To Love A Maiden: An Enemies To Friends To Lovers Romance ✓

Chapter 9 - Future Wife

"What's going on here, Hano?"

Hano met his brother's gaze and rubbed his beard before a chuckle escaped his lips. "Oh, please, Cristiano. Just the same old stuff, you know." He waved his hand and took a step away from Angel whose eyes spelled rage.

Cristiano's brows furrowed as he turned to Angel. But before either of them could say another word, Hano spoke up again. "Don't waste your time on her, brother. Let's go talk business."

"Give me a minute, Hano. I'll join you in a few," Cristiano replied without meeting his brother's gaze.

"Well, suit yourself. I'll be in the library on the third floor then."

Cristiano managed a nod, his gaze locked on Angel who had managed to take a step away from him.

When Hano left through the elevator, Cristiano spoke up, "What was that all about? What were you doing with my brother?" he asked, trying to ignore the strange feeling of how his voice sounded in his own ears.

Angel glared at him and scoffed. "You heard it all from your brother, didn't you?" she asked, spitting out the words.

Arms crossed, Cristiano studied her. "Well, so I guess Hano was right about you then." He raised a brow, trying not to show how somewhat amused he felt by her expression.

When she didn't immediately say anything, he shrugged before lowering his brow.

"That's what I thought," he added, turning to leave.

This time Angel scoffed as she watched him approach the elevator.

"Yeah, right. That you're just like that beast of a brother of yours who just doesn't know when to stop. That's what I thought."

Cristiano stopped in his tracks as soon as her words were out. He narrowed his eyes as he turned back to face her.

"What do you mean by that?"

Angel shrugged and reached for the bucket she'd been holding. She began scanning around for the storage room to get more cleaning supplies when Cristiano appeared in front of her again.

"What were you talking about?"

She met his gaze then, already feeling exhausted and annoyed that she'd wasted so much time already.

"Listen, I have work to do, so please just leave."

Cristiano swallowed, and as if he just came back to his senses, he nodded and raked his fingers through his hair. "Right. I'm sorry," he said, cursing silently and then chuckling lightly to himself. "I seem to be apologizing whenever I'm around you."

Before Angel could get a chance to respond, the elevator doors slid open and Naomi walked out.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Kingsley, I didn't know -"

"Don't worry, Naomi. Mr. Kingsley was just about to leave." Angel cut her off and noticed Cristiano's jaw tighten before he immediately straightened and stepped away from her.

"Have a great day, ladies," he said to them before getting in the elevator.

When he was gone, Angel released a heavy sigh.

"Is everything okay?" Naomi asked as she looked between her friend and the closed elevator.

"Was he bothering you like Hano?"

Angel felt the bitter taste in her mouth at the sound of the older Kingsley brother's name. She hated to admit it, but for a moment there Cristiano seemed like he could be different from his brother. But Angel was no fool. She swallowed a lump and released another puff of air. "Everything's fine. And no, he wasn't," she replied, feeling the frown that was threatening to crease her face.