Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 85

"No one is this squeaky clean," Rafa grumbled, going over Regina's report on Nikos Avlonitis. "And why the sudden interest in buying a property in the US? The same f*cking building we'd been aiming for since January?

Those were my exact thoughts. Nikos Avlonitis a self-made Billionaire and CEO of Avlonitis Holdings based in Athens. His story was quite interesting. Lost his parents in a fire at the age of seven, got adopted after a year. He was a straight-A student, worked while studying business at Harvard, then went home to Athens and made billions in just over five years.

We had the list of his assets as evidence of his success.

It's not that I don't believe people can be as successful as Nikos, but something about him doesn't sit well with me. When I saw his picture, it felt like I should know him, but I didn't. I would've remembered him. He had striking features angular jaws, cleft chin, dark green eyes, and a scar on his forehead that goes down through his left eyebrows.

"What are you thinking?" Rafa probed, resting an ankle over his knee. We are at my office in Boston, just right after we demolished the Evergreen renovation team.

"It's not meant for us." I kept my thoughts to myself. "Let's move on.

Rafa raised a brow, surprised that I was not looking for a payback, or at least flick the guy who outsmarted me. "You sure?" he pressed.

I sighed. "Carrey has been nothing but a headache since we started this deal."

"But that place had so much potential. You're just gonna let it go? Just like that?"

I hummed a yes. "Just like that."

Losing a good deal was a punch in my ego, but that is business. There are good days, and there are these like this, sh*tty.

"Let's focus on Elisa's opening," I said, sliding back Nikos' files inside the manila envelope.

I named Montiero Holdings' pioneer hotel after Elise. At first, I had no intentions of buying a property in Carpinteria, but Elise fell in love with that place, and I thought, why not? Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. Business has been good since we opened last year, and here we are, about to open our second location in Long Beach.

Although looking unconvinced, Rafa didn't push the topic further, shifting to a somewhat cringy one. "If that's what you want, boss. By the way, Eros called me, said you've been ignoring his call."

It was intentional. The morning after our engagement party, the picture of Sammy and I made it to the internet. Somehow, I'm grateful that Sofia already saw that photo. I was able to explain my side before people started a fuss about it. It's highly unlikely for Eros to ask questions about that girl, but avoiding him is better than lying to him.

"What does he want now?" I grumbled, plucking one document from the pile I should've signed last week. "Oh, nothing much. He just asked for my opinion. I quote, 'On a scale of one to ten, what is the possibility of Sofia canceling the wedding if I pay for strippers at Chase's bachelor party?""

I shook my head, scribbling my signature paper after paper. "Those strippers are not for me. It's for him," I murmured.

"So I said eleven," Rafa chuckled.

"F*cker." I stabbed him with a glare. Now I'll have to give Sofia a heads up about these strippers. "Still f*cking around? It's been a year. You and Georgia should deal with your issues like f*cking adults."

I can talk about anything to Sofia, even the traffic in the morning. But Rafa asked me to keep the reason behind his falling out with Georgia. The two had been playing hide and seek since last year. Being her good friend, Sofia can't help but worry about Georgia's welfare.

Rafa stood, headed to the minibar on the far wall, filled two rock glasses with whiskey, and slid one to my desk. "What else is there to do? She doesn't want to talk to me, avoided me like the plague."

"Maybe you're not trying that hard, man," I suggested, careful with my tone.

He sighed, standing before the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, gazing at the pleasant view of Charles River. "I'm just doing what she wants," he murmured, downing half his drink.

"She wanted you to become a manwhore?" 1 probed, set my Parker pen on the desk and leaned against my seat, swiveling to watch the darkening of Rafa's expression

This wasn't my best friend. I was evil, and he was good. I was the f*ck boy, and he was the boy next door. But one strike from life could change a man, I'm a real-life testament to that. This change in Rafa, though, I don't like it. It's time for him to deal with this s'it. I've watched him destroy his life in the distance, keeping my thoughts to myself, but I've had enough of it.

"Your judgment would've affected me if you weren't such a 'manwhore' yourself. His tone was sharper than a b*tcher's knife.

"It should affect you," I murmured. "Coz I know where that road leads, man. You've always been on

the right track. It's a f*cking mishap, and you've given up so easily."

He faced me, brown eyes clouded with annoyance. "Is that what you think? I've given up?"

I raised a brow, challenging him to speak up.

"I'm out of here. It feels so good to be on the side of the light, yeah?" On his way to the door, he slammed the glass on the bar counter. I was surprised it didn't break into a hundred pieces.

"Just so you know, Julian seemed to have grown a liking for Georgia," I murmured, going back to signing the papers on my table.

He paused by the door. "Are you trying to make me jealous of a four-year-old?"

Without looking up at him, I said. "If that four-year-old wanted Georgia to be his mom..." I lifted my gaze at him, enjoying the jealousy on his face. "Then I guess I am."

His stare could melt glaciers. He cursed under his breath, slamming the door so hard the hinges rattled. I wasn't lying, though. When we picked up Elise and Julian from Georgia's last week, the boy was over the moon. He had nothing but praise for how good of a cook-Georgia was. Rafa needed to sober up, and I knew that if the situation had been reversed, he'd do the same for me.

Sofia: Can you buy take-outs? We're just leaving Leo's.

It's seven in the evening. I frowned, typing a reply.

Me: Of course. What happened?

Sofia: Elise wanted to bring Shooter home.

I chuckled. Shooter was Derek's, a Belgian Shepherd that retired with him. Elise instantly fell in love with Shooter and has been bugging me to adopt the dog. Derek was staying with Leo and Julian for the time being, until he found his own apartment.

At home, I was making dinner when the front door opened, two pairs of feet padded against the marble floor. The heavy stomps of tiny soles definitely belonged to Elise; the silent ones were Sofia's.

"Daddy!" A teary-eyed Elise appeared in the kitchen entry, jumping into my arms. I kneeled to catch her.

Her tiny arms wrapped around my neck, her light brown curls tickled my face when she buried her face in the crook of my neck.

"Hey, princess." I rubbed her back, soothing away her m*ffled so*s.

Sofia sighed, shaking her head as she appeared at the entry. She looked tired, but still beautiful. My little princess definitely put up a fight against her Mama again.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm so sad," Elise sobbed.

I picked her up, parking her on my hips, adding the coo*ut milk to the pot with sauteed onion, garlic, bell pepper, tomatoes, and chile pepper.

"Why are you sad? Did Julian make you cry again?" I asked. Sofia moved to the fridge and fetched a glass of water, watching us.

No. Elise hiccuped. Her cheeks were beet red, and tears were threatening to escape the confines of her eves. "I miss Shooter."

"Oh. That's alright, but you don't have to cry when you miss Shooter. You can see him again when you visit Uncle Leo."

"But I miss him!" she insisted, her voice cracking.

I set her on the counter, adding the shrimp and marinated fish to the stew. "It's okay to miss him, but you don't have to cry. You know, when Daddy is away for work, I miss you and Mama too." She seemed to think about it for a moment. "Do you cry, Daddy?"

"Sometimes," I said. "Coz I love you and Mama, but we can't be together all the time, right? Daddy needs to work, and you have to go home after playing with Julian and Shooter so Daddy can see you."

She studied me. Her blue eyes were so big, as though she wanted to see what was going on inside my head. Nodding, she jumped in my arms once I placed the lid on the pot. "I'm not sad anymore. I can see Shooter tomorrow. I have to be home, so you don't miss me. Don't cry, Daddy, okay?"

Sofia snorted. I glared at her, but my heart was so full I couldn't breathe. This was what I wanted Rafa to experience, the joy of having a family, something he almost had.