9.Chapter 9
Bowen grabbed the manila envelope off the table once Marco was gone, tearing it open.
Inside were photos, bank statements, chat logs, and a black USB drive at the bottom.
Knock, knock-
Two sharp taps on the private room’s door. Bowen looked up as it swung open.
The guy didn’t wait for a green light–he just strutted in like he owned the place. Which, yeah, he pretty much did.
It was Julius Morrison, Bowen’s best friend since forever, the Morrison family’s golden boy. They were so tight they might as well have been brothers. No secrets, no bullshit.
And Sunset Villa? Julius’s domain.
Julius dropped into the seat next to Bowen, nudging him with a sly elbow. “Yo, that penthouse I’ve been holding for you? Collectin‘ dust. But word is
you took some girl up
there to ‘chill‘?‘
His grin was pure trouble. “And you bailed on the party early because of her? Shit, man, you’re an old bastard, but you’re on fire. Didn’t think our ice–cold CEO could get so damn horny.”
Julius’s smirk got dirtier. “Come on, don’t be a prick. Who’s the chick? Some fancy–ass heiress got you so worked up you bolted back from the city right after closing that deal, just to get some? Fuck, Bowen, you’re sneaky as hell.”
That morning, Julius nearly choked when Bowen called, saying he was back and wanted the crew at Sunset Villa,
Everyone knew Bowen was in Mathaica for a billion–dollar deal, the kind that takes weeks to lock down.
Bowen’s plan had him back next week.
So when he said he was back early, Ray thought, ‘Did the deal blow up?‘
And the meetup? Ray figured maybe Bowen, the guy who never lost, had finally taken an L and needed his boys to get trashed and shake it off.
But when they showed up and heard Bowen wrap a call with a cool “Pleasure doing business,” Julius knew he’d underestimated his friend. He could doubt anyone, but not
Bowen.
After Bowen ended the video call with the other company’s board, the crew piled in. And it wasn’t just Julius everyon Successfully unlocked! when they caught the dark red hickey on Bowen’s neck as he loo5cricum lic, praying it off like he was just wiped.
None of them were out here living like players, but they’d all had girlfriends. Except
Bowen.
a Chapter 9
Dude was twenty–eight, still solo. No hookups, no relationships, not even a rumor of him getting close to anyone.
And now? The guy they half–thought didn’t even like women was apparently going wild the night before?
They were dying for details, but Bowen wasn’t spilling. No word on his night or if he was finally done being a bachelor,
Julius and the others were itching like hell, but they knew better. They’d known Bowen too long to push.
Poking him when he wasn’t talking? That was just begging to look stupid. So they let it go, ignored the hickey, and kept quiet..
But half an hour back, Bowen got a call and ditched their hangout. Julius caught wind that Marco rolled in with some mystery girl looking for Bowen. So, after shooing the rest of the crew, Julius was stuck playing gossip detective.
Bowen shrugged off Julius’s jabs, just glancing up. “Your turf, man. Wanna know who she is? One call and you’re set.”
“What, and creep on my boy’s business?” Julius faked a straight face. “No way I’d dig into your shit.”
Bowen didn’t bite, but his sly grin spoke volumes.
That look made Julius twitch. He rubbed his nose, guilt sneaking in. “Alright, fine. I thought about asking the staff who the hell she was. Didn’t get to it, so I’m here.”
Truth was, he had asked. All he got was a lame “No idea, but she looks familiar, maybe been here before” from the staff. So, he went straight to the source.
“Julius, you and the guys better start saving for a wedding gift,” Bowen aid, cool as ice.
“A wedding gift?” Julius’s jaw hit the floor. “Bowen, you serious?”
Bowen’s eyes narrowed. “What, I sleep with her and don’t marry her, I’m some asshole?”
“No, no!” Julius scrambled. “I’m just saying, till today, we didn’t even know you were seeing anyone. Now you’re dropping a marriage bomb? That’s wild, man!”
He leaned in, all conspiracy–theorist vibes. “You sure about this girl? Like, you know her? What if it’s a one–night thing,and you’re just playing hero? What if she’s got a game plan?”
“Not happening. Our families are tight,” Bowen said, a rare soft smile creeping in. “The Weaver and Wilson families got a deal. Where’s the game plan in that?”
That gentle look? It threw Julius. After that shitshow years ago, Bowen only dropped his guard with their crew.
Gentle? With anyone else? Hell no. Even with them or his own family, he was usually stone–faced.
- Chapter 9
“Wait, you’re marrying a Wilson?” Julius’s brows shot up. “Only Wilson girl that fits is Brielle, right? She was all over you back then, but you weren’t feeling it. So how’re your two sneaking around and getting hitched now?”
It clicked. The staff’s “familiar but no name” line matched. Brielle had a membership here, but with her frail health, she barely showed.
A few visits? That’d explain the “kinda familiar” vibe.
Julius threw Bowen a deadpan thumbs–up. “Bro, you’re a fucking legend. Your nephew‘ s about to pop the question to the second Wilson heiress, and you’re banging the first and planning a wedding? How do you even sort that family mess?”
Bowen’s grin vanished. His face went cold, a vein pulsing in his forehead. “Who the fuck said I’m marrying Brielle?”
“Not Brielle?” Julius was lost. “Then who? There’s no secret third Wilson girl, is there?”
“My fiancée,” Bowen said, lips curling into a sharp, icy smirk, “is Laura Wilson.
“And Brielle? Her? She’s not even worth my time.”
“Hold up–you’re marrying Laura?” Julius’s jaw dropped as he shot up, knocking his chair over. “Bowen, you nuts? Stealing your nephew’s girl?
“You think your family doesn’t already have a big enough problem with you?”
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