BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER

Kaleb frowned. “Finish your food,” he demanded.

“Excuse me?” Sasha prompted quickly.

“I said finish your food,” he repeated, sternly. “I want to see that plate clean, Sasha, and I’m not bluffing.”

“Fuck! Why do you always treat me like a child, huh?” she snarled at him

“Because you’re behaving like one, aren’t you?” Kaleb retorted, his eyes raw.

“I’m full! I’ve had my fill! Isn’t that a reason enough?”

“Oh no, it’s not! You’re going to finish the food, and you’re going to stop whining.”

“Don’t say I’m whining! I hate it!” Sasha stood up stoutly.

“Then stop doing it! And sit down!”

“Are you my daddy or something?” She glowered.

“Oh, I can be one, Sasha, trust me.” Kaleb smirked.

“Fuck you!”

“Fuck you, too, baby. Now sit down and finish your food. Some people are dying to have just a spoonful,” he said and sounded earnest. “And you and the baby need it,”

Tired of his tyranny, Sasha decided to gobble the pasta as quickly as possible while looking sternly at him. He paid no attention to the angry look of her face; instead he stared intently at her as she kept eating like a marathon. “I cleaned the plate, are you happy now, Hitler?” she snapped.

“Very happy.” Kaleb smiled, and before he could hear or add anything more, his cell phone buzzed.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

“Maybe it’s your precious girlfriend wondering where you are right now,” Sasha said, displeasure lacing her voice.

“You think?” Kaleb mocked.

“Jerk!” she cursed.

“Yes, Clark, what is it?” Kaleb spoke after picking up. “Are you sure about that?” He frowned, and Sasha’s face took a similar expression. “Alright, I’ll be there soon.” He rose up to his feet.

“What is it?” Sasha asked urgently.

“I’m going back to the office,” Kaleb replied while gulping half of his juice.

“You’re going? What about me?” She stood up, knowing she sounded clingy.

“I won’t take long,” Kaleb said hastily. “Stay here and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Are you kidding me? Why do I have to stay here by myself? No, I’ll just go out then.” She started clearing the table in a hurry.

He chuckled. “I’ll be back.”

“Don’t you worry sometimes about Claire? What if she shows up here looking for you one day?” Sasha asked.

“She won’t,” he replied.

“How do you know that?”

“I know her well enough to know.”

“Oh God,” she gasped, resigned in manners. “Fine, Kaleb. I’ll stay here like a prisoner until you decide to come back,”

“Good. That’s what I thought.” Kaleb kissed her on the lips, which she refused to cooperate. “Be good.” He rushed to his room to change. It didn’t take long until he left the apartment some minutes later.

Once alone, Sasha used the void to fill up the dishwasher and stayed beside it, sighing. At this moment she hadn’t any idea on what she was doing with her life. She’d always been careful. Not in her wildest dream had she ever thought of coveting someone else’s man. And here she was, pregnant, dressed up in Kaleb’s shirt as though he was her own husband, or boyfriend at the very least.

She hated the fact, but it wasn’t enough to stop herself from falling into his scheme.

She suddenly felt sleepy, and decided to take a nap. Slowly she made her way to her room. But instead, she found herself entering Kaleb’s room. A smile stretched across her face as she slowly shut the door behind her. The long curtains were flailing, and the rain was slowly dissipating through the glass window.

“What are you getting yourself at, Sasha?” she breathed, taking her feet towards the black-leathered sofa bed.

The wooden floor felt smooth against her bare feet, and even more the fluffy rug she’d stepped on as she reached the bed. She sat down, running a hand on the white duvet, inhaling Kaleb’s scent everywhere, and she loved it.

It was relaxing. So very relaxing, but was it okay feeling at home inside a man’s house? The man she had nothing definitive with? She lay down, taking one of the pillows and hugged it tight.

————-

Kaleb took a seat behind his office desk and skimmed through some documents.

“This is good enough,” he said pointedly, regarding the contract Clark had been working on. “And what’s the emergency?” He turned towards Claire, who had been watching him taciturn.

She sighed audibly and said, “I’m afraid Jeremy has got you this time.” She sat straight.

“What?” Kaleb frowned.

“Where did you go, and without telling anyone?” Claire snapped angrily. “I’ve tried to reach you, but it seems you were too busy to answer!” She frantically rolled her eyes.

“Tell me about Jeremy, what happened?” Ignoring the lady, Kaleb turned to Clark for information. This was way more important for him.

“Well,” Clark started, but when Claire got up stoutly like an angry wife, he had to stop his speech.

“Sit down, Claire!” Kaleb demanded.

“I don’t think you need me here, so why should I stay?” she replied harshly while reaching for the door handle.

“I said sit down, Claire!” Kaleb snapped aloud, his voice supreme. “I’m the CEO of this company, don’t ever forget that!” he added, and the entire office went cold.

Claire clenched her fists tightly for a second or two. And then she walked back reluctantly after a deep sigh.

“Well, it seems like Jeremy made a bigger offer, and they’re selling him the land,” Clark said, staring at Kaleb whose face was now expressionless. He was thoughtful. “I snooped around and I learned they’re sealing the deal tomorrow. So what do we do?”

“And it looks like someone is leaking our intelligence from the inside,” Claire added, back to her composure.

Indeed. This had happened twice already. Kaleb reclined back in his seat and silence filled the air. He seemed to be thinking hard, his jaw clenched.

“About the mole, I’m letting you deal with it, Claire,” he said, and she nodded. “Jeremy-that scheming son of a bitch. We’re not going to do anything,” he finally stated.

“What?” Claire and Clark exclaimed in unison.

“I thought you wanted that land badly, and you promised the board that it’s going to be our next project,” Claire said, her voice apprehensive.