"You think I'm playing around?" Irene asked.
"Aren't you?" Esmeralda muttered.
"What in the name of Nebuchadnezzar is going on here?" Justin asked as he walked in.
"I don't freaking know!" Irene snapped.
"How can you say that? This mission is important, and you're here acting like you're in a high school romance. Seduce him already and get this over with!"
"Do you think I'm not desperate?" Irene asked, placing a hand gently on her chest. Her tone was smooth, not loud, but laced with sarcasm. "Do you think I'm playing around?" She let out a soft, dry chuckle and took a slow step closer. "For fuck's sake, I'm more desperate than you." Her eyes narrowed slightly, amused more than upset. "But tell me, do you really think clinging to his son like glue won't raise suspicion?" She tilted her head, lips curled in a slight smirk. "I have to act like I'm not that interested in the relationship for the mission to succeed. Otherwise, how long do you think it takes to seduce a man, hmm? Minutes."
Esmeralda's brows furrowed, her arms folding defensively as she stared at Irene.
"Enough, you guys. I can't believe you're arguing over this, Meralda" Justin interjected firmly. She looked between them, frowning. "Brian himself might be involved in the drug operation. He might already be watching us. It's smart that she's taking it slow… we shouldn't fight over this."
"I'm not fighting," Irene said smoothly, flicking her gaze to Esmeralda with an air of superiority. "Just explaining things to my junior."
"Do you hear that?" Esmeralda turned to Justin, visibly annoyed.
"No, I didn't. But we are truly her juniors," Justin said with a chuckle, shrugging.
Esmeralda exhaled and muttered, "Okay, fine. I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm scared. I just want us to finish this mission and leave this country." Her voice trembled slightly, showing her nerves.
"No offense taken," Irene replied softly, her expression easing. Esmeralda hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and hugged her.
---
The Black Company
"How's your relationship with Irene going?" Richard asked Brian as they walked toward the boardroom.
"Fine," Brian answered flatly, not offering more.
Richard smiled and raised a brow. "So after the date… have you seen each other again?"
"Not yet. I've been busy. Why are you being nosy?" Brian shot back without looking at him.
Richard chuckled. "It's Friday. We should go to the club and introduce Irene to everyone as your girlfriend."
"She's supposed to be my girlfriend. Why are you so happy?" Brian asked dryly.
"Even though you're in your thirties, this is your second relationship after so many years. I'm genuinely happy for you," Richard replied with a grin.
"Thank you. And mind your business," Brian said as they entered the boardroom.
---
"Ireneeee!" Esmeralda shouted from the living room.
"What?" Irene answered calmly from her room.
"Your phone is ringi—" Before Esmeralda could finish, Irene had already picked up the call.
"Hi, Miss Queen…" the caller said with a teasing tone.
"Hi. Who am I speaking to?" Irene asked, already suspecting.
"So are you saying you don't have your boyfriend's number, Miss Queen?" Brian teased.
"Mr. King? I don't know my boyfriend," she said smoothly, putting him on speakerphone with a knowing smile.
"Ohhh, Brian…" his voice filled the room.
"Mr. Black, are you my boyfriend?" Irene asked, lying back casually as Esmeralda widened her eyes at her like girl, what are you doing?
"Am I not, Miss Queen?" Brian asked.
"Really? First of all, if you were, you wouldn't call me Miss Queen. Second of all, as a boyfriend, don't you think you're doing a terrible job not checking on your girlfriend for days?" Irene's tone was playful but with a sharp undertone.
"Okay, Miss Queen—I mean, Irene," Brian chuckled. "I'm sorry. I've been busy with work."
"I thought you changed your mind about being with me. I already gave it a thought to go for other people."
"I won't give you a chance to do that," Brian said.
Irene smiled faintly.
"Will you come to the club tonight?" Brian asked.
Esmeralda was mouthing Yes! repeatedly, nearly bouncing where she stood.
"Don't know yet. But if you want me to come, I'll be there," Irene replied with a teasing lilt.
"Okay then, let's meet at the club," he said.
"Can I come with my friends, or is it just you and I?" Irene asked.
"Of course your friends are invited," Brian said.
"Okay then," Irene replied, ending the call.
"Wow, it's getting started," Esmeralda said with a grin.
"I told ya," Irene responded confidently.
---
At Brian's Side
He looked at his phone and laughed. From the very first time he saw her at the club, something about her had pulled him in. Maybe it was admiration—or something deeper—he couldn't explain it. But each time he encountered her, he found himself falling a little more.
