Liar Liar Billionaires

35. Home is where the heart is

"Man, I am spent." Amir crashed onto the bare floor like he had just wheeled tons and tons of timber.

"You hardly touched five clothes, man."

His head raised a bit in Gabriel's direction, Amir said, "I know you don't like me, but don't make me seem that lazy. Chloe?"

"Yeah?" She sat next to Gabriel, her hair falling to the side.

"How on earth do you do your job? How do you not crash every day?"

She shrugged, a small smile on her lips. "I just do it. Besides, this wasn't that much of a stress compared to when Lucille and I cleaned this entire room."

Sighing almost pitifully, yet tiredly, he said, "We don't pay you enough."

Chloe's mind went to her untouched bank account, which would be swimming in cash after what? Almost five weeks of working in their house?

Was it even five? Time had flown past so fast, she wasn’t sure about it anymore.

At least she would have some money at the end of her mission and parasitic work in the Agency.

Nathaniel let out a low grunt as he settled opposite Chloe. "What do we do now?" he asked.

"How about we just talk?" Gabriel suggested, and Amir bounced into a sitting position.

"I like that."

"Yeah," Nathaniel added. "Going back to the office at this time is pointless."

They all nodded in agreement.

Seconds passed, and nothing was said. Only glances were being shared.

"You guys don't do this a lot, do you?" Chloe asked when she got tired of the silence.

"Now that I think of it, we mostly talk about business," Amir replied, looking very thoughtful.

"Isn't that kind of sad?" Chloe asked further, hugging her legs to her chest.

"What? That we talk about business?"

"No, that you don't talk like friends," she replied to Nathaniel, whose prolonged stare teased her so much that she looked away. "Do you remember when you first met?"

"What is this, low-budget therapy?" Amir dismissed her question with his face contorted into a huge frown.

"Amir, just go with it."

He stuck out a tongue at her.

"I do remember when we first met," Gabriel started quite soberly.

"Oh, f**k," Amir swore.

"Ouuuu. Tell me." Chloe was excited.

"Well, it was the first day of high school, and Nathaniel and I had already become friends after a long talk about basketball players. We were on our way to our first period when we heard someone crying."

Nathaniel took over. "And that someone turned out to be our amazing friend here, Amir."

Chloe's eyes twinkled as she chuckled and asked, "Really?"

"Yes, he was crying so hard, we had to fake tears to placate him." Gabriel surely was enjoying the moment. He gave Amir a little pat.

"This is so embarrassing," Amir muttered into his hands.

"So, I guess your friendship started there?"

"Yes. We have had ups and downs and crazy moments like that time Amir stole my girlfriend in high school and took her to prom." Amir sneered. "But we are still here, together, standing strong and I really can’t ask for more.”

Gabriel's last statement had the atmosphere taking a quick trip to mushiness.

"You know guys," Amir made the mushy trip longer. "They say home is where the heart is. And my heart is with you guys. So, you guys are my home." Chloe nodded in agreement. "I live inside both of you." Her eyes narrowed. "I am inside both of you."

"Uh, Amir..."

"Wrong words?"

They all shook their heads.

"Very wrong."

"Disgusting."

"Yeah..." They all chorused.

"Well, whatever." Amir adjusted. "I would like to make a toast-"

"With what?"

"Go with my drama, Nathaniel." He smiled and then raised his arm like he was holding a glass of wine. "A toast to the NAG brothers. We are amazing men."

"We sure are," Gabriel got rid of the confusion on his face and nodded in agreement.

"So," Amir got up. "Let us raise our glasses... Raise your glasses guys."

"But-"

"Go with it," he mouthed to Gabriel. And they all did. With imaginary glasses in their hands, they got up and raised them. "To us."

"To us."

"I am not even part of your…" Chloe was cut short by Amir.

"And how can we forget our darling Chloe?" He smiled. "Thank you for all you have done." She smiled shyly. "Thank you for being in our lives."

"Sure."

"Well, let's drink up."

"Nope, I am out of here."

"Come on, Nathaniel," Amir protested.

"Dude, we have a wine bar. This drama is just s**t. So, I am out of here."

"You have work to do, don't you?" Gabriel asked the retreating man.

And Nathaniel replied truthfully, "I have a lot of work to do."

"Need my help? I happen to be free," Amir offered.

"I could use it. Just thinking about it is so stressful." Nathaniel rubbed his temple, and Chloe grew worried that he was overworking himself.

"No problem, my man." Amir slung his arm over his shoulder. "Let's go."

"See you later, Cupcake," Gabriel winked at Chloe and walked after the other two.

As she watched them, a small smile was still on her face. Clearly, she had grown attached to them.

Before she could delve more into that, she recalled that she planned to do something important.

Without wasting time, she reached her room, grabbed her devices, and went into the bathroom.

Moments later, she was pacing barefoot, waiting for someone to pick up her call.

"Agent Pepper." It was Conner this time.

But that wasn't going to restrain her coming words.

"What on earth do you guys think you are doing?"

"Stay calm, Pepper."

"I told Agent Markings not to proceed with the raid. I had not confirmed the suspicion. But what did he do? He-"

"Chloe, we are all as pissed as you are right now."

"Wait," she frowned. "You didn't send him?"

"You know how hot-headed Markings can be. He was too adamant. Now, he can barely say anything because he ended up looking foolish.”

"Good."

"He did mention something, though." There was something in Agent Conner's voice. Like extreme tiredness.

"What is that?"

"He says that you are sexually involved with all three men."

"That mother-!"

"Who are you shouting at?" asked a voice from behind her.

'Not again.' Chloe cursed inwardly, her head struggling to understand why she forgot to lock the door.