Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 49: Chapter 49

ASHTON

[I could never hate you, Dee-Will]

Why did I send her that? Shit. I wasn’t thinking straight. I can’t have Demi thinking we can ever be a thing. I promised Ashley to stay away. Sighing, I try to chuck my phone into my bedside drawer when another message beeps in. I know it’s from Dee and I probably shouldn’t continue chatting with her. But I am so curious to know what’s been going on in her mind ever since I went cold turkey on her. Hence, I check the message.

[Thank you. I thought I lost you.]

I clench my fist and grit my teeth at the crying emoji that pops in after the message. Has she truly been crying? I haven’t really been paying attention to her especially when we are in the same room. I get barely a second to skim my eyes over her face without setting off any warning bells in Ashley’s head.

During the past few days of actively trying to keep her out of my sight, I have come to depend on other cues like her scent when she enters a room I am in and the way her heels sound over the carpet, tiles and stone steps. I know when she’s in the building and when she’s not. It’s like I went blind and my other senses came alive.

[Can we talk? Somewhere away from here. I have a lot to say to you.]

At her latest message, I chuck my phone into the side drawer. Now, it’s getting messy. I can’t encourage her. Putting my phone away is mostly to stop myself from being pulled in by my emotions and reigniting a flame that should never have been lit between Demi and I. I have to be in control or both of us will sink and take the family down with us. I can’t allow that.

Ever since the night I gave Ashley Demi’s passcode and they spent the night together, something died inside me. To cope, I like to imagine that whatever it was that died, it was necessary to awaken me to the danger lurking in the near future if I follow my heart without taking my head along.

Feeling broken has allowed me to distance myself from Demi like we are complete strangers to each other. It has also allowed me to easily blank out memories of her from my mind and block further fantasies of her in my head.

I have been leaving for work earlier than I usually do. I return late hoping Demi isn’t waiting by her door to talk to me and when I don’t find her by her door, I ignore the sharp tug of pain. Demi hasn’t tried calling or texting me either and I am guessing it’s Ashley’s influence. I’m not mad at him. I’d go mad with jealousy if the roles were reversed.

Despite the days that have passed, I still haven’t been able to wrap my head around things, especially my last night with Demi. In that one night, she literally admitted to being in love with me, lying to me and knowing my biggest insecurity!

Ashley’s request came at a time when I needed space from Demi because I am not ready to open up and have the tough conversations about the underlying reason behind my secret identity and insecurity with my hair.

If Ash hadn’t intervened, not much would be different between Demi and I. I would still be keeping her at arm’s length because we can’t move forward in our friendship without opening those cans of worms and I’m not ready for any of that. Hence, I continue to ignore her firstly for my own sanity (even though it makes me look petty) and secondly, to stroke my brother’s ego and stave off further jealousy on his part.

More messages continue to trickle into my phone till I can’t ignore it any longer. I grab the phone to switch it off when her last message gets my attention.

[I know you’re not sleeping. I can’t sleep either. Say something, Will. I am losing my mind here. I just really need someone to talk to and right now, you’re the only one I want to converse with. I really don’t want to come knocking on your door tonight. That’s how crazy I feel right now.]

[Go to sleep, Dee. I’m not doing this with you]

[Please promise we would talk about everything soon and I’ll try to fall asleep. Please...]

It takes me a few seconds to think about it. [We will.]

Finally, the messages end. I am both relieved and worried. Did I just betray my brother’s trust by keeping in touch with his wife? In my defense, I make a mental note to clarify things when I see Demi and ensure that I get her to focus on her relationship with Ashley. That way, I wouldn’t feel bad about our chat tonight.

The next morning is super awkward. Demi hardly looks forlorn like the past couple of days. She sips her coffee with a small smile playing on her lips. Even mother notices her mood has improved.

"Nessa will be resuming today." Demi explains. "I get to go back to my less complicated role as an intern. No offense, boss." She nods to Asher who barely looks up from the stock market reports trilling on his iPad.

"You won’t remain an intern forever." Father chimes with a dry look. "And if you haven’t learnt anything from this family, then know this; we don’t shy away from opportunities to grow, we embrace them."

"Y-Yes father, I mean yes sir." Demi nods. Mom closes a reassuring hand over Demi’s fingers and winks at her. Then she looks over at Asher who has barely touched his food.

"What happened to Nessa?"

Asher’s eyebrows wing up in surprise.

"She went on a sick leave." He replies, hastily sipping his coffee and nearly burning his tongue.

"Oh, why didn’t you get a temp secretary then? Why saddle Demi with both roles?"

"It’s okay, mother. I’m so wet around the ears anymore. I’ve learnt a lot in a short time. Besides, I offered to handle Nessa’s duties. I wasn’t forced to do it."

The look Asher gives Demi tells me that that isn’t nearly the case. I know he shoved it down her throat so why is she covering for him? Demi gives him a quick glance and a small smile that I don’t miss. Something ruptures inside me. Are these two friends now?

When her eyes wheel towards me, I lurch to my feet and grab a bottle of water to go.

