Page 9 of Enemies with My Brother's Billionaire Bestie

I don’t realize a tear has slipped down my cheek until she gently slides a paper towel across the table, her touch warm and comforting.

“Oh, thank you, Miss Wilson,” I say, my voice catching in my throat. “Your ideas are like something out of a fairytale. I know it’s going to be magical.”

Her cheeks flush a delicate pink as she smiles, her eyes gleaming with pride. And she has every right to feel proud. “Please, call me Emma,” she says warmly. “I want you to feel comfortable sharing your thoughts. Don’t hesitate to speak up.” She pauses for a moment, then her smile widens. “Everything is already perfect, but... why wait for the big day when we can start unveiling the magic now? What do you think about giving Julia a sneak peek during the rehearsal dinner? That’s only a few days away.”

I can’t help but squeal in excitement at the thought, my heart racing with anticipation.

Elliot, who has been silent up until now, finally speaks, his voice dripping with disinterest. “I don’t think that’s necessary if they’re still going to have their ‘magical’ wedding anyway.”

Both Emma and I turn to him in shock. His words cut through the room like a chill breeze, instantly deflating the excitement that had been building in my chest.

I feel the warmth of the moment slipping away as my frustration bubbles to the surface. “Why are you even here, Elliot?” I snap, my voice sharp. “It’s not like you’re ever any real help.”

His laughter echoes, cold and mocking. Emma’s eyes dart between us, clearly wishing she were anywhere else but in the middle of this argument.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Ollie,” he says, shrugging with casual indifference. “You need someone like me here to keep you grounded. You’re delusional if you think life is some kind of perfect fairytale.”

“D-Delusional?” I stammer, disbelieving. My heart stings as his words hit their mark, each one carefully chosen to wound.

“Yeah, Ollie,” he continues, his eyes narrowing as he speaks. “It was cute when we were kids, but now? It’s just pathetic.” The words hang in the air, heavy with cruelty, and each one feels like a slap in the face. His gaze is cold, watching me with a detached sadness that only makes it worse. “You need to grow up.”

I feel the tears welling up, but I refuse to let him see me break. My nails dig into my palms, the sting barely registering as the tears blur my vision. I turn away, biting back the sobs, trying not to give him the satisfaction.

“Don’t cry, Olivia. You can’t let him see you weak,” I tell myself silently, though it feels like an impossible task.

“At least my life isn’t as sad as yours, Elliot,” I manage to spit out, my voice trembling with anger and pain. “Maybe ‘pathetic’ is a whole lot better than what you are.”

Without waiting for a reply, I grab my bag blindly and storm out of the office, my footsteps heavy and quick. The door slams behind me, leaving the air thick with the weight of what just happened.

We gave Emma an Oscar-worthy performance, with Elliot’s harsh words as the dramatic climax that shattered my spirit. I can feel the sting in my chest, but more than that, I feel something else—a finality. This is it. I’m done. Nothing Daniel says now will change my mind. I’m done.

I’m done.

Chapter six

Elliot

Imade a mistake. I knew it the moment the words left my lips, but there’s no taking them back now. Still, I can’t shake the look of hurt in her eyes.

As she rushes out of the building, I feel a sinking weight in my chest. It hits me instantly: I’ve probably just lost her for good, and I have no one to blame but myself.

Emma stands there, the awkward silence stretching between us as she probably wonders if I have cruel words for her too. Groaning in frustration, I slam my fist against the table, the sound echoing in the room before I exhale, trying to calm the storm inside me.

“On a scale of one to ten, how much do you think she hates me?” I ask Emma, my voice flat, but she simply looks at me thoughtfully, tapping a finger under her chin.

“Tsk,” she murmurs. “Judging by the way she left, I’d say a hundred. If looks could kill, you’d be six feet under by now.” She shakes her head with sympathy, and I know she’s leaving me alone to wallow in my self-inflicted misery.

Great, so I’m not the only one who wants to strangle me for being so cruel. The truth is, I didn’t mean any of it—especially the part about her being delusional and pathetic. Sure, she can be extra with her fairytale plans and her blog posts that paint love in stark black or white. But life isn’t like that. On some days, it’s not even gray—it’s all red, raw and furious.

That doesn’t make her delusional or pathetic, though. It certainly doesn’t invalidate her dreams. The real world is cold—I’ve felt that enough to know—but that doesn’t mean everyone else deserves to suffer the same way I have.

I head for my car, pulling out my phone as I walk, my fingers trembling slightly. I dial her number without thinking, but of course, it goes straight to voicemail.

I don’t think it’s possible for a man to be his own worst enemy all the time, but somehow, that’s exactly what I am. I am my biggest tormentor. And sooner or later, I’m going to destroy myself with my own hands.

Instead of going to their house—because I know I’m the last person Ollie wants to see right now, maybe forever—I decide to send Daniel a message instead.

“I did something stupid again, Danny,” I type, the words heavy with regret. “And Ollie might hate me even more if that’s even possible.”

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