Page 16 of Enemies with My Brother's Billionaire Bestie

Never drink when you’re with a beautiful woman, because you end up oversharing.That’s exactly what happened with Olivia Reed. When I invited her to my restaurant two days ago, I had one goal: feed her, get her out of my hair, and ease my own guilt. I wanted to make sure she wasn’t going to catch a cold, and in doing so, soothe some of my resentment.

But things didn’t go according to plan. I fed her, yes, but I didn’t send her home. Instead, we stayed, talking and laughing for hours, like two old friends. The more we talked, the more I found myself wishing the night wouldn’t end. What was worse than that? Ending the night by revealing some of my deepest secrets.

She had no business knowing that I fell in love with Janice five years ago, when I was just a struggling training chef. I thought maybe that was my shot at a different kind of love. But like my father, Janice betrayed me, had an affair, and married her business associate.

I also definitely didn’t need to tell Olivia about the other love I wish I’d explored—the one stirred by her witty fourteen-year-old jokes and those damn hazel eyes. Maybe it’s best to just avoid her for a while. The last thing I need is to spill even more secrets to her. I’m definitely not having a drink around her again, and I certainly won’t let her anywhere near my dog. Not that it’s wrong… it’s just that she looks adorable doing it.

"Adorable?"I shudder at the thought and quickly banish it from my mind. This is why I need to keep a safe distance.

“You know you’ve been acting weird, right?” Aaron comments as he leans over my desk, where the same inventory report has been sitting for over an hour.

“Must you be so nosy? Get a job, dude. Oh wait, I already pay you for this, so how about you focus on doing that?” I snap, the irritation in my voice only proving his point.

Aaron just smirks at me, not at all phased. “Come on, man. I think she’s adorable. Can you imagine that? I watch her eat a bowl of tomato soup, and now she’s adorable? Don’t you think I’m insane?”

“I do think you’re insane. But there’s nothing wrong with thinking she’s adorable. Olivia’s a beauty, and one I wouldn’t mind you setting me up with,” Aaron adds casually.

The thought of setting him up with Olivia sends a jolt of fury through me.

I slam the inventory record shut with a groan. “I don’t know why I talk to you. You don’t help matters.”

“Exactly why you should be talking to Daniel. At least he could give you tips on how to deal with his sister,” Aaron suggests, lifting his hands in mock surrender as I shoot daggers at him with my eyes.

“My bad. I’ll get out of your way now,” he says with a grin and walks out, likely making one of the best decisions he’s made all day.

Aaron’s right about one thing—talking to Daniel would probably help. But I can’t just walk up to my best friend and say,Hey, Dee, I think I’m starting to find your sister adorable when I should be hating her. What should I do?Daniel has enough on his plate with his wedding approaching, and I don’t plan to dump any of my confusion on him.

I’m glad Olivia agreed to come back tomorrow, though, for the next event-planning meeting. Even if I still think a rehearsal dinner is unnecessary, I won’t start a fight with her. We’ve been through enough already, and I don’t want to risk ruining Daniel and Julia’s wedding.

“Keep your opinions to yourself, and everything will be fine,” I mutter to myself.

A knock on my office door makes me tense up. If it’s Aaron again, I swear I might punch him.

“Come in,” I grumble, and when the door opens, I see familiar hazel eyes and greying blonde hair. I quickly kick my chair aside and rush over.

“Mother, you didn’t tell me you were coming,” I say, smiling and hugging her, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Of course I didn’t, so you wouldn’t have enough time to escape me,” she says with a mischievous grin as she settles onto the couch. I signal a server to bring her a drink.

“You know I wouldn’t do that,” I tease. “You’re making a mountain out of nothing.”

“You haven’t visited in weeks. If that isn’t avoiding me, I don’t know what is,” she pouts. I settle beside her, resting my head on her shoulder as she strokes my face gently.

When she lifts my face to examine it, I can’t help but wonder why I don’t look like her—why I don’t have her hazel eyes or her blonde hair, only the strong resemblance to my father. Sometimes, when I look into the mirror, I wonder if she sees the same thing. Does she look at me and think of the man who broke her heart?

“For someone who spends hours in the kitchen, you look like you haven’t had a proper meal in weeks. That wouldn’t be the case if you’d visited me,” she says, guilt-tripping me shamelessly. And I’m actually enjoying it. Her presence is always a breath of fresh air—her warmth, her laughter, her mischievous grin.

I watch her eat, and a small part of me is reminded of Olivia—how she always manages to say the strangest things, how she dresses in the most unexpected way, and how she somehow makes me laugh despite my better judgment.

“Thank you, darling,” my mother says as the server places a plate of spaghetti and meatballs in front of her.

I can’t help but notice how much joy she finds in something as simple as a meal, and the thought of Olivia sneaks into my head again.

Shaking my head violently, I begin to pace. Then my mother’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

“Is that Ollie girl still bothering you?”

“What?” I choke, taking a sip of her iced tea.

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