Falling for My Billionaire Best Friend

BASH

It’s been three days since the last time I saw Trinity. I made a decision that I hope it was for our own good. I want her to realize that I love her, and I never lied to her.

It was torture not to hear anything from her. I even cancel my business trip to the U. K. After sending Dana and her husband to the airport, I came here to my family’s beach house where I was supposed to surprise Trinity after our engagement party. That was my plan, but she ruined it.

I already planned a week’s vacation. I was planning to spend it with her, but damn it! Everything went wrong.

She doesn’t trust me even a bit.

I missed her so much, though. Not a single day I didn’t think about her. More guilt flashes through me, and I should’ve talked to her, but I was taken over by my anger, pain, and disappointment.

Teaching her lessons maybe will make her think before judging. Maybe we only lack communication? We’ve been apart for four years, we changed, and we grew up into two different individuals. We let other people entered our lives, but my love for Trinity has never been gone throughout those years.

When we get back together, it’s like a reawakening of my feelings, my senses, and what has been asleep for a long time—my heart. It has always been for her–beats for Trinity.

The salty wind blows the wind chime that I hang above the porch. It’s been here for three years. It’s beautiful, and it reminds me of her. Everything reminds me of her.

Christ, I missed her like crazy!

I made everyone promise not to contact her. I want her to contact me first before she can gather information from everyone. But she didn’t call me again, only three days ago, then she stopped. I wonder if she really cares about me like how she showed me before everything fell apart.

The vibration coming from my phone brings me back from my deep agony.

“Dad.” I rub my aching temples. I haven’t been in myself lately. I haven’t had enough sleep too, but I manage to avoid alcohol numb my feelings.

“How are you, son?” Dad asks. I can feel that something is more than just a question. He knew not to bother calling me this early morning.

Panic settles in the pit of my stomach. “You know the answer to that, Dad. Just tell me already.”

“What makes you think I have something to tell you?” Dad loves to irritate me. He wasn’t happy to hear my plan.

“Dad, please? I already have a lot on my plate right now. You’re aware of what I’ve been going through with my relationship. Trinity stops calling me.” I rub the back of my neck, and I feel a lot guiltier.

“She resigned.”

“What? How? When? Why?” I curse under my breath.

“I think you should come back. Three days is enough. When I had a misunderstanding with your mom, I wouldn’t last an hour,” he says with a laugh. “Try to solve your problem. It’s not even that huge, but you both are so stubborn to have a good talk. You’re both adults and plan to build a family. Things like this need to be settled before you both tie in marriage, Bash.” Dad’s voice seems calm and full of concern in every word he delivers.

“What should I do?” I ask because I’m so damn clueless about what to do right now.

“Just come here, Bash. We need to plan.”

“Plan?” I’m more confused.

“Son, Ranjiv received this letter two days ago. The same day she traveled out of the country.”

My world falls apart. I feel everything around me spins.

“What the fuck Edmund and Derek were doing that day? Why I haven’t heard anything from them? Fuck this life, Dad!” I yell at the top of my lungs, but it’s not enough, and my anger is slowly consuming me.

“Bash, calm down! Get yourself ready. They’re on their way to pick you up.” He sighs. “One more thing. Don’t blame anyone. This is your fucking idea in the first place. Since day one, I’m not on board with this idea of yours!” The line cut off.

The old man just hangs up on me, and he’s pissed off as fuck. I want to hit my head against the wall, but it won’t solve my mess. Why I’m so dumb not to notice why she stops calling me?

Fuck!

I dial Ranjiv, and he picks up immediately.

“Bash, what can I—”

“Cut that shit, Ranjiv! Where is Trinity?” There is a long silence. “Fuck! Ranjiv, answer me or I swear to God you will go back to India empty-handed.”

“U-um, Bash. I-I d-don’t know, man,” he stutters, and I know he’s lying.

“How did you hand the resignation if you don’t fucking know shit?”

“She called me to meet in the coffee shop, and she gave it to me to give that either to you or to your dad. That’s it. I asked why, but she didn’t say much other than she wants to start a new life.”

My brows meet and my heart crashes. “What do you mean she wants to start a new life?”

“She has planned to go somewhere, and I noticed her carrying two travel bags, but before I could ask, she stopped me. That’s all I know, I swear.”

I blow a shaky breath. “Where’s her phone?”

“It’s in her apartment. Try asking her roommate.”

“Thanks.”

I hear knocks on my door, and I know that’s Edmund and Derek. They’re both distant and expecting my rant, but I want my energy somewhere else and not on their fucking asses.

“You know the reasons why you’re here, right?” I walk away from them.

“I contact Mr. Shin, but he didn’t answer. I left a message if Ms. Mallory made contact with him or not. I can’t think of possible places where it has significance to her,” Edmund explains.

