Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 36: Chapter 36

ASHAL

"Welcome sir." Everyone chimes as I make my way into Rollins Media. It’s been days since I’ve worked directly from my office. When I step in, there are gifts and flowers from different departments festooning my desk and sofas. The copywriting team left me a brand new hoverboard. The marketing team stocked my personal fridge with my favorite drinks and snacks. Tears glisten in my eyes at the show of love from my employees.

"Thank you so much guys. You didn’t have to."

"No, but we wanted to." Elyon, my creative lead quips. He beams at me. "We’re glad to have you back sir, hale and hearty."

I pat my eyes dry. "Okay. Enough now. Let’s all get back to work. We have a major campaign coming up. I need great ideas. There will be juicy rewards for the team that knocks this right out of the park."

Everyone coos with excitement as they retreat to their working desks. I sink into my chair and take a deep breath. Gosh, it feels good to be back.

Remote working is not my style. I love the power and control that only emanates from my high-back executive chair. I love hearing the hum of activity from the bull pen filtering in through my half open door.

I love the clomp of my secretary’s shoes over the tiles as she comes to reel out my schedule for the day. I love imagining lunch breaks in the staff cafeteria and eating with everyone.

We are like a family here. We are nothing like the HQ where everyone walks with an imaginary status symbols embellished on their forehead. Here, there’s no power tussle, just a family and their leader.

I am glad I dragged myself out of bed today. I need the distraction. With a lot of faces milling around me, it will be a while before I recall my dead child or Olivia’s bruised body. I’ll feel less likely to commit self-harm with so many people around. When I get my head straight with a few hours of deep work, I’ll go see Olivia.

Just after two meetings with all my team leads trying to strategize for the next quarter, I settle back into my office to prep for lunch when an expected visitor beams at me from the door.

"I was honestly starting to wonder when you’ll show up. I knew you couldn’t help yourself."

"I tried and failed to give you your space." Mom admits with a huge smile and open arms. I embrace her. If I hadn’t insisted, she would have joined me to the office this morning and watched me work all day. I guess it’s one of the perks of being her favorite.

"I told you I’d be fine. You didn’t have to call Elyon or my secretary." Before she can deny it, I add, "They’ve been hovering over me all morning and making hushed phone calls. I know it’s been you on the other end."

Mom’s shoulders sag with resignation. "I had to know you were actually fine. You know I hate being clueless about your state of mind."

Together, we move from my office area to the adjoining room that serves as a lounge area to entertain our guests. I reach into the fridge and grab mom’s favorite can soda.

"I’m glad you’re here. I might need your help." I say, giving her the drink. Worry creases her forehead.

"What do you need help with?"

My face crumples for the first time today. I’ve tried not to think about Olivia and our lost child but right now, the emotions start to overwhelm me again. I wring my hands and gnaw on my bottom lip. Mom drops her drink to come sit next to me.

"It’s okay. I’m here for you. Anything you want."

"Thank you for not telling Asher."

She rocks my head on her chest and says nothing.

"I didn’t mean to do it, mom. I tried countless times to connect with Olivia as myself but she has always loathed me. She despises me even more because of my condition. The only name she loves and responds to is Asher. If there was a better way to make her fall in love with me as Ashal, I’d have opted for it but nothing else worked. I swear it."

"It’s okay."

to stare into her eyes. "No, it’s not. I don’t know if I am only shooting myself in the foot by making her fall deeper in love with Asher while I am pretending to be him. I am sick with worry wondering when she’ll discover the truth and how she’ll react. With the death of our

be relentless in winning her over as Ashal and nobody else. You have to show her that you are so much more than your condition. I’ll help

one. Maybe that is why she’s sick of me. She never wanted me and maybe

be a man for Olivia. She has to know that she can feel safe with me, around me and because of me. That’s why she loves Asher. I didn’t realize it until now. He gave her a false sense of safety and she has been clinging

do you intend to

I’ll

***

strenuous security clearance in my own home, mom and I

have to go through all that clearance to get into your own

like me and one of them happens to be loved by my wife. I can’t take any

us. She stands, looking a bit confused about how

me, Lily, your

"Oh, welcome Mr. Ashal."

my mother,

It’s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." Mother beams

"Where’s my wife?"

the home theatre. I’ll

living room upstairs. Mention that

the stairs to the second living area where we sit and wait

fail to win her over with my genuine promises as Ashal, I just might resort to weaponizing her betrayal. I’m not proud of it," I add when mom’s face hardens, "I just want to have a family with her and

"Okay."

She greets mother cordially and meets my eyes. She

you been, my

been better." She replies mother

sit." I point to the sofa. Olivia hesitantly walks over and takes her

to dislike...hate me." I correct. "I have hurt you more times than I can count and it’s no excuse that those were due to a medical condition I have no control over. Yet, here I am, still begging for your forgiveness and still asking for a chance to do right by you. Saying I love you might sound like the worst thing you ever heard but I will never stop trying to be a better man for you. I know our marriage was forced but I believe we can still make something beautiful out of it. I just need to know if there’s anything I can do to restore

at me in shock. The words I just uttered are clearly not what she had been expecting to hear. She

through because of my family. I am certain no mother could bear to see their child trapped like this. However, I am giving you my word that everything will be better going forward. Ashal is prepared to do whatever it takes to fix your marriage and give you the love and the life you deserve. All he is asking is for you to give him one more shot. While you deliberate, please remember

in mine. "Olivia, ever since you came into my life, I have never thought about my future with anyone else. I am deeply in love with you. This wouldn’t be our life if we didn’t meet the way we did and you didn’t threaten to ruin my family. If you agree to give me another shot and to stand by me and my family, I promise to have you join the Rollins mansion as the respectable daughter-in-law of our household. My mom

my heart, again. Nervously, she rises to her feet and creates a distance between

like a fool to you all? You made these same promises to me and much more when we first got together." She glares at mom. "You promised he would get better and never hit me

against my will. You wouldn’t be selfish with your love and constantly think of yourself and what you want. I know exactly what my

"Olivia."

name, Ashal. I don’t want your selfish love. Why can’t you understand that? I don’t love you and

my side. When Olivia sees it, she staggers

to hit me in front of your mom

calls

hit you or anyone." I run a hand through my face and settle back down on my seat. "I’m trying so hard to win your love and trust despite

and square my shoulders. "It’s because you’re in love with

eyes widen

me being spiteful of you. You don’t see me asking questions or trying to get mad at you. I have learnt