I am fuming with rage. I was beyond furious at the reality of what I had just learned. Ever since I came to know that Ari has a boyfriend, I can't stop thinking of different ways to hurt or even kill that bastard, whoever he is.
Kyle is of no use either. He has been continuously pissing me off ever since that day. Muttering that it is a good thing that Ari already has a boyfriend. If only he wasn't my right-hand man, I would've gladly pulled the damn trigger on his head for even thinking that it's okay for Ariella to be in a relationship now.
A knock on my office door brought me back to my senses. I took a glance at whoever was at the door and was surprised to see the smirking Kyle once again. "What do you need?" I immediately asked, annoyance lacing my voice.
"Oh, woke up on the wrong side of the bed again, I see." He said, but the tone was still mocking.
I immediately scoffed. "It's a miracle that you knew how to knock this time around."
"Well, I don't want to wake up the lion in you. But it seems like it's been awake with the growl that left your mouth the moment I entered."
"What do you expect when you keep pissing me off all the time? And you're even lucky that a bullet hasn't reached you till now." I sarcastically replied.
The asshole kept smiling at me, "Now, now, mafia king, what seems to be up there in your ass? Still not able to move on, I guess?"
"You want a bullet in the middle of your head right now?" I asked him. The rage is once again eating me alive.
Kyle raised both of his hands in surrender. "Chill, dude. I'm just trying to lighten your mood."
"Lighten my mood? You, asshole, is letting the monster in me out with your nonsense talk." I said while pointing a finger directly at him.
Kyle continues to chuckle, while I just let out a deep breath. "What do you need? Why do you keep barging in here?"
"Well, Ari, no, let me rephrase that. Your Ariella, will be coming in today for the project briefing with the design team."
The moment I heard Ari's name, a smile immediately left my lips. Even though I tried to hide it and act nonchalant, Kyle had already gotten the signals.
"Well, well! You cannot keep that damn smile out of your mouth, the moment you hear the name, Ariella." He continues to say, but my mind is already in turmoil, thinking of seeing her again.
"What time will she be here?" I questioned him back.
"Just about this time. She's probably with the design team now."
"Tell her to see me after." I commanded.
Kyle immediately raised his eyebrow in question at me. Before he could even utter another single word, I had already sent him a warning glare. "Don't you even think about opening that damn mouth again? I don't want to hear another word from you."
"Geez, so uptight. And here I am thinking that when the damn lady architect arrives, you will no longer be in a pissing mood. I guess I'm wrong, because ever since you met her again, you've been pissed and seem to want to go on a killing spree."
"What the fuck do you want me to do? Be happy with the fact that she is already taken? I've waited for her and only to end up feeling like shit because of a bastard who is in a relationship with the woman I like." I can't help the sudden outburst right now. I've tried so hard to suppress these feelings I have for her, but they just came back to bite me in the ass.
"For goodness' sake, Elliot. You're the fucking king of the underground and you're being a pussy just because of a woman."
"You won't understand, Kyle. You don't know how it feels to be in love." I spoke up quietly. Yes, I am the mafia king, but there are times that I just want to be Elliot. To remain as Elliot, the businessman, so that no damn dangerous life can prevent me from getting the love of my life.
"I am your fucking best friend, El. And as much as I don't want her for you, you know, I can't continue to see you looking like shit." I looked at Kyle, clearly surprised by what he had just said. I'm not even sure if I heard him correctly.
He let out another breath before continuing what he had to say. "I know how much you like her, El. I've seen you on those dark days, and she's the only light that kept you sane all those times. If you really want her, if you still want her that way, you know I can't say no. I'll help you with whatever plan your mind is working on right now. You know that right?"
I nodded my head. I can be pissed and annoyed at him most of the time, but I know for sure that he always got my back. That he'll always be my support. "I know, Kyle. But right now, I don't plan on doing anything. Until I meet that fucker who stole my Ari away, we do nothing."
A knock on the door once again halted the conversation that Kyle and I were having. My assistant, Trevor, peeked in. "Mr. Allister, Ms. Ariella Gregory is here to see you. She doesn't have an appointment, sir, but she told me she is the new architect for the A-group expansion."
Upon hearing the name, my eyes immediately lit up and a tight smile spread across my face. Kyle, who was looking at me, could not help but shook his head upon seeing the reaction I had made.
