Big brother? Did she just say she was glad to have a big brother like him? Benne asked himself, not knowing whether to be amused by the idea, happy that she wasn’t interested in her wealthy boss, or feel offended that was brotherzoning him already. If only she knew that this big brother had been responsible for all her moans last night, Benne thought in amusement as he looked at her.
“Make no mistake, Celestia. I have just one baby sister, and her name is Jade Delgado,” Benne said, every trace of humor gone from his eyes as he took a step closer to her, startling her.
Why did he look so serious? She had not meant to annoy him. All she had wanted to do was straighten out things between them so he that wouldn’t begin to develop any romantic feelings for her or think about pursuing any romantic relationship with her, Celsie thought.
She gave a burst of awkward laughter, “I know, right? Well, I don’t mean you’re my biological brother. I just mean…”
“I know what you mean, Celestia. And I’m telling you right here and now that I don’t intend to be a big brother to you, so lose that thought,” Benne said, taking off his glasses so that he was now looking directly into her eyes.
Celsie swallowed nervously as the smile on her lips wavered, and her heart started to beat really fast. What was he talking about? Perhaps she had said the wrong thing? She should have gone about it a different way instead of calling him her brother? Celsie thought as she looked into his blue eyes. There was something very familiar about his face now that he was no longer wearing his glasses, but this wasn’t the place or time to think about that.
“What do you want to be then? My boss?” Celsie asked hopefully even though she knew this wasn’t a very smart question. What had possessed her tell him something like that when they just arrived here? She should have shut her damn mouth and waited until after he took her back to the company before saying that.
What if he had anger issues? What if he got angry and left her here to find her way back on her own? What if he was the type to be violent when he was angry? What if he got angry now and killed her? And then goes on to bury her body between the rocks or something? No one would know about her whereabouts, Celsie worried as she bit her lower lip anxiously and shifted her gaze away from him to somewhere above his shoulder.
Benne watched as different emotions skittered across her face and he wondered what she was thinking that made her look so pale, “What do you want me to be to you?” Benne asked, watching her calmly, sensing that he was making her anxious, and that was the last thing he wanted, especially after this morning’s episode.
Celsie’s gaze returned to his. What did she want him to be to her? A friend? A friendly boss? An acquaintance? It had to be a friend since there was every possibility that Sonia was going to develop something tangible with Bryan, and as Sonia’s best friend and nonbiological sister, she had to be able to relate with Bryan and his family as her in-laws, and that included her boss.
“Just a friend?” Celsie asked, looking at him hopefully, and Benne’s lips pulled up in a smile as he shook his head.
“I want to be much more than just a friend to you,” Benne said, making her heart skip a beat.
“W..what?” She stuttered, blinking at him. What was he talking about?
“You heard me. I’m interested in you, Celestia Miller. I’ve been from the very moment I set my eyes on you, long before I found out about your relationship with my brother’s fiancee,” Benne said, taking a step closer to her and placing his hands on both sides of her, on the roof of the car in a way that she was trapped between him and the car.
Celsie shook her head in disbelief as her heart started beating very quickly, “I have a boyfriend!” She reminded him, avoiding his gaze. How had she slept with one guy last night, and was receiving love confessions from another the next morning?
“So you said, and I’m not in a hurry to change your mind. I just want to let you know that if I could wait for years to own this place, then I can as well wait for as long as you need me to, just to make you mine,” Benne said with an easy smile.
“Is that what you brought me here to tell me?” Celsie asked with a slight frown as she managed to look into his eyes.
Benne shook his head, “No. I only brought it up because you tried to brotherzone me, and I’m letting you know right now that I’m never going to be a brother to you, and neither am I going to remain just your friend. So get that thought out of your head.”
There was a moment of awkward silence between them before he put down both hands which were on the car and took a step away from her, “I will show you around,” Benne said, turning away from her and walking in the direction of the mountains.
Celsie swallowed nervously as she followed him, while putting some distance between them. Both his words and actions were supposed to scare her, but for reasons she didn’t understand, they didn’t scare her one bit. It only bothered her that he was interested in her. Somehow she felt safe with him, even though she didn’t exactly welcome his advances.
As they walked around the vast expanse of land that surrounded the mountains which was covered in white sand on some areas, and green grass on other areas nearer to the mountains, Benne pointed out some landmarks to her while explaining what structures were going to be built on those areas. Celsie paid close attention to all he was saying and offered her opinions and suggestions whenever he asked for them.
After walking around for some time Benne turned to her abruptly, and asked, “What makes you think you love your boyfriend? What do you like about him?”
Celsie blinked at him in confusion, startled by the sudden question as she had thought they were done with that line of conversation already. Why was he asking her that?
“Hmm… Do I have to like him for any particular reason?” She asked, and when Benne gave her a nod, she narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. What did she like about Benne?
“Well, for starters, he is caring.”
“So am I,” Benne countered, making her raise a brow.
“He is thoughtful and considerate,” Celsie added.
“And so am I too,” Benne informed her once again with a small smile. He really hoped he was the person she was talking about, and she was not just making up all of these qualities.
She opened her mouth to say some other things, but hesitated, knowing that he was just going to say he was all of those too, so instead, she said, “He isn’t proud, or arrogant, and he doesn’t talk down people,” Celsie said daring him with her eyes to say he wasn’t proud or arrogant too.
“Why do I feel like you are indirectly saying I’m proud and arrogant?” Benne asked with a slightly amused smile.
“Are you?” Celsie asked, not understanding where this sudden boldness was coming from. Why was she talking to him this way?
“Perhaps I am. Is he as wealthy and successful as I am?” Benne asked cocking his head to the side.
“Does he have to be?” Celsie asked with a slightly raised brow.
“Shouldn’t he be? Women want wealthy and successful men, don’t they?” Benne asked, looking at her as he waited to hear what she had to say about that.
For some reason, Celsie felt slightly annoyed that he could think that way about women. Or maybe what was annoying her was the fact that he was indirectly talking down Benne. So because Benne wasn’t as wealthy or successful as he was, she wasn’t supposed to date him? It was because of men like him, that other ladies looked down on average wage earners like Benne. A person like him really deserved someone like Anita, “Do they?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.