Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 70: Chapter 70

ASHTON

Demi stands in front of a mannequin with different shades of fabric loosely wrapped around it and secured with a pin. She inclines her head as she tries to imagine what Ashley must have been envisioning for the dress.

I am seated on a couch behind her, raking the opulent space. Demi was right, pulling off Ashley Rollins now runs beyond spiffy clothes and a similar face. He has managed to create a whole world of his own. I can’t even bring myself to feel at home on his desk. Even from the chair, I continue to twitch with discomfort.

His space is more cluttered than I prefer. Yet, everything is very organized. His walls are a source of inspiration for his genius. Instead of the award plaques to festoon his shelves and walls, he has the portraits of every fashion icon he admires and some upbeat quotes to keep him motivated.

I have been over here quite a few times but I never really pay attention to his impeccable décor and organization. I usually stroll in to pull Ashley away from work to go out with me. Being here now without him to distract me, I am getting a fresh glimpse of his world and the way he thinks. THIS is intimidating.

"What was that?" Demi asks, turning.

I didn’t realize I said that last bit out loud. I lean back on the couch. "Everything here. How can one person make a place so chaotically organized?"

It’s hard to fault it. His office is a study of complication and beauty. A lot of people could never pull it off. Is this how Ashley’s head is? Is this why he is able to pull himself up despite the storms that threaten to upend his peaceful life? He knows which pins to pull and the dress on the mannequin will take form or fall apart, depending on what he wants.

Demi chuckles. "You brothers say the nicest things about one another mostly when the person being spoken about is absent. Ashley will give his limbs to hear you admit you find him intimidating." She continues to his desk and eases a hip on it. "The night we discovered the box, he admitted that you intimidate him because of how consistent you are at being your unapologetic self. He finds it annoying sometimes, especially when you still don’t budge at your father’s presence or orders."

"So, you guys did discuss me."

"We were playing a game." She comes to sit next to me. "I asked him his favorite and least favorite brothers. He asked me right back. I can’t tell you Ashley’s responses but would you like to know what my answers were?"

My heart skips a beat as her eyes linger on mine. We are too close, and alone in her husband’s massive office/ work station. I surge to my feet and move to Ashley’s table. "This doesn’t feel right."

"Ashton, I didn’t mean it like that. It was just a simple question and answer..."

"Not that, THIS." I say, gesturing everywhere and nowhere. "It’s too fucking quiet. Why has she been quiet? If Ashley were here, she would have left something or done something by now to give him goosebumps. Why is she so fucking quiet? Does she know he isn’t in town? Is there a spy in our midst?"

"Okay, calm down."

"It’s been four days already. I promised Ashley he will be back to sleeping without pills when he returns but nothing is going according to plan. Why do you think that is?" Demi comes to stand by my side.

"You’re doing the best you can. I’m sure she’ll show up soon. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re the brains behind this operation. From the brawn to the brain, stop overthinking." I laugh now at her joke. "What? You don’t believe I am the brawns in this equation? Don’t underestimate me." She bunches up her sleeve to show me her arm muscle. "I can knock you out with a single punch."

I pull her sleeve down. "Why risk your arm stinging with pain when you can knock me out easily with..." Our eyes meet and hold. Again, we’re too close and very alone. Her hand is still tucked in mine when I look down. I rub my hand over my throat. "I’m parched. Could you..."

"Yes, um, the lounge." She says, heading for the door. "I’ll be right back with some water. Drinks? No drinks. Okay." She concludes when my eyes widen. We can’t drink a jot here. It’s be the craziest idea. We are on the clock too. We can’t afford to miss any clues or signs of the blackmailer.

While I wait for her, I flip through the papers on Ashley’s table. A little sound to my left catches my attention. Ashely’s bookshelf is moving. I hear the jiggle of locks that seem to be coming from inside the wall. The next thing I realize, the shelf that ostensibly holds a collection of fashion magazines shoves open like a full-length door.

I hide behind it, hoping Demi doesn’t return now and scare the intruder away. My hand tightens in a fist as I prepare to knock out the intruder the second her head becomes visible.

When she steps out, I reel back my arm to strike her the same time she turns to face me. Scared, she doubles over in fright and shields her face as a startled cry of shock escapes her lips. I look closely, stopping myself.

"What the fuck, Ashley? It’s just me."

"Nicci?" Shit. Nicola is here? Ashely never mentioned a secret passage to me. Why would he forget something like that? Nicola stands straight and scoops her hair out of her eyes. She’s wearing a trench coat. Her eyes are ablaze with anger.

"Nicola." I repeat, a bit flustered to see her.

