My Billionaire Enemy Loves Me

Chapter 6 : Knight in Shining Daniel

"Don't your eyes dry out from not blinking for hours? Just tell me when you're planning to do it again, and I'll call Guinness World Records to judge you."

Ben’s voice snapped Daniel out of his silent staring contest with absolutely nothing.

Flipping his highlighted mullet like a model in a shampoo commercial, Ben rolled his eyes before dropping into the seat across from him.

He was wearing a polo shirt, its collar and hem peeking out from under a solid crew-neck long sleeve, paired with white loose pants. To complete his signature look, he didn't forget to wear a menacing smile, plastered across his thin, pinkish lips.

"My phone’s always with me, ready to make the call." He wiggled his phone in front of Daniel’s face, laughing in that deliberately annoying way of his.

Daniel swatted his hand away with a silent click of his tongue.

"Why did you even bring me here? I've got a lot of things to do." He exhaled harshly, pushing up the cuffs of his striped sleeves until they rested just before his elbows.

He checked his wristwatch. As expected—Ben showed up an hour late, completely ignoring the appointed meeting time.

"Aside from treating me to breakfast—which, by the way, I find really, really sweet." Ben shrugged his right shoulder, pretending to blush. "You're here with me because Mom just met Aunt Rere in Singapore last night while they were on a double date with Dad. Remember our cousin Kamal?"

Ben leaned forward, propping his arms on the table.

Daniel lifted an eyebrow. Zero interest.

"You know—the blondie bro who can whistle higher than Mariah Carey? Mom said Aunt Rere’s family is coming back in town tonight with Mom and Dad to prepare for..."

Ben took a dramatic pause, then threw his hands in the air.

"…A FREAKING WEDDING!"

Several people in the café stopped their conversations to stare at him.

"Can you not yell?" Daniel muttered, shifting in his seat. "And yeah, I remember him. Short guy, blond hair, louder mouth than yours."

Leaning slightly to the side, he scratched his lower back, throwing a quick glance around to make sure no one caught him in the act.

"Mom said he grew taller. Taller than us." Ben's voice dripped with bitterness. Being the shortest among his brothers clearly wasn’t his favorite topic.

Daniel adjusted in his chair, checking his phone.

A flood of messages from Amanda.

All reminders about paperwork.

That’s when it hit him—he still needed to call a meeting with every department head. His father had hired a new financial manager, and it was his job to introduce them.

Ben let out a sigh, pouting as he toyed with the tissue papers on the table.

"I suddenly regret faking my afternoon naps as a kid."

Daniel flicked his gaze back to him.

"So you dragged me here… just for gossip?"

Ben grinned.

"Nope."

He leaned back in his chair, flashing his eldest brother the sweetest, most innocent-looking smile.

"I already told you—I brought you here to treat me to breakfast. I just came from a tiring meeting, and I needed someone to talk to. Actually, out of the three of us, you have the highest number of bank account 'dollah' bills."

Daniel deadpanned.

"It’s noon."

Ben blinked.

"So? Brunch, then. Come on."

Persuasion—the youngest sibling’s greatest weapon.

"I promise that after this, I'll treat you back."

Daniel snorted. "When? In a thousand years?"

Lifting his hand, he caught the waiter’s attention.

One thing he always had to remember when treating Ben?

Have his wallet ready.

Still in the building, Daniel was stuck, roped into a last-minute meeting with some of the company’s investors to fill in for his father, who couldn’t make it.

After that dull and painful meeting three weeks ago—where he sat through the dragged-out debate about who should be the company’s next model—his father fled to Singapore to personally check on their branch there.

Little did the brothers know, their parents hadn’t just gone for business matters—they were off having fun while their sons suffered through massive corporate headaches.

"Ms. Stephanie Mason has reviewed this. My team has everything ready for the advertisement shoot, and the schedule was finalized yesterday. The outcome was fine—"

"Fine?"

Daniel just had to cut in.

That word.

His sharp tone made heads turn.

"Phoebe, you know how much I hate that word. Was it ready to be finalized or not? And she’s supposed to be here right now. Where is she?"

He didn’t actually want to see Stephanie again—not up close, at least—but she was wasting his time.

"I contacted her manager, and he said she was on her way. I have no idea why she isn’t here yet." Phoebe winced, using the end of her pen to scratch her chin. "And… Ms. Stephanie was a little distracted yesterday at the shoot. I gave her the option to reschedule, but she refused."

She spoke with a tight-lipped expression, openly telling him that even she was disappointed. But she also somewhat understood the actress’s situation.

"She’s getting paid to do this," Daniel said flatly. "Just because she has a name in the industry doesn’t mean she can waste time, effort, and an entire shoot day’s budget. Tell her if she pulls that drama again, I’ll cut her off from the company and terminate the contract."

His voice stayed calm. Steady.

He definitely wasn’t angry. Nope. Not at all.

"Yes, sir. But uh—your father strictly told us not to change any plans. He personally wants Ms. Stephanie in the modeling position. Our GNP increased by 11% last year just from the rumors of her being with us. On top of that… we’ve had several investors jump in because of Ms. Stephanie."

Phoebe tried to reason with him, making sure he thought things through.

Everyone at that table—except for the new faces—already knew how his temper controlled his mouth.

Lucky for him, they understood.

Most of the time.

"Daniel, Phoebe’s right," an investor spoke up—his Uncle Nam. "Changing our model now would disappoint our viewers and supporters. Besides, Stephanie’s rivals don’t make much of an impact. We don’t have another willing model who’s as well-known and well-loved. We’ve caught the biggest fish in the ocean, Danny. Let’s not throw it back."

Daniel took a deep breath and nodded.