He kept asking himself, what exactly do I like about her? Because to be honest, aside from being a stunning woman with killer fashion sense, everything else about her screamed red flag.
Let's not even talk about her rudeness—that was a special case.
Still, he always felt the urge to protect her with everything he had. And when she flirted with other guys? It drove him crazy. He often felt like tying her up at his house just to keep every other man away from her.
That day at his father's birthday party, when she walked in wearing that red dress… He nearly lost it. He had wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss those cherry lips right then and there. But he held himself back.
Still, something about her kept pulling him in deeper—to the point of actually wanting a real relationship with her.
"This is going to be a heck of a ride," Brian muttered to himself.
---
At the Club
"Brian, do you know this is strange?" Joshua asked.
"What's strange?" Brian replied, sipping his drink.
"You asking us to come to the club… very suspicious," Daniel said with a playful smirk.
"He has something to tell everyone. Something very important," Richard added, wearing a smug smile like he knew something the others didn't.
"Are you dying?" Mary asked bluntly.
"What sort of question is that?!" Victoria snapped, clearly annoyed.
The rest of the group looked equally shocked—except Brian, who just blinked.
"You know… people start acting different when they're about to die," Mary defended herself casually.
"He's not dying," Richard said, his voice a little sharp now. "Even the thought scares him."
"Hello, everybody. Did you miss me?" Irene's voice rang out as she entered with her friends and Susan, owning the room like it was her runway.
"Missing you is a must," Joshua flirted, making Irene smile as she raised a teasing brow.
"Hello, guys!" Justin and Esmeralda greeted, and everyone exchanged pleasantries.
"Are you friends with Susan now?" Victor asked with a suspicious tone.
"How dare me?" Irene said jokingly.
"You guys came in together," Richard observed.
"We met by mistake. I would never be friends with her," Susan said flatly.
"I don't know what gave you the impression that you're part of us," Mary said, her tone sharp. "Because I don't understand why you and your friends always come up here like there's no other spot in this club."
"Sorry, we were invited, Miss Smith," Esmeralda replied coolly.
"You guys were invited?" Victoria asked, clearly surprised.
"Don't be too shocked," Esmeralda mocked, flashing a sly smile.
"Whatever. Brian has something to say to us—his friends. I mean, close friends. So, you guys need to leave and come back later," Mary said, crossing her arms.
Irene was about to respond when Brian's cold voice cut through the air:
"If she leaves, what is there to tell you then?"
"And what do you mean, Brian?" Daniel asked, hoping it wasn't what he was thinking.
"Come here," Brian said, eyes on Irene.
She smiled confidently and walked over, sitting beside him. Without hesitation, Brian wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"This is my girlfriend."
"What?" Susan gasped.
Mary: ("_")
Victoria: ("_")
Some stared in shock. Others smiled knowingly. Daniel wasn't shocked—just sad. For his baby sister. Justin kept sipping his drink like none of it mattered to him.
"Since when?" Joshua asked, still processing.
"Since now," Brian answered casually.
"A few weeks ago," Irene added with a smirk.
"Wow. How did it happen?" Victor asked, clearly fishing for gossip.
"Nothing much. He literally begged me to be with him," Irene said with a playful shrug.
Joshua, Justin, Esmeralda, Victor, and Richard all burst out laughing, knowing full well she was exaggerating.
Brian leaned in and whispered something into her ear, voice low and hoarse, "Did I?"
Whatever it was, it made Irene flinch and instinctively cover her ear, shivering slightly. The others noticed, but said nothing—curious yet silent.
"You're lying!" Susan snapped, anger bubbling in her voice.
"Not your concern," Irene replied smoothly.
"Begged or not, the fact is—Brian is no longer single. Thank you, Irene," Richard said, feigning seriousness. But his smirk betrayed him.
"Brian, listen. This girl can be very crazy. There might come a day you'll feel like hitting her head on a wall," Justin said dramatically, like a father giving away his daughter. "But please don't. Just send her back to me—I'll discipline her for you."
Laughter broke out among the group.
"Don't worry," Brian replied, his tone relaxed but firm. "I have no plans to send her back. I can discipline her myself."
The room went still for a moment. Even Irene raised an eyebrow at that.
"Are you the same Brian I know?" Joshua joked.
"Congratulations, sister-in-law," Richard teased.
"Excuse you?" Esmeralda scoffed. "You should be congratulating your brother for having an angel like my friend."
More laughter followed. Some were genuinely happy. Others, like Mary and Susan, simmered with envy. But Daniel? He was just worried. For his little sister.