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."

for this. Hurry up, Demi

heated glare. My heart is thumping wildly. Asher 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

an apology for not telling me about the kissing part. "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 and return the gesture. All around our table, I hear the clearing of throats. I break off

got the pictures they need because I don't think I want to do that again. Ashely's cheeks are just as flushed as mine.

don't kiss like that." I don't

everyone starts dispersing to their places

She wants to see me." I

drop you." Ashely offers and when I shift uncomfortably, he explains, "It's along the way to one of our stores where I have a consulting

Demi, let him drop you

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

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

I chime, abruptly cutting off his apologies on behalf of

"What?"

on my face. Nothing about my evasive technique is humorous. I merely want him to understand

"Really?"

I continue, "It meant

on behalf of my entire family because no one

me a great time. Get out of your own head

someone is standing right outside my aunt's porch. Liam. Ashley follows

are always

his message loud and clear. Don't get photographed smooching another man and smear my

greet Liam. Ashley lingers a few seconds before igniting his

paradise?"

head. "What are

old friends anymore? Ah, I see. Did I make your husband

"You wish."

his eyes never leaving

are you really here? You

reach, Demi Branson. Phone calls won't do it anymore. Hence, I've decided to be a regular face around you. I'll make social calls every now and then. Maybe that will spur you to take our 'thing' more

"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 wrongs under the carpet and buried the truth behind the death of my parents. You think you want to see them go down

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 to

already suspect me. Asher is very close to

Ashley's still having fun with his numerous girlfriends. You need to make those quads realize that I am with you. Tell them I am your

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

time. We're doing this." Before I can argue, he slips away. I have a

you still talking to the woman who tried to steal