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Chapter 65
Brock, a usually brash and unruly man, suddenly found himself on the verge of tears, his eyes reddening with unexpected hurt. But before he could wallow in self–pity for long, a sharp slap across his face yanked him back to reality.
“What the hell?!” Liam exploded, his rage erupting like a volcano “So that’s why you’ve been acting squirrely all morning. How dare you hit on my boss? I’ll knock some sense into you!” He cocked his fist, ready to swing again.
Brock didn’t dare to fight back and could only cower and shield his head. His voice was tinged with indignation as he protested, “Felix, it’s all a misunderstanding! I’d never make á move on your boss!”
Liam’s chest heaved as he glared at Brock. “Eleanor is my boss, and you’re telling me you’re not into her? As if someone like you could ever be good enough for her!”
Brock furrowed his brow, looking up at Liam in confusion. “Wait, isn’t Angel your sister?”
Liam’s fist hung in the air, the fury in his eyes giving way to sudden bewilderment. Oh right, I’m supposed to be playing the role of Eleanor’s brother in front of this guy.
“Um, I’m Liam Lloyd, but people call me Felix. Is that a problem?” Liam said, thinking quickly. He’d used the name Felix Vanderbilt so many times when caught skipping class that it felt like a second skin. In a way, he was already half–Felix.
Since he was part Felix anyway, he figured using the name now and then couldn’t hurt.
Brock’s eyes widened, a wave of dread washing over him. “Then who’s Angel’s real sixth brother?” he asked, his voice shaky. Liam jerked his chin towards the person behind Brock. “That guy you just beat up? That’s him.”
Brock’s pupils shrank to pinpoints. The realization hit him like a truck, the color draining from his face. ‘What have I done?‘ he thought bitterly. ‘No wonder Angel was so furious earlier. I have actually hit her brother?‘
His legs turned to jelly. Forgetting his cool–guy facade, he stumbled to the window, practically tripping over himself. “Angel I’m so sorry!” he blurted out. “I swear I had no clue he was your brother. I totally lost it. Look, I promise I’ll never throw a punch again. I can swear on anything…”
Eleanor felt a headache coming on from his noisy rambling, By now, the entire class was staring at her. Even with her strong personality, she had zero interest in being the main attraction of this circus.
She took a deep breath and cut off his word vomit. “Okay, I hear you. Now go back. Class is about to start.”
Brock hesitated and asked uncertainly, “So, uh, you’re still coming to my birthday bash, right?”
Eleanor fought the urge to roll her eyes. “If I said I’d be there, I’ll be there.” She silently hoped this outing would finally get this overeager puppy off her back.
Brock’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, his trademark grin spreading from ear to ear. “Awesome! I knew you wouldn’t lie to me,” he said with a chuckle.
Eleanor quirked an eyebrow at him. “Keep hanging around, and I might just change my mind.”
“I’m out. I’m out! Watch me disappear!” Before Brock even finished speaking, he was already far away.
Not bad for a sports major, Eleanor thought. She finally breathed a sigh of relief. The old saying was true – dealing with kids was like herding cats.
But her moment of peace was short–lived. Two imposing figures suddenly loomed over her desk.
Felix stood frowning at her desk. “What exactly did you just agree to?”
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Liam dropped his sandwich fixing Eleanor with a hard stare. “Spill it. What are you two planning?”
Eleanor sighed, glancing between them, “Chill out, it’s no big deal. He just asked me to his birthday bash. I already said yes, so I can’t exactly bail now.”
She wasn’t thrilled about going, but backing out seemed rude after accepting. Besides, what harm could come from a quick appearance? Her plan was to drop off a gift and make a quick exit.
But Felix and Liam weren’t buying it. “No way in hell,” Felix stated flatly. “That dude’s got ulterior motives written all over him.”
“Yeah, forget it,” Liam added, jumping on the bandwagon.
Eleanor looked at the two of them, struggling to suppress a smile. They were treating her like a delicate porcelain doll that might shatter if they took their eyes off her for a second. “I didn’t invite either of you to come along,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I can handle myself. Nothing’s going to happen.”
Felix slammed his hand on the table. “I said no, and that’s final! I’m your brother, and you have to listen to me.”
Not to be outdone, Liam smacked the table, too. “And I’m your…lackey! I may have to listen to you, but if you go, I’ll… I’ll look down on you!”
Eleanor stared at them, speechless. She couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed by their overprotective antics.
Eleanor received Brock’s message on a quiet Saturday afternoon. After much deliberation, she decided not to tell Felix. Instead, she hailed a cab and headed to the location Brock had specified.
The Imperial Hotel, a five–star establishment renowned across the country, was one of the Byron family’s prized possessions. Eleanor had heard of its legendary opulence, but standing before it now, she found herself awestruck by the dazzling, gold–adorned facade.
It was no wonder Brock carried himself with such confidence. With a family legacy like this, it’d be nearly impossible to keep a low profile even if he tried.
Before Eleanor could step through the grand entrance, a tall figure at the door began waving excitedly. “Angel! Angel! Over here!” Brock’s booming voice carried easily, drawing curious glances from passersby. Even shoppers across the street couldn’t help but crane their necks, wondering who this “Angel” could be.
Eleanor’s usually ironclad composure crumbled in an instant. She wished she could just melt into the ground and disappear.
Oblivious to her discomfort, Brock bounded over like an overeager puppy. His face was flushed, though it was hard to tell if it was from the heat or his sprint across the room. “Wow, Angel! You look amazing today!”
Eleanor’s mind went blank. ‘Amazing?” She glanced down at her outfit – just a white T–shirt and shorts. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, practically identical to how she looked at school every day. ‘Where exactly does he see any effort here?‘ she wondered, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.
“Don’t call me Angel anymore. Just use my name,” Eleanor said, feeling odd about being called “Angel“.
“Your name?” Brock froze, overwhelmed by a sudden rush of joy. His eyes widened with excitement, and his already shy face turned an even deeper shade of red. “I… I can call you by your name?”
In Brock’s mind, this was a significant step forward in their relationship. He wondered if he was dreaming.
Eleanor, oblivious to his excitement, couldn’t understand what the big deal was. Using someone’s name was the normal thing to do, after all. Calling her “Angel” was the weird part. “Of course you can. Just use my name from now on,” she replied matter–of–factly.
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Chapter 65
Brock’s tall frame suddenly seemed to shrink with shyness. He this lip, and after a moment’s hesitation, he bashfully uttered, “Ellie…”
Eleanor frowned. “It’s Eleanor.”
Brock’s face stiffened. “Alright… Eleanor,” he stammered.
Eleanor handed him the gift box, her tone formal and distant. “This is your birthday present. Thank you for inviting me to your party. I’m afraid I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”
