MY BEST ADDICTION

Chapter 26

“But seriously how can the two companies be related only because it is owned by Marcus’ brother?”, I asked trying to find other reasons for the union between both companies.
“You are right. The companies aren’t related only because his brother owns it. It actually belongs to the three of us. Well Marcus and I had that idea for our project while in school but lacked the funding when we decided to implement it so Michael came in to help and we became partners of the S&S Group”, he explained and I hummed in understanding.
“But why did I never know about this while working with you and isn’t it known that it belongs to Michael?”, I asked the question swirling in my head.
“Though we own it together Marcus and I decided to start another company because it suited our passion as compared to S&S Group but in general the Corporation is still affiliated to the Group. We didn’t tell you about it because we knew you were staying at the company for only a while and didn’t want to burden you with the affairs of the Group. That was also why we never included you in meetings regarding the Group during your stay at the company”, he finished and I hummed in response but then I remembered something and looked up at him.
“Did you guys avoid me because of those meetings?”, I asked and he nodded causing me to smack his chest in annoyance.
“You could have said something earlier. I thought I had done something wrong at the company and you guys didn’t want me with you”, I complained and he apologized by saying they didn’t want to burden me more since I was still an intern at that time.
“You could have still said something. I went about thinking you were angry with me or even tired of me”, I complained but what he said next made me embarrassed.
“I was angry with you and even thought of letting you go, after all it’s not every day I see the person I like stay and kiss another guy right in front of me”, he retorted making me pout.
‘If only you had made us talk about it but no you chose to run away’, I thought and moved to my side of the bed to sleep. He chuckled at my reaction and cuddled against me to sleep.
“Goodnight”, I mumbled and heard him reply feeling the darkness embrace me.
I woke up to an empty room and sighed at his early departure. I did my business and readied myself to start the day even though I wanted to do the opposite. I found breakfast in the kitchen and a note attached to it.
“Good morning, I didn’t wake you because you looked tired. I got you something to eat before you start the day”, it read. I stood there mesmerized by his handwriting since I could hardly see it whiles working with him. Feeling energized I finished the food and went about my day not forgetting to thank him for the food. The workshop approached us faster than we anticipated and I felt giddy for some reason. I had tried getting in touch with Seth some days prior but we hardly spoke and had to go back to work but he assured me he was going to attend the workshop.
“You do realize we are going for a workshop not a date right?”, Ezra asked seeing the excited look on my face.
“Yeah yeah mom but I can’t help it that he is coming”, I replied and continued getting ready. My phone buzzed with the arrival of a message and I opened it to read it only for the smile on my face to drop. I guess Ezra realized something was wrong because she came to my side and looked at the screen. She mumbled an “oh” and asked if was okay. I nodded and tried to smile while dressing up. The dress I had chosen now looked unwearable and I decided to change it to one of my regular attires but Ezra stopped me saying I didn’t have to change just because Seth wasn’t coming anymore. I sighed and wore it regardless of how I was feeling inside. We finished and were about to leave when we heard a knock on the door.
“Expecting anyone?”, I asked and she shook her head. I shrugged and went ahead to open the door to find Bryan at the door.
“Bryan? I thought we would be meeting at the workshop”, I asked and heard Ezra come to the door.
“Hello Bryan”, she greeted to which he nodded and looked back at me.
“What is it? Do I look weird or something?”, I asked feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.
“No, you look different but a good different”, he replied and I smiled at him.
“Thank you”, I said and we heard Ezra clear her throat.
“Can we leave now?”, she asked and we laughed at how serious she sounded.
We barely managed to reach on time but luckily found a good spot to seat. The representatives of the invited companies came to speak and I found myself not enjoying it. I heard a buzz from my phone and saw a message from Marcus asking me to take a good picture of him and his brother later. I got confused by his message but before I could reply back, the MC for the workshop announced the turn of S&S Group to present.
“No way”, I muttered and both Ezra and Bryan turned in my direction.