I faced Kyle and warned him. "Not another word from you." I then turned to Trevor once again and said, "Let her in, Trevor. Starting this instant, Ariella Gregory doesn't need any appointments to see me."
This instruction left my assistant dumbfounded. Why would he not? I don't want anybody seeing me without any appointment, even if it's my parents, and right now I'm instructing him, no, telling him that Ari doesn't need an appointment to see me. He just slowly nods his head before going back out.
"Whipped. You're really fucking whipped, Elliot." I sent another glare at Kyle while the asshole just kept laughing.
Another knock came and the door opened. When I looked back at the door, there she was. The woman who always makes my heart skip. All smiles at me.
"Hey, El! Uhm, hi, Kyle." She greeted us, hesitatingly with Kyle, if I may add.
I rose from my seat and went straight to her, who, at the moment, was still standing at the door. I gave her a hug, which she immediately returned. "Hey, Ari. What brings you here?"
"Sorry for coming in without an appointment."
"Oh, don't be. The great CEO here is never too busy for you. He can, in fact, meet you anytime you're here." Kyle butted in on our conversation.
I threw him another glare and he mouthed the word zip and tried to mimic it by zippering his mouth. "Don't mind him. Have you met with the design team?"
"Yeah, just for a brief moment for introductions. I'll start with the design and will hand it over to them so we can discuss it further."
"Good. I'll leave you two at it for the meantime. I'll be going to the warehouse first, Elliot." Kyle rose from his seat and went straight to the door. Good thing he knows when to take an exit. A nod from me and he is out.
"Have a seat, Ari. So what brings you here?" I said, pointing to the couch in my office. She went to sit down and pointed at the space next to her, urging me to sit down as well.
"Hey, El, we're still best friends, right?" She shyly asked.
I raised my brow in confusion at her before nodding my head. "Yes, why? Do you need anything?"
"Can I ask a favor, El?" I would never say no to that cute, little pout she is showing right now. What the hell, Elliot? Cute? Really? You've been using the damn word ever since you saw Ari again, and cute is not on our list of vocabulary, stupid!
I cleared my throat and once again focused on Ari. "Uh, sure, what is it?"
"You know, I have a boyfriend, right?" This immediately turned my smile into a frown juat hearing her talk about her boyfriend. I'm not even sure I'm ready for a girl talk with her about her stupid boyfriend.
"Uh-uh?" I asked back. Clearly, I do not know where this conversation will lead. One thing I'm sure about is that I don't intend to have a discussion with her about her fucking boyfriend.
"Uhm, El, he's quite busy."
"And so? What does that have to do with me?" I furrowed my brows once more, clearly, not understanding where this discussion was heading.
"But I really like him, El. I really do." Upon hearing her say those words, I could feel my rage slowly starting to build up again. What the fuck is she trying to do? I want to get mad at her, but I can't. I just can't.
"Ari, can you go straight to the point? I don't know why you keep on going around the bush. We don't have all day, you know." Hearing me say that immediately made her forehead crease. Well, she can't blame me. I'm fucking on the edge right now just hearing her say how much she likes that freakin' guy.
"It seems that you haven't changed at all. You are still the same Elliot who easily gets annoyed and irritated at me."
"I don't, Ari. I don't get easily annoyed at you. It just drives me insane how we keep on going around in circles because you cannot go straight to the point."
"Okay, fine. But promise me you won't laugh, okay." I slowly nodded my head.
"Well, Matt, my boyfriend, is busy. I can't blame him though, he is slowly realizing his dreams, his career. And I know that whetever he is doing right now is for our future."
"You mean you see yourself getting married to that boyfriend of yours?" I asked, my tone slowly rising just at the mere thought of Ari getting married to another man.
"Well, not right now, but eventually, I guess." she shrugged. "Anyway, can you stop interrupting me first?"
Well, she is still the same Ari I knew. Always the stubborn one. "Go on then."
"Well, I need a date. And he's on a business trip."
"And?"
"Well, can you be my date?" That question made me feel things I've never felt before. With my heartbeat racing, I was too stunned to answer her. I might be gawking at her right now.
"Uh." No words left my mouth, even if I tried to speak. I'm just too overwhelmed by the feeling that she is asking me to be her date.
But what made my heart jump out of my chest were the next words that came out of her mouth. I never expected her to say those words, but I'm glad she did.
"Let me rephrase that, El, please be my angel and be my back-up boyfriend, instead?"
