Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 20: Chapter 20

DEMI

I know I should forget it. Heck, I should have forgotten all about it by now, the way I struggle to remember what Ashley's lips felt like when we kissed but every time I look at the man in front of me, the evergreen memory of that thirty seconds long kiss all comes flooding back. I watch him rise, a conspicuous scowl on his face as he walks up to me.

"Thank you, Rachel. You can go back to your desk." I hear the clomp of the smallish secretary's shoes as she skitters away. My eyes remain trained on Ashton. Would I have struggled to forget the kiss if Ashley had been in his place? I continue to wonder as his bluish orbs of eyes peer into my soul. What exactly is this pull? The more I ruminate over the kiss, the more I realize that the act itself isn't the reason I get flustered around Ashton; it's the man himself.

"Gris, if you would excuse us."

The bespectacled man bows and quietly leaves. Ashton and I hold each other's gaze for a moment longer. His face is impossible to read.

"I have a very important meeting to attend this morning and I should be preparing for it. This better be good, Branson."

Though his eyes are flat and his voice cold, it fails to register the silent threat. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. Thus, I tear my eyes away from his daunting ones to survey his office. It's a cozy space with minimalistic designs. There's barely any clutter at all. Every art, furniture and even potted plant seem to be needed to complete the look. I imagine that even trying to move a paper clip will be risky as it will instantly be noticed, terribly missed and frantically searched for.

My eyes return to Ashton's face. His facial muscles are a little bit relaxed now and he doesn't look like he wants to rip my head off for ruining his day a little shy of eight am.

"Yes, this is still about the kiss." I blurt out his suspicion. Before he can finish rolling his eyes, I continue. "I'm not losing sleep over it but apparently Ashley is." Ashton's eyes soften with concern.

"What makes you say that?"

He's been avoiding me. He didn't speak to me this morning and hasn't returned any of my calls. I need you to help me talk to him."

I hate that I have to beg like this. I need Ashely back on my side so Liam doesn't foil my plans by making a grand entrance. Liam is very impatient and erratic. He's being sending me a countdown to his self-introduction to the quadruplets. I am not ready to have one more man hovering around me.

Ashton scoffs and returns to his seat. He reclines in the chair with a hand on his chin. My breath catches once more. He looks very different under this light. Instantly, I realize I might as well be staring at Asher given the sophisticated and ambitious bent, Ashley given the sultry smile on Ashton's face, Ashal with the eyes that seem clear yet full of secrets. The all-black outfit in this moment is the only thing that screams Ashton, until he opens his mouth again.

"What do you care? You don't give a fuck about any of us. It's no secret, Branson how much you keep your distance from us, even Ashley who chose to be with you and treats you like a decent human being. The only time you let us breathe close to you is when you don't have a choice, case in point being your kiss with Ashley." His leans forward and steeples his fingers like his father normally does. "And ours was purely a mistake. Even if Ashely had been in my place, I a certain you only allowed yourself to go that far for personal gain. To that end, I am glad that my brother wasn't there but me."

my eyes shut and strap down on the temper building inside me. "I don't care what the rest of you think of me but I do care about Ashley. Like you said, he is kind, respectful and caring. Yes, I admit that at first, I was wary of him because of his reputation but after

"You're wrong. Ashely has always been a gentleman or at least he tries more than the rest of us. He's not interested in finding love so reduce your expectations. I'll tell you what I know. My brother isn't avoiding you; he's just back to being his regular, old self after his patience with you ran

bugging his office by planting the listening devices in

to leave, he rounds up on me, a dark, feral look in his eyes. My breath catches and absently, I find my eyes trailing

inside me as his breath fans my face. His arms are clamped on both sides of the desk, trapping me with the heat of his body. We lock eyes and I fear I will get

forward and whisper in his left ear. "It's Mrs. Ashley Rollins to you." His shoulder droops and immediately,

pasta and some wine in front of me. She's currently working full time at one of Ashley's

You're

flushing the dirty thoughts of what could have happened between me and Ashton if I hadn't left the second I did, down the

empty my

quickly." She demands. "I

her new job. "I just had a little tiff with Mr. S. I'll call you later and tell you all about it." I stare down disinterestedly at my

out in my late mother's diary which I stumbled upon while cleaning aunt Elizabeth's room. I have to find that one

For a long time, their orders varied but that night, Anna had called me because this lone brother has ordered only whiskey and nothing else. He had been semi-drunk when I stumbled into the room, pretending to be

However, the Ash Rollins I had met in that club was broken and in pain. He wasn't just drinking to alleviate his sorrow. It almost felt like he wanted to end it all. We had our moment and he started talking about doing something crazy. When he dragged me to the church, I was perplexed but couldn't break character especially since he literally made

in the end despite hard proofs. Hence, the mess I find myself in right now. My head aches. I don't know why it stings that

"Mother?"

bedroom. I ignore the sumptuous looking room and stand in front of me. Tears shimmer in my eyes. I need her to take this seriously and help me out. Thankfully,

dear, is

fall freely now and collapse at her feet. "Nothing is okay, mother. Everything is wrong." I lay

do you

against me." She wipes the tears running down my face as I carry on. "Your sons, they're making me go crazy. I know the circumstances under which I got married and lord knows I have tried to be a good daughter-in-law the best way I can. I wake up every day only thinking of how I can prove myself to this family or contribute to its glowing reputation.

you?" Mother hurriedly

some more. "I'm a laughing stock in Danvarr. Everyone knows I can't even tell which of the quads I am married to. I don't know who I married that night either. They all keep switching on me still. Mother, Ashley and I have recently been growing as friends. I don't know if it'll lead to more but after our kiss at the restaurant, we had a little

"And?"