Page 44 of Bestie's Bossy Billionaire Brother
A ripple of anticipation runs through me as Erica’s words hang in the air. Her mischievous grin isn’t just a sign of excitement; it’s a promise of a plan wild enough that it just might work. Over the years, I’ve come to learn that this particular expression of hers often precedes something unconventional, sometimes borderline outrageous, but always effective.
I lean in slightly, my interest piqued. “Erica, you know I trust you,” I say, my voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and readiness. “I’m all ears. I can’t keep going on like this, dodging Jason’s every move. It’s exhausting and, frankly, it’s giving him far more attention than he deserves.”
Her eyes meet mine, reflecting a daring spirit. “Oh, this is going to be good,” she whispers conspiratorially. “Just be prepared, because if we do this, there’s no turning back. We’re going to hit him where it hurts—in his pride.”
A shiver of determination mixed with a dose of adrenaline courses through me. It’s a bold move, whatever it is, I can tell. But I’m done playing defense. It’s time Jason learns I’m not a pawn in his twisted game.
I nod, resolute. “Let’s do it. I’m ready to take control of this situation once and for all. So, what’s the plan?”
Chapter 16
Oliver
OnWednesdaymorning,Iarrive early to work before Fred gets here. We’re putting the finishing touches on our proposal to invest in the Bethany Hotel, and I need to get into the right mindset in order to write a killer proposal.
As soon as I step through the elevator doors, Jamie runs over to me with a cup of freshly brewed coffee in her hands.
“Good morning, Mr. Burke,” she says with a bright smile.
“Good morning, Jamie,” I reply, taking the coffee from her. “Be careful, I’d hate for you to spill hot coffee on yourself.”
“That’s thoughtful of you,” she tells me. “I just thought you could use a pick-me-up this morning.”
I inhale the rich aroma of the coffee before taking a sip. “Thanks for this. You always know how to improve my mornings.”
She blushes at my compliment. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
I shake my head. “It’s fine. I’m meeting with Fred later this morning to finish our proposal.”
Jamie nods before walking away, leaving me alone to gather my thoughts. I sit down at my desk and fire up my laptop. I’ll just do some light work until Fred gets here.
The morning passes quickly and soon enough, I hear Fred’s footsteps coming down the hallway. He bursts through the door with enthusiasm, ready to get started on our proposal. His vibrant blue eyes sparkle with excitement as he greets me.
“Ready to crush this proposal and land ourselves a hotel?”
I chuckle at his eagerness and gesture for him to sit down. “You’re here,” I say, turning away from my laptop. “Finally.”
We’ve done a lot of grunt work already, but I want us to double-check that everything’s in order before we submit our proposal.
As Fred and I go over it all once more, I can feel the excitement thrumming through my veins. This is exactly the project that I’ve been waiting for, something to really sink my teeth into.
“Thanks for nagging me about investing in the hotel,” I tell Fred, my eyes shining with passion.
Fred nods, a smile stretching across his face. “Absolutely. I wouldn’t have brought it up if I didn’t think this could be huge for us.”
Just then, Jamie enters the office. “Good morning, Mr. Reyes.”
“Morning, Jamie,” Fred says without peering up from his laptop.
I peer up at her to avoid making her feel invisible. “Hey, Jamie.”
She smiles to herself as she sits down to organize some files at the conference table.
“We’ve got this in the bag,” Fred says, and pats me on the back. “This proposal is solid.”
I can’t help but agree with him. The proposal is impeccable, and the numbers in our projections are nothing short of impressive. “I have a good feeling about this,” I say, smiling widely.
“Me, too.” Fred turns to me. “You know, I haven’t seen you this gung-ho about work in a while,” he points out.
