Page 87 of Taming the Elusive Billionaire

I spread my hands wide. “I didn’t say it was. I was rather trying to do what your friend said I should do, so we could become closer, and what do I get?”

“I—”

Mom raised her hand and cut her off immediately. “Now it’s your turn to apologize to your brother, Ella.”

After a moment, Ella turned towards me and whispered. “Sorry.”

“I didn’t hear you.”

“I said I am sorry for hitting him.” Ella groaned and looked away.

“I accept.”

Ella scoffed loud enough for everybody in the room to hear, but I couldn’t care less, and neither did Mom, smiling a little now and rubbing her palms together excitedly.

“We are making good progress.” She muttered, turning toward us, “Now, with all that behind us, I think the only thing that remains is a group hug.”

“That is not necessary, Mom. We are too old for that.” Ella shook her head, “We are perfectly okay, aren’t we?”

Mom frowned and shook her head. “I am not asking.”

“All right . . . All right.” Ella groaned, standing from the couch, and moving toward me with her head turned sideways.

“Mason?” Mom muttered, turning toward me with her arms outstretched toward me. Ella snuggled into one of her arms.

I summoned courage and stood, stretching my hand as I moved toward Ella, now just meters away. I wiped the sweat from my face. “You are beginning to stretch it, Mom.” I groaned, forcing her to look away.

Ella walked closer. Her hands stretched too.

“Peace?”

“Whatever,” she said, putting her hand in mine, and when she tried to pull it away, I moved her closer and held her in an embrace while she struggled to pull away from me.

“Shhhhhh.” I muttered, holding her tightly, “We need to make it look real.” I whispered, just for my ears, and began to feel her body relax.

Smiling, I rubbed her back and stroked her head while her body shook with tremors. Then I felt her hand begin to raise gently until she rested it on my chest and buried her face deep in my chest.

I felt my eyes tear up, loving this moment of vulnerability with my sister for the first time in years. I felt her body shudder beneath mine, and soon she began to cry softly.

I continued to massage her back, letting her cry out her frustration. Many times, I acted like a dick toward her, and it felt like a huge load was being removed from my shoulders, making me feel at peace with myself for a minute.

“Oh, my sweet, sweet children.” I heard Mom say as she got up, and hugged us together. “This is the best gift you can ever give me,” she continued but soon broke away and began to clap. “This surely calls for a celebration.”

Two staff members answered her calls a few moments later. “A bottle of Champagne, please, and three glasses.”

The staff nodded and turned to heed her request while Ella finally broke apart from me, with my shirt and her face filled with tears.

She reached her hand and touched it gently. “I am sorry, I ruined your clothes,” She muttered, her head bent from me.

I chuckled and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Want to ruin the other one, too?” I asked, and she laughed while gently hitting her fist on my chest.

She looked me in the eyes. “Promise me, no more shouting at me.”

“I pro—”

“Wait, include, no more sending me on errands, no more questioning my choices, no more treating me like another member of your staff, and no more orders.”

I smiled and touched her cheeks gently, “That is a very long list.”

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