Chapter 899 - Best-friend act

~ Chicago, Ellie's villa ~

Tom headed to the kitchen for breakfast, as usually. House staff makes sure that there is fresh bread and sandwich materials in the fridge, and he makes his own coffee.

He was surprised to see that the maids are busying themselves in making an elaborate breakfast setup in the dining room.

"Is there a special occasion?", Tom asked one maid while gesturing to the buffet-style table where variety of fresh pastries are being arranged by two other maids before being covered with a glass bell to preserve freshness. Ellie's favorites breakfast items are there as well.

"Miss Young is home.", the maid responded with a big smile and went back to the kitchen to fetch more serving plates.

Tom's eyebrows shoot up and a smile bloomed on his face. 'Ellie is here! My Queen!'

Ah, since he came to Chicago she is spending her days in the design studio and nights with that boy-fri-end of hers. And she is here now!

Tom dashed upstairs and banged with his fist on one door few times before barging inside.

He tugged a foot which was sticking out from under the cover.

"Whaaaat?", angry half-sleepy grumble was heard from the other side of the bed.

"Wake up! Ellie is here!"

"What?", Brian bolted into a sitting position.

"You heard me. Queen is here. Now get up."

Brian was doubtful. "Are you sure she is here? It's Saturday. If she is with Jasper on weekdays, why would she come back on a weekend?"

Tom shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe she is tired of him and wants to spend some time with her two favorite guys."

"Hmph… favorite? Dream on!", Brian threw a pillow at Tom. He rubbed his eyes for a second and got up. "I need few minutes to freshen up."

Tom understood. It's a signal for him to leave.

Tom was excited. He dashed down the hallway and knocked lightly on another door. After no answer, he knocked few more times with more force. A second later he opened the door and got inside. Tom froze at the sight of Ellie and Jasper making out in the bed. She is sitting on his lap with her legs around him… The view of their midsection is obstructed by the cover, but he can definitely see that neither of them has anything on top. And he could see Ellie's breasts if only she is not so tightly pressed against Jasper.

"What the…?" Ellie swiftly pulled the cover up to her neck when she saw him. "Tom! Don't you know how to knock?" Ellie remembered that she heard some faint knocking a while ago, so she corrected herself. "Before entering someone's bedroom you should wait for a response!"

She wondered, how long is Tom standing there and watching them?

Tom wanted to dig a hole in the ground so that he can hide… disappear… completely. He thought that his Queen might be still sleeping or maybe in the shower or deep in thoughts about her latest design-creation or… anything other than holding onto THAT guy!

"TOM!?", Ellie's shout pulled him out of his daze.

"I'm sorry… I… I'm sorry…", Tom backed out clumsily and closed the door behind him.

Ellie sighed and closed her eyes.

"Does he always barge into your bedroom like that?"

Ellie looked at Jasper and saw him frowning.

How is she supposed to explain that they are living here like in a college dorm? Jasper will probably not like that everyone gets in and out without much care. She is their boss, but they are all friends. Next time, she will remember to lock the door.

"Well… usually it's just me, fully covered up in my pajamas."

Jasper wanted to ask more but decided not to. He trusts that Ellie has no interest in Tom, however from Tom's side…"You should not be that lax. He is interested in you."

"How do you know?"

"Because I can recognize that look he had."

Jasper did his best not to show that he is jealous. He is jealous that Tom is so close to Ellie that he can just get inside her bedroom without an invitation. But he knows that Tom has this freedom only because Ellie sees him as a friend and because he didn't expose his feelings to Ellie (so far).

Ellie was curious. What does Jasper think he saw? "Oh? What look was that?"

"Heartbreak."

Ellie was not sure how she feels about this. Tom was always close and friendly, but that's it. A friend. She wanted to make this clear to Jasper. "I never gave him any hope or hints that I'm interested in more than a friendship."

Jasper smiled, happy that Ellie went to the lengths to explain. "I know."

And he is also happy because he knows that going forward Ellie will keep Tom at a distance.

…

Brian got out of the bathroom and found Tom sitting on his bed… sulking.

"What happened? You went to wake up the Queen and she kicked you out?"

Tom didn't respond.

Brian snorted. "Fifteen minutes ago, you woke me up brimming from excitement and now you are like this... If you are spreading depression in my space at least I deserve to know what happened."

"The… boyfriend is here.", Tom said weakly.

Brian's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you kidding me? Let me guess... You barged into her room, as usually… and you saw her with Jasper?"

Tom's nod was barely noticeable.

Brian exhaled and sat next to Tom on the bed. "You need to get over it. You never had a chance."

"You don't know that!"

"I told you ages ago to stop that best-friend act and that if you don't make your move, someone else will. Besides, this is better. Ellie is signing our paychecks and graciously allowing us to stay here for free. Don't misuse her trust."

"He is not good for her.", Tom grumbled.

"That is not for you to judge."

Brian does not approve how Tom is acting like everything is fine in front of Ellie, pretending to be the most supportive friend of whatever she is doing, and then he comes and fumes on the side while regret is eating him up. Tom even went to that wedding as Ellie's date! And what did he do? Instead of seizing the opportunity to get closer and confess his feelings, he ended up leaving her with Jasper! He is the one who made that relationship happen!

Brian's phone rang and it was Ellie, asking him if he still has unopened underwear.

"Yes, I have. I will bring few in a minute.", Brian responded while trying to hide his displeasure.

Last week, Brian worked a fashion show and got fifty individually wrapped Calvin Klein underwear briefs as a bonus. And Ellie knows about it, just how she knows his clothing size. And she called to ask if she can have few, definitely for Jasper. Suddenly Brian does not like that boy-fri-end much either. He needs to part from few precious super-soft-yet-supportive and well-fitting Calvins… he feels like crying.

"Who was that?", Tom asked while Brian was picking the most hideous colors to give away… but they all look great.

"You don't want to know. Fix your mood so that we can go for breakfast.", Brian said while walking out to deliver underwear to Ellie's bedroom.

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