Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 18: Chapter 18

DEMI

[My place, 8pm sharp.]

I scowl at the message on my phone. When mother comes down the stairs, I slip the phone into the back pocket of my jeans and beam up at her. She looks radiant as always in a fuchsia pink dress that hangs just below her knees, exposing her beautiful long legs.

"Is that what you're wearing? Demi, why don't you try the clothes Ashley painstakingly handpicked for you?" A small frown creases my forehead as I recall the complete overhaul of my wardrobe.

"Most of them are either too sexy or too elegant. I can never find something that feels just right like a plain shirt and pants. Can we just go? I promise I'll wear something classy on our next lunch date." Reluctantly, she nods.

We meet up with the quads and Mr. Rollins for lunch at a five star restaurant. Mr. Rollins makes a scathing remark about my outfit.

"How could you let her come here dressed like that?" He asks, turning to his wife. "You know this lunch is a PR stunt to show our family as a unified front irrespective of the negative media attention we've garnered over the past few weeks. How are the photos supposed to turn out with her looking even more shabby than waiters in a two-star diner."

"Calm down Brett. I am sure it won't be so bad. Everyone in Danvarr knows Demi comes from a humble background. If we hastily try to change her to our own image of the perfect daughter-in-law, that might backfire. I think people will appreciate the fact that Demi feels very comfortable being herself around us. Nothing will look forced upon her."

"I think mom's right."

I glance up and note from the hand signal he gives me that it's Ashal talking. The last time we spoke at length, he had told me to expect a very unique but subtle hand signal to tell him apart. It's our little secret, he said.

"Judging from the comments from her response to Iman's accusations, a lot of people insinuated that based on her outfit, Demi seemed uncomfortable and pressured to live up to our standards. I think it will be a breath of fresh air if they see her in her usual clothes every once in a while."

Father grunts. "You all had better be right about this. I shelved some very important meetings to make it to this lunch. I will hate for all our efforts to go to waste."

The paparazzi start taking photos of us once our meals arrive. We are discreetly instructed to smile a lot to portray a happy, thriving family. Ashely and I sit next to each other and every three minutes, he is supposed to feed me and vice versa. The early shots of our public displays of affection are horrible and seem forced, like it actually is. We're both still struggling to be our usual selves after the shocking truth in Brellis. After a couple of shots and some believable photos later, we are instructed to kiss each other.

My heart plummets. "What? Nobody said anything about kissing." A cold sweat breaks atop my forehead. I don't like the sound of this.

"What's so unbelievable about you and your newly wedded husband being unable to keep your hands off each other in a public restaurant?" Mr. Rollins mutters in anger. Mother tacitly implores me to cooperate. I stare across the room. There are only a handful of customers at the well-spaced tables but they steal glances at us every now and then.

"Do you realize we are doing this to salvage our reputation that your sorry past tainted? You have the audacity to sit there and act like a prude who's finding it difficult to kiss a handsome face like that? Are you kidding me?"

"Father, please." Ashley pleads.

"Calm down, Brett." Mother adds.

"She's not so innocent. Have you seen her ex? What self-respecting woman would date a druggie like that?"

"Enough now, Brett. You're not helping."

this. Hurry up, Demi so we can be done

exchanges glances with the rest of his brothers. I can imagine the suspicions building in his head due to my reluctance. Grim images of the past few, harrowing days flit across my memory. Asher has left no stone unturned in his efforts to expose me. I can't let him convince everyone before my

"I deeply apologize. It'll just be a second or two. A quick kiss on the mouth and then a few pecks on the cheek. That's all..." His eyes dilate as I clamp his lips shut with mine in a sensual kiss. It takes him a few seconds to recover from the shock

that again. Ashely's cheeks are just as flushed as mine. I dip my eyes and shove food into my mouth to hide the embarrassed

don't have to

and everyone starts dispersing to

She wants

shift uncomfortably, he explains, "It's along the way to one of our stores where I have a consulting meeting anyway.

him drop you off." Mother's

of each other for months to come. Ashley apologizes again for the inconvenience I had to go through. I look out the window, at the zipping houses and trees. I can't let him fill his head with the

glance at Ashley. He might not be the monster I once thought he was and he might actually have likeable traits but he has been complicit in a lot of appalling actions perpetrated by his family. For that reason, he isn't entirely innocent. At the end of this, revenge might not feel as good as I envisioned earlier but at least, it

abruptly cutting off his apologies on behalf of his

"What?"

His surprise fades to annoyance when he sees the smile on my face. Nothing about my evasive technique is humorous. I merely

"Really?"

continue, "It

brash. I stare at him in surprise. "I deemed it necessary to apologize to you on behalf of my entire family because

screeches to a halt in front of my aunt's. "Contrary to what you might think, Demi Branson, I don't lack self-control or women with enough sexual experience to give me a great time. Get out of your own head for one second and maybe you'll recognize the thin line

his head, expecting me to use the door. When I grab it, I realize someone is standing right outside my aunt's porch. Liam. Ashley follows my eyes and frowns conspicuously at the sight of

people are always

photographed smooching another

the door shut and head over to greet Liam. Ashley

paradise?" Liam

head. "What are you

allowed to keep old friends anymore? Ah, I see. Did I

"You wish."

laughs, his eyes never

you really here?

be a regular face around you. I'll make

aren't home from the looks of it. I toss my head back. "You really think I'll let myself be sidetracked by the quads? Every time I look at them, I am reminded how my life took a deep plunge into hell five years ago because their father, as usual, swept their

after all, with a beating heart and needs. I saw the pictures of your cozy family lunch," His smile disappears. "Your kiss. You can stand here all you want and tell me it meant nothing and I will tell you for free that you're fibbing. You still have months to go before your contract expires. You'll probably have

do? They already suspect me. Asher is very

to make those quads realize that I am

I don't have a better alternative yet. "I'll think about

I can argue, he slips away. I have a few hours to gripe about it to Anna before aunt and Kira return later in

you still talking to the woman