THEN I MET YOU

[EROS' POV]

As I'm walking up the streets, reminisce took place as I remember the landscape of this street and the houses that surround it.

It looked the same and as I approach our old house, the gate was completely shut and it says, 'FOR SALE.'

He doesn't live here anymore.

I took my phone out and there are plenty of missed calls from Griffin, Orion, and also Eryx.

I think I have to go now.

I'll come back here...

With Ellis.

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"Griffin, are you mad at me?"

I asked as we are all inside the car.

"I should not be mad but I'm quite disappointed as your secretary, Mr. Beckett."

"I'm sorry." I softly said, "And to you too, Orion."

"It's okay, Mr. Beckett, we were just worried."

"It's my fault but if I didn't go there, I might not know how he was," I mumbled.

We all quietly went to my penthouse.

-----

"Griffin, can you stay for a while?"

He stays and closes the door as we arrived.

I grab wine and two glasses.

"Do you still need anything else, Mr. Beckett?"

"We're not in the company anymore, Griffin. You can call me by my name now."

He looks at me as I pour some wine from mine to him and I hand over the wine and he takes it.

"I just need a friend right now."

"I can call Ares and Eryx-"

"They're busy doing their own business."

"Please?" I asked.

He sits beside me on the sofa.

"Is there something bothering you?" He asked.

"I've been thinking about him all these years but I never dared to contact him. And earlier, I saw him from afar. He grew up and he became matured all on his own."

Why am I crying? Tears suddenly fell from my eyes and I can't stop being dramatic right now, knowing that Ellis is doing okay and he's healthy and has worked.

He has grown up to be a man and I'm so proud! I want to say this to him in person and I want him to know how much I'm proud of him.

"Eros, is it your brother?"

I looked at him and drinks the wine.

I nodded, "I just saw him earlier but I never got the courage to talk to him. Just seeing him from afar makes me happy and when he smiles and talks to Daphne, our friend from the ice cream store, it makes me happy too. I mean, before, he cannot talk that well to anybody!"

"That's good. But are you scared if you talk to him, he'll get mad or he doesn't want to talk to you?"

I nodded like a child and I wipe my tears.

"I understand." He answered and he pats my back, "You should have told me earlier that you saw your brother, maybe I can help in some ways."

"I'm still shocked after all these years. The last time I saw him is when... before I left the house. So, I'm completely off guard."

I drink the wine up and pour another glass.

"He's selling the house and I want to buy it."

"Your old house?"

I nodded.

"Could you make contact with him and say that you're the one who will buy the house and if just in case when we talk again, can you make this a secret from him?"

"Are you sure about this?" He asked.

I drink again, "I don't want him to know... yet."

"Okay, you can send me the address."

I slightly smile, "Thank you, Griffin. And oh, can you put a stranger's name instead? I don't want him to know even your name, because he's smart and he'll get that."

"Okay."

I smile and drink again.

"You should stop drinking."

"It's wine. It's healthy."

"Not always." He says.

I lay down on the sofa and remove my tie.

"I miss him," I say.

"And I think he misses you too."

I smile and closed my eyes.

"Goodnight, Eros."

-----

[ELLIS' POV]

"Sorry, it's quite a hassle for you to go here instead of a virtual interview," Dione said as we're walking inside the Pinetree Corporation.

"I'm sleepy, Dione, but I don't think I have a choice." I yawn.

"But it's easy. You will be asked your name, age, occupation, and the reason why you want to be at the party."

I yawned again, "Because somebody named Dione Young invited me and tries to kill me if I didn't agree."

She laughs and nudges my shoulder.

"Don't yawn in front of the interviewer okay?"

"But really, it's 6 am, it's freaking early."

We're now in the elevator.

Dione pushes the 8th-floor button and the elevator goes up. It opens and it reveals some of the people that will take the elevator and we're at the back and the people keep on pushing us.

"This is your everyday struggle, Dione?"

She nods sarcastically and the 2nd floor came and they all went out, she says, "Don't worry, all of the staff that are included will get an interview. Not just you."

I yawn, "That's good to know. But, will they believe that I'm an owner of a bakeshop?"

"Why not?"

"Well, they always say that I looked like a model or have a babyface."

"Stop complimenting yourself." I chuckle.

When we reached the 5th floor, we stopped. The door opens and a familiar face came in.

"As I've told you, this is the right thing to do." The man that tied in a clean bun said and he's wearing a suit and tie.

"Fine, but let me tell you this, if he finds out about this, you'll be in trouble." Another man that has fair skin and a clean face said.

"Good morning, Mr. Alejandro and Mr. Pol." Dione greeted and they smile at her.

WHAT! They are familiar! Even their surnames are very familiar! Eryx Alejandro and Ares Pol.

