"But it's my problem."
Brian's voice sliced through the air like a dagger.
Everyone turned. He had seen the entire scene from across the restaurant, where he was having lunch with a client.
"Baby," Irene called out, voice turning sweet and playful, like nothing had happened.
Susan jumped at the opportunity. "Thank goodness you're here, Brian. Irene is cheating on you with this guy."
Irene didn't even dignify her with a response—just looked at her like she'd grown horns.
Nelson, picking up on the tension, chuckled. "Bro, you need to chill. You've got a very beautiful woman. You can't stop others from liking her."
Brian nodded slowly. "Thanks for the heads-up."
Without another word, he grabbed Irene's hand and pulled her away.
"Wait! My purse," Irene called as she was being whisked off.
"Julius will pick it up," Brian replied without looking back.
"This girl is just troublesome," Julius muttered, shaking his head before nodding at the man and retrieving Irene's purse. He followed them out.
---
In the car, Julius opened the door since he had the key. Brian didn't waste a second—he gently shoved Irene inside before getting in beside her.
"Is this what you were busy with?" Brian asked, voice low and tight.
"When did I say I was busy?" Irene shot back, not backing down.
"You told Richard you were busy. So this is it?" Brian pressed.
"I just went out with a guy, not that we slept together," Irene defended, folding her arms.
"Am I supposed to wait until you sleep together before saying anything?" he snapped.
"Why are you getting mad?" Irene blinked, feigning innocence.
"For three days, you didn't bother to call me," Brian gritted.
"You didn't call me either," she countered, disbelief on her face.
"You hung up the call," he reminded her.
"Because you weren't saying anything," she said with a shrug.
Brian sighed, his hand running through his hair in frustration. "So why didn't you call me back?"
"Because I was angry," Irene muttered.
"I was the one who should be angry. How did you become angry?" he asked, exasperated.
"Why were you angry? I did nothing wrong," Irene frowned.
"I did nothing wrong either. You were the one talking about breaking up three times in one night."
"I was just joking," she said with a teasing smile.
"I don't want that—even as a joke," Brian said seriously.
"You can't tell me what to do."
"Is that why you were trying to hook up with another man?"
"We were just talking," she replied.
"About?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"I'm your man," Brian said, voice calm but firm.
"That doesn't mean I should tell you everything I talk about with others."
"I don't like him," Brian said after a beat.
"Why?"
"I don't like how he looked at you."
Irene blinked, confused. Looked at me? He probably hates me, she thought, but kept it to herself.
Brian leaned back against the seat, realizing he was already in too deep. He didn't argue. Not with anyone. But when it came to this girl… he found himself doing things he never imagined.
A silence stretched between them. Not heavy. Just lingering.
"Irene," he finally said.
"Mhm?"
"Can we stop fighting?"
"I wasn't fighting with you. You're the one picking unnecessary fights," she said, looking out the window.
"…Okay. I'm sorry," Brian murmured.
"I can't hear you," she teased, flashing him a grin.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, louder.
"Apology accepted," she said, lips tugging upward. "I'm sorry too—but I don't think I should apologize."
Brian chuckled. "Enough. You don't need to apologize."
"Have you gotten lunch?" he asked after a moment.
"For days now, I couldn't eat well because one old man decided not to check on me," Irene said with a dramatic pout.
Brian sighed. "I'm sorry," he said again, even though he knew she was lying through her teeth.
"No problem love" Irene said with a wink.
---
Monica, Gloria, and Rosalyn went shopping while discussing Irene.
"Don't you think this necklace looks good on me?" Monica asked, slipping a dazzling diamond necklace around her neck with a smile.
"It looks great," Rosalyn replied half-heartedly, her tone flat—like someone forced to come along.
Monica narrowed her eyes, her smile faltering. "What's wrong? You're acting like you don't want to be here, when you were the one who invited us out," she asked, her voice tinged with irritation.
"Maybe it's Irene again?" Gloria teased, trying to ease the tension between them. Then she leaned closer, lowering her voice. "And did you know your son is now dating Irene?"
Monica turned sharply. "Which son of mine?" she asked, clearly irritated.
"Brian, of course. Who else? And you know Victoria likes Brian. Maybe that's why Rosalyn's like this," Gloria said like a true gossip—one who always knew what was going on.
"I will never accept that whore as my daughter-in-law," Monica muttered, her tone dark and clipped.
"I really don't care if Brian has chosen another woman to be with," Rosalyn began, her voice tight with emotion. "But Irene? It makes me feel like I lost to her mother… and now my daughter is losing to her daughter." Her words trembled with a mix of jealousy and old wounds.
"But I think you won," Gloria said softly. "Your husband abandoned them for you."
"If not for the fact that he couldn't say no to his parents, I wouldn't even be in the picture," Rosalyn replied bitterly.