“She visited her ex-fiancé two days ago. She called her parents on the same day.” Derek hands me her phone. The phone that I gave to her. She left it, and maybe she found out that I placed a tracker on her phone.

I wave my hand and say, “Charge this. Maybe she used this to book her flights.”

“We checked that already. I think she purchased her ticket at the airport.”

My shoulders droop. I can’t help but shake my head in disappointment and amusement at the same time. She knew what she was doing.

“Sneaky little thing,” I mutter. “Did you ask anyone from any airline or aviation authority where she could travel? Domestic and international flights have manifest.”

“We contacted her dad. She could go to France.”

I stop to a halt. Yeah. It’s possible.

We drive back to my penthouse silently. “Baby Bash, Oh, God. Are you okay, baby?” Mom pulls me into a warm hug.

“Never been better. My fiancée just left for France without me, Mom.”

“Stop being sarcastic, Bash.” Mom slaps my arm playfully. “Let’s go to the airport.”

I blink. Mom makes her way to the door. “Are you coming or not?” Mom asks when she doesn’t notice me following her. “We already arranged your flight when Russell said that Kiara would possibly travel to France. Don’t mess up again, Bash. I want grandchildren.” Mom leaves me rooted in my place as I try to wrap my head around what she just said.

The captain announces that we’re leaving in thirty minutes. I latch my seatbelt and get ready for taking off. I can’t thank enough my family for arranging everything I need.

They found out that Trinity checked in at one of the King’s hotels in Paris two days ago. Of course, Mom is Mom. She prepared my things before I even arrived. My parents have a penthouse suite at that hotel, and that’s where I’m going to stay.

Someone nudges my arm, and I jolt to a sitting position. Edmund’s face comes into view. “Wake up, sleepyhead. We just landed.”

***

I can’t believe I slept for almost eight hours throughout the flight. I called Mom earlier that we arrived here safe and sound. I share a meal with Edmund and Derek earlier as soon as we arrived at the hotel. I take a shower and change into comfortable clothes for the weather in Paris.

“Ready to meet your Juliet, Romeo?” Derek cracks a joke.

I narrow my eyes on him. “I don’t wanna end in a disaster, dumbass.”

“Bash, Mr. Shin left a message. He was sorry to not be able to call you back sooner. He was having a family problem. His daughter got into an accident.”

“Is she okay?” I know that the custody hearing was on hold. I haven’t heard much about Alex lately.

“Yeah. She’s been released from the hospital. I sent your regards.”

I nod. “Thanks, Edmund.”

“That’s the best thing you’ve ever said so far.”

My eyes narrow. “Am I this terrible?”

“Nah. You’re the best,” Edmund remarks.

“So, where are we going exactly?” I know they have an idea where Trinity might be touring around.

“To the street in Marché de la Création Bastille. It’s an art and crafts market.”

“Are you sure she will be there?”

“You should’ve known your fiancée well, Bash,” Derek answers.

“Well, she stops that long time ago,” I banter.

“If you are sad, and something that reminds you of her—a thing or something has a significance to her, what is it?”

I look at him intently. “Stop psychoanalyzing me.”

“It’s not psychoanalyzing. It’s common sense,” Derek retorts.

”

Whatever.” I roll my eyes because he has a point. Why I haven’t thought of that? I guess I’m lacking common sense. “I just want to see Trinity.”

“You will see her, man.”

After almost thirty minutes, he parks the car in the secured parking lot.

“We have to walk from the parking area,” Derek says. “It will take ten minutes to be there.”

“Even ten hours. I just wanna see her,” I admit.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

The two idiots high five, while I’m stuck between them. I just roll my eyes.

The street market comes into view. From vendors to tourists, some painters are busy with their canvases with their models are right in front of them. Some are just busy checking out the products.

This place is amazing for those who love art. There are drawings, sculptures, paintings, jewelry, clothing, hats, photography, and even ceramics. I’m busy scanning the place when someone hits my arm.

“Yeah?” I look at Derek.

He points his finger to his left, not so far from us.

My heart hammers in my chest, making me hard to catch my breath.

Trinity just hands the painting she did to the couple, maybe newlyweds. I feel a stab in my chest. The man offers her bills, but she pushes his hand back. It swells my heart. The couple hugs her and maybe thanking her, then they wave goodbye.

“What are you waiting for?” Edmund nudges my arm.

I saunter towards her, but she hasn’t noticed me yet. She places another blank canvass on her easel. I take a deep breath when she’s almost an arm’s reach, yet I can’t touch her.

I clear my throat. “Five euros for painting?” My voice shakes, making her freeze.

She quickly recognizes it was me.

“Ten euros?”

“Fifteen?”

Shit!

“A dinner date?”

“How about a cruise trip for two?”

Shit!

She turns her head slowly into me.

“I do for free.”