"Of course not," Xavier disagreed snorting, "You know I don't believe in that nonsense called love."
"Then you need to get rid of this gloom all over you because it is getting confusing."
"I just like her, I guess and a part of me feels bad that she looks unaffected by everything and__"
"You'll be fine. You are always going to be fine."
He nodded.
She gave him a sly grin, while he raised his brow, "Now that we have just established that you won't be getting married anytime soon, this would be a good time for you to hand over the engagement ring to your darling sister so she could pawn it and go on a massive shopping spree and baby girl spa treatments,"
He shook his head at her amused, not at all surprised that regardless of just how much Melissa had in her account or millions of untouched clothes she had not worn she would always remain his baby sister who could never pass up on the opportunity to spend his money.
"You know you do have something to pawn," he gave her a wolfish grin which made her frown as he raised his brow at her engagement ring nestled in her ring finger.
She gave him a little smile and they both chuckled hard.
Minutes later as Xavier wrote her a check she doubted she would have the time to cash, she couldn't help but be thankful to Maya for this moment.
Yes, maybe she had lied and it had broken her heart to know that Maya would never be a part of her family, she had done all she had done with her brother's best intentions at heart. Brian had pointed out that fact for her when she had managed to calm down from the high of red fury but one thing was certain, Maya was the reason why she had her big brother back again.
***
Maya looked up from a book she was idly perusing, as her phone chimed, indicating that she had a new message.
"What happened to be civil?"
She rolled her eyes at yet another Xavier's text as she resisted the urge to text back, that it had flown out of the window the minute he had rat her out to his sister like that, painting her like the bad guy while she had done everything she did for his best interest.
Though in a way, she felt grateful that the big secret was finally out and Jessica and Jasmine had managed to forgive her but she couldn't help but feel betrayed.
Her phone chimed again and she didn't even bother to peer at her screen knowing that it was yet another message from Xavier and like all of the rest she was damn going to make sure she didn't reply no matter how childish and trivial her actions might look.
It was a weekend and as she looked around the house which was no longer as empty as before she was grateful to Jessica, Jasmine, and even Ashley.
They had all handled decorating the house when she was busy at work and though it was just a week since they had started and they weren't done completely she could see just how good Ashley was with her onions.
Ashley? she frowned. Another fan amongst millions of people who were waiting for the big grand wedding.
Ditching the book she was holding, even as she sipped on her orange juice she wondered if it was okay to clear the speculations since social media was already catching on to the drift that they were no longer together because of her absent ring finger or she should just let things be though most people were still maintaining that she couldn't wear a ring to a set where she was unmarried which was also a valid point.
She smirked completely relaxed, for the time being, let everyone think what they wanted. For now, she'd just be relaxed and celebrate just how many beta players are already signing up to the application even before the official release.
The figures have been impressive, the viewers of she and Jared's charade have been off the charts in Tyler's word, she was doing well right?
She smiled but soon a permanent frown that she was beginning to accept was a permanent resident on her face resurfaced. Then what was this sadness inside of her, this gloom that won't just go no matter how much she pretends and smiles? Why does it feel like she had let go of a part of her? What was this emptiness in her that won't just let her be?
Xavier.
Her eyes widened even as she shook her head and closed her eyes waiting for her palpitating heart to relax even though she knew that no chance in hell would that be happening so easily.
She stared at her screen not able to resist peeking at Xavier's message. "Fine."
***
"Seems like someone is in a good mood," Jared observed, grinning at Tyler who was also grinning as he glanced at a magazine.
He sat down on a seat handing Tyler one of the coffee mugs in his hand.
"Thanks," he took a sip and another.
"Sales that good?" Jared asked while glancing briefly at the soft sell magazine still in his hand.
"Sales has been good but that isn't nearly the reason why I'm ecstatic," he gave Jared a dazzling smile which increased his curiosity.
"So do share, what is going on?"
"Guess," he flashed him a smirk.
"You met a girl?"
Tyler scoffed, "Girls meet me every day, what is so special about that?"
Jared smirked, "Maybe because this time you did the meeting and she is not a desperate stank who is just in for your money."
"I don't mind them if they are just after the money and would leave after a night."
Jared scowled, remembering his friend's philosophy since forever. All of his affairs had one thing in common which he used two words to describe. Steamy and brief.
"Just spill already," Jared muttered, his voice losing his former enthusiasm.
He gave him a wolfish grin and dropped the magazine he was reading and then spin it so it was now Facing Jared.
Jared rolled his eyes not believing that he was excited about the digging up of a celebrity life that shitty reporters don't mind doing instead of being real reporters and going after real information.