Page 52 of Grumpy Bossy Billionaire Enemy

I liked that he took pride in his work, and in being who he was. Talking with him made me realize that I know nothing about him.

“So you make a lot of money. Are you planning to retire early?”

“Maybe,” Nolan replied. “I’m yet to decide which island I plan to retire to.”

“I learned you used to be an artist,” Nolan revealed and paused. “Your sisters mentioned it when we gossiped about you.”

“I feel horrible,” I scoffed, “because I know nothing about you.”

“You can start now.”

“Yes,” I said. “So you are here because you really want to get to know your family?”

“Yes,” Nolan confirmed. “I grew up being an only child. Nothing ever feels more lonely than that. I wished for a brother, and I was thrilled when I got to know that I was not alone after all.”

I was finding out that Nolan might be the opposite of who I was. He was more family oriented and sounded like he’d do anything for his family.

“Why did you stop painting?” Nolan asked, relying on the gossip he had heard from my sisters.

“I never got to paint,” I explained. “I just had a few sketches in a plain drawing book. I buried it because my father wanted me to become something else.”

“I’m sorry,” Nolan said with genuine empathy. “I used to be angry at him because he wouldn’t let me become whatever I wanted. I thought he didn’t care about me.”

“We are two people living in two different worlds, aren’t we?”

I checked the time; it was just about time to resume my shift. I clutched to my handbag.

“I have to go, Nolan. My shift is in a few minutes,” I said and smiled. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Nolan replied. “It’s nice having a conversation with you.”

“You too,” I offered. “We should do this some other time.”

“Sure, Amelia,” Nolan said. “Have a nice day.”

I walked out of my parent’s house feeling like a heavy burden had just been lifted off my shoulders. Henry was right: it felt great talking to a brother who had had a similar lonely childhood.

In a weird way, Nolan and I were both similar and opposite of each other. And I felt great about it.

Chapter twenty-three

Mother's Ego Play

Henry

Amelia hadn’t spoken to me in three days. Of course, she’d say a few things, like asking where her car keys were or tell me she would be doing a double shift at the hospital. I wanted to ask her why she was considering taking a double shift suddenly, but ever since I had gotten to know her, she had never taken a double shift intentionally. I was concerned because double shifts meant I wouldn’t get to see her for twenty-four hours. How was I supposed to do that?

I’d been trying to talk to her since she’d moved out of the master bedroom, but she blocked every chance I’ve got. She’d done what I had asked: she’d seen her brother yesterday and gone to the hospital afterward.

I held the car’s steering wheel loosely as I drove to Mother’s house. I was visiting her because I hadn’t seen her in a long while and also to ask her about Camille’s family’s contribution to the hospital.

Troy had gone AWOL since trying to get a hold of his wife. He’d gone from wanting Camille as his paper wife to wanting to make her his wife for life. That’s one hell of a character development for someone who I have known my whole life who vowed never to marry for love.

The street before Mother’s house was silent as always; her automated gate opened when my car drew near it. I parked in my Mother’s garage and walked up the stairs to find her on the balcony.

“What are you doing, Mom?”

Mother turned her head to face me. She held a cup of champagne in one hand and a vogue magazine in the other hand. Her balcony view showed the beautiful daffodils garden she was once obsessed with.

---