"Fine. If Dad wants her, then make sure she cooperates properly. This is what I hate about actresses and models—their heads get bloated when their names are plastered on every billboard."

His comment earned several disapproving looks, including from Phoebe and his uncle.

"What?"

"Sir, if you don’t mind me asking—when was the last time you actually watched entertainment news? Or scrolled through gossip articles on your phone?" Phoebe smiled like a sly fox, neatly stacking her papers on the table. "Ms. Stephanie Mason is in big trouble right now."

Daniel blinked, caught off guard.

A little offended, but it was a fact.

When was the last time he actually paid attention to the world?

His brothers were probably right.

He was a mountain man.

"Don’t mind my nephew," Uncle Nam chuckled, waving a dismissive hand in the air. "He’s always late to the news."

A few others at the table laughed along.

"I guess that calls this meeting to an end, gentlemen and lovely ladies."

Uncle Nam was the one to close it out—mostly because Daniel’s brain had started glitching again.

A few minutes later, after the businessmen had left, Phoebe was the last to bid goodbye, leaving Daniel alone with his uncle.

"My brother Stan told me you’ve been off lately," Uncle Nam said as they walked out of the restaurant. He clapped a firm hand on Daniel’s shoulder. "You know you can tell Uncle Nam everything, right?"

"Just some stuff bugging me, that's all," he replied, clearing his throat.

They stopped just in front of a boutique, lingering there for a bit of family conversation.

"Does that stuff include a certain Stephanie Mason?" Nam grinned at him in that knowing, borderline creepy way and nudged him with his elbow. "Come on, tell me. It’s dudes’ stuff. Remember when you were just a little squirt, and you told me she looked like an angel?"

Indeed, Nam knew too much—especially about things Daniel had left in the past.

Rolling his eyes, Daniel pushed his sleeves up when he felt them slipping down his arms. "Shut it, Uncle. Stephanie isn't part of my life anymore. She's just working at our company, and that's all." He replied with bored, unimpressed eyes.

"Whatever floats your fancy boat," Nam chortled and gestured toward the boutique with his thumb. "I gotta go shop for your auntie—a new dress—oh! Did anyone tell you your cousin Kamal is getting married this month? Right here in town."

He slipped his hands into his pockets, waiting for Daniel’s reaction.

Nodding, Daniel shifted his weight to his other foot and casually hooked his thumbs into his belt.

"Yep. Ben told me earlier. I guess the curse hasn’t been lifted."

Nam let out a rich, belly-deep laugh and pointed a thick forefinger at his nephew. "And soon, the curse will take effect on you, son."

Still laughing breathlessly, he only stopped when he noticed Daniel wasn’t laughing with him. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he glanced around.

"Just so you know, Kamal is marrying a woman he doesn’t even like. I heard it from his brother, Ethan. That’s why the wedding isn’t some big, meaningful event for the whole family. It’s not going to be a happy wedding."

Daniel shook his head and clicked his tongue. "Let me guess—Grandma’s decision, yeah?"

"Wrong, fleabag. Kamal’s choice." Nam corrected him and pulled out his wallet, flipping through his cards.

"What?" Daniel frowned, totally lost. "I don’t get it."

His face said it all—he was completely confused.

"There’s nothing to get, Danny," Nam said, waving it off. Then, with a pointed look, he added, "Why don’t you buy yourself something new? A fresh set of clothes? Anything to distract you from work for a while? You look like you need it."

Then, checking the time, Nam sighed. "I gotta go now. I need to be home before five, or your Aunt Jean will definitely shave my eyebrows while I sleep."

Daniel chuckled at his family’s unmatched levels of absurdity.

But just as he pulled out his phone, his mood soured. Amanda had flooded him with messages. Reminders. Notifications. Repeated, nagging texts about things he had yet to do at the office.

For the hundredth time.

Scoffing, he shoved his phone back into his pocket. "So much for taking a break," he muttered to himself.

Instead of taking the elevator, he opted for the grand staircase. It looked endless, but at least the distraction around him gave him a brief moment of peace.

Everything was normal—the usual background noise of a fancy, high-end building—until something off caught his attention.

His brows furrowed.

A crowd of media personnel had just stormed the lobby. Cameras flashed. Microphones waved in the air. A chaotic chorus of voices filled the space, shattering the usual formality of the place.

Security tried to hold them back, but four guards against a relentless media swarm? No contest.

People were already staring, whispering, gossiping. The crowd only grew.

Daniel initially planned to ignore the ruckus. He continued down the steps, eyes forward, but…

His gaze betrayed him.

He looked again.

And he saw her.

A woman.

Head down.

Clearly struggling to get out of the mob.

His steps halted.

He stared.

He’d recognize that head—even if it were upside down.

Clenching his jaw, his mind raced. His thoughts argued.

Should he step in? Should he not?

But even before he could decide, his feet made the choice for him.

He strode straight into the crowd and grabbed her hand.

Flashes intensified. The noise exploded.

"Who's that?!"

"It's Mr. Daniel Chandler!"

"Mr. Chandler, what is your relationship with Ms. Stephanie Mason? Are you friends?"

"Sir, are you here to help Ms. Stephanie Mason cope with her boyfriend’s scandal with Mr. Terry?"

Straight face. Lips sealed. Chin up.

Daniel walked as if no one existed.

His grip on her wrist didn’t loosen until they reached the exit.

Just in time, the valet pulled up his car. The keys were handed over. He helped her into the passenger seat, not sparing a single glance at the cameras.

Without hesitation, he got in.

"This isn’t me. I don’t do this," he thought.

First of all, he had no relationship with Stephanie anymore. She was just an employee at his company.

Second, this was definitely going to cause controversy.

But at this moment?

Too late.

He was already involved.

"Sucks to be me."