“What is it? Do you know him?”, she asked when she saw my line of sight. Since we were almost in front of the audience it made us easier to spot and be spotted, no wonder he knew I was around. I gave my phone to Ezra prompting her to take a picture of them when they stood by each other. She agreed only with the condition that I introduced them after the workshop. Students around us started taking shots and videos while the presentation was going on and looked up to see Marcus smirking at me. I sighed and shook my head at his childishness and paid attention to what was said. I heard people complimenting the brothers and felt proud for some reason, maybe it was because I knew one of them personally or because I knew someone more handsome than them. I started to wonder how they would have reacted had Seth come and felt relieved he was busy and couldn’t attend.
Just as all the presentations were done we left the venue so that students could have their private conversations with the representatives. We walked around the premises asking the questions we couldn’t ask while inside and I started to feel content that I joined the workshop. Bryan excused himself and left us to take notes with the other companies but came back with snacks before we could reach the booth of S&S Group. We heard people coo about how sweet he was being with me in public and heard someone clear their throat. I turned to look in the direction it came from and felt Ezra shift towards me.
“Are you sure you aren’t dating the guy from the before?”, she whispered and I looked at her questioningly.
“What do you mean?”, I asked and she moved her head in his direction prompting me to look there too.
“He’s been glaring at Bryan since earlier. You can check out for yourself”, she said and I raised a brow to look at her. I turned to look in that direction but before I could see him I felt a hand brush against mine and a whisper in my ear.
“Hello sister-in-law”, he whispered and I flushed from the title he gave me. He moved around me and addressed us formally.
“Hello I’m Marcus Spears, one of the representatives of S&S Group and this is Michael Spears the other representative and our boss”, he introduced and I saw how Michael looked at his brother in annoyance and shook his head. Other students had joined our group at the arrival of the brothers and started asking Marcus questions. I felt a gaze on me and turned to look in that direction to find Michael staring at me. I smiled at him and nodded to acknowledge him. He smiled back at me and I turned to pay attention to what was asked and said.
I found myself comparing the brothers and found some similarities and differences between them. I was lost in thoughts that I didn’t realize everyone was looking at me. Bryan nudged me and I looked at him but heard Ezra whisper that we were introducing ourselves and blushed in embarrassment.
“Um sorry, I’m Penelope Whyte”, I responded and he asked if I had any questions for him. I felt as though he wanted me to ask about Seth but thought I was just imagining it and shook my head. He looked at me for a while and was about to end the conversation when I heard myself asking a question.
“There was a rumour I heard about the group that I wanted to confirm with you”, I said and he nodded for me to continue. “I heard the group was founded by three people but only one person is known to lead it so I wanted to know if that was true or not and if so who is the last person to own it”, I asked and heard my voice faltering at the latter part of my question realizing the mistake I had made.
“Is that all your question?”, he asked and I nodded. He smirked at me and asked if I was sure. I insisted and he nodded in satisfaction.
“Well it’s true the group was founded by three people but my brother Michael Spears is in charge. If I may also ask, how did you know about that since that information has never been made public?”, he asked and I glared at him. I heard the people around start to ask the same question and flushed hard.
“I heard from a friend who works there”, I replied and smiled tauntingly at him. He chuckled and nodded letting me off.
“As for the third founder Seth Simmons, he was caught up at work and so couldn’t attend, if not we all would have been here. Does that answer your question Ms. Whyte?”, he asked and I nodded. I felt happy he was at least caught up at work and that was why he couldn’t attend and not because he didn’t want to fulfil his promise. I nodded to Marcus to let him know I understood what he meant and the brothers excused themselves to talk to another group. Ezra pulled me with her away from Bryan and asked the question I knew was coming my way.
“What was that all about? I thought you said you weren’t intimate with him”, she asked and I laughed at her assumption.
“We are just friends. Marcus and I met when I interned at S&S Corporation. He is the partner of the company and my second boss, Seth is the one I’m intimate with”, I answered and she looked unsatisfied at me.
“Seeing as you address them with their names instead of titles I guess you guys were more than friends but……”, she said but was interrupted when she looked behind me. I looked questioningly at her but before I could turn back I caught a whiff of a familiar scent and my eyes widened in surprise.
“Seth”, I muttered perplexed.