(Currently on hold) Their little trade of hearts

8 - Shock

Hearing his question, Stacey couldn't help but swallow the lump on her throat. She placed her cutlery down and looked at him as she gulped down her wine.

"Yes," she nodded. "I'm not going back," she affirmed him.

"Didn't we signed the deal, then? How am I going back after going this far, after receiving my half end of the deal? I've made my decisions two years ago. It's only right if I stood by it."

He frowned hearing that. Because even after two years he still didn't know how to read her emotions. Something that wasn't supposed to be so hard for him to do if it were another person, but each time he tried to read her, he was left uncertain.

She finished her plate and refilled her glass of wine. What's done is done. She won't back up on her words, especially when it's written and signed in the stone.

Philleas was about to say something, but he went against it after seeing how she gulped down her glass, it doesn't take a mind reader to know that she's not happy about it. So instead, he told her; "Anytime you're ready to join the company, your spot is prepared for you."

That made her chuckle, making her face brighten up as her eyes twinkled in mischief. "Well in that case, can we go to the company now? I can't wait to kick Elliot's a*s out of my seat."

A lazy smile appeared on his face when she grinned at him. He liked seeing her like this. She looked young, and carefree, just how someone her age is supposed to be.

At the door, Elliot stood stunned at the sight beholding in front of him.

He had come to have lunch with a female friend and had tried to convince the manager to let him use his brother's private room, only to be rejected, and not wanting to anger him, the manager had hurriedly explained that in fact, his brother is occupying the room himself, and seemed to be dining with a female companion.

Elliot had practically run up the stairs in surprise. Even as his brother, Elliot didn't find Philleas as someone who is capable of being romantic. He's so aloof, and his heavily organized habits made him looked like a robot to him. Not to mention his sudden proposal to Elena when within the two years of knowing her, he'd only know Elena after they were paired as a teammate over a class they shared then.

Even until now, she had always been like a walking ice sculpture judging by how cold she acted. How could someone like her possibly do romance?

Catching them there had made him realize that they have reacted naturally and have never tried lying to him about their relationship. It's just that with their temperament, he has never really paid so much attention to having literally missed the signs in front of his eyes.

The both of them often share secretive glances or have a casual conversation about business the few times they met with him around. Just how many times have they met without him?

Finding Elena grinning is enough shock as it is, let alone having his brother also smiling at her? When in his twenty-one years of living, he had barely remembered seeing his brother did anything but frown. He blinked his eyes with a dumb look on his face.

"Go to the company? kick my a*s out? I- Philleas, you betrayed your brother for a girl?" he dramatically complained from the door, breaking the harmonious atmosphere as his brother frowned, and Stacey drinking her wine with a scowl on her face.

"Look at you, barging into a private room like an uncultured swine, and have the balls to complain while I've been managing over your mess these past few months you're having fun. You're lucky I didn't kick you out earlier," she retorted, eyes glaring at him.

Elliot acted like the glare didn't bother him. In fact, he had the liberty to occupy the empty seat aside from her and grabbed her plate of dessert that has just been served because he didn't dare to it to his brother.

Stacey actually looked at him with a lost look on her face, staring at him and her dessert repeatedly in annoyance and loss. She had been waiting to shove something sweet inside her mouth to have it stolen just under her nose.

Philleas being a gentleman he is had pushed his share her way instead. "Here."

Stacey smiled at him in gratitude and scooped in the dessert with no hesitation.

Curiosity ran through him as he captured the mischievous look that flashed on her eyes for a brief moment before suddenly she lifts the spoon to his lips, a gentle look on her face that covered the mischief in her eyes.

Elliot chocked at her bold gesture. And what's more, his brother had actually complied willingly, his eyes locked with hers exchanging a look.

Elliot cursed inside his heart. The dessert had no longer taste delicious now that he'd been shoved dog food.

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