Brandon Morrison owned everything now. The company. The stocks. The power. And Elias knew
- it.
Veronica had been watching the news all morning. The business world was in chaos, reporters scrambling to make sense of the hostile takeover. Investors were panicking, stock prices shifting, and amidst all of it–Brandon stood at the top.
But she knew this wasn’t just business. This was personal. And that was confirmed the moment Elias stormed into Morrison Enterprises.
The doors to the boardroom slammed open. Brandon didn’t flinch.
He was seated at the head of the conference ‘table, surrounded by executives and legal teams. He barely lifted his gaze as Elias stormed in, his entire body radiating fury.
‘Get out,” Elias snarled.
Brandon smirked. “Last I checked, this is my office now.”
Elias’s fists clenched. “You think this is funny?”
Brandon leaned back, looking unimpressed. “I think it’s business.”
Elias slammed his fists on the table, rattling the glasses of water. “You stole my company!”
Brandon’s expression remained infuriatingly calm. “No, I bought your company. Legally. Fairly. His smirk deepened. “You should have been more careful with your shares, Elias.”
Elias saw red.
This bastard-
First, he had taken Veronica. Now, he had taken the company?
Brandon stood, adjusting his suit as if he wasn’t faced with a man seconds away from murder.
‘You lost,” Brandon said simply.
And that was it. That was all it took.
Elias swung first.
His fist collided with Brandon’s jaw, sending him stumbling back. The room erupted. Executives scrambled, some shouting, some backing away, but neither of them cared.
Brandon wiped the blood from his lip, then grinned.
That all you got?” he taunted.
And then he swung. Elias barely dodged the hit, but the next one landed clean, knocking him back into the table.
It wasn’t a business meeting anymore. It was a fight. They grappled, fists flying, knocking over chairs, breaking glass.
“She was mine, Elias growled, pushing Brandon against the wall
Brandon laughed, breathless. “Was Past tense, buddy‘
That only made Elias angrier. He pulled back for another hit, but security finally rushed in, separating them.
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5:31 pm
DDD.
Brandon wiped his bloodied lip, amusement still dancing in his eyes. “Face it, Elias. You have nothing now.”
And from the way Elias’s expression twisted, Brandon knew–He was right.
Veronica had just finished making tea when the door slammed open.
Brandon. Her eyes widened as he stepped inside, his face bruised, his knuckles cut, his shirt slightly torn.
“Brandon-!”
She dropped the cup and ran to him, her hands immediately reaching for his face. He flinched slightly but didn’t stop her.
Her fingers gently traced the bruising along his jaw. “What happened?”
Brandon sighed, shutting the door behind him. “Had a little chat with Elias.”
Veronica frowned. “That doesn’t look like a chat.”
Brandon smirked, despite the swelling on his lip. “Depends on your definition.”
Veronica huffed, shaking her head as she dragged him toward the couch.
“Sit,” she ordered.
Brandon raised a brow. “Yes, ma’am.”
She rolled her eyes, but her touch was gentle as she grabbed the first aid kit. She dipped a cotton ball into antiseptic, carefully dabbing at his wounds.
Brandon watched her in silence, his usual teasing smirk fading.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Veronica murmured after a moment.
Brandon exhaled. “Yes, I did.”
Her hands paused. “Why?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he studied her–the way her brows furrowed, the way her lips pressed together in
concern.
For him.
A man who had once been nothing but a shadow in her past. Brandon’s throat tightened.
“I wanted to,” he admitted finally.
Veronica didn’t respond.
She just continued applying the cream, her touch careful, her face so close to his that he could feel her breath.
Brandon swallowed.
His mind flickered back-
He was eighteen. She was sixteen. Veronica had always been around. Jasmine’s best friend. The girl who had laughed too loudly, who had always found ways to annoy him, who had watched him when she thought he wasn’t looking.
But he had noticed. He had noticed everything. The way she always found excuses to be near
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him. The way her cheeks flushed whenever he spoke to her. And the way he had started noticing her. But back then, he had been a punk. An arrogant, reckless kid who thought feelings were just distractions.
She was Jasmine’s best friend. Off–limits. So he ignored it. Ignored her. Now–years later–she was here. Closer than she had ever been before.
And she wasn’t sixteen anymore.
Brandon blinked, snapping back to reality.
Veronica was still applying the cream, her face only inches from his.
His chest tightened.
She looked up-
And he moved. His body reacted before his mind could catch up.
He leaned in.
Veronica froze. Their faces were so close now-
His breath brushed against her lips. Her eyes widened. His heart pounded. What am I doing?
For the first time in a long time-
Brandon hesitated. And in that split second, Veronica pushed him away.
“Brandon-!”
Brandon blinked, startled.
Then-
He laughed.
Veronica glared at him, her face bright red. “You-! That was-!”
Brandon leaned back, grinning. “What? Thought you wanted it, sweetheart.”
1-”
She grabbed the first aid kit and threw it at him.
He caught it easily, still chuckling.
“Go die,” she muttered, turning away.
Brandon smirked.
But deep down, he knew-
That hesitation?
That second of doubt?
It wouldn’t happen again.
Chapter 14