Fuck. Am I even awake? How come they're here? I mean, Dione greeted them and she greeted them in surnames!

Are they that important? Who are they at this company? What are they doing here?

"Who is that with you?" Shit. Ares is asking!

"It's-" I need to cut her off.

"I'm one of the suppliers of food for the party and I'm going to be interviewed on the 8th floor," I say to them quickly before Dione says anything.

They don't know me well.

I think they have already forgotten me.

They're looking at my face.

I looked away.

"That's great! What kind of food will you serving us?" Ares asked again.

He's always the talkative one and nothing changed since then.

"Pastries," I answered.

"That's good. Someone will love that." Eryx finally spoke.

"Oh yeah! You're right. He will love it. He loves pastries, any kind of it."

He? Is he referring to someone?

Ding!

The door has opened.

"Let's go," Dione said and she said goodbye to them.

We came out and suddenly Eryx says,

"Did you already text Eros?"

"Yeah, I did. Maybe he's still sleeping."

My eyes widen and the door of the elevator closes.

Eros! Is he here?

Eros. Did I hear him clearly?

Eros.

"Ellis? Hey, are you okay?" Dione asked.

"Um, I... I'm okay."

"Sorry, I didn't expect the COO and the CFO would use the elevator."

"It's okay."

"They always use the private one. But, don't be scared of them, they're nice but strict." She smiles and guides me through the interview room.

They grew up so much that they're in that position. I'm proud of them because I thought they'll be bullies or something. But they're successful.

Eros. I heard his name out loud just once and yet, he's on my mind. THAT QUICK?!

Does it mean that they're still seeing each other? Hanging out? If that so, I'm happy for them because they've been best friends since then.

Fuck.

I should stop thinking about him.

He left. He wants this to happen to us and he finally did. He doesn't want me to be his best friend or his brother. He already got those two and I don't know if he met new friends but I don't care.

I don't care about him!

"You can enter now. Good luck!" Dione says and I'm startled as I see the door to the interview.

Whatever. Just forget about him! Instead, I enter the room to do the interview.

-----

[EROS' POV]

"Mr. Beckett."

"Mmhmm."

"Mr. Beckett, wake-up, it's time for you to-"

I slowly open my eyes and I saw the face of Griffin in front of me.

"Griffin, what are you doing in my bed?"

His eyes are wide and his mouth is a shape of an 'O,'"E-Eros! I want to ask that myself!"

He's startled and stood up beside my bed.

"I woke up at 4 am earlier, it's freaking hot that's why I turn off the heater then I strip naked."

"You didn't answer my question."

"Griffin, if you want to try my bed, you could ask me first you know or I can buy you the same bed-"

"That's not what I'm asking." He's already upset and the way he looks right now scares me.

"Okay, okay, I'm going to take a shower now."

"That's good. I will wait outside." He says and went out.

I sigh.

He still needs to adapt himself more.

-----

[ELLIS' POV]

"So, did the interview went well?"

"Dione, you've never said that there are hundreds of us inside and the interviewer is just two. Are you kidding me?"

"Wait, so you didn't go?"

"I did. It was awful!"

"Awful what? The interview?"

"No! My eyes! My head! I want to sleep!" I said to her.

All of this thinking about Eros making my head hurt. And I absolutely hated it!

"Sorry about that."

"What time is it?"

"10 am."

My eyes widen, "10? It's already freaking 10!"

"I'm sorry, Ellis. I'll make it up to you, okay?"

I sigh, "I just need to eat and I'll be fine."

-----

[EROS' POV]

"Did the interview went well?"

"Yes, Mr. Beckett, they already interviewed the people who are involved in the party."

I smile and say, "Does it need to be interviewed?"

"Of course, it will be for the safety of the employees and of course you, Mr. Beckett."

I said as I'm walking to the interview room.

"Okay, then, I'll need the lists of people who are good to go, right?"

"I can get the list myself-"

"No need. There's nothing else to do anyway."

I answered.

-----

[ELLIS' POV]

"Let's just go and grab something to eat."

"Hmm, that would be nice," I say.

"Ellis, be careful! There's a wet floor-"

"What-"

The next thing I knew, I'm about to slip over my head but I already feel that someone catches my back. I can feel its large hands and its warm touch. Moreover, I see Dione being shocked as she's looking at the person at my back.

Why does she react like that?

My eyes widen as I looked up.

FUCK.

-----

[EROS' POV]

"Mr. Beckett, not over there-"

Someone is about to slip over because of the wet floor and he's about to fall over me. I held his shoulder using my right hand and I balance him by holding his waist on my left hand and I looked down and I can't believe what I'm seeing right now.

"R-Ros!" His eyes widen and this is the first time since I left that he said my name.

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