38. Philia: Affectionate Love

"Based on what I know about B, there is nothing that can bend her will to avenge her parents' death. I think she is winning their trust if I am right to say she was caught faking her identity as a secretary. We both know she can do more than an assistant or secretary position job," Jack was beyond convinced Brianna is going through something, although he cannot ask her right now to confirm his assumptions.
She can be very convincing in everything she does if she puts her focus into whatever it may be. And this time, Jack assumes Brianna is doing her very best to execute her revenge served cold.
"Then why would she be out there in her real face?" Charles asked, still irritated.
Who wouldn't be? He lost a few of his top-notched mercenary men because of her. She is becoming a hindrance. If she keeps being so, Charles will have to take her down as well.
"Maybe because she didn't have a chance to conceal it when they got into the road accident that day," Jack knew Brianna did not conceal her face when she went for an interview with Lucien Michaelson. She mentioned it would be difficult to hide her face when they are meeting almost every day. That would lead to suspicions if she cannot maintain the artificial disguise. He agreed with her idea. That was the first time she would do a job with her real face anyway. No one would recognize her except Jack Foster and Charles Anderson.
"Do whatever you can to have a hold of her. Ask her of her plans and let me know," Charles was also convinced when he heard Jack's assessments as to why Brianna wasn't in disguise. Yet, he still made his command firm, ordering Jack Foster around.
"Yes, boss!" Jack replied affirmatively.
That day, his men made a grave mistake doing their task. They did not get the clear order that they needed to get and deliver to their client the Young Michaelson alive. Charles Anderson's client wanted to use the Young Michaelson as bait to lure Leandro Michaelson into handing over his casino business to a younger Mafia leader. Everyone in the Mafia world knew that none of the younger generations of the Michaelson's want to take the Lion's throne in the Mafia World's jungle, so many young Mafia leaders and notorious Ruffians greed to have his crown. And thinking Leandro Michaelson is getting old, they dare to provoke and attack him in many ways. Including threatening his dearest, one and only grandson, Lucien.
He was already rejoicing when he heard from Jack that Brianna was going to work for LM Realtors as a secretary. He was hoping with Brianna's hatred against the Michaelson's his plans would have positive results. He could use Brianna's presence beside Lucien to do the job order easily in a very short span of time. And sending his men, which Brianna would have known their identities, she would assist them and make everything quick and neatly done.
To his dismay, she did the opposite of everything he hoped she would do! She doesn't seem to be herself according to how he knew she deeply hated and loath the Michaelson's that she is even helping them! Has she gone mad? Or is Jack right to think that she is just acting, trying to win their trust if she is being doubted?
"And you better hurry. If she keeps getting on the way, we will have to take her down, too!" Charles firmly added.
Jack was not even surprised to hear such words from Charles. Even if he could be said to have adopted Brianna when she became an orphan, Jack knew well she would be wiped out when she is no longer useful to Charles Anderson. He, himself, is Charles' biological son, but he is treated lesser than Brianna because she is way more useful than Jack. But that is only when she is helpful. If she becomes useless, she will be like a disposable item, trashed after usage.
"Got it, boss!" yet, Jack politely replied. He heard Charles huffed in annoyance before the line was cut.
Jack can see and feel Charles only raised Brianna to be useful to him. A reason why he became attached to Brianna. He cares for her like a big brother, seeing how she has suffered through the years. Although she became what she is right now. She had risked her life from deadly training starting when she was merely a grader's age. She fainted and collapsed a lot of times, but she was trained to push her limits. She seemed to have died a number of times already as to why she is already like a robot in a human body. She is numb, emotionally, and almost physically. She is alert. Even a slight hint of danger is clearly noticeable for her. She is unbreakable. No one had dared provoked her and lived to tell the tale. It's as if she lives with only a goal and nothing more.
Despite her beauty, Brianna had never lived a life with a chance to love and be loved. Jack sympathizes with her because he somehow feels like they are in the same boat. The less fortunate ride of life. That is one reason he cares for her. He feels like if he doesn't, Brianna would be left with no one caring for her. Jack doesn't see her as a woman because she never acts like one. Not that he wished she did, but he likes her just the way she is. She achieved many things he can never even imagine himself doing or even trying. He is happy to be her big brother. Being orphans like them, as he considers himself an orphan, too, is not a very happy life. He is just thankful he is not alone, and Brianna doesn't shut him out to be close and be a brother to her ever since they met. She isn't the typical sweet sister, but he isn't asking her to change for him. Jack is happy with any affection or mere attention that Brianna is willingly sharing with him. Then, now and in the future.
May his biological father, Charles Anderson, forgive him, but when the time comes he will need to choose between the two, Brianna and Charles, Jack is almost one hundred percent sure he will choose Brianna over Charles. He never showed affection to him anyways, unlike Brianna, even in her melancholic personality. She is always able to make Jack feel she cares and enjoys Jack's company.
They are like siblings from different parents.
They are like fated to be siblings but were born from different wombs through a different source of sperms. And he is sure, if tables are turned, Brianna will do more if not the same for him against Charles Anderson.
The monsters in their lives. Although he says it's for their own good, that doesn't justify the hell hole they had to go through in order to meet his standards and expectations.
"Brianna, give me something for a sign or anything for a hint of what you are doing right now," Jack felt distressed. He is very sure, without even the slightest doubt, Charles Anderson will definitely do that threat he just mentioned. He will take down Brianna if he finds it necessary to please his clients. Although that would still remain to be seen if they can take her down, the mere fact that an order would be released like that alarms him.
He will have to do something. He must do something. But he cannot come out into the open!