Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 8: Chapter 8

ASHER

"She hasn't come out of her room yet. Keeps sending away the maids and won't even let mom in."

'Amateur' I think in my head as Ashley drones on about Demi over the phone. Poor thing. This is her first brush with the cold reality of being famous. Online trolls always go for the jugular, especially the ones hiding behind a fake account. I want to feel sorry for Demi but frankly, I have bigger problems to worry about. While she is busy sobbing over a few nasty comments about her body and face, I am fiddling a small envelop in my hand while I take this call. The contents of this envelop will make normal people cry and for the weak ones, it will drive them to depression and ultimately suicide. I don't have that luxury. I have three brothers that I believe can't function properly without my constant voice in their heads.

"Frankly, I think this isn't such a bad thing." Rising, I spin to enjoy the wuthering height of the Rollins Group HQ through the glass walls and the mesmerizing view of distant skyscrapers towering above the bustling city beneath. I live for this heady view each day and the powerful feeling that accompanies it.

"What do you mean?" Ashely enquires.

"Isn't this what we want? To get her to leave our family on her own steam?" I tuck the envelop into my pocket hoping for the out of sight and out of mind effect and twitch my suit jacket closer. "At least this way we don't get our hands dirty. We'll leave it to our fans to play Russian roulette with her mental health. I doubt even the fierce Demi Branson can withstand their torture."

Ashley huffs out a breath. "And father? He's fine with the drama?"

"He's never fine with anything that doesn't pad his account and you know it." A soft rap on my door has me turning and the sight of Josh Randall's face drains the humor in mine. My head steams with annoyance as he helps himself to a seat while I wrap up my call with Ashley. "Let's tackle this in the group tonight. Later Ash." I hang up the phone and grit my teeth at my colleague.

Josh's face is fashioned for arrogance almost as much as mine is fashioned for admiration. My eyes dart to his crossed legs and anger simmers in my gut. I have never disliked a person as much as I dislike Josh. The man is meticulous at his job and represents my toughest competition every year for best employee of the year award in the parent company. We go neck-to-neck in our bid to please Mr. Brett Rollins. I admire Josh's work ethic and dedication which consistently rivals mine. Yet, I can't help but hate him because every time I stare into his face, I am brutally reminded of what my father looked like in his twenties.

"What can I help you with, Randall?" I snap impatiently at my half-brother. Josh squares his shoulders at the way I deliberately stretched his last name. A cocky smile plays on his lips as he glares at me.

"Easy bro..."

"DON'T.CALL.ME.THAT!" I growl angrily, jabbing a finger in his face. I hate the guts of this bastard. Josh rises to meet my eyes. We exchange heated looks for one humming minute, eyes sizzling with rage. I hate that dad flaunts his infidelity in my face by having Josh work in the headquarters with us. It doesn't make much of a difference that it was based on the condition that Josh retains his mother's last name to avoid a scandal.

"Fine, Mr. Asher Rollins. I see you're hell bent on keeping your walls up. Don't say I didn't try to be a friend. We will always be more than colleagues and you know that." He dumps a stack of papers on my table. "Father...the chairman wants us to get started on the negotiations for the acquisition of the startups on that list." He flails out his jacket and heads for the door while my eyes stay on him.

He pauses by the door and slides a heated glare my way. "You know, you have no right to walk around here with that chip on your shoulder or to even look down on me with scorn. I am not a charity case. Unlike you and your brothers, I actually have Brett Rollins' blood flowing through my veins." He waits a beat to let his words simmer in the air. I fist my fingers into a ball.

"Watch your mouth."

father's company too. Remember that the next time you call me Randall and maybe I'll ignore the ugly truth about your paternity when I call you Rollins." He beams at me before slipping out the door. It takes a lot of restraint to not shove everything off my desk or chuck my golden name plate at him. In less than twelve months since he resumed, Josh has grown pretty confident around here, especially since father has grown fond of him. They have lunch together every day since he already shares breakfast and dinner with

family by siring a son outside his marriage but I understand why he wants to be a part of Josh's life. Josh is a mirror image of father, his biological son. My brothers and I were adopted. Though father may consider us his sons, seeing him with Josh opened my eyes to the depths of fatherly love Brett Rollins is capable of which my brothers and I have never received from him. While we were raised with stern looks and beatings to conform to his image of perfect sons, father has no stringent expectations from Josh. He is more lenient when Josh errs. He even defends his son's excesses sometimes unlike my brothers and I who have to clean up our own

altered his will favorably for my brothers and mom. He also promised to nominate me as his successor after his

don't know how much longer I can contain myself. The burden of keeping most of

alright?" My secretary, Nessa

swims and my vision go somewhat grey when I turn to face her. I stagger backwards. Nessa skips across the wide office faster than

creases with worry. "Do I call the

into the seat. Tossing my head backwards, I inhale deeply. "No doctors. I'll be fine."

advises

at all and I will smother the life out of you myself." I mean it. Her eyes cloud over. When she tries

I can't lose

that it's nothing more than casual sex. You and I aren't a couple. Stop wishing for something more." I add irritably. Women. Why are they so daft and emotional? I can't afford entanglements. Nothing is more important to me than securing the future of my brothers and our mom. Josh doesn't fool me. I know he and his mother want more than father's acknowledgement of Josh's paternity. Those

the identities of our biological parents. I know I would if I were in his shoes. He is ruthless and thorough, again, just like father. For these reasons and more so for the countdown on my longevity as a living being, I can't afford to be

back to

her sobs. I may regret losing out on finding true love when my eyes close in death but what I can't endure is the thought of my brothers and our mom being forcefully wrenched away from the quality of life

son. I can't leave any wiggle room for complaints. I don't

and legal implications. Josh is unfortunately in the meeting. We try not to mix

"Dad?"

"Off to lunch?"

"Yeah."

"Soul foods?"

no. I'm headed home. Mom is expecting me." Something flits across his face as he

was thinking maybe you can join Josh and I for lunch

expression and grab my keys. "That's fine. I wouldn't want