Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 64: Chapter 64

DEMI

I can’t believe what a pile of shit he is. When he leans down and tries to kiss me, my knee slices upwards, connecting with his groin. William buckles and yelps in pain. Immediately, I whip out the cutlery knife I had slipped between my hands when no one was looking and brandish it in front of him.

"You cunt!"

"Did you really think I wouldn’t expect you to try something like this, you dipshit? You are so damn lucky there are cameras in this room or I would have cut that thing off and watched you bleed out." I spit in front of him before grabbing a lamp stand as an extra layer of protection as he starts to regain his composure.

"LILY, I KNOW YOU’RE STANDING BEHIND THAT DOOR. YOU BETTER UNLOCK IT OR I SWEAR TO GOD, I WILL MAKE SURE THE WHOLE OF DANVARR KNOWS WHAT YOU JUST DID...." The door unlocks and Ashal enters. He looks confused at the scene in front of him.

"Demi, what’s going on? Are you guys okay? We’re about to start the games." I throw down my weapons and glare at him.

"What’s going on is that your evil house manager just intentionally locked William and I in this room! Did you ask her to do that?"

"What? Lily?"

"DID YOU, ASHAL?" I push back the tears shimmering in my eyes. I can’t believe he would go that far just to throw me off Olivia’s scent.

"Of course not, Demi. How could you think so little of me? And Lily didn’t lock the door, it gets jammed sometimes, especially when it is slammed shut. Look." He opens the door and slams it shut. When he tries to open it again, it wouldn’t budge. "You just have to give it a minute or two before it will pop."

He turns back to see my face flushed with embarrassment. "I heard your voice and rushed up here. Ashley already put on noise canceling headphones downstairs so he couldn’t hear the ruckus. What’s going on? Will, why are you also in here?"

"Lily sent him here. After I left to use the bathroom, she lied to Will that I wanted to speak with him and sent hm up to the same room she directed me to."

"Why would she do something like that? I’ll go ask her."

"Wait."

We all turn to face William who has a film of sweat on his forehead. "I must have misconstrued what Lily was trying to say. She didn’t exactly say you asked to see me privately, Demi. After she witnessed what happened at lunch, she politely told me that I shouldn’t bleed onto others because of the hurt I am feeling. She advised that I try to speak with you privately to gain closure rather than ruining good relationships. I thought I should get on with it and came here to talk to you since Ashley and Ashal were occupied."

"And that’s what you call talking?" I snap at him with blazing eyes. Ashal puts a hand between us and William backs away.

"I was only messing with you. C’mon, you’re too uptight."

"Ok Will, I think we should call it a day. Demi, we’re leaving."

"I’m sorry man."

Ashal holds up a hand to cut off William’s apology. "I think you should leave, Will. You’ve made it abundantly clear that you harbor ill-will against Demi and you have no respect whatsoever for my brother or his relationship with her. This way, Demi."

I follow him out and find Lily downstairs clearing the dishes. Something about her doesn’t sit right with me. Ashal tells her we are not having dessert and goes to alert Ashley of our abrupt change of plans. I walk up to Lily. Her cheery smile seems to sicken me now.

"Which way to guest bathroom downstairs?"

"Oh, they’re out of order ma’am..."

"Which way???" Reluctantly, she points me to the direction. I tell Ashal I forgot something and leave to check out the bathrooms. When I get there, I shove open each of the doors. There seems to be mild renovations going on. Some of them lack a wash hand basin. There are broken tiles on the floor and some of the toilets don’t work properly. Sighing, I shut the door and return. Something about today doesn’t feel right but I can’t place my thumb on it.

"What’s with the cell reception here? I can’t get a call through. How do you communicate with your staff here if you can’t call them?" I ask Ashal as he shrugs into his jacket. Ashley is already at the car. Outside, William appears to be tendering apologies to him but Ashley is not having it.

"Oh, it’s bad up here but it’s not always like this. We get reception sometimes. Since I frequent this place, I keep putting off the plan to get a signal booster up here. We’ve not had any serious emergencies here. However, I’ll eventually get around to executing that plan but, in the meantime, I am enjoying the mini digital detox this place gives me." I mirror the smile he gives me.