"What matters most now is that Brian can't be with that girl. She's trouble. When he gets back from work today, I'll give him an earful," Monica said firmly.
"How's your daughter doing?" Gloria asked, her tone laced with concern.
"Not fine. She's been moody. And that girl—she's clearly mocking Victoria for getting Brian. Never met anyone as shameless as her," Rosalyn said, her lips trembling in frustration.
"Don't worry. Even if Brian doesn't end up with Victoria, I won't let him end up with Irene either…" Monica said with steely determination.
Rosalyn's mood lifted slightly upon hearing that. They continued shopping, finding comfort in their alliance. Even though Monica didn't give birth to Richard and Brian, she had been their mother for decades—and they respected her as one.
---
Irene Apartment
"Hello? Why did you disrespect your senior?" her superior's sharp voice rang out the moment Irene picked up the phone.
"Did he tell you I disrespected him?" Irene asked calmly, her voice unreadable.
"If not, why would he complain about you? I told you to be calm when you get there. Don't cause trouble. Do your job and get your ass back here," the voice snapped.
"Okay," Irene responded, not bothering to explain.
"That's all you have to say?" Kendrick—her superior from County K—asked, frustrated.
"What else do you expect? He complained, you believed him. What do you want me to say?" Irene replied, now clearly irritated.
"I know you more than anybody else. I know what you're capable of," Kendrick said, trying to keep his voice level.
"That son of a bitch was the one being disrespectful to me, questioning how I work. I'm supposed to just get the job done. The means I use shouldn't matter, right?"
"Yes," Kendrick admitted with a sigh.
"Then say that to him. Just because he's a star higher than me doesn't mean I'll take his shit," Irene complained.
"Irene, calm down. No matter what, he's your superior. You need to respect him," Kendrick tried to reason.
"I was being respectful. If not, I would've broken a bottle on his head," she muttered.
"It's not that deep. Don't do anything that would stress me, Irene," Kendrick pleaded. "Just try to be as respectful as you can. I'll talk to him too."
"Whatever," Irene replied nonchalantly. The only reason she could speak to Kendrick that way was because he was more like a father than a superior.
"What's the update now?" Kendrick asked.
"I'm dating one of the sons now. He's preparing to take me to meet him. Once I visit, I'll try to get close," Irene said smoothly.
"Okay…" Kendrick said. After a pause, his voice softened. "Irene?"
"Yes?"
"In as much as I want you to find love… don't do that on a mission," he said, the tenderness in his voice unmistakable.
"I know. You've been saying that for years. Sometimes it feels like you don't want me to fall in love. But I'm always moving from mission to mission. How am I supposed to find love if I don't fall in love during one?"
"Whatever. I'm only saying this because I care about you," Kendrick murmured.
"I'm not interested in a married old man," Irene teased.
"I'm not interested in you either," Kendrick shot back, and they both laughed.
"Okay, talk to you later. If there's any problem, remember to call me—or call for backup. Don't do anything that'll put your life in danger… okay?"
"Okay, sir…" Irene said.
---
"Sometimes when you two talk, it feels like you're talking to your lover instead of your superior," Esmeralda teased with a grin.
"Are you jealous?" Irene smirked.
"Why would I be? I like young men," Esmeralda replied quickly.
"Like Victor?" Irene asked with a sly smile.
"What?" Esmeralda blinked.
"Just asking for a friend," Irene said with a shrug.
"And this friend is Victor?"
"Yes. Although he didn't ask me—I just want to know if you mind being my sister-in-law."
"Of course I don't mind. But I like Daniel better. He's my type. Broad body, abs like Brian. Richard and Victor are handsome, sure—but they're kind of slim. Not bad, just not my type…" Esmeralda explained seriously, as if giving a presidential speech.
"I don't care about body size. Just give me a man who's handsome, has abs… and most importantly—rich," Irene said, flashing a cheeky smile.
"Can you guys talk about something other than men?" Justin's groggy voice came from behind them. He had just come out of his room, still sleepy from coming home late.
"We wanted to talk about you, but you're also a man. So we decided to talk about men who can serve us better purposes," Esmeralda mocked, earning a deadly glare from Justin as he sank onto the couch with them.
"Come to think of it—I've been here for months and haven't gotten laid. But you have, every night," Irene turned to Justin.
"Me too!" Esmeralda chimed in.
"Not every night!" Justin protested. "Besides, I'm just trying to gather intel at the nightclubs I visit. But those ladies are just so good-looking, I can't help it."
"Let's say we believe you…" Esmeralda said with a grin.
"Do we?" Irene added.
They both burst into laughter. Justin, pretending to be annoyed, grabbed a pillow and smacked them with it. The three of them ended up laughing together, the tension fading into warm camaraderie.