"I can't," Irene said, her tone apologetic but firm, her hand gently touching her glass. She had drunk too much and wasn't about to drive in her current state.
"I can't either," Esmeralda said, mirroring Irene's excuse. She too had indulged in more than she should.
"That bastard, where's my phone…" Irene muttered, rummaging through her bag. She was still trying to get a hold of Justin but was increasingly frustrated by how everything was going. Her words were sharp as she struggled with her bag, almost as if it was an outlet for her irritation.
And then, like a shadow, a voice cut through the tension. "I will drive you home." The voice was low, almost a whisper, and for a moment, everyone froze as they turned toward the sound.
Brian's presence was almost unexpected, and his calmness only added to the shock. "Your friend asked me to drive you home, since you both are drunk," he said, matter-of-factly, as if this were nothing but an ordinary task. His casual demeanor was a stark contrast to the tension in the room, and it threw everyone off balance.
Irene, already irritated, muttered under her breath, "That bastard…" She wasn't hurt or jealous—just frustrated. "He keeps choosing other women over me." There was no emotional weight behind it, just annoyance at him.
"Brian, you don't have to do it yourself. Let Victor drive them home," Victoria suggested, glancing at Victor with pleading eyes, trying to get him to volunteer. But Victor acted as if he hadn't seen the signals, staring off into the distance, pretending to be oblivious.
"It's true, Mr. Brian. Let your handsome bodyguard send me home," Irene chimed in, her tone light and playful, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"He's not a bodyguard but my secretary… I'm going home too, so after he drops you guys, he'll drive me home," Brian replied, his voice calm and matter-of-fact, as though he'd already made up his mind.
"It seems we don't have a choice. Brian is insisting on sending us home," Esmeralda said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she shot a glance at the girls, knowing exactly what would sting them.
"If you insist, I don't have a choice then," Irene said, her words laced with a sense of resignation, but the glint of amusement was still there. The three of them made their way to Brian's car, and the vehicle began to drive off.
Meanwhile, back at the venue, the others were watching them leave. "I'm 90 percent sure," Joshua muttered, clearly confident.
"90? I'm 100 percent sure," Richard grinned, his voice full of certainty as he exchanged a knowing look with Joshua.
"So, you're saying Brian likes her?" Edward asked, his tone incredulous, as though he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.
"Shit, you scared me," Joshua responded, his eyes widening in surprise.
"What does that have to do with you?" Richard shot back, irritation creeping into his voice.
"More reasons I should go after her, don't you think?" Edward remarked, a hint of mischief in his tone as he turned and walked off, leaving the others behind.
"Your brother is so scary," Joshua muttered under his breath, watching Edward leave with a mix of concern and amusement.
Back inside the car, the atmosphere was thick with tension. As the car neared Irene's apartment, the night felt unusually quiet, even for Brian and Julius. Normally, the drive would have been filled with idle conversation, but tonight, the silence felt more profound, heavier, like it carried an unspoken weight.
The car came to a stop at Irene's apartment, and she and Esmeralda quickly alighted, but not without offering their thanks.
"Thanks a lot, Mr. Brian," Esmeralda said, her voice full of gratitude, though her smile was a little too forced as she made her way inside.
"Thanks, Mr. Brian," Irene echoed, but her voice was softer, warmer. She lingered a little longer by the car, her eyes meeting his as if weighing something, deciding whether to say more.
Brian raised an eyebrow. "Are you not going to the Browns?" His voice was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity, a question that lingered unspoken.
Irene flashed him a sly smile. "Why? Do you want to spend some time with me?" Her teasing tone made it clear she wasn't entirely serious, but there was something in the way she said it that left Brian wondering.
Irene then shrugged, turning away as though the conversation was over, but not before giving one last playful look. "I'm staying with my friends for now... see you when I see you." Her voice was light, carefree, and she began to walk toward the building. But then, just as she was about to disappear into the lobby, she turned back and smiled at Julius, "Hey, handsome, bye," she said with a wink before she was gone.
