I decided to not share my information with Jack as we arrived at the opening. I needed to live out tonight before I make and rash decisions that could really damage any relationship we had.
The information that she sent me, consisted of a lot of scams regarding his business and money being invested by some major characters in the entertainment industry.
Holly Waichestre was known for her involvement in an illegal money laundering in the states and was his biggest adviser and investor. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. There have even been claims that his start up was using child labour and many other workplace crimes that has mysteriously gone missing from the records.
He seemed to have gotten involved with some bad influencers in a shot to fame.
The moment I stepped in I found him waiting patiently almost like he was waiting for us to arrive. I wasn’t even late either.
“Selene, I have waiting for this moment for too long. How have you been “he asks as he beckons me in for a hug.
I put on a smile and gladly accept it.
“I’ve been well, don’t put the blame on me you’re the one that ran away to India” I said pulling away.
It would be better for all of us if I kept his personal affairs silent. For now, anyway.
“touché, touché. Well come inside I am about to talk about my new products” he beams over at me as he guided us inside.
I follow behind him as I look around. This venue was anything but cheap, it was customised perfectly for his product with the modern and colourful lights centred around the stage.
There were waiters dressed in navy blue and white handing out drinks and bitesize snacks.
“I’m really happy the band is back together” Andre says raising his glass with us. Jack happily cheered with him and I followed.
“yeah I agree if does feel good” Jack grins as he takes a sip from his drink. I watched them both turn to me waiting for me to say something.
I shook my head at them “well of course I’m happy to have both my boys back” I said as I turned to grab the floating food a waiter was carrying around.
I really hope that there was not a limit on these because I was more than confident that I would finish them all. I have never been more thankful that I wore a more flowy dress.
“alright you two I need to address my people but don’t leave I want to talk more after possibly with some drinks” Andre says when he locks eyes with a women with her finger to her ear.
His assistant maybe.
“good luck ” we both say to him as he gets hurried away.
The moment we were alone Jack turned to me quickly. “what’s your problem tonight, you seem weird” he asks me.
“you noticed” I asked surprised.
He laughed to himself. “you’re funny, I may not know you as well as your pretty boyfriend but I have known you for longer than him and I know how you act” he explains. And here’s me thinking I was pretty good at hiding it.
“I found some information about Andre, Trust me I really wanted to trust him but Nick already has suspicions” I explained to him.
Jack stared at me “could you not just leave it alone, now you’ve put me in a really difficult position”
“you don’t have to do anything Jack, this is why I didn’t want to say anything”
I would have liked to keep this from jack since I know how much those two were like brothers.
“you two seem to be in a rather deep conversation, why don’t you join me for a drink instead,” Andre says coming towards us.
His arm around my shoulder felt even more heavier that I had expected. I just had to smile; Andre hadn’t done anything yet that raised any red flags but I can’t be sure for the future on that.
” So how have you been Andre, how’s India?” I asked after a weird tense moment came after we got our drinks.
He places his down and giddily looks at us. “oh India is just great It honestly feels like my home town now and nothing like I ever expected” he tells us.
“and any women in your life” Jack pressed on. “There was for a while but I found out that her parents weren’t fans of me, so we ended it”
That’s strange, I don’t imagine him giving up so easily.
“just like that?” I asked him.
He seemed to pause and stop to think of the right words to say. “it was hard but especially with her culture you have to respect their wishes for their daughter” wow, I don’t think I ever thought about that.
“it wasn’t even about the fact that I’m not Indian but more the idea of my career. They didn’t like that I didn’t have a degree” he shrugged.
Even so, I couldn’t image Andre giving up so easily it makes me think that he wasn’t that into her to begin with.
“forget about my non-existent love life, you and your rich boyfriend look pretty serious” he turns the attention back onto me.
“He’s not that much more richer than she is” Jack said. Which is somewhat true.
I don’t think about his money though, I guess when you’re pretty comfortable yourself it’s not something you really consider. When my mom would talk about men, she said that I should found someone well off.
I didn’t want to base my life over how much money they have so instead I made sure I had more than enough money.
“that’s true, I passed him the other day actually. He seems quite serious, not really you’re type?” he says offering his opinion.
My type?
“that’s just him in business mode, he’s very professional” I say simply. I didn’t like the way he was talking about Nick.
“well regardless, I hope you don’t get bored of him” his tone wasn’t what I expected. I was just going to label it as jealousy and not read too much into it.
Jack seemed to want to move the conversation on, but I could tell he didn’t know how to handle that.
“thanks well, what are you doing here in London and how long are you staying” I asked him.
Originally, I was going to hold back but now he’s managed to annoy me I don’t see the point.
“well I’m trying to get back into the uk market. Searching for sponsors and what not” he shrugged his shoulders. Well that make sense why he was at Nick’s office.