"Who else were you expecting to pop out of the secret passage you built exclusively for me?" She asks, shutting the door. There’s hardly any trace that a door is even there. She plunks her bag on the nearest couch and scowls at me. "Why are you being so weird like you’ve seen a ghost. Don’t tell me you expected me to fall for that bullshit about devoting your time only to your wife. I don’t see her, do you?"

Where the hell is Demi with that water? Nicci pulls my head with both hands and smashes her lips to mine in a feral kiss. When I gently try to stop her, she only grows more resilient. Out of the corner of my eye, I make out a silhouette by the door and shove her harder.

"What’s your problem, Ash?" Nicci yells before glancing at the door where Demi stands with two cold bottles of water.

"YOU BITCH" In two leaps, she streams across the room and smacks Nicola very hard across the face. Nicci staggers backwards. Before she can recover from the shock, I watch Demi force open the caps on the bottles and spritz the cold water all over Nicola while the latter yelps in shock.

back from wreaking havoc. Nicci’s mascara

to him again and I’ll

of the managers pokes his head in, I instantly dismiss him and demand

Demi. Take

chest heaving with breath. "Kick her out, NOW! Do it or I will drag her by her cheap extensions all the way through those offices down

this livid. I wonder if she remembers that I am wearing her husband’s clothes and pretending to be him. This reaction of hers is too passionate for what Ashley is

claw Nicci’s eyes out, for me! I ignore the heady feeling that comes with knowing how

in and out." Her eyes fixate on mine as she follows my lead.

are you falling for her antics?

"SHUT UP NICCI."

you continue to turn a blind eye to her faults? She’s playing you." I give her burning look as my phone begins to ring. "Get out of here. You have

plucking her bag off the couch and stomping her

are you doing this

other way,

mascara-stained face. I finally pick up my

my keys and gesture Demi towards the door. "I’m on my

Demi pesters me

her, Tobias

***

and Ashal hovering over a beautiful lady seated at a corner

okay?" I ask

to the table where a piece of white cloth covers a gun.

pick it up. It’s an airsoft

fuck is

surprised at

did," She gestures at Ashal." Why don’t you believe me? I already gave you my manager’s number. Call him and you’ll see my story checks out. I don’t know what else to tell you." She crosses her arms over her chest

what’s going on?" Demi moves to him. "Who’s this

I was meant to be on a blind date with canceled but THIS stranger showed up and convinced me that she was my date. We got talking only for me to get a call about my date, Blake, being unable to make it here. Then Shay here introduced herself to me

he appears strong, I can tell Ashal would have been startled

is just the character I was

grab Shay’s chair and pull her towards me. "You better start making sense or I’ll forget that you’re a woman and make you talk."

walked similarly to the woman in the footage from Ashley’s office. Asher already tried her

already checked Zoe. Who the hell

Asher quizzes her as he pulls out a chair and plunks down on it. "What time

four pm today to get myself ready for a scene. Look, I am a struggling actress, okay? I work two waitressing jobs and audition for small roles every now and then. The money can be quite good when my manager drives a hard bargain for me. He wants me to bang him but

what we asked." I

and continues her story. "Said manager sent over a package to my work at a lousy restaurant downtown and called me to find someone to take over my shift. He hurriedly explained the basics of my role over the phone and that everything else I’ll need had

time crunch. I even did my makeup in the hotel bathroom downstairs. The dress is a gift from Sebastian, my manager. It’s the best thing in my wardrobe. I came here, met him and tried to answer his question as glibly as I could." Her eyes skirt around the room. "I did think it was weird that there were no crew members in sight but I went along with it up until I pulled the gun on him only for him to rudely snatch it from me and accuse me of trying to hurt him. Then he detained me here. I don’t know what else to tell

the

was in

Ashal aside. "Who else knew about your

no idea who this woman is or who hired her to say those things to me. She explicitly said she wants the head of her father’s murderer!" He runs a

her out. There are still some holes in her

traffic hits." Shay echoes. "I don’t live in the upscale part of the city like you guys. If I don’t beat the traffic, I won’t be able to find a cab back to my dingy flat." She leaps to her feet and snags her purse. "It was definitely not nice meeting the Rollins quads. You guys are rude as hell and I’ll make sure my circle of friends know this." She turns on her heels

let her walk away?"

get our men to check

even know about your blind date but this person did and intercepted your date.

can’t be serious."

I didn’t call any

badly want to

you suddenly defensive? Do you have something to

seriously." At the steely look

am glad he’s back to his bubbly self but slightly disappointed that I wasn’t able to make good my