The Heartless Billionaire (EBS 3) [UNEDITED]

Chapter 4: The First Day with the Brute!

"You know when you think you know someone? More than anyone in the world? You know you know them because you've seen them, like, for real. And then you reach out, and suddenly they are just... gone. You though you belonged together. You thought they were yours, but they're not. You want to protect them, but you can't." ― Ava Dellaira

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Lauren's POV

I blink my eyes trying to keep awake and stared at the scribbled characters yet again, but they seem dancing in my vision. I've read it twice, yet, nothing remained in my head. Still confused why Zandros' mood was sour, and now this reports just added to it! He was nice when we drove here and all of a sudden, he was furious and back to being a dick. It is maddening.

I tossed the folder on the long glass coffee table in exasperation. My tired eyes scan around the big room. The walls were all made of glass dividing the room. There's an adjacent rectangular room with a transparent wall, and judging by the things inside, a long black oval wooden table in the middle of the room with several black leathered high back chair around it, I assumed the conference room. A big monitor screen on one corner encompasses the whole wall and sitting on one side is a podium.

His office was carpeted with furry gray. The 2 black L-couch was put together making a U, facing the mirrored window glass. His desk was situated farther from the door, and behind was a long bookshelf connected from one end to the other end. Two black leathered armchair across his desk facing each other. His desk was big, made of mahogany just like what my dad has in his office. Mom's was made of another kind of wood and it's cinnamon color.

On his desk were a 48 inches mac desktop, and loads of folder neatly piled on the side of his desk, after his secretary had tidied up just when he left.

I ambled across the room and stops at the desk, leaning down to see the frames closely. I smiled when I saw their family pictures. Looks like it was taken on his graduation. They all look happy. I envied them, or every happy family I see. I wish I had this kind of relationship with my parents or has a happy family. The thought of them made me feel empty again so I quickly shook it off.

I put the frame back to where it was sitting and turned my gaze to the other picture. It looks like the picture was taken when he was a little younger. I stared at the beautiful raven-haired girl who was looking at me with a full blown smile. A smile of a happy and in love lady. While Zandros was holding her, his hands wrapped around her waist, with his eyes fixed on her face with that loving eyes. He has a broad contented smile that showed how happy he is.

I felt a pang of jealousy the way he stared at her. I wish I was the girl. The thought left my heart a bitter taste. Thinking that this girl could make him look at her like this way, I just realized how hopeless I am.

I looked away and tried to occupy my thoughts with other different things. I shouldn't feel that way. First, Zandros wasn't really into me. The truth really hurt, but I had to face it. Second, he had sister zoned me already. Nothing more, nothing less. That's all it is and I had to forget this crazy feeling for him.

Another adjacent room that looks like a living room, with green L-shaped fabric couch, at the center of it, were a black wooden coffee table with a small centerpiece of different hues. On one corner was a mini kitchen. A coffee maker was situated at the other end of the counter, a double door fridge with a water dispenser, sink, a microwave oven. and a wall mounted flatscreen TV far across the couch. There are two indoor plants sitting on two corners. There's another room but it was locked, and the walls are not transparent to know what's inside. It was painted with creamy white. The huge handsome office was well-appointed with an intimate touch to it.