Claimed By My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter Four

“Don’t you know it’s wrong to hit a lady?” a voice said. I opened my eyes in confusion. The source of the voice turned to face me and smiled.

“It’s nice seeing you again, deskmate!”

Nick? What is he doing here?

“Oh my God, Nick!” still dazed, I heard Isa exclaim. That’s right, he’s Nick Roberts. Our high school hearthrub and my deskmate. A popular known bully until we became deskmates and he changed.

Still shaken from earlier events, my knees wobbled. Nick and Isa were by my side in seconds to keep me on my feet. Rylan looked from Isa, to me and then Nick. I thought he was going to say something before Nick picked me up and walked out of the bar.

He placed me in the backseat while Isa entered from the other side. Nick got into the driver's seat, looking at me through the rearview mirror. Isa held me in her arms, comforting me.

“You must have been shocked Lara, I never thought I would see the day Rylan raises his hand to hit you. And it’s all because of Vivian.” I did not reply, he already did much worse in my previous life and I still had nightmares everytime I go to sleep.

I shifted in the seat, laid my head on Isa’s lap. She was still trying to comfort me.

I thought back to when we had just become friends, Isabelle did not know my background then so she always shared what little she had with me. Even buying me food. I let her, because it felt nice seeing her do things for me on her own. Most people I met only wanted the benefits that came with being close to a Bennett.

Even after she found out my identity all she said was, I knew your name was too fancy, why did your parents have to put an E?

We had both laughed then and she asked if she could still call me Lara. I had no issue with it, after school she had taken me to a restaurant and still footed the bill.

I smiled. “Lara, are you smiling?” Isa asked. “We need to do something about your ex fiance, how can you smile right now.”

“Ex fiance?” Nick asked.

“Yes, the engagement is canceled. Although it hasn't been released to the media. But that doesn't give him the right to hit Lara.”

I sat up and looked at Isa. “I don’t really care what he wants to do with Vivian but I won't let him walk over me.”

“Surprising turn of events, Elara you’ve changed.”

Isa and I stared at each other, just realising that this was Nick and we were in his car.

“What are you doing back in the country? And what were you doing at the bar.” Isa stared at him like if he said one wrong word she would have his head right there

“My dad is planning retirement so I came back to work at the company.” He said. “I came to the bar for some drinks when I spotted you guys, I was coming to say hi when the whole thing happened.”

Nick was not a great guy, he was a playboy, but he held family close. If I remember correctly, he hated me when I suddenly became his deskmate, things eventually became smooth between us over the years but because everyone always shipped him with Vivian and made me look like I came between them, I distanced myself from him. He never liked Vivian anyways so it was no wonder he stepped in to help.

It was safe to say, Nick was the only other guy that treated me like I was someone.

The car stopped in front of the Bennett estate, the event that happened earlier forgotten as we caught up with Nick.

“We should grab breakfast sometime.” Isa had suggested, and there was no reason not to. I bid them farewell as I entered the house.

Ethan was still up when I got home, thankfully mum always went to bed early so I did not have to worry about her finding out something happened on my night out.

I thought about how to deal with the Rylan situation, I couldn't possibly handle them myself especially since I had no real power of my own.

I quickly showered, calmed myself down and practiced how to convince my brother to agree to my request before stepping out of my room.

Standing in front of Ethan's room my heart was thudding so loudly I could hear it in my ears. What if he rejects my request, there was no way I could tell him the real reasons but he doted on me so maybe…

While I was contemplating my what ifs, the door opened. Ethan stood there with a raised brow to question why I was standing in front of his room by this time.

I lowered my head and stared at my feet, allowing tears to form in my eyes before looking up to meet Ethan's stunned and panicked gaze. I hated that this was my only way to get through to him, but on the battlefield, you have to fight dirty.

If there was one thing my brother couldn't stand, it was my tears.

“Elara why are you crying? What happened?” Ethan asked, he was already holding me close. “Tell me what happened, who hurt you. Don't cry please, just tell me and I'll make them regret it. Was it Rylan?”

On cue, I looked away in silent confirmation.

“What did he say? What did he do to make you cry?” Ethan said through gritted teeth.

My brother's face darkened with each sentence that left my mouth as I recounted what happened at the bar. His fists were clenched so hard they became white.

I looked up to meet his worried gaze, no matter how angry he was he did not show it.

“Ethan I just know this is not the end, those two will definitely try something again. I don't have any power to fight them off right now and that's why—”

“I’ll handle it Elara, I promise I won't let them hurt you.” Ethan cut me off. His eyes flicked with anger and…guilt?

I brushed it off as nothing. I wasn't going to let Ethan fight all my battles.

If I remembered correctly the corporate scandal was bound to happen right as Rylan returned, but I broke that link. This time, the timing was different, and that terrified me.

Things were already changing in this life, I already met Kael. In my previous life we did not meet, I only heard about him in the news or from my brother. And the time he puts his jacket on me in the hallway.

Next Nick, I never heard anything about him coming back from the states in my previous life so why now?

Are things changing because of some kind of butterfly effect?

My brain felt like it would split in two anytime soon. My heart dropped to my stomach at the thought that crossed my mind. If the butterfly effect had moved the attack up, we were already too late.

The hair on my body stood as realisation dawned on me. I already ended things with Rylan this time which meant events won't happen as they did in my previous life.

My head snapped up to look at my brother, my body trembling. I stood up and pushed him into his room. Pacing back and front while he just stared at me like I lost my mind.

I met his gaze, “Ethan, you need to listen to what I say now."

I took his silence as an answer.

“Make me your executive assistant. I want to help at the company, something bad is going to happen soon I can feel it.”

My brother just stared at me, one second, two…

“Elara, don't even think about it. I'm not letting you join the company. Besides everything is going smoothly.” He said, frowning.

The veins in his neck stood out like cords. He raked a hand through his hair, leaving it a mess. “How am I supposed to concentrate on the company if I have to worry about you in my office?” he pleaded, his voice cracking slightly.

“You're only looking at the surface, Ethan. You need someone on the inside who can spot a threat before it hits the board. Let me in, or we lose everything. I'm no longer the Elara I used to be, I can take care of myself, and if we don't hurry we'll lose the company for good.”

Ethan did not look like he would agree, he hadn't even said anything.

“Vivian is using Rylan's shell company to dump toxic assets on Bennett Corp, leaving us with a billion-dollar debt obligation.” I said urgently, he would listen to me right?

“Elara, that's absurd. Our legal team reviewed the acquisition documents months ago. You sound hysterical.” His brows were pulled together tightly.

“I know I sound hysterical, and I don't have any evidence but please—”

The harsh ringing of a phone startled us both. I turned to look at my brother.

Ethan walked up to the desk to pick up his phone, he answered, annoyed. He listens for three seconds, and the blood drains from his face. “Say that again... The stock is frozen? Why?”

My lungs seized. I was right. The nightmare was here. And this time, there was no turning back the clock.