My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 104: Heart-To-Heart With Zaylen

(Arata)

We left the Isle of Dreams with a heavy heart. I had hoped that this vacation would help me relax but news of Stella’s breakup and Callum’s confession weighed heavily on me. I hated the feeling of being helpless, and in these cases, I was.

Not being able to help my best friend, and I couldn’t force myself to feel something for Callum. Being a nice guy, made it even worse. Although I knew he would probably make the right choices, the doubt Andy had sown made me see men in a different light now.

I could casually enjoy myself like I was doing with Azul but trusting someone with my heart was the whole issue now.

And then there was Karsten, the man who made me frustrated, not only with his words but with his body, gaze and even his kisses.

I wasn’t even sure what I was going to do about him and in which direction our fake relationship was headed.

"You take care, Arata, and don’t let any man and I mean no matter how handsome or alluring he seems to crush your spirit. Live your life, your Aunt supports you fully." Aunt Huria hugged me tightly and kissed my head.

"I will keep that in mind." I reassuringly smiled at her.

Stella hugged me and I whispered to her.

"If you ever feel alone, just text me. Okay?"

She wholeheartedly nodded. "Love you, Ara."

"Love you, too."

Callum was quiet and only said goodbye silently and I didn’t push him for conversation. It was better this way, not giving him false hope was the way to go.

"We might be setting a date soon for the wedding. Nothing is final yet and you guys will be the first ones, I will tell," Cherry excitedly announced to Stella and me.

Happily, we did a group hug. Seemed like all the calls she had been receiving from her fiancé, they had worked on their issues.

"All the best, Cherry. Looking forward to your wedding. At least one of us is going to get married." My heart eased with some good news at the end of our trip.

We bid farewell to Aunt Huria and Uncle Lawrence’s family. Callum accompanied them in their jet while we returned home in ours.

Zaylen chose to sit with me and the seriousness in his eyes revealed that he wished to speak on something.

"What is it?" I asked, fastening my seatbelt and turning to face my brother.

He nervously placed his hands on his knees and drummed his fingers before asking in a quiet voice so our parents wouldn’t hear.

"Did Stella speak to you?"

I knew he was referring to her breakup but I played dumb, just to see how he would handle laying it out for me. I knew he would never break Stella’s trust but at the same time wanted to ensure she had someone to speak to.

"About?" I asked, almost innocently.

"Something serious about her boyfriend. Did she discuss it with you?" Every trace of humour Zaylen carried had evaporated from his face and I could see him morphing into a man, leaving that boyhood behind.

"Yes, she told me they broke up," I answered with a sigh.

Zaylen seemed almost relieved, I knew the weight must have been becoming unbearable for him to carry alone.

"That fucking asshole. I can’t believe he broke up with her," Zaylen spat out in disgust and shook his head. "He never rubbed me right, always wore a grimace around me as if he had a bad taste in his mouth whenever we came face to face. I think he had a problem with me. Did she say something about that?"

So Zaylen had an inkling that their relationship could have been affected by his presence, but it was not my brother’s fault that another man felt insecure, and I wasn’t going to break my promise to Stella.

I simply shook my head and kept the answer simple.

"Nah! She only said that they had a conflict of interest."

"Men usually don’t like it when their girlfriends have a close male friend, and somehow, I can’t shake the feeling it could have been one of the reasons they broke up." Zaylen’s instincts were right but it was wrong that he had to make himself feel responsible.

"Well, then, such men need to grow up. Don’t worry, Stella is strong and she knows what she needs. The universe has a way of taking us on paths we are meant to walk. He wasn’t meant for her and I am sure someone worthy is out there who will cherish her the right way. Didn’t you hear what Aunt Huria said?" I playfully nudged my brother with a smile and he returned it.

"Yeah! I know, it just pains me that first you got hurt and now Stel and I guess Callum." He raised his brow with the last name and I tried not to fake cough to get out of this awkward conversation this was going to become.

"Shh! Keep it down. Did he say something to you?" I placed my finger on my lips.

No way I wanted Baba to hear that Callum showed interest in me. The poor guy would get scrutinized for no reason at all.

Both of us glanced back to check what our parents and Grandma were doing.

Grandma was knitting what seemed like a sweater while Mom and Baba were playing a game on their iPad, which seemed like chess as both of them were in deep thoughts. They were pretty engrossed.

Zaylen turned to me and whispered.

"No, but after we left you two alone last night he seemed pretty devastated after. Hardly had breakfast and was quiet most of the time. I guess he asked you out and you turned him down." He arched his right brow at me and I huffed out a sigh before murmuring back.

"He did, and I know he is a decent guy, but I am not in a place to start dating again."

Zaylen offered me a small nod before continuing.

"I know, sis. But if you can, give him a chance. He is loyal and not spoiled like the boys of our age. He doesn’t whore around."

I slumped in my seat and placed my head on my brother’s shoulder.

"Zal, I shouldn’t be discussing this with you, but you are my only sibling, so I will just lay it out. He is not my type, and no matter what I do, I won’t be able to like him, and that would be wrong if I lead him on."

My brother placed his head on mine and pressed my hand.

"I understand but do think about it."

I didn’t want to drag this conversation so I simply said.

"All righty."

But in truth, all I could think about was my boss and the masked man who didn’t even leave me alone in my dreams and his latest video has left me so needy that I knew I needed to get laid again—soon.

He was speaking to me in that video, I could swear.

Ah! Well, I will see him again. I hoped.