

“Define something?” I laughed.

“You know what I mean.” He waved me off, turning into city traffic.

“You are kind of famous now.” He added.

“I would say that.” He shifted his eyes over to me and he gave me the bullshit face.

“I saw the article.” He said.

“What articles? Oh where they asked if I was Dontella's new muse? I didn't want to be famous for that, I wanted a successful fashion career.” I pointed out the difference.

“It will all come with being known, girls will want to wear what Brianna Fletcher is wearing. So if you are wearing your own clothes then they will want to wear it too.” He reminded me. It made me smile, I couldn't even hide it.

“That is the dream.” I nodded to his thoughts.

“How many followers do you have on that Instagram page of yours? You used to have like fifty thousand, didn't you?” I nodded yes and pulled my phone to check the exact number now. It changes every day as people start to learn about me.

They want to be my friends because they want to see my life. Now that it isn't just posting outfits but posting runway shows celebrities I have seen and my outfit that were a part of the Versace collection.

“I have five hundred followers right now, it has grown a lot within the past few months.” I told him.

“You will be at a million in no time,” he assured me.

“You think so? That would be wild.” I rubbed my hands together in excitement.

As we started passing buildings I am familiar with, a thought crossed my mind.

“So, David, how is everyone?” I asked him, I didn't want to ask straight up but I hoped he knew what I meant. I had no access to Callan before but right now, maybe I will learn something. I am not even sure what I want to know, I just want to know anything beyond the radio silence.

David's dark eyes bounced between me and the road again.

“Good, same old shit.” That was all he said. I looked out the window trying to think of how to word this.

“Nothing has changed within the last year?” I arched a brow at him to see if I could press an answer out of him.

“Uhmm, nothing in particular comes to mind.” He gripped the wheel and did a double take to see how I reacted to his vagueness. I couldn't do it, I couldn't bring up the man's name specifically.

“I see.”

I didn't like the tension in the car after that, maybe it was a figment of imagination but I felt strange so I randomly blurted out.

“You should let me give you a fitting, David. I can make you a tailored suit, I think it would look nice.” He chuckled at me.

“A Brianna creation?” He teased me.

“Well, no, I wouldn't make the suit. I would just tailor the one you already have.” He looked down at himself.

“What is wrong with my suit?” He asked, I pressed my lips together not wanting to be rude.

“I have a stomach, nothing fits just right.” He called it out.

“The man's build doesn't matter if the suit fits his frame well.” I assured him.

“Alright then, let's do it.” He suddenly agreed and it made me excited.

“I am not going to lie, I have been wanting to do this since I met you.” I smiled.

Now he was the one to press his lips together.

“So you have been judging my appearance for the past year?” I couldn't tell if he was kidding or not. My eyes went wide and I shook my head no.

“That is not what I meant at all, you are fine.” When he chuckled, I knew he had been teasing me.

The teasing quieted as we got closer and closer to the Villa. The same familiar skyscrapers that cause the deja vu I feel each time I get through the airport to meet David in waiting. This luxury secure apartment building that I only called home for a short while before leaving it. I guess this is home again but then why is this pit in my stomach forming deeper and deeper the closer I am getting to it? Maybe because at the top of that high tower is a man who rules the city below it. I have seen him standing in front of his panoramic window staring down at the view with his broad shoulders and wide stance, towering over all of us.

“Welcome home, Brianna.” David's voice was somewhere in the background of the image I played in my head. The silhouettes of a tall figure standing behind tinted glass, so that the image is of course a shade darker.

After poor David and the door man made two trips between the car and upstairs to the apartment, they finally carried all my bags in. I offered to help but beyond my carry on bag they wouldn't let me.

“Mr. Fletcher wouldn't like it.” The doorman had told me, I guess that means he is home. 

I followed behind the two men and entered, I was here about some months ago for Christmas, so it hasn't been as long as I myself have been living overseas. Before the doorman could leave, I flagged him down and dug into my bag to find some money to tip the man. He told me it wasn't necessary but I refused to let him drag two heavy large bags and not at least get a little cash for it. Before I could find the money, I heard a deep voice behind me.

“Here, Dan.” I heard the clacking of my brother's expensive shoes as he crossed the living room floor.

He handed the man some money and he bowed his head. He thanked him before leaving quietly.

“Here,” he also brought his hand out with the money between two fingers for David to grab.

“Oh, that is alright, boss.” David was hesitant to take it. 

Bryce waved it to emphasize his point of giving him the cash, so David stepped forward and did the same as the doorman had.

“Am I needed for anything else, sir?”

I always forget how formal people act with my brother. It is strange to me.

“You are dismissed.” He said so plainly.