Page 38 of Enemies with My Brother's Billionaire Bestie

The world crashes beneath my feet as I struggle to comprehend what she’s saying. “How? I don’t understand. Did you tell him?”

“Of course not. He saw our chat, and now he’s back in town. Where’s Elliot? Sure he still has all his teeth in his mouth?” she says, trying to infuse humor into the grim situation.

The pieces start falling into place, and as they do, the consequences become increasingly clear. “No, no, no, Elliot. He went to meet Daniel,” I say, frantically pulling whatever I can find from my wardrobe.

“I’m on my way back. I’ll talk to him. You just find Elliot,” Julia reassures me before ending the call.

Racing down the stairs, I unlock the door to find Daniel standing on the other side, his face etched with a frown.

“Hey, I wasn’t expecting you,” I stutter, hoping he doesn’t notice my nervous fidgeting.

He steps into the house, his gaze fixed on me. “I know that. Care to tell me where you’re heading, or would you rather lie to my face again?”

He’s hurt—I can tell by his clenched fist. “Please, Danny, calm down and hear me out,” I plead, but his anger only intensifies. He runs a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to keep his emotions in check.

“Elliot? Of all people, it had to be Elliot? Are you really that clueless?” he snaps, his voice laced with irritation.

Shaking my head, I respond, “No, Danny. You weren’t supposed to find out like this.” Tears stream down my face. “Please, I was going to tell you in person. I’d never keep this from you.”

“But you did, Ollie. What’s more sad is that Julia helped you and Elliot keep this secret while I remained clueless, big brother. That’s not how you treat people you love,” he says, disappointment flooding his blue eyes.

My brother, who for the twelve years since our parents died has always been a source of smiles and jokes, is now yelling at me and heartbroken. He’s devastated because of me, and I begin to regret not having told him sooner.

“I’m sorry, Danny. Truly sorry, but I love Elliot. I love him a lot,” I plead.

Letting out an exasperated breath, he turns to look me in the eye. “That’s too bad because whatever you have going on ends today. I made sure of it.”

“What have you done?” I yell, dialing Elliot’s number, but it goes to voicemail.

“What I should have done a long time ago. You forget about him, Ollie,” his words fall on deaf ears as I race out the door.

“Please, Elliot, please don’t let him get to you,” I pray under my breath as I run.

Chapter twenty-four

Elliot

It’s doomed from the start; I know that much. Yet, I plunge into the turbulent waters, and now I find myself drowning. I don’t expect Daniel to be waiting at my house when I return to change clothes, but his presence can only mean one thing: he already knows.

I trace the bruise on my lip, and a bitter realization washes over me—I deserve it. If I discovered that my best friend was dating my sister and lying to me about it, I’d react the same way. That’s why this must end. Daniel is right; a man like me can hardly grasp the meaning of love, let alone what it truly entails.

“Find another plaything, Elliot—just not my sister,” Daniel had said during his last visit. And while I don’t view Olivia as a plaything, it’s reckless to let her heart be tested by a feeling I’m not sure will endure beyond a few fleeting months.

The door swings open, and I brace myself. “Elliot! Babe, where are you?” she calls, her voice echoing through the house. I remain silent, unwilling to respond.

Eventually, she finds me on the floor of the guest bathroom, and her eyes widen in horror at the sight of my bruise. “Oh myGod, did he do this? I’m so sorry,” she says, reaching out to touch the swollen flesh. I flinch away from her touch, a wave of guilt crashing over me.

“You shouldn’t be here. Go home to your family,” I grunt, averting my gaze, unable to face the hurt in her eyes.

She lets out a nervous laugh, trying to bridge the chasm between us. “What do you mean? I want to be here with you.”

This time, I yank her hand away from my face. “I don’t want you here, Ollie. Can’t you see that?” I bark, my words sharper than intended.

“Go away!” I repeat, rising to my feet, but her fingers grip my arm with a desperation that tugs at my heart.

“Don’t shut down on me now, El. You’re doing it again—please,” she pleads, her voice choked with tears, but I can’t bring myself to look at her. If I do, I won’t be able to do what I know needs to be done—the right thing.

“This isn’t about shutting down; it’s about facing reality, and your brother’s little visit gave me the wake-up call I needed. It’s for the best.”

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