Falling for the CEO's brother

Elise's pov

I have loved Marcus Grey for as long as I can remember.

It started off small when we were kids, the way he'd defend me from other kids, the way he'd look back to see if I was catching up when we were running, when he'd over me his ice cream when mine melted away.

All those little things started piling up until I fell so deep that I didn't know how to live without him so I stuck by his side ever since.

But, he would never find out how I felt. Our friendship meant more to me than my feelings so I would never do anything to ruin that.

Right now I sat in his room as he excitedly told me about the many things he was going to do at Grey tech once he takes over next week. His father had just handed over the company to him, three years after graduating from college

"This all feels so surreal, Lise!" He said happily, calling me by the nickname he had given me since we were kids which still made my heart flutter.

I smiled seeing the happiness in his eyes. As long as Marcus was happy then so was I.

"Of course I believe it. You've worked so hard for this, remember? You've earned it." I told him calmly.

His face turned from happy to boastful. "I know right? I'm simply so good at whatever I do."

"Shut up." I said, giggling and tossing a pillow in his direction making him erupt in a fit of laughter.

I loved this.

I loved us.

When we had gotten into college he had turned into the college superstar. Marcus Grey, son of Lucien Grey, one of New York's most influential billionaires.

His background plus his looks turned him to a fuck boy in no time. While I was Elise Bennet, last daughter of the Bennet family who owned the largest mine in the country and yet, I was a ghost. Just a shadow in their spotlight.

But I didn't mind because I had Marcus.

Although it had hurt to see him sleep with so many girls and come home drunk sometimes, I would still care for him, telling myself that it was all temporary. They were all temporary while I wiped his sweat.

I was brought back to the present as I noticed a serious expression on his face now.

"What's on your mind, pookie?" I asked.

He nervously rubbed the back of his neck, it wasn't like him to be so nervous so this made me sit up straighter as my mind started running countless thoughts as to what was bothering him.

"Well, you see lise." He stopped, ran a han down his face and blurted out. "I know this is too much for me to ask and I know that you have been wanting that position at your father's company but I cannot do this without you and I need you by my side. I