Silence washed over us three. This was only plain awkward now. But luckily for us a man stood behind Andre and said something discreetly to him.
“looks like I’m needed again. If I don’t get to speak to you two again tonight it was great seeing you and hope that we can really catch up again” Andre made the move to hug both of us.
It was awkward as hell.
“definitely” Jack replied, and I nodded.
Watching him leave I was finally able to breathe again. Jack rubbed my back encouragingly. After that talk, I have even more suspicions about Andre. The information was finally put into real life and I could see the connection.
“home?” I asked jack. He nodded franticly.
Me and Jack decided to get a car together. Ben was going to drive Jack to his place before dropping me off.
“are you thinking what I’m thinking,” Jack said as he turned to me in the car.
“what that he’s going to use us for his own company?” Yeah, I was already thinking it.
Jack sighed. “as much as I like the guy I do think we need to be extra careful around him and possibly alert the team so that they don’t let him to our business.”
That I could definitely agree with.
“what baffles me is when he spoke about Nick. If he wanted Nick’s company to sponsor him why would he knowingly speak negatively about Nick to my face”
It just doesn’t seem like something you would do. He must know that I would tell Nick so why he would even try it.
“I was thinking that. Its probably a good time to tell you that he had a crush on you”
Both mine and Ben’s heads snapped to jack.
He what now?
“no jack a good time would have been years ago. What the actual fuck” I exclaimed. That can’t be true.
“he was never going to pursue it I think it was mostly a physical attraction and nothing more, don’t lecture me I was just reception bro code”
Bro code, I’m sorry but we were closer than him and Andre ever were.
“so you think its jealousy?” I asked him.
He shook his head. “oh I know its jealousy” he confirms.
Honestly could this day get any worse. I leant back in my seat thinking about how we were all those years ago. He never showed that he had any type of feelings for me.
I even had a boyfriend back then and he never showed any signs of jealousy or anything similar, but maybe he was good at concealing it. It wouldn’t surprise me all too much.
“don’t stress too much, you have Nick now. Knowing about Andre’s past feelings for you won’t change that”
This was true. I just feel somewhat stupid for not knowing this before. Was I that oblivious back then?
By the time I arrived home It was late. For the first time tonight, I checked my messages. Anytime I attend a single even I mute my messages on my apps. I don’t want to be on my phone throughout the event. I wanted to be present.
I received 2 missed calls from Nick and messages from him.
Video chat when you’re back?
I sat down at my dressing table and called him as I started to remove my earrings and rings. He picked up after a few rings.
Nick also looked like he just got home. The only think out of place was his tie after he loosened it.
“hey beautiful, how was the event?” he asks me as he grins into the camera.
God damn it he was handsome.
“emotionally exhausting, how was your meeting” I asked him. My words seem to wipe the grin off his face.
“hell no, you aren’t just going to skip passed it like that. I’ve managed to not think about you and your old bestie all day, so you have to give me something more.” He said glaring at me through the camera.
I’m actually glad that he wasn’t actually here right now. He can’t do shit 2 hours away by plane.
“Jack told me that he used to have crush on me and now I cant stop thinking about the past, how did I miss the signs” I blurted out.
I braved to look at Nicks reaction. He had turned his head. “well that was obvious, i don’t blame him for having a crush on you but he isn’t fucking getting the chance now” Nick said. He was pissed, that was a given.
Jesus Christ, his possessiveness was turning me on. Now I want him here with me. But I couldn’t have that I needed to be more patient.
“of course, not Nick” I continued to remove my earrings and slowly let down my hair from that painful high ponytail.
“and if you would kindly stop thinking about your past with him that would be great too” he says angrily.
I didn’t expect him to get this angry. It actually is surprising. I hope that Nick doesn’t feel threatened by any means. Because he shouldn’t be.
“I just don’t know I missed it” I muttered. But Nick heard me clear as day.
“fuck this” he spat angrily and hung up the phone. I stared at the screen in disbelief. I’m guessing that today’s conference did not go well because this isn’t normal for Nick’s behaviour.
I tried to call him back, but he wasn’t replying. I decided to send his assistant a text just so I know that he is safe.
After finally undressing and showering I finally got into bed. I even made sure that my phone was on loud just in case Nick called me later when he has finally calmed down.
His anger wasn’t scary for me, I didn’t fear him, I was more worried than anything.
Reluctantly I closed my eyes welcoming sleep. Whatever Nick was doing I hoped that he was safe and not pissed and drunk somewhere.
My eyes slowly opened when I felt my phone vibrating against my arm.
I pulled it out and tried to readjust my eyes to the harsh light.
A tight sensation filled my chest as I read the message.
Nick
I guess there is only one way to get that fucker off your mind. Open the door Selene.