"Hey, Demi, I am deeply sorry today was another shit show. I should have known better than to expect your ex to be civil around you and your new life partner."

"It’s okay. I knew this day didn’t feel right when Anna canceled on me. We’ll just hang out at the mansion and play games. You still owe me, though." I pat his shoulder as we leave together.

***

My visit might have been a disaster and I may not have achieved my aim but at least, the awkwardness of having William around is over. With the way things went down, I doubt any of the quads will be entertaining William soon. His relationship with Ashley is as good as over from what I can tell. Phew, good riddance.

Ashley is still stewing however. When we get home, mother notices because he barely gives her a proper greeting before heading up to his room. Ashal excuses his brother’s behavior and claims we all had a rough day but he doesn’t clarify. After he leaves, mother pulls me to the sofa.

"What happened? Why is he mad?"

"He had a tiff with a friend. He’ll get over it."

see to it that he

"I’ll try my best."

our attention to the door. I instantly recognize him

"Asher?"

wondering where he has been all day. He

He kisses

How was your

a smile. Did he spend it with Mila? I bet that’s why he bailed

you at the

confused. "What?" Mom also seems startled

the penthouse?"

Ashal took me there today." I retain the smile on my face as theirs wilt and pretend to miss the look exchanged by

a woman over there. I am just genuinely surprised and even happy that Ashal took you over there. Nothing says you’ve been fully accepted into this home like the quads sharing their haven with you. I’m glad you’ve earned it." Mom squeezes my cheek. When I look up at Ashton, his face is no longer

upstairs." He says

elevator. By the time I arrive on the first floor, Ashton is a few steps ahead of me on the hallway. He slows his pace like I expect him to

stranger. Been a

busy." He

"Game night?"

"Yeah, that."

"It was a wreck."

"Why?"

Ashely’s annoyance with William and the fact that William tried to get too close to me in a locked room. I moisten

where it started going downhill. Ashley had a fallout with his friend, William and tempers frayed. We botched the agenda for the visit and came back home two

head. "Nothing

"Shocking?"

and talked. Nothing too serious, except the conversation was really

drinking buddy was a guy or a girl. At the thought, I chastise myself for my immaturity.

at him, Ashton is gauging me. With a little smile, he bids me goodnight and continues

Ashley about William. Tonight was a lot. I know he didn’t get into it the whole ride back because of Ashal. We have to talk

"Ashley?"

as I poke my head into his room. He’s already changed into comfy casuals with blue light blocking glasses perched on his face, as he speaks with one of his suppliers on video

up his conversation as I walk in and turns to me. The glasses give him a sexy nerd

"What’s up?"

William’s behavior back at the penthouse. I had no idea he was going to be there until Ashal and I were almost at

just wish I didn’t hear it from him first that you two dated in

did, I just

I don’t have the prerogative to judge you. I’m not perfect myself. You don’t have to feel embarrassed about sharing your past with me." My eyes slant up

the past." His hand still lingers and

believe I know nothing about your life before Danvarr

it’s not so bad. We don’t need to bug ourselves down with unnecessary details." I

"They are not unnecessary..."

are the only family I know now. They’re my present. We might not always see eye to

that a No

asking." I cast my eyes downward like

might not share a bed but we could be really good friends you know. I’ll admit it hurt my feelings when William appeared to know so much more about you than I do. I don’t even know what you like or the type of games you’re into. It’s embarrassing." His laughter is low and pleased. "Can we change that? If not

you go on a date

puppy eyes make me

***

"Hey, Demi."

from the expresso machine to find Josh Randall behind me. I don’t know why he gives me chills despite

about to doubt he was the same raging bull that stormed into my office days earlier to chide me

apologize for the last time. I overstepped my boundaries and yelled at you over a personal matter that was purely an accident. I shouldn’t

I reiterate,

at Rollins HQ. We shouldn’t be holding grudges. I just wanted to apologize for upsetting you

you for your

and possibly have lunch together soon. It could be a great way

HQ but I don’t share this with him. Instead, I nod with a bright smile and wave him goodbye as I bring my coffee to my lips and slurp it. The expresso slides warm into my system, awakening my

penthouse, I whip out my phone to send him