Surprise-2

　　“I don’t care. I have friends now. I’m sure you made friends with Brits.” She doesn’t look affected. She’s so cold that makes me shiver.

　　“You’re such an immature.”

　　“You’re an asshole!”

　　I narrow my gaze on her. “Watch your tone and your language when you’re in my office, Trinity. I’m still your boss.”

　　“My apology, Mr. Hughes,” she says silently.

　　“Don’t I get a welcome back hug?” I ask, hoping she gives in now that we finally talk about the elephant in the room.

　　She rolls her eyes. “That’s inappropriate. Meeting in less than four minutes, Mr. Seb Hughes will introduce you like the new CFO.”

　　I grab the iPad from her hand and scroll it down what she jotted down. I stop with brows furrow to the second note. “Dinner with Luke; to discuss the engagement?” I read it slowly, and I almost drop the iPad from my hand.

　　My heart just crashes in my chest. “You’re engaged?” I grab her hand a bit stronger, and there you go. The fucking engagement ring on her finger.

　　My life is doomed.

　　I stare at her as I try to process what I just find out, but she doesn’t meet my gaze anymore. She just looks down at the iPad that I toss down the chair.

　　I sprint towards the door and slamming it behind me. I almost collide with Lizzy when I walk my way to the conference room.

　　“Bash, we are about to start in less than two minutes. Get inside and take a seat.”

　　I shove my hand in my pocket and look at the monolithic view of the building outside, ignoring Lizzy’s voice.

　　Pressing my lips into a thin line and slumping my shoulders in defeat, I swallow hard the lump in my throat. I lose Trinity forever.

　　What’s the point of coming back?

　　I don’t answer my sister.

　　“Bash, you okay?” she asks with a worried tone of a sister like she used to when we were just kids. I feel a hand rubbing my back.

　　I look down at her five-foot-eight inches framed. I shake my head.

　　“I will never be okay, Lizzy.”

　　“You will be, Bash. You will be, and you should be. It’s never been too late,” she says and walks away leaving me alone with these glass windows.

　　The meeting went well as I expect, and I can’t help but steal glances at Trinity whose busy writing something on the notepad. I find out that she didn’t follow her dreams to be an architect, instead, she chose to study business management.

　　She must have studied hard to pass them because she hated numbers in every way possible. I walk out of the conference door after talking with Dad for a few minutes.

　　“Leaving already?” I Look at Dean, marching towards me.

　　I give him a smile and a nod. “Yeah, first day, and still having a jet-lagged. I think I’m excused, right?”

　　He laughs. “Bash, you owned 15% of this company, and your family owns this. You can work your fat ass at the yacht in the middle of the Caribbean, nobody cares.”

　　I shake my head in amusement. “Like my dad would agree.”

　　“I’m always free for a good talk, Bash. Just call me.” He pats my shoulder.

　　“I keep that in mind, Thanks, Dean. You’re not bad, after all.”

　　“I know you don’t like me, or maybe you don’t trust me for your sister, but I can’t blame you to be an overprotective brother over her, but man, I love her with all my life, and I don’t care if you are against us or not, and it’s not that you are gonna stop me from loving Liz.”

　　“Got to go before we fall in love with each other.”

　　He laughs again. “You will be fine. It’s not too late, Bash.”

　　Remind me to strangle my big sister.

　　***

　　“Bash, I think we should go home now. You’ve wasted, man.” Edmund grips my arms as he guides me out of the bar.

　　I’ve been drinking my ass, and I get into a challenge with the girls on tequila shots. I’m lightweight. Maybe that’s why the alcohol kicks in quickly.

　　“I can still handle some shots, Edmund boy,” I slur.

　　“Shut up, drunk-ass. I’ll lose my job because of you, baby bash.”

　　I punch his arm. “Stop calling me baby Bash, or I will light your ass on fire.”

　　He chuckles. My half-opened eyes flutter close as soon as I get in the car.

　　“Night, Edmund!”

　　“Just shut up!” He barks out from the front seat. Then I hear the music play in the speaker.

　　***

　　My hundred pounds of eyes are forced to open when I hear the doorbell rings repeatedly. My head is pounding with headaches when I abruptly sit on the edge of my bed.

　　I rub my throbbing temples. Whoever on that door should make sure he has a good reason bombarding into my penthouse. I’m sure it’s my family. They are the only one who has passed to be here without interfering the security.

　　I swallow the two tablets placed on my nightstand and gulp the still cold water in the glass. I feel relief as the water runs down to my dry and achy throat.

　　I lick my dry lips as I walk with a lazy pace to my living room toward the door, still rubbing my heavy eyes. I hear the doorbell goes off again.

　　“Coming. Damn it!”

　　I press some keys to unlock and squeeze the doorknob to open.

　　“Can’t you be a little patient?” My voice is still groggy. I leave the door open and walk away without bother looking whoever is on the door. I am still when I hear a gasp at my back. I turn only to see Trinity looks shocked with her hands on her mouth.

　　I stand frozen in my place like I just turn into an ice statue. I remember I am not wearing a shirt, and I’m only in my pants from yesterday. Trinity doesn’t move a muscle, but she keeps on staring at me without blinking.

　　I clear my throat. “Trinity, please, come in, and close the door behind you. I’ll just put a shirt on.” I walk away from Trinity.

　　“Oh, my God.”

　　“Have a seat, Trinity. Be down in a bit.”

　　I wash my face with cold water when I feel stings on my back. I stretch my arms wider, and it pricks my skin as if I get a sunburn. I reach my hand to touch my back where it hurts a lot.

　　My eyes widen in shock when the vague of events from last night comes flashing back at me like cold water.

　　“Fuck! What the hell have I done?” I turn to let my back face the mirror. My eyes grow wide when I see what’s on my back.

　　A fucking tattoo.