Off Limits, Brother's Best Friend Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Am Done Being A Prop

Brianna

It has only been a few days and I was already experiencing this ache in my heart for Callan. How will I even avoid him when he is everywhere in my life? He is Bryce's best friend and business partner, he lives in my building. When I think of him, I think of how he brought me to the exhibit because he knew I would enjoy it or how he felt deep inside me in that pool room. I think about him possessively wanting me for his eyes only and it still sends a flutter through my gut. Bryce is pissed at me, Callan is ignoring me. Would leaving him be the right choice for us?

“Wow, I didn't even know what to say.” I told her honestly.

“Well, I know, I just dumped this news on you, I will of course give you time to think about it and get your affairs in order should you agree.” I fidgeted with my fingers for a second while I processed all this.

“How would it all work? Would I be interning for wages?  I assume I would have to support myself in London for five months.” I asked, she was behind her desk and playing with the cap of her pen as she studied me from across the table.

“I am going to propose this, we do a one month trial run. I still don't know how we will get on in working together, if I am not impressed with your assistance then I won't keep you for the full five months. But if I am impressed, then your second month in London will be a busy one. I have designers I would be working with and London fashion week will be coming up towards the end of the third month stay. Your fate will be determined by how well you are doing.” She explained.

“Fashion week?” My jaw dropped, I would do anything to be a part of something like that.

“Consider it, we will talk details once your decision is made. I give you until the end of the week to decide.”

****

For the rest of the day and night, all I could think about was Elizabeth's offer to go to London. I would have to prove my worth to her if I wanted to stay longer than a month, she told me in our second month I would want to be there to experience some of the work she will be doing. And fashion week, it was such an overwhelming opportunity, but again, what would my brother think? Would Callan care? I was so conflicted, I knew I needed to talk this through with someone. I ended up calling Jane who has so quickly become a good friend to me and told her everything. She told me to come over as soon as possible so we could talk about it.

“London? You have to say yes, you would be crazy not to.” She shook me.

“I just wasn't expecting to leave Port Harcourt and there are things I would be leaving behind.”

“Like your brother and mine?” She said the obvious. I had told her about the huge altercation, so she knows everything.

“Brianna, I love my brother but he isn't someone who is going to fight for you. He loves sex and hot women, I am not trying to hurt your feelings but I am trying to give you perspective. He already promised Bryce that he would stay away from you, so really what do you have to lose? Distance would probably be the  easiest way to get over him.” I sighed, knowing she was right.

“And Bryce?” I asked.

“He is your brother, he isn't going anywhere”

We let that fact linger for a second while we both sat quietly on her bed.

“This sounds like such a crazy good adventure. I would totally come with it if it would make you feel better.” She nudged me, my eyes snapped to hers.

“You would?” She grinned, she had the perfect proportions to her face that made her look model worthy.

“Of course, I have nothing better to do for the next five months and I can afford it. You are totally my new bestie, Brianna and I think we would have so much fun. And it wouldn't feel as scary to move to a completely different country.” She got more excited by the second and it had me already smiling and getting the same thrill through me.

“This will be crazy, just packing up and moving to London together.” I found myself laughing.

“I know, that is the best part. Think about it, we can get a cute little apartment with one of those veranda windows and between the two of us we have enough berets to last us through these months in London.” She teased me. My nerves fluttered in my gut at the realization that I was actually considering this.

“I have to think,” I said again.

“You have until the end of the week.” She flicked her hair over her head and bit her lip.

When I left Jane's house, I went back to mine. I had ordered a ride so once it pulled up to the curb, I thanked the man and stepped out. I hadn't been paying attention to my surroundings until I stepped inside the lobby and it was like my flesh was suddenly alert to something. When I looked around, I saw Callan. It was the first time I have seen him in a few days and he looks the same as my brother does. Busted cuts above his eyebrows and bruises in various places, our eyes met for only a second before he looked past me entirely, like I didn't exist in front of him. He walked right past me with his blank expression and that hurt. It is not like Bryce was with him, he was done and still he acted like he didn't even know me. I know he was going to stay away from me but is it going to be like this?

It was when I glanced behind me that the real knife in my gut twiate a pain through me that I haven't felt before and my heart dropped. Callan had just approached a woman on the sidewalk, they kissed cheeks before he escorted her into a car that he stepped into with her. So soon? Really? Here I was feeling so conflicted about being able to handle cutting him out when I want nothing more than to feel him one me again. I am just an idiot. I quickly made my way upstairs and brushed right past my brother who had been ignoring me anyways. I locked myself in my room, I just needed a second to breathe and when I closed my eyes, a vision of that inked hand caressing up my body flooded my mind. The expression he holds from across a table when he is listening to me speak for the good majority of our meal. The way I would get butterflies when he sent us welcome to building flowers and those boots he ended up buying me as a surprise. I kept both those silly notes, I don't know why I did it but I did. I have them in the drawer of my nightstand table. My mind went to that first night when I walked down the penthouse stairs, expecting to see Bryce and instead this handsome intimidating man was standing there in front of me. Hands in his pocket while he stood in a wide stance with w finesse that was so sure of himself.

His dark stubble and tuft of fistable hair only enhanced the image of this scary man, like his face was shadowed and his gaze burned me through the dark. What can I say about him other than the fact that he overwhelms me in every way. His presence isn't even needed for him to consume me entirely. But I don't affect him that way, he craved my body because it was something he couldn't have. Now that he conquered that obstacle, he was able to look past me like I don't exist. He was able to take a woman out just days after that huge altercation between everyone. Even his own sister warned me that he doesn't like me, he likes sex and women. But I like him. Stupidly, knowing he was a bad guy, I still let myself near him. I let myself fall into his dark charm. Jane is right, he isn't a man I am going to be able to just get over while still being in the same vicinity as him. Seeing him just now in the lobby, I felt that ache in my gut and that uncomfortable feeling I am sick of always feeling like less than. 

I was a prop for my father, wanting me to perfect his image. I was a prop for Ezekiel, wanting me to be this pet he controlled and I was a prop for Callan, wanting to get his rock off because he knew he shouldn't.