Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 57: Chapter 57

ASHLEY

"What do you mean you can’t find her?" I whisper into the phone. Ashal isn’t making any sense right now. "She was just there a second ago. Didn’t you send her off with a bodyguard? How could you lose her, Ash? You said you would be careful!" His raspy voice echoes on the other end of the phone as he panics.

"My men are combing the restaurant. She couldn’t have gotten far."

I know he’s trying really hard not to lash out. I hear him kick something.

"What was that?"

"Uh, nothing. I accidentally knocked down the wash hand basin. Fuck!" He cusses loudly. "Ash, I fucked up really bad. You all were right. I shouldn’t have been so lenient with her. I shouldn’t have trusted her. She played me, man. She planned to escape this whole time and what are the fucking odds that she timed it just when that comment was made on the blog."

"You think she might have written it?"

"No. She didn’t touch her phone the whole time we’ve been here but I suspect she knows who wrote it. She must have been aware that such a comment was going to be made and lured me out on this date so she could escape. Damn it! Father is really going to kill me now."

"Calm down, Ash. We’ll figure something out." I am not sure how we can remedy this but I keep my fears to myself to sympathize with my brother.

"Who knows where she has gone and how far? She would likely attempt to leave the city first. Her family won’t hide her. She..." Sir? I hear someone call his attention in the background. "What?" Ashal barks at them, then everywhere goes silent.

"Ash? What’s going on?" I inquire over the eerie silence.

Baby? Is everything okay? The guards are being rough with me. What have I done?

"Ash, is that Olivia’s voice I hear?" Ashal doesn’t reply. Instead, I hear the sound of movement, then Olivia cries out in pain. Ashal begins to yell at her.

Where the fuck did you run off to? Huh?

Ash, you’re hurting me. Please! I didn’t go far. There wasn’t any tissue in the restroom so I asked Dante to help me get some from the men’s room. My mom called me but there was barely any service in the bathroom so I walked down the hall to take the call. She was panicking Ash, something about an article on Billion-Err and your parents calling to threaten mine. I just took longer trying to assure her that you and I are together. I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to escape.

Her voice breaks off as she cries harder. I sigh in relief.

I hear Ashal demand for her phone and possibly look through it. He probably goes through her call log and confirms her words.

Sir, she did ask me to go get a tissue from the men’s room but I couldn’t find any either.

You left her by herself?

I’m sorry sir.

I hear the sound of Ashal’s fist ramming into something followed by a grunt of pain. It was probably the speaker’s jaw. Olivia is still crying in the background. I cut the call to let my brother get a grip of himself. I am satisfied that the danger is averted and Olivia is still with us. I’ll call Ash later when things have simmered down.

"Was that Ashal?"

I whip my head to find mother behind me.

"Yes mother."

"Is everything alright over there?"

"Of course it is." I hook an arm around her shoulder. "He and Olivia are having a dinner date at home. I just called to tell him about the situation here so he can be extra careful and keep close tabs on her. She has no clue what’s going on either. They’re enjoying lobsters."

Mom’s smile stretches across her face. "I’m glad their relationship is getting better. I just want my son to be happy, ALL of my sons." Mother tugs at my cheeks. "How are you and Demi?" The evasion is so quick I incline my head to stare at her lovely face.

"We’re good."

"Are you really? I couldn’t help but notice the tension between the two of you after you invited your ex to your wife’s birthday party without being considerate of Demi’s feelings."

romantic feelings for me that could possibly have been bruised by Nicola’s presence. However, I do accept that I could have handled the situation better and not allowed Nicola conduct

two are

it, mom. You know I have

don’t find her attractive." She sighs heavily. "She’s guarded because she’s still getting to know you. Women like Demi are like that. I’m certain with time, you

to go answer Ashal’s desperate call. I

his study but it’s not about the same issue. It’s purely a business call with a very important associate. I peer up the stairs. Since her birthday, Demi barely comes down for anything unless mother

reasons. I wouldn’t blame her. Contract marriage or not, she’s still entitled to give me an attitude especially

the birthday party. I let myself be an easy target for my ex and from the stories William has told me, Demi has every right to give me the silent treatment. Nicci had gone too far that night. Could Demi have seen us having sex? What if someone else

make my way to her room and

Do you

takes her time to drag her feet to the door and unlock

invite me in at

her head in a sidelong glance at her messy room. "No. I’m unboxing my gifts and

"I don’t mind."

and dry look almost discourage me but I maintain my resolve to apologize to her for

I am deeply sorry about Nicci at your party. You have to believe me when I tell you that

by your side chick?" She laughs softly. "That’s cute. I bet she wants to believe that too but no, I am not uncomfortable having Nicci around. Your family obviously cherishes her and father is still good friends with her dad. I just wasn’t comfortable with her shameless display at the party

back to you. I’ll make sure father doesn’t pin any blame on you." I angle my head, shoot her a sunny smile

"Is it true?"

"What?"

that the woman Ashal was hanging

that? Ashal doesn’t know anyone by that

I am the one she tried to befriend.

was no one by that name on the guest list. Simply because someone dropped a name doesn’t mean there’s any truth to it. Ashal isn’t married as you know. It’s all just clout chasing. Those desperate people will say

I didn’t invite her. I can’t even find her contact anymore." Demi shakes her head. "So, who exactly was Ashal vibing with that night? Come to think of it, I haven’t exactly seen him cozying up to any woman. He also doesn’t have a girlfriend. I am just

keen on winning the contest

a part of this family. I don’t deserve to be in the dark like all the others out there so tell me, what’s the

I am grateful she’s in better spirits but I can’t tell her anything

at a club a few weeks back. They hit it off really well so he invited her to the party as a plus one. They’re not serious though. It was just a fun night together but I don’t think they

"Oh."

mad at the exposure her attendance is garnering. She hates fame and prefers to lead

I are fated to be best friends forever." There’s a wistful look in Demi’s glassy eyes as she

C’mon Demi, did you really expect her to hang by your side all night like a handbag? She’s a young woman. It’s not unnatural for her to want

disappearing on me. I couldn’t find her for most of the night and she isn’t telling me the whole truth. She’ll come around. We’ll be fine but

I managed to distract her from her fixation with Ashal’s mystery woman by bringing up Anna. Ashal finally calls me back and I walk away to take

***

as I did. Don’t stand there and act like you were

snap at Nicola in my office. "Would you like a megaphone to announce to the entire country that I fucked my ex at

fabrics I am

"I’m sorry." Nicci chimes.

also wanted to steal the spotlight from

can’t hold a spotlight even if it was beamed on her. It’s not my fault everyone found me more interesting to

will have you

"You can’t do that."

pierce her angry ones. She pulls

Plus, she’s not as innocent as she looks. Didn’t you notice the weird

acted very smug around her too. I saw them speaking in hushed tones at the party. I even saw him pull her by the hand once but she fled the scene. I tried using my charm and some alcohol to coax Williiam into spilling the truth

trying to make things up

like this. Don’t you recall the last time with Demi and the that guy at the bookstore? You also didn’t believe me until you did. I was right, wasn’t I? I am convinced that I am also right about Demi and William even though all I have right now is a hunch. You should do well to pursue

it. I’ll have to place a new

unless you want me sooner." She winks seductively at me

immerse myself back into my work but can’t seem to find my rhythm. Nicola’s words keep echoing at the back of my head. I can’t ignore them because I also did see how uncomfortable Demi acted around William