Falling for My Billionaire Best Friend

BASH     The chilly air wraps my skin as soon as I step out of my family’s private jet. I inhale deeply the smell of New York City—the city that never sleeps. Welcome Back, Bash! It’s good to be back! Those skyline buildings, the noises, the citylights, and the New Yorkers—I miss all of them. I get inside of the black Rolls Royce of my Grandpa Mike. My stomach churns at the thought of being back. When I think I get myself prepared for this, but I am wrong, and the anxiousness starts crawling in my skin. Now that I’m here, I want to go back to London and stay there for the rest of my entire life. But I promised my family that once I finished college, I will be back—that’s one of the two reasons why I’m here. “Welcome back, Sir Bash!” The family driver of early forties greets me with courtesy; he turns to me and nods from the driver's seat. “I’m Edmund Russell. Your driver, Mr. Hughes.”

BASH   I feel the instant coldness of the stainless door handle on my office as I push it open. As I enter, I feel a sudden unsettling in the pit of my stomach when a familiar flowery scent hits my nostrils. A gasp has my head snap, and my eyes are transfixed on the woman in front of me. Everything stops. My surrounding blurs. The beating of my heart races. My eyes widen in shock, and I am surprised that my jaw is still attached to my head. I’m not expecting to see her here in this building, let alone in my office. I wasn’t thinking about her when Dad told me to be nice to my assistant. What’s this supposed to mean? I shut my gaping mouth close and cough awkwardly. “Trinity.” Her name comes out a whisper, and it feels foreign in my ears. She blinks many times before she clears her throat. She smiles at me—a tight smile; just a plain smile; a forceful one. “Mr. Hughes, good Morning, and welcome to your new office,” she greets with

TRINITY     “What am I doing?” I ask myself in the mirror. Last night I kept turning in bed for some reason that I didn’t even know. That was the first night that I didn’t think of Oli since he passed away. All I could think of was the gorgeous gray-eyed who ran away from his office and didn’t come back after the meeting. What’s his problem anyway? I play with my engagement ring on my finger while I’m humming the song on my phone. My officemates are already rushing to get in the cramming elevator. Some say hi, greet a good morning, and some think that I’m invisible. I know exactly what they talk about, so I keep my volume on my headset louder even it’s already deafening my ears. Enough thinking of Bash! You had all that last night! I’m sure he isn’t doing the same. I start my routine as soon as I get into my office. Still no signs of Bash. It’s almost nine in the morning when I check the time on my laptop.

BASH     “Fuck!” Dad curses. I turn around quickly when I realize what they’re doing. Heat creeps in my cheeks with embarrassment. I can’t believe I’ve just witnessed what Dad and Mom are doing in his office. It isn’t easy to be in this awkward situation. I grip the door handle when I hear my mom giggle. “Bash, I’m sorry. We shouldn’t be doing it here,” Mom says, laughing. I stay still. “We’re not having sex, Bash. You can turn around now,” Dad says who finds everything is okay after their son just caught them almost having sex. I face them slowly just to make sure they are both dressed because when I entered moments ago, mom’s dress zipped down from her back, and dad’s shirt unbuttoned while they were making out on the desk. “Can’t you at least lock the door before you start eating each other’s face? Or at least tell me not to come?” I ask annoyingly and amused at the same time. I can’

BASH     I am frustrated. That’s what I exactly feel right now. I walk away from Trinity, frustrated. The moment her door closed behind me, I felt I was helpless. I release an exasperating sigh. Running my fingers on my hair, I walk away without looking back because once I look back, I know myself, I will knock again, and this time I’ll grab her head and press her against the door and kiss her to release all my frustrations away. I meet Edmund waiting for me at the parking lot wearing a goofy smile, but he doesn’t say anything. A song by Collective Soul is playing when I enter the car. “Shut off this fucking song, Edmund!” I fasten my seatbelt. Our gazes meet at the rearview mirror. He changes the song to a pop song saying something like I’m without your kisses. I’ll be needing stitches. I roll my eyes. “Seriously, Bash. What’s the scowl for? I thought you and Miss Mallory had talked?” he asks while driving out of the