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“I’m Titan,” I said, extending my hand for a shake, which her brother didn’t accept. Instead, he kept his death stare trained on me, and I smirked as I lowered my hand.

Well fuck you too then.

“I heard of you. Titan Browning, you’re a venture capitalist and tech bro. Founder and CEO of Titan Technology and CEO and co-founder of Hydro Beverages with your siblings. I see your face everywhere but who are you to my sister?” he asked, tilting his head to the side.

“I’m a friend for now ,” I said, not backing down from the aggressiveness her brother was showing.

“Anthony, will you ease up? I just signed Titan’s company Hydro as a client,” Bailey said, reaching over the table and squeezing her brother’s clenched fist, and I watched him immediately relax just from her simple touch. Then he smiled at Bailey like a proud father.

“Congratulations B! Anything you set your mind to, I know you can do.” His smile was wide until he turned his eyes back to me. “I’ve noticed that your right hand has been missing from the table since I sat down, Titan.”

“Mr. Browning,” I corrected, and I heard Bailey gasp from beside me.

“Only my friends and family call me Titan; oh, and your sister.” I smirked when I saw him look like he wanted to murder me.

I didn’t give a fuck if this black John Wick looking muthafucka could kill me with the straw I had in my drink, but I wasn’t no bitch, and his rudeness was unnecessary.

Which is why I make people call me Mr. Browning because it forces them to have manners and be respectful.

“Oh, is that right, Mr. Browning?” He said it sarcastically, and I didn’t give a fuck how he said it, but you see he called me Mr. Browning right?

“Yep,” I said, putting emphasis on the sound of the P.

Anthony reached for the knife that was on the napkin his daughter opened when she needed a fork for her salad and started spinning it on its side.

He kept staring at me like he wanted to kill me with the knife while I kept my hand on Bailey’s thigh.

I was going to keep it there just to further piss him off and show him that he didn’t run shit when it came to me, but then Bailey moved my hand and placed it on the table.

I was about to be an asshole and put my hand back on her thigh, but I didn’t want Bailey uncomfortable, so I kept my hand on the table.

“Since my sister works for you now, I don’t think it’s smart to be mixing business with pleasure. However, I have to constantly remind myself that she is an adult and can make her own decisions.” He frowned as though the thought of his sister being an adult left a bad taste in his mouth.

“I can tell from the looks you were giving her before I walked over a moment ago that you’re interested in her,” he continued, “I don’t know you enough to say I’m ok with you dating my sister, but I will say that if you two do pursue a relationship, and if for whatever reason my sister doesn’t look the way she does today –Meaning, her smile no longer lights up a room, her eyes no longer sparkle with happiness, or she is harmed in anyway because of you.

” He stopped spinning the knife then his smile turned sinister.

“I won’t hesitate to hurt you, and I mean that.

” I couldn’t lie. I was speechless. He then smiled down at his daughters who were still eating pizza and salad, both of them oblivious to the threat their father just made and said.

“You girls want to play your dad in some video games!” His demeanor once again did another 180 as he and his daughters happily left the booth to look for a game.

When they were out of sight, Bailey finally broke her silence, “Titan, I’m so sorry. He’s been like that ever since I was a little girl. Both my brothers are protective, but Anthony takes the cake.” She sighed, then chuckled.

“I wasn’t expecting your brother to be so intense but as a big brother myself, I understand where he’s coming from.

Me and my brothers are the same with my sister anytime she brings some new boyfriend home.

I know the speech all big brothers give, ‘You hurt my sister, I’ll hurt you’ yada, yada, yada.

” I chuckled as I reached for a chicken wing.

“Titan, I need you to understand something. Anthony rarely jokes, and he does not make idle threats.” I was going to laugh it off, but Bailey looked serious, and in the back of my mind, I knew Anthony was serious, but I knew it would never come to that because I had no plans to ever hurt Bailey.

“So, what should we do now?” I asked changing the subject.

“Well, now that my brother is here, I can head home and finish some statements and paperwork,” Bailey answered, making it clear that she had no intention of extending this impromptu date any longer.

“Oh, well in that case, I can take you back to your car,” I hoped my voice didn’t betray the disappointment I was feeling. Damn I wanted to spend more time with her.

“Look, Titan, you really do seem like a great man, and under different circumstances, I would not mind seeing where things could go. But as I said earlier, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to date.

So after today, let’s keep everything work related,” Bailey’s mouth said but the look in her eyes betrayed her words, and that gave me hope.

So, for now, I would keep everything professional, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t work on breaking her resistance down.

She didn’t know it yet, but I was relentless when I wanted something, and from the moment I laid eyes on her, I wanted Bailey Henson.

I didn’t get to where I am by being afraid of a challenge, and right now Bailey’s morals about business and pleasure was presenting a challenge. So, I say to that, challenge accepted.