Brian watched her leave, a flicker of something he couldn't quite place in his eyes. His gaze then shifted to Julius, and for the first time that night, the silence between them felt uncomfortable.
The car resumed its journey, but the usual ease between them wasn't there. Brian couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Irene was a puzzle, one he was beginning to get too close to solving.
Breaking the silence, Brian finally asked, "What's your relationship with Irene?"
Julius tensed for a moment, as though the question had caught him off guard. He quickly regained his composure. "Nothing, in fact, I've never talked to her one-on-one in my life," he said defensively, almost as if trying to convince himself as much as Brian.
Brian didn't seem convinced. His gaze remained focused on the road, but his next question came out quietly, "Why is she always asking about you?"
Julius' eyes darted to the window, his face betraying no emotion. "I really don't know," he muttered, the words feeling hollow in the heavy silence that followed.
The tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Brian's mind raced, his thoughts momentarily consumed by Irene—her charm, her effortless beauty, and the way she seemed to always have a playful, yet calculated, air about her.
Finally, Brian broke the silence. "I want you to do a background check on Irene. I want to know everything about her."
Julius glanced at him, surprised but nodded. "Okay, sir," he replied, the weight of the task settling in.
As the car continued down the quiet road, the night felt even heavier. Something about Irene lingered in the air, a mystery Brian wasn't sure he was ready to unravel—but he knew he couldn't stop now.
—
Brian got home and was ready to head to his room when Monica called him.
"Brian?" Monica called.
"Why aren't you sleeping? Ain't you tired?" Brian asked, a touch of concern in his voice.
"I want to talk to you. Tomorrow you might not be chanced," Monica said.
"What is it about?" Brian asked, his interest piqued.
"What's the relationship between you and that Brown bastard?" Monica asked.
"Do you wait for me just to ask me this?" Brian asked, raising an eyebrow. Monica nodded. "First, her name is Irene. And how would you feel if someone called Edward a bastard?" Brian countered. "Bad, right? My relationship with her is nobody's concern, so don't ask me… Thanks," he said, turning to leave for his room.
The next morning at the Black residence, at the dining table, the family ate in silence as usual until Edward spoke up.
"Dad, what do you think about Irene?"
"Irene? She's good. Although she might sound rude, I really like her," Raphael said.
"I don't really know what you like about someone rude," Monica said.
"Has she ever been rude to you?" Richard asked, to which Monica couldn't reply.
"Don't mind your mother. She's just saying that because Rosalyn is her friend," Raphael said, brushing it off.
"Brian, what do you think about Irene?" Edward asked, clearly pushing the topic.
"What should I think?" Brian responded coolly.
"I mean, it's rare for you to send a woman home by yourself, in your car," Edward said, pressing further.
"Do I need to report to you everything I do?" Brian shot back, a bit annoyed.
"What are you saying, Edward? Brian is the first child of this family. No matter the relationship we have with the Browns, he can't be with their illegitimate daughter," Monica said, taking her stand.
"Being illegitimate has nothing to do with Brian liking her or not," Richard defended, his voice firm.
"Brian, what do you have to say to this?" Raphael asked, seeking his opinion.
"I still can't understand the question you guys are asking," Brian said, genuinely confused.
"Do you like her? Or do you feel she's not on your level?" Edward pressed, trying to get to the point.
"Forget about her being the illegitimate daughter of the Browns. She's the only daughter of the Queen's princess. That's enough for her to be worthy to be with Brian," Richard said, adding his perspective.
"Why are you defending her so much? Are you interested in her?" Edward asked, trying to stir things up.
"Edward," Raphael warned in a low grunt. "Brian, if you like her, I won't mind you being with her," Raphael said, trying to keep things civil.
"I don't need anyone's permission to be with anyone," Brian said with a pause. "I will be with her even without anyone's permission," he declared, then stood up and left the room.