Boys Heart to Heart Talk

Ariel's POV I am hesitant as I head over to Pablo 's place. If the boys hadn't threatened to kick me out of our poker club if I didn't show up there, I would have stayed at home with my wife. We generally meet once a month to play poker and catch up, but I've been skipping it since I married Arielle. It's strange how difficult it is to leave her for even a single night. I want to be with her every second of the day, yet even that isn't enough. I grit my lip, wondering if I should just lose tonight and get back home to my wife as soon as possible. I think they'd see right through me, and I'd never hear the end of it. I pause halfway to Pablo 's front door, frowning at a figure running through the trees. "The fuck are you doing, Francis?" I observe him as he glances around before jogging towards me. "Can't be too careful," he says, smiling. "I'm fucking dead if your sister finds me here. She's been very odd recently. It's best not to provoke her. I shake my head as we approach Pablo 's door. He presses his finger on the sensor, and the door opens. "At some point, my sister is going to find out that all of her brothers are friends with you, and there'll be hell to pay for all of us."Francis is appalled at the very concept of it, and I can't help but laugh. "Francis fucking Bridgeton." Billionaire. Real estate magnate. Pussy." He gives me a peek. "Your sister is fucking psychotic, buddy. I have no doubt she would attempt to fucking gut me if she caught me here. Did I mention she sent me a fucking fish bomb last week? We stroll into Pablo 's living room, where the rest of the boys are already set up. The only person we are missing is Lucas. "What the fuck is a fish bomb?"She gave me smoke bombs smelling like dead fish. "My entire goddamn office reeked for a week." I raise my eyebrows. "The hell did you do to her?" He moves his fingers through his hair and shakes his head. "Fuck if I do. It arrived shortly after the charity gala I hosted." I smile then. "The one you went on a date to? You created a PR nightmare for me with that nonsense. Why the fuck did you bring that chick if you didn't want it plastered all over the gossip pages? You've never brought a date, Francis, so you should have realized the one time you did would draw notice." He hesitates and turns away, which piques my interest. "She's special to you, huh?" My smile fades at the thought of it. My brothers and I have always believed that Francis and Bianca's enmity was a thinly veiled love. It appears we were mistaken. I clear my throat and look away. Richard approaches us, seeming apprehensive. "Does Bianca know about this girl?" he enquired. Francis frowns. "She saw me with Valeria at the gala, but I don't see how that matters." "Valeria," I mutter. He says her name with such reverence. It's no surprise Bianca sent him a stink bomb. Pablo glanced at me, and I shook my head. I'm not sure who she is either. She appeared on Francis's arm two weeks ago, and neither of us had heard of her before. "So who is she?" Pablo asks. I recall seeing her. She's stunning, for sure." Francis turns to confront Pablo with a terrifying look on his face. "Stay away from her," he says. "Do not fuck with me, Pablo . "I don't want any of you near her." "Hmm," Pablo responds. "You're protective of her, huh?" Richard and I exchanged glances before resolving to let it go. Ultimately, Grandma will determine Bianca's match. Maybe it's for the best after all. I stroll over to the table and grab Pablo 's deck of cards, shuffling them absentmindedly. I will have to tell my wife about this. I wonder what she will think of it. I know she believed there was something between Francis and Bianca. Lucas walks in, stumbling, holding a bottle of scotch. I can't recall the last time I saw Lucas drunk. He dislikes losing control, and one of his pet peeves is binge drinking. "Lucas," Pablo says. "You alright?" Pablo tosses his drink down on the poker table and takes a seat, a humourless laugh departing his lips. "Of course I'm fine," he says abruptly. "Why wouldn't I be okay? I can do without her. I don't fucking need her!" Richard gives me a questioning look, but I have no idea what is going on either. Normally, I'm the one who stays on top of my brothers' nonsense to avoid scandals, but lately I've been busy with my wife. "Is this about your fiancee?" I enquire, perplexed. He looks up at me. "I can't even remember that girl's fucking name," he rants. "Valentina," Francis adds with a knowing expression in his eyes. "This is about Valentina." Lucas looks up, his eyes full with anguish. "She left me." Richard frowns. "What do you mean she abandoned you? Did you...? Were you two seeing each other or something? Lucas waves his hand, irritated. "Oh, of course not. It's Valentina. I would not... I would never take the chance. Not when I am not sure if I will be able to marry her. "She quit her job, guy. I seat down next to Lucas and lean back, stunned. "She has been with you for what? "Eight years?" He nods. "Yep. We're both recent college graduates. "I just thought that..." I do not know, guy. I'm not sure what I was thinking. Francis begins to straighten the table, removing the poker chips, while Pablo gives each of us a glass and pours Luca's scotch into it. "We'll need ice," he explains simply. "We'll need a whole lot more than that," Richard tells me. "Did she tell you why she quit?" Francis asks. Lucas chuckles grimly. "Said she wanted a new beginning and a life of her own. She feels like she's given me too much, and she doesn't want to waste the finest years of her life overworking for someone who doesn't value her. He runs his hand through his hair. "Can you believe it?" I gave her her own house and a corporate car. She even has a driver and bodyguards. She is one of the highest-paid employees in the organization, dude. There is nothing I haven't given her. "How fucking dare she say I don't appreciate her?" He glances up at the ceiling for a time. "I don't get it. I requested her to send flowers to my fiancee, and she abruptly left. For years, she's sent flowers to Arielle and Bianca on their birthdays and special occasions, but now it's beneath her? I smile at him and shake my head. "You're a fucking idiot, aren't you?" He looks at me hopelessly, and I bite back a smile as I glance at Pablo . He smirks back at me. "I suppose it's good for her, though," Pablo adds. "She should go on a few dates and meet someone to settle down with. She's correct, you know? Val had been overworking herself. You have her on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and she rarely has time for herself. She spends more time with us at family dinners than she does with her own family, because you can't operate without her.I hope she finds the perfect man to marry. "Maybe have a baby or two." The fear on Luca's face makes it difficult to maintain a straight face, but we all manage it. Lucas rises quickly, his chair clattering to the floor. "Get me a driver," he instructs me. "I need to go somewhere." Pablo nods and picks up his phone, a little smile on his face. Meanwhile, Francis looks on, perplexed. Lucas hurries out the door, and Francis looks at us. "I thought your grandmother decided on all of your engagements?" Is sending him down this route even remotely a wise idea? I fold my arms and shake my head. "Grandma was wrong about Lucas," I tell him. "She may have got it right for Arielle and me, but she almost got it horribly wrong. Lucas and Valentina clearly belong together. "Everyone can see it except them." He appears worried, and to be honest, I share his concerns. When it comes to them, however, the danger is worth it. If he doesn't act now, he risks losing her. What if he does? He could end up with everything he ever desired. I should know. I feel the same way about Arielle.