2: An Awkward Moment

VICTORIA ~

I calmly glanced at the seven-figure value bracelet on Elese's hand, then looked directly into Brandon's eyes.

"I mean exactly what I said. You gave the bracelet away and give me a freebie gift. Do you think I only deserve freebies?"

Brandon opened his mouth to talk, but he ended up closing it.

"I appreciate the gift, but I can't accept it. I'm sorry," I added, turning my full attention on my phone.

"It's fine, Brandon," Elese chirped in. "Don't force her into accepting it; after all, I've never seen someone begging another to accept a gift."

Brandon breathed a sigh of exasperation without saying anything. Deliberately but hesitantly, he closed the box and then stared at me for a few seconds, as if reading my expression.

"Well," he paused as he gulped. "I'll have to leave you since you're upset with me." He turned and left while Elese followed him.

Halfway, she tilted her head and winked her eyes at me, her intention obviously to make me angrier and jealous.

Nonetheless, I did not react. I simply maintained my composure.

Immediately, my phone began ringing.

When I stared at the screen, my eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Mom? "Somehow I was worried. I accepted the call and placed the phone on my right ear.

"Good evening, Mom," I greeted. "I wasn't expecting your call, though."

She chuckled. However, from her tone, I could tell it was forced. Obviously she was still not relieved from the embarrassment Brandon caused us yesterday.

"Well," she exhaled a sigh, paused for a brief second, and then continued, "your father and I organized a dinner banquet, and we would like you to join us."

My face quickly broadened into a bright smile.

"Sure, Mom, I will," I replied immediately and started getting myself ready even though the phone was still on my ear.

"We would be anticipating your arrival then," she added before the call eventually ended.

I picked up my phone and ordered a ride before hastily going to the bathroom to freshen up.

At least by the time I would be set to leave, the cab must have arrived. I won't have to wait extra hours.

Within a few minutes, I was done bathing, so I rushed back to the room to dress up.

Before I could even finish, I received a notification on my phone from the ride company, indicating that my ride was already waiting for me.

Hastily, I stormed off to meet the ride. However, when I opened the door that led to the premise, I noticed something unusual.

Brandon, whom I thought had left with Elese many hours ago, was just driving off and at the passenger's seat; no one was there, not even Elese.

"What could this mean?" I muttered to myself, different thoughts scampering across the back of my mind.

I was deeply worried until I heard the cab I ordered honk its horn at the gate. That was when I came back to reality. I quickly dashed out.

By the time I settled into the car, Brandon's car was already out of sight.

I didn't know where he was driving to, but I didn't bother to know. All I needed was to meet with my parents and rest my head on the bosom of my mom like a little baby.

The drive from our house to my parents' place was only a few kilometers, so it didn't take long, and we arrived.

To my surprise, upon alighting from the cab, Brandon's car was neatly parked at the front.

For a moment, I doubted it was truly his car until I made a move to walk into the compound when the car door opened; behold, Brandon alighted.

"What are you doing here?" I didn't even know when that question slipped off my lips.

To my surprise, he responded immediately with something that baffles me. "Exactly what you came to do."

For a second, I stood frozen. How did he know what I came to do?

My mouth opened to reply but closed as I didn't know what to say.

"Well, he might be joking," I concluded inside of me and proceeded to walk into the compound.

With my mind fully envisioning my mother's reaction when she sees me, I didn't know Brandon was following me until I opened the entry door to enter the building.

I couldn't react and prevent him from going in with me, as I did not want anything that would cause unrest in my parents' presence. It would definitely cause them high blood pressure.

The moment we walked in, my mother was seated in the sitting room, so she was the first to notice us.

Her eyes landed on me first before shifting to Brandon.

It stayed on him for seconds. During those seconds, her expression turned into an entirely different thing from how we met it.

She breathed an exasperated sigh before looking back at me.

"Victoria, is this you?" was what she said to me. Displeasure was written all over her face.

Just then, Dad walked out. The moment she saw me, his mood swung.

In honesty, I had slimmed down these past few days, thanks to Brandon and Elese.

"But Victoria, you never told me you were coming with him." Mom asked, referring to Brandon. Her tone was a mix of displeasure and concern.