Page 75 of Bestie's Bossy Billionaire Brother
Chapter 27
Catherine
Oliverisquietwhenhe returns home from work the day after he lost out on the Bethany Hotel deal. He’s been this way since this morning, but I figured he would be feeling better about everything by now. But he’s really letting the loss get to him today.
“Here’s a cup of tea,” I tell him, setting a hot mug down in front of him at the kitchen table.
“Thanks,” he replies, his voice low.
“Since you didn’t come out of your office for dinner, Alice wanted to tell you goodnight. She hopes you sleep well.”
He just nods, sipping his tea and staring out the window. I can tell he’s still upset and isn’t in the mood to talk. He picks at his dinner without interest, his mind seemingly elsewhere.
“Can you explain what happened last night?” I ask. “Why were you so mad?”
“It’s complicated,” Oliver mutters. He won’t meet my gaze and instead shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
“Is it about the deal? Did you have another setback?”
Oliver lets out a deep sigh. “It’s not just about the deal,” he finally says, his voice laced with bitterness. “It’s about who I lost the deal to.”
I raise my brows. “Who you lost it to?"
Oliver nods, his jaw clenching. “My competitor had an ulterior motive. This wasn’t just a competition to invest in the hotel. It was a matter of who’s better.”
“Why would they want to do that?” I ask, a knot forming in my stomach.
“He wanted to get revenge on me for something.” I can tell he’s struggling to contain his anger.
I take a deep breath and try to comfort him, though I’m not sure what could make him feel better. “Oliver, if this person is being petty, then don’t worry about it. You’ll come across something better next time.”
His eyes flash with anger and he slams his fist on the table. “This isn’t just about a deal, Catherine. I’m pissed because the person I lost to was Jason. Does that change anything for you? Or do you still want to give me more words of encouragement?”
“Jason?” I start, but I’m too shocked to speak. “What do you mean, it was Jason?”
His expression remains cold. Still, I can’t back down now. Not when he’s revealed something so huge.
“He was your competition?” I repeat, incredulous. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugs. “I didn’t want upset you.”
I shake my head, my frustration building. “Not want upset me? Oliver, we’re supposed to trust each other. How can I trust you when you keep something like this from me?”
He doesn’t respond, just stares at me with those ice-blue eyes.
“Oliver, I don’t like secrets,” I say, my voice shaking. “I dealt with plenty of them when I was with Jason.”
“You’re really comparing me to Jason right now?” he says, glaring at me. “I recall you telling him he was nothing like me back at your gala.”
I can feel the irritation growing inside of me. How dare he throw my past relationship with Jason in my face? Just because he’s upset doesn’t give him the right to lash out at me like this.
“Jason has nothing to do with this,” I snap. “I’m talking about your lack of trust in me.”
“I do trust you,” he says, his voice rising. “But I didn’t want you to think less of me.”
I feel a little guilty as Oliver says those words. He’s right—I shouldn’t be comparing him to Jason.
“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… I don’t know what to think anymore.”