Finally, the story has come to an end. Apologies, as it took longer than I had expected because of a lot of circumstances and my busy schedule. This is not perfect as well, and I know that, but I really want to thank you all so much for the support and for giving this book a chance. I deeply appreciate all the readers and followers who are supporting my stories in GN. Please support and keep reading my other stories in GN: English: (On-going) The Dragster's Mafia Heiress The Runaways' Second Chance Mate Taglish: The Invisible Love of Billionaire (completed) Married to the Runaway Bride (completed) Falling for the Replacement Mistress (On-going) The Rise of the Fallen Ex-Wife (On-going) Entangled to the Hidden Mafia (On-going)
Two men could be seen discreetly bickering over something in the stillness of the night. And although what was happening was visible to the rest of the men on the ground with them, they all chose not to interfere at this moment. They know better than to meddle with something that is not their concern. No one can genuinely understand what the verbal hubbub that is occurring between the two is all about as well. But whatever it is, it begins to appear to be about something big and important for the two to face off on the grounds just like that. The two men exchanged dirty, mean looks as they awaited each other's next move. And it also seemed as if they were about to each draw their firearms and end this ordeal between them, but both of them subsequently changed their minds and thought better of their situation. It really shouldn't reach such an extent once more. They now behave more calmly and rationally with each other than they used to in the past as a result of the changes in their
The wedding ceremony is happening in a blur for both of them. They are just too focused on each other all the time, as they are both holding each other's hands. The couple is so overjoyed about everything that is happening that they were smiling all throughout. And why wouldn't they? They are getting married! "Now that you can, Elliot, you may now recite your vows." The priest directed him. Elliot wasn't accustomed to these situations, of course. He's never been kind to express how he really feels, especially about love topics, and most of all not in front of other people. Kyle and Brit are the only people who could possibly know everything about what his heart desires. Nevertheless, today, he is willing to voice his opinion openly about Ariella and take away all his inhibitions because he wants Ari to understand how important she is to him. Before actually beginning to say his vows, he even took a deep breath to compose himself. "Hey, you know how hard this is for me, Ari, sweetie.
As I stood beside Kyle, my heartbeat was thumping frantically in my chest. I am anxious and excited, and I can tell that every person in the hall is feeling the same way as I am. This is where it all ends now. This is the culmination of everything that we've worked so hard to achieve. Today is a very special day for me and Ari, and everyone present here today is going to celebrate this momentous occasion with us. And I've honestly been eagerly awaiting this moment as well for a very long time now. But, in addition to that, I am currently experiencing a wide range of emotions. And for the very first time in my life, I can feel my hands and legs trembling at the same time at just the thought of Ariella Gregory. A distinct kind of nervousness is what I am starting to experience because, even though I'm anxious as I stand here with my best man, my excitement for what today will bring outweighs my nervousness by a long shot. Today is my most anticipated day. I'm going to get married tod
"There may still be time for you to make up your mind and change the decisions that you made, so are you sure that this is exactly what you intended to be doing?" Markus is acting like an a-hole as usual at this moment. "Sure, everything else with the villains of your lives is done and over with, but are you absolutely able to say that you wanted to marry him, that douche? Just tell me, Ariella, and I am willing to save you from this misery that you are about to get yourself into." I scowled at him as I crossed my arms in front of my chest to just let him know that he was not in the least amusing me and that I was beginning to get upset and clearly annoyed with him. "Markus, are you done grating on my nerves? If you are, can you shut the hell up now?" "What the heck, pumpkin? Why are you being so rude and surly? I'm merely trying to provide some clarity to your muddled and disorganized thinking. And I just want to let you know there is still enough time to back out." "Shut the heck
"It’s alright, dear. It's actually a very sweet gesture from you. And it just shows how much you really love my daughter." "I really do love her." He said proudly. Ari is too pleased, and she can feel the butterflies in her stomach again just hearing Elliot's words of affection for her in front of her mother. "And I love him too, so much, mom." She said proudly as well, then turning her attention to her fiance she said. "And yeah, I'm actually making your breakfast, but I thought that something must have happened because you kept calling and shouting my name that I have to see you. Are you seriously missing me all that much?" He replied confidently, "I certainly do." Then he lowers his voice and whispers to Ari, "Let's go back up into our room and I'll show you how much I miss you and how much I love you." "I like that." Ari answered grinning. She then turned to face her mother asking her, "Mom, will you be an angel and take over in the kitchen? Elliot and I just need to discuss s