"You did what?" Billion screamed. He couldn't believe what Joy was telling him."I agreed to be friends with Xavier." Joy said.Billion was confused about the whole thing. "Joy, can you please go over what you told me again? It seems I missed something." Billion requested.Joy repeated how Xavier had called her repeatedly on Saturday and how they had met up on Sunday, she told Billion what Xavier had said and her response."You agreed to hang out with him again because you feel he would play the same game his dad did." Billion stated."Exactly." Joy replied."Joy, I highly doubt that's what Xavier is up to. He knows he would fail miserably if he tried, I'm sure he's up to something else." Billion said."Well, we will never know what his plans are until I go out with him." Joy said."Are you sure there's no other way?" Billion asked."No. You don't have to worry about me, I can handle Xavier." Joy answered.Billion was worried and it was obvious from his appearance. His brow was fur
Billion turned his chair so fast to look at the source of the voice that he almost fell off."What?" He asked."I said, who aren't you jealous of?" Jill repeated the question he had asked and walked into Billion's office.Billion didn't know what to respond to. He could deny and say that Jill heard wrongly, but he was sure Jill would not buy it.Billion didn't know what to do, he suddenly felt embarrassed and self conscious for being caught while soliloquizing.He considered apologizing, but then, why should he apologize to Jill for walking in on him while he was having a moment alone?Would humor work? Billion thought about trying to make light of the situation by joking about it or making a self-deprecating comment, but his brain felt empty, so he decided to use another approach.Defense! Billion decided to become defensive and argue that talking to himself is not abnormal or that everyone does it from time to time."It doesn't matter who I'm not jealous of. I was having a moment al
"Xavier is engaged?" Billion asked. "Yes." Jill answered."That family is really something else. Why would Xavier ask Joy out when he already has someone he intends to marry?" Billion asked."Why would Joy even agree to go out with him in the first place? I can't wrap my head around it." Jill said."He reached out to her and just like his father, Joy is convinced Xavier is up to something. I'm convinced of that as well, but I wasn't expecting this." Billion responded."What do you guys think he's planning?" Jill asked."We have no idea. That's why Joy agreed to go out with him, she's convinced she'll figure it out." Billion answered."And you didn't try to convince her otherwise?" Jill asked."Trust me, I did. But once Joy has her mind fixed on something, she won't rest until she gets it." Billion answered."That's true. Well, she's a strong woman and I believe she's capable of handling things on her own. But one can never tell with that family" Jill said."You're right. I already
Billion ran. He wasn't sure about the direction he was heading, but he knew he needed to get out of that bar fast.He was uncertain but it felt as if he had seen a flash of recognition in Stella's eyes.Billion ran and he came across a door, he quickly got in and walked through.As he was walking, he felt a variety of emotions starting with Anger. It had been over a year and Billion thought he was over it, but clearly seeing the Brown family again evoked certain feelings in him.Billion felt angry about how his relationship with Stella ended. He felt angry about Stella's actions that led to the divorce. Billion felt a sense of injustice, betrayal, and this led to feelings of resentment and rage.Also, he felt sadness. He remembered how Stella had treated him when they first met, he felt sad about the loss of that close friendship.Billion felt a sense of grief and mourning for what Stella's actions cost both of them to lose. Did Stella really lose anything?She did. She lost an err
"That was close!" Joy exclaimed. "Yea it was." Billion concurred.It was the start of a new week and they were both sitting in Billion's office, he had just finished telling her about his encounter with Stella."Some people never change, I guess. Money seems to be the only language that can make them nice." Joy said."Yes and it's really sad," Billion said while shaking his head."By the way, I didn't know you like going to bars." Joy commented."I don't, not really. I prefer staying indoors on weekends." Billion said."So this weekend was an exception then." Joy said."No. I went there for a reason." Billion said."And what's the reason?" Joy asked."I went there to meet with Esther Brendan." Billion answered."Who's Esther Brendan? Is she a new business partner?" Joy questioned."No. She's Xavier's fiancee." Billion stated.Joy couldn't believe what Billion just said, she was in shock, she was feeling so many emotions at the same time that she didn't know how to react.She didn't
Joy marched straight to her office after leaving Billion's office. She stormed into her office with an intense and agitated energy.Her face was flushed, and her eyes were blazing. She kept muttering to herself, clenching and unclenching her fists.As she got in, she tried to sit but felt restless, she kept pacing back and forth.She was still pacing when she heard a knock on her door, "Come in." She said."Hello Miss Joy. Is everything okay? You look worried." Billion's secretary said.Joy didn't know what to say at first. There was no way she would tell her secretary it seemed she was jealous of a woman their boss was talking to, so she decided to use work as an excuse."Hi there. No, not really. We had a setback with the new project we're working on." Joy said."I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?" The secretary asked."We received some unexpected news from the client, and now we have to change our approach to the project." Joy responded."Oh no. What's the new plan?" Nina, Bill
It was the third day of the week. Joy was still acting weird around him. Billion didn't know what to think.Joy didn't respond to his texts, or emails, not unless they were work related.He had tried inviting her out for a drink after work, but she declined, she claimed she had plans.He decided that they grab lunch together at work, but she came up with another excuse.And she didn't initiate contact either. If it wasn't work related, Joy didn't try to contact him .She mostly seemed distant or disinterested when they were together and they had nothing to talk about.Also, she didn't make eye contact and seemed uncomfortable around him."Have I done something wrong? Or could it be that Joy was actually jealous? But why? Could it be that she thinks I want something more from Esther?" Billion asked himself."Billion, are you available to discuss the new project?" Joy asked.Billion, who was lost in his thoughts, slowly turned his head towards her. He had forgotten Joy was sitting rig
"Put your head on my shoulder, hold me in your arms…" That was the sound of Billion's phone ringing. Billion had never felt so glad to hear his ringtone, it was Joy calling him with her office number."Sorry, I need to take this." Billion said to Esther."It's fine, go ahead." Esther urged."Hello, what's up?" Billion asked."Hi, Billion. It's me, Joy" Joy said on the other end of the phone."Hey, I know it's you. What's up?” Billion repeated."I just realized that I forgot to remind you to sign some important documents before leaving the office.I wanted to let you know and see if you could come back soon and take care of it." Joy said."Oh, I see. Thanks for letting me know. Yes, those documents are crucial. It would be best if I come back to the office and sign them as soon as possible." Billion said.“I'm sorry, it escaped my memory.” Joy said."It's fine. Thank you for letting me know, Joy. Should I come back to the office now?" Billion asked, his tone suggesting eagerness to l