Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Brielle stepped into the room and was greeted by its impeccable cleanliness. Near the window, a bouquet of sunflowers seemed to illuminate the entire space.

"Ricardo found those," Aubree mentioned as she went to pour two cups of tea.

Brielle caught the scent of tea and raised an eyebrow slightly, "Didn't you use to be all about coffee?" Aubree had always had a thing for coffee, the more bitter and robust, the better. "Sometimes you gotta mix things up."

The statement hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Brielle's eyebrows lifted subtly, and she let out a light chuckle. "How long has he been around?"

Aubree's eyes flashed with irritation. "Who knows? Clements Corporation is probably on the brink of collapse. That's why he's got so much free time."

Brielle didn't dwell on the subject and instead voiced her reason for the visit.

"Aubree, the phone you gave me, did you buy it yourself?"

The phone?

It took a moment for Aubree to react, then she shook her head. "No, it was from Andrew. I was puzzled at the time. He never liked you, so why would he bother giving you a phone? Is there a problem with it?" "It's been tampered with, hacked. During the time Max and I had our issues, it blocked our communication."

Aubree's anger was palpable. She stormed to the door, yanking it open.

a resounding slap. The slap echoed down the alley, crisp and forceful. Andrew's eyes reddened, but he did not scold her. Instead, he asked

"You bugged Bri's phone?"

"Yes."

well that Brielle was her closest

"Get out."

"But I didn't-"

"Out!"

a bitter

"Bang!"

door slammed shut again,

feeling Aubree's

the needle was sweetened with honey. Perhaps in

burrowed deep within him was as torturous as

like a relentless river, battering against

heart race

stood motionless for a

"Sir, there's been a call from the family estate.

Andrew's mouth and the stark handprint on his pale cheek. Clearly, the slap had been delivered with no mercy. Andrew coughed twice, his nose tingling as if he were on the verge

to ask if they should head back to the office where the executive team was waiting. But looking at Andrew, who had been

down-and-out neighborhood