Chapter 177 - The surprise

Lifting his shoulder in a half shrug, Sebastian agreed, "Okay, fine by me."

Sensing that nothing could persuade him from telling her anything about the surprise, she sighed and gave up, "Fine but you are very mean."

"And I love you," he chuckled. 

….

Sebastian and Ellie's place.

Hooking her arms around his, she tried to coax him again after they entered the elevator. "We are already here so why don't you tell me something about it, I promise to act surprised."

"We are almost there honey, are you sure you still want some hint?" When she nodded her head, he explained, "Okay so it's something that you will definitely like and Boji will be happy too."

"So it's a surprise for Boji and me?" When he pinched her cheeks, she frowned deeper, "Now I am even more curious." Pressing the elevator button again, she complained, "Why is this elevator so slow today?" 

As soon as the elevator door opened, Ellie rushed inside only to find Boji playing with her toys all by herself. Looking around, she pouted her lips, "Where is the surprise?" 

When Sebastian shrugged his shoulder, she sighed, "Really? Now do I have to look for the surprise?" Without waiting for his reply, she scooped down and picked up Boji in her arms. "Come on sweetheart, we have a surprise to hunt and—" Stopping midway she frowned. 

Looking at Boji who looked and felt very different, she scrunched her brows. "Seb, I may sound crazy but I think Boji isn't Boji." 

"Uh huh because Boji is here," he answered.

Turning towards Seb who was holding Boji in his arms, she widened her eyes in shock before looking at the puppy she was holding. "Then this—"

"That is Bojo, our new family member," he smiled before walking towards her.

Taking Bojo from her hand, he explained, "Remember you told me that maybe Boji is feeling lonely because we don't give her the time and attention she needs?" When she nodded her head, he continued, "So to not make her feel lonely, I brought her a friend she can play with. Bojo is of the same age as her and they like each other already." 

"Is this why you were out all day?" 

"Yes, I had to pick Bojo up and then take him to the vet for the shots, bought him a belt which is similar to the one Boji is wearing and then brought him here and see if they click. After arranging everything, I went back to the office to fetch you." Sebastian smiled waiting for the excited hug like he had anticipated but completely contrary to his expectations, Ellie jumped excitedly and started hugging the two little ones completely ignoring the big guy. 

"Ahh this is so lovely, we have two of them now," she excitedly beamed. 

….

Inside Brandon's car.

"So, what do you wanna go for out date?" 

"This isn't a date, its—" 

Cutting her off, Brandon chuckled, "Alright, it's just a friendly meet blah blah blah blah, now tell me where do you wanna go?" 

Tapping her fingers on the seat belt, Charlotte inquired, "I wanna ask you a question first, why are you doing this?" 

"Doing what?" 

"All of this." Pausing for a while, she explained further, "First you keep requesting me to sleep with you and then when we share a tent together, you don't even make a move. Then we ask me out for this date and—"

Cutting her off, he snapped, "Ah ha, you also think that this is a date." 

"Let me finish and the point isn't whether this is a date or not, the main point is what you want. What do you want from me?" Turning towards him, she continued, "Brandon Hawick isn't a kind of guy who will do all of this and yet you are constantly ignoring my exposed thigh and worried about where we should go for our date." 

Without waiting for his reply, she sighed, "What do you want from me? Just be direct and tell me straight away, you are freaking me out this way." 

"Right now I want you to choose a place you wanna go," he answered. 

"I heard that there is a new Italian restaurant, do you like Italian food?" When Brandon nodded his head, she added, "We can go there." 

Looking at Charlotte who was now scrolling through her phone, he silently sighed and helplessly shook his head.

….

The Italian restaurant. 

As soon as they got down from the car, Charlotte scoffed when she saw a couple in the parking lot. 

Sensing her irritation, Brandon curiously inquired, "What is it? What happened?" When she kept staring at them, he raised his brows, "You know them?" 

"That's my ex, I don't know what he's doing here, I thought he left L.A for good," she explained. The nostalgic feeling of seeing the man who she was once in love with made her feel sucked and weird. 

"Oh, so you still have some feelings for him?" 

"Of course not, I took my revenge already but—" Stopping midway, she sighed, "Alright let's go." 

Stopping her, she grabbed her hand and inquired, "Okay tell me what is bugging you? If you have already taken care of it then why is he still affecting you." 

"It's nothing, you will think that I am crazy." 

"I already know that you are crazy so it's not gonna change anything." Swinging her hand, he insisted, "Oh come on, you can tell me." 

"I want to punch him right on his face," she blurted out. 

"Pfft what? A punch?" Examining her hand, he added, "Can these delicate hands throw a punch?" 

Rolling her eyes, she scoffed, "Don't misunderstand me as a delicate woman, I can break bones too." 

Rubbing his chin, he asked, "So punching him will make you feel better?" 

Shrugging his shoulders, she answered, "Yes maybe, I wanted to do it for a long time so it will definitely make me feel at peace." 

Taking off his blazer, Brandon placed it on the hood of his car. "Alright, follow me." 

"Follow you for what?" 

Placing his hand on her shoulder, he stated, "Didn't you say that punching him will make you feel better? So we are going there to punch him."

She widened her eyes in shock and quickly grabbed his hand to stop him. "Are you serious? So are you just gonna go there and punch him?" 

Shrugging his shoulder, he answered, "Oh no, you are going to punch him right on the face like you want to." 

"Okay that is very funny," Letting out a hysterical laugh, Charlotte suddenly scrunched her face, "Okay and now I am freaking out because I think you are serious." 

"I am very serious, I'll go there and take care of things before calling you over, you'll punch him and then we will quickly evacuate the place." Without waiting for her reply, he patted his shoulder and started walking towards the man. 

"Brandon wait—" 

Patting the man's shoulder, Brandon inquired, "Do you know Charlotte?" 

Giving him a weird look, the man frowned, "Who are you? And what do you want?" 

Without wasting any time, he threw a punch right on his face. 

Holding his nose which was surely bleeding, the man yelled, "Hey are you crazy?" Turning towards the woman he was with, he added, "Babe, call the police." 

"Are you crazy? I am not getting involved in this mess, I am leaving." Without waiting for the man's reply, the woman ran away. 

Grabbing the man's collar, Brandon smiled, "Well, I actually don't know you but you are a jerk and deserved this punch but there is one more person who wants to punch you so—"

"Are you f.u.c.k.i.n.g crazy? How can you just—"

"Charlotte?" 

Narrowing her eyes, Charlotte scoffed, "Derek."

Rolling his eyes, Brandon snapped, "Now will you please punch him so that we can go have something to fill our empty void?" 

"Just let him go, I don't wanna," she stated before walking away. 

"Why? Because you still have feelings for him?" Brandon inquired. 

"What? Of course not, I don't feel anything for him," she frowned a little annoyed with Brandon who kept asking whether she had feelings for her ex or not. 

"Then prove it, punch him and prove it that you don't have feelings for him." Brandon said in a very challenging tone. He had no idea why exactly he wanted her to punch her ex, he was unsure if it was because he wanted her to feel better or because it would make him feel more assured. 

When Charlotte glared at him, he tightened his grip around Derek's collar and shoved him forward. "He is right here, do it now or reject not doing it for your entire life." 

Balling her hand into a fist, she threw a punch right on Derek's nose and knocked him down on the floor. 

"Ouch…" Charlotte while holding her wrist with her other hand. She got so carried away by Brandon's provocation that she might have actually punched too hard. 

"Are you okay?" Brandon quickly inquired before examining her hand. 

…..