Chapter 3

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?"