The Possessive Billionaire ✔

Chapter 33 - Acceptance {}

Chapter 33 - Acceptance
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"That week flew by," I said as Brandon helped bring my things back to my apartment.

I missed it already.

"It did indeed. I'm happy that you came along." He added.

"I'm glad I did too. South Africa was absolutely beautiful!" I said.

"What was your favorite part?" He asked me.

"I liked the beach, but I also liked the food. What's it called again... brows?" I guessed with a laugh.

Brandon rolled his eyes, "A braai."

"That's the meat you put on fire? Like the barbecue right?"

"Indeed," Brandon responded.

"Well great!" I said as Brandon dug in his suitcase which was practically an extension from his hand when a few papers fluttered and fell on the floor.

I hopped off his desk and picked them up, gasping. They were the contract that was signed by Alessio, Sophia and Brandon. Brandon watched as I looked at it my mouth opening in shock.

"So this is what you were hiding from me?" I said with a laugh.

Brandon looked afraid.

"Don't worry I'm not mad. I see what happened, you're not allowed to tell the press, or even me your girlfriend." I said and looked at Brandon.

"Yes. I violated the contract I know." Brandon said heavily sighing.

I threw the contract on his desk and sighed, "I'm going to let that go without a backward glance. I don't care about what happened in the past, I care about what happens in the future." I told him.

Brandon studied me cautiously, "Why are you letting me off the hook so easily?" He asked me, appearing to be afraid of my reaction.

I shrugged, "In the two months that we were apart, Brandon, I thought about it a lot whilst we were on holiday and have made up my mind. You have to let go of some things that happened in the past and it's not necessary to keep them as baggage."

"Have you let go of the demons that are tormenting you?" He asked and I knew he was referring to my parents.

"I can't. They were parents and I killed them. I asked my father to drive the car faster on ice. I began the whole thing," I said.

"It wasn't your fault, Ashley." He told me.

"That's what they all say," I muttered blinking back tears as they threatened to surface.

"It's the truth. Whatever your father saw that dreadful day should be bearing the guilt not you," Brandon said gently abandoning his papers and wrapping his arms around me in a comforting gesture.

"They died. I didn't. I don't even know why I survived." I said as tears began to slip down my face.

"You had a purpose to fulfill," He said gently.

"What's that?" I asked, "To be someone's punching bag? To be abused and used? To be used for entertainment?" I said.

"No," He said, "You're worth more than anyone's cheap entertainment or punching bag." He said gently.

"I don't know," I said silently.

"You don't know how much you mean to me, Ashley. I can't live, I can't breathe without you by my side. It's like you help me function and often I turn to you for motivation." Brandon said before grabbing a frame from his drawer and showing it to me, "I look at this image for when I need motivation or just something to make my day. It's been here since that beautiful night we spent happily together," He said showing me an image of me of us on our date at Bella's the Italian restaurant we had visited on a date together a while ago.

"Why did you let me leave two months ago?" I asked him.

"Believe me when I say that I wanted to personally search the entire state for you. I went insane without you but my parents told me to give you space and that you would return if you truly had any sort of feelings for me." He whispered, "You didn't come back and my father wanted to arrange for me to marry someone else, but then Alissa passed away and I went to see you because I felt the weird urge to."

"Thank you for coming back for me, Brandon." I whispered as I pulled him into a hug inhaling his deep yet homely scent that immediately helped me to relax in his arms when a camera flash went off causing me to jump from my spot, "It really means a lot."

"Melissa!" I heard Brandon yell as I turned around to see Melissa Hawthorne standing there with a camera in her hand, her eyes bright.

"I couldn't believe the news of your return! I'm really excited to have my best buddy back!" Melissa yelled and launched herself at me, "Paris is very far from here and I needed to see that you two were actually back together for real and not in Brandon's deluded fantasies!" Melissa said as she grinned a face-splitting grin.

"How was Paris?" I asked her.

"It was great, I've missed home though." She sighed.

"Yes, how long were you gone for?" I asked her with a smile.

She was definitely someone I missed.

"Close to three months. Just two days after I leave for my internship my brother screwed up his relationship," She laughed.

"It wasn't intentional. I was trying to help Alessio and Melanie to be together and be free from that vile witch," Brandon muttered.

"Tomorrow is their engagement party!" I told her happily and watched as her smile fell but then she immediately replaced it with the one I knew as her fake smile.

"Oh, wonderful!" She said with a fake smile that seemed quite real.

"Are you okay, Lissa?" I asked her suspiciously.

"Of course! Pfft!" She said and waved her hand, "Why wouldn't I be."

"Maybe because Alessio was your childhood crush?" Brandon added.

"He was." She said.

"What?" I asked.

"I best be going as I still need to go dress shopping for the event. I'll see you both tomorrow," Lissa called as she walked away leaving me and Brandon alone.

"Of course," I muttered.

"She liked Alessio since we were kids. I guess her love hasn't completely died out for him." Brandon shrugged.

"Why didn't they get married or something? I'm sure Alessio has known Melissa longer than he has actually known Melanie," I said quite interested to know about Alessio's past relationship.

"Alessio just wasn't interested," He shrugged and appeared to be quite thoughtful.

"Possibly," I added and shrugged, believing that fate will be dealing with Melissa's story.

"Ashley there's something I need to tell you," Brandon said with a smile as he ran a finger through his hair.

"And what is that?" I asked him.

"I love you," He whispered.

Hey Guys!

Aww, isn't Brandon just so cute? I seriously need to find myself a guy like him ;)

Anyways how'd you find the chapter? I hope you liked it because I honestly tried my best with it! I thought it would be nice if they could have a few moments of calmness to just talk with each other and express a few things.

So, the other day I was reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and I have to say that book is absolutely amazing! Although the ending shocked me to no end. Has anyone else read the book?

Don't forget to please vote and comment, and I'll see you next update coming soon :)