Billionaire’s Great Obsession

The next few days, Scott and Brianna hardly saw or spoke to each other. Scott had arranged a few more bodyguards to keep Brianna safe. He felt that he needed some time for himself.

The moon was up in the clear sky. Standing at the balcony, looking at the moonlit garden, with a cigarette in his hand, Scott recalled the last few months spent with Brianna, from the first time he saw her drugged and vulnerable outside the lift at Turn On Bar to the time when she risked her life to save him and the other day when she tried to take Chris’ punch for him.

There was a voice telling him that he had grown attached to and even fallen in love with her. He had to admit to himself that he missed her though he was the one that decided to have a break. As he pictured her face in his head, he suddenly thought of the little girl that saved him on the icy winter day again.

Why do I always relate her to the little girl? Sol is the girl that saved me, not Brianna. He thought to himself, then an idea occurred to him. He gave Levi a call. “Check on Brianna’s childhood, especially around the time when she was about eight. Talk to her mother if necessary.” Scott requested. After a short pause, he added, “Get some photos of her from her mother if you can.”

“Yes, Mr. Anderson. I will get back to you in two days.” Levi answered.

Brianna realized that Scott had been avoiding seeing her intentionally. It will do both of us good, I guess. Hopefully, he will make up his mind soon. She thought and used the time to focus on finishing the design for Andy Jordan.

She had sent two drafts to Andy and asked for his feedback. Andy was very much impressed and loved both of them, and he would just need to decide on which one, which was great news. When Brianna checked her email and received the reply that night, she was so happy that she rushed out of her room and was about to knock at Scott’s door to tell him the good news, but then she suddenly remembered that they were on a break and she went back to her room quietly. Lying on the bed, she heaved a sigh and wondered what Scott was doing.

The next day just as Brianna arrived at the office building and got out of the car, she saw Jacob waving at her at the gate. He looked rather serious, unlike his usual self.

He has some news for me. Brianna thought. Probably something negative.

Brianna went over and greeted him. “Come to my office in about half an hour. I have something important to tell you.” Jacob said plainly. Brianna nodded.

Jacob was tapping a pen on the desk while looking out of the window when Brianna knocked at his door. “Come in.”

Brianna sat down opposite him. “What is it? Is it about Scott?” She asked, sounding a bit worried.

“Yes, and No,” Jacob said.

Brianna knitted her brows and waited.

“Since you asked me to help you leave Scott, I had done some research on Chris Butler,” Jacob said.

“And?”

“Chris Butler is my cousin,” Jacob said after a while.

The message took a few seconds to sink in. “Chris Butler is your cousin?” She exclaimed.

“That’s what I said.”

“That’s why! You know, I’ve noticed that you two looked a bit similar, especially your eyes.” Brianna said, then she hesitated for a bit. “And, Coraline, you know the girl that Chris loved, but he later found out that she was his cousin.”

Jacob looked at Brianna and went quiet. He looked as if he had suddenly found an answer to some question that had been bothering him.

“It makes sense now.” He muttered.

Again, Brianna waited patiently.

“So she was my little sister that I have never met, well, half-sister.” Jacob continued. “I found out that my father had a daughter before he married my mother.”

“And that’s Coraline,” Brianna said.

Jacob nodded. He seemed upset, probably by the thought that he had lost a half-sister that he never had the chance to meet.

“Chris’ mother is my aunt. She got kicked out of the family when she insisted on marrying Chris’ father. My grandparents were enraged. They never saw her again since she got married. They don’t even know if she is still alive. Also, Chris has a little sister that was abandoned when she was barely a week old, which means I have another cousin. I don’t know if Chris knows about her. She was born a sick girl and was thus given away, I guess.” Jacob said, looking out of the window.

He recalled seeing the family photos he discovered in the attic room, and the photo of his aunt somehow left such an impression on him. She had the look of a wild child and a serene woman. Chris has it as well. Jacob thought. He wasn’t sure what he should do about his new discovery. Should I tell Chris? Should I tell Scott? Somehow, the first person he thought of talking to was Brianna.

“How do you feel?” Brianna asked gently. She could feel that Jacob wasn’t his usual self. Why are there so many hidden stories in families? Brianna thought, and again she thought of Scott’s family and his father’s betrayal.

Jacob was silent.

“I don’t know.” He muttered. “Part of me wants to tell Chris with the hope of reunion. It’s kinda nice to know that I have a cousin, if you know what I mean. And we can probably find my other cousin, his little sister.” He looked at Brianna, a bit excited. Brianna nodded.

“It will probably affect the relationship between Chris and Scott and even the two companies,” Jacob added. “At the same time, I’m a bit worried. I don’t know how Chris would react and what changes it will bring. Will it change my relationship with Scott?” He looked thoughtful.

Brianna nodded again, “Right, I understand.” She thought it over and suggested, “I think deep down, you do know what you want to or prefer to do, though. Trust your feelings.” Brianna smiled at him encouragingly.

Jacob heaved a sigh and seemed more relaxed. “Right.” He replied with a smile, “Thanks.”

After Brianna left, Jacob took out the photo of his aunt from his bag, and looking at the wild and serene look of her face, he decided that he would talk to Chris.