"I’m off."

On my way to work, I keep trying not to read too much meaning to the small smile Demi gave Asher. Why does it bother me so much? Give how green I feel, I begin to understand what Ashley must be going through and how he must feel like a joke to Demi due to her affections for me. I am not even Demi’s husband and I lost my appetite over a harmless smile she shot at my own brother?

"C’mon Ashton, this is ridiculous. You have to tame this. It’s not healthy at all."

At work, I blot out the disconcerting thought of Demi’s affection for me dwindling due to our estrangement and try to focus on my client. The woman just completed the paperwork for the purchase of a Mercedes G Class. She sits with her legs crossed, silently watching me behind her amber tinted glasses.

Her gold studded fingers taper off with blood-red nails that are like claws. Those claws gently tap my desk in an annoying rhythm while I sign my part of the documents. I try to blank out the childishness especially after she blatantly ignores my polite request that she kindly stop the act as I find it distracting.

a sight for sore eyes." She begins with a sultry curl of her lips. "I wonder where you got

hate the small talk but Gris will die of second-hand embarrassment if I leave our customer hanging. Like he can read my mind, he tacitly implores me to

have our father to thank for

the woman makes me look directly at her. Gris tenses beside me, knowing how fast

her glasses and sitting upright. "The thing is, I’ve seen your father. I mean, we were old schoolmates. I know what he looked like in his hay days and this," she says stabbing the pointy end of her

much better looking?" Gris asks because I

you and your brothers have golden manes for

would also know that he is married to a

Barbara is lovely, always looks like a painting in every photograph. But the hair color isn’t the only

done with her. I surge to my feet and shove the papers at

location in the next thirty minutes unless you would rather drive it home yourself. Thank you for choosing Rollins

all I care. I keep selling out cars even in my absence from work. Her bad review will be like a drop in the ocean compared to the thousands

Randall feigns a smile and grabs her

see you again. There’s still so much we can learn about each other." While she winks at me, she nearly walks into Mila at

women your mother’s age?" Mila chuckles, plunking her bag on my

"Not exciting, trust me."

sleeveless top, high-waisted jeans and sneakers. Her hair cascades around her bare back in bouncy waves. It’s the first stylish and functional outfit I’ve seen her in. I wonder if she made an

"You called?"

client will stir the pot, I probably wouldn’t

you. I missed

right." She replies, rolling her

that?" Her eyes

A little wind in your hair will give you the blow out you never asked for. Plus, I need a partner to stick her head out of the car and scream out her lungs when I win." Mila takes my

getting is a competitor not a cheerleader. I’ll race you and

had a penny

owes winner two

the way to my favorite race track. Two hours later, I am taking off my helmet and struggling not to give my tires a kick. Mila’s Bentley is already parked ahead of the finish line. She’s perched on the bumper, a goofy smile on her

me. I thought I was fine but my mind is still very crammed. That’s the only explanation for this woeful defeat. It’s either that or Mila just might give me a run for

out of it today."

be a sore loser,

her. Addressing me as Will has never been a problem. I do

my secret identity as Will and my true hair color coincidentally have a crush on me and both promise to keep my secret. I don’t know how I feel about straining

"Something wrong?"

"No."

prefer I call you

When I start heading back, Mila’s words surprise

I call you Ashton when you’re being aloof and serious like your father expects. I call you Will when you’re carefree and wild. For the record, I like Will better. That’s the man I met."

me with a sultry gaze. I mope at her, unable to form words. "Do me." She says with a shrug. "Do you prefer the professional businesswoman

dislike or prefer one to another." A deep blush seeps

phone beeps

touched your

gallops just

"I thought you were done going on those." I quickly shove the phone back in my pocket and shoot her a thin smile. "I’m serious. You never told me the details about the last one but I could tell it didn’t go so well. Why do you still keep that number? You really should be done

drop you." I tell

***

how a simple text can light up my day so bright that losing to a woman in my favorite sport fails to dampen my spirit. I gradually watch the time crawl while Gris handles a presentation amongst our senior staff. When a question

this meeting? I’m not feeling my best right

one of my loyal staff answers. As they all file out of the conference room, I

I might take longer than an hour. Text me

of Rollins HQ. I do a quick sweep with my eyes and spot Demi’s car. Great. She

here to see Asher and have a private talk with him regarding Iman. That’s a conversation

plan on taking the opportunity to say a few words since I can’t snob my sister-in-law in front of the

through the elevator and make my way to her amidst the

"Demi."

stutters a bit and I silently

"Is Asher in?"

"Um, yes."

but this is as far as I go if I must stay focused. When I turn to leave, Demi’s fingers brush over mine like she meant to pull me back but chickened out last minute. It’s all in her eyes. It takes

"Ash, what are you doing here?

to make

eyes keep flicking towards his bathroom

to see

square my shoulders. "Four

His secretary steps out and is shocked Asher has company. My eyes catch the pregnancy strip in her hand before she hides it behind her back. I shoot my brother a steely look. Nessa hides the strip