Chapter 12

What was wrong with him?

He did not reach his current position by sitting around and waiting.

No, that would not do.

He might have inherited this company from his father. But he had proven his worth as one of the best CEO in the business world, bringing his family's businesses to the top of the leaderboard by taking the rein with a firm hand.

He was a man of action, and making things happen was his expertise. Therefore, he was not waiting anymore for answers as he grabbed his phone and started barking orders.

"I want you to arrange everything. I don't want any delays." Damon ended the call, expecting results and perfection from those who worked for him.

He turned down his friend's invitation for a night out, not feeling he was up to the task. Besides, he believed he had more important things to do than hook up with a random girl.

Snatching his coat at the back of his chair, he walked out of his office in a bit of a hurry. With a determined stride, he rode the elevator with one goal.

He was not taking no for an answer.

However, he barely stepped out of the elevator doors when he bumped into someone he least expected to see.

First of all, it was very late. Business hours were over. But it was not likely they would discuss anything to do with the company.

"Bro, do you have time?" His unanticipated visitor stopped him from going any further.

"I am on my way out, Dale. Why don't you ride with me? I'll drop you off wherever you are going." He had no time to chitchat with his brother.

Besides, he was sure it had nothing to do with their business since his brother had never shown interest in running their company alongside him, not even once.

Dale was an artist, not an economist. His passion focused only on what his eyes could see. Only colors, lines, and figures mattered to him, not numbers.

Fortunately, their father left him a trust fund that would last him several lifetimes, in addition to his shares and income from the company.

Therefore, despite his eccentric lifestyle, his brother was one of the wealthiest men alive, making him the easiest prey for all the predators, hunting for their next victim.

"Are you sure? You seemed in a hurry. Maybe I should return in the morning." His brother seemed to hesitate as he stepped back.

"Come on, whatever it is bothering you. I am sure we can talk about it in the car." He beckoned his brother to his awaiting car just outside the main entrance.

He took his brother's keys and asked his bodyguard to drive the other car and follow them. Then, they cruised on the light traffic.

"Just drop me off at Chantal's apartment," Dale instructed as he continued at a fast but steady speed.

"So, what seemed to be the problem?" Damon finally asked after a long silence.

He could tell that something heavy was weighing down on his younger brother. He could not help but deliberate what it was.

Lately, his brother had been deliriously pleased when he announced he was getting married. He had finally proposed to his girlfriend.

Of course, he was glad for him. He believed Chantal was the best thing that happened to his brother. She was a successful surgeon that came from a reputable family. The two were a good match.

"I don't know." Dale looked confused as he blinked his eyes before focusing on the view outside his window. "I love Chantal, but..." Again the hesitation. "...something feels off."

"Are you having second thoughts?" He casually asked, wondering if his brother seemed to have cold feet about marrying his current girlfriend because of the woman who left him at the altar.

Was it fear that Chantal would also do the same thing? Or was it something else? Did his brother still think of that woman?

Did his brother still love Jules Morgan?

"I don't know." He repeated, seemingly torn about something. "Do you think I am doing the right thing? Am I being fair to Chantal by offering to marry her even if...?" But his brother never finished his sentence as he bit his knuckles and closed his eyes.

He could already guess what was at the tip of his brother's tongue. But he also avoided saying anything about it.

He was not about to open a can of worms, knowing he had no plan of closing it again. Not yet. It was not the time.

"You are lucky to marry an incredible girl like her. And I think Chantal deserves a man like you because you are the most decent man I know." He honestly believed that.

Of course, he knew what people thought of him. He was unlike his brother. He could be ruthless and insensitive at times. He was everything that his brother was not.

And truthfully, he did not feel guilty for what he did. In his opinion, it was something he had to do to safeguard his family.

One thing that he held as his top priority was his family and their legacy. He would do anything and everything for his mother and brother.

And that included protecting his brother from his past and himself. Unlike him, his brother always turned a blind eye when it came to love, unable to see reason.

And with the current situation, he decided he could not let his brother know about his recent visitor and his impending plans. Not when he was acting like this.

"I think it is only natural to worry about marriage. But I am certain that Chantal is the perfect woman for you. You only need to give it a chance." Damon said his final words as he parked his car in front of Chantal's apartment building.

"I guess you are right." Dale nodded as if agreeing with him. But he could still see the slight indecisiveness in his eyes.

He supposed he could not deny the big difference between his brother's mindset when he announced his undying love for Jules compared to today.

"I guess I will see you tomorrow." Reminding him of a family gathering his mother had arranged for the couple.

A few minutes later, he was driving away, leaving his brother in the capable hands of his fiancee. He only hoped that his brother snapped out his internal dilemma and realized that Chantal was perfect for him.

Anyway, he still thought that he did the right thing, not sorry, at the very least, for what he had done in the past.

And he firmly believed Dale deserved a woman like Chantal Vicenzo. There was no doubt in his mind.

Besides, he could not see why the Hawkins and the Vicenzo family's businesses could not merge. It was a good business opportunity that he could not pass up since it was like hitting two birds with one stone.

"No, nothing should stop this marriage from happening." He thought to himself as he turned to his next destination.

But what about his other marriage plan?