Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 85

Chapter 85: Chapter 85

It felt good to be reminded of who Olivia was when we first met and all the qualities I admired about her. The blind date with Cree awoke those memories in my head. Despite how badly the day ended, I still recall fondly the earlier bits before Cree got all crazy and pulled a gun on me.

Despite the fact that she admitted to playing out a script, I like to tell myself that her laughter and smiles that day were all real. We did have a connection. I felt the sparks and if she’s being honest, she’ll admit it too.

Elyon has been trying to get me back out in the dating scene since that fiasco but I keep turning him down.

"Come on, you can’t just back out because the last date was a shit show. You have to go on several dates to find the one." Elyon pressed every day at work.

"I don’t have time for that."

"Yes, you do. This isn’t the HQ. We have time to breathe here and you are our boss. Of course, your time is more flexible to accommodate important matters. Dating is important too. Look, Blake is available to go out with you. She’s sorted herself out. Your first date, Madeline, is still a bit pissed but I am sure my sister can convince her to give you another shot but you’ll have to aim to impress this time around, especially with Madeline. Cher has added five more girls to the list that accurately fit your description. I have seen these ladies and I can tell you that the beautiful ones have indeed been born. Please say yes and I will handle the rest."

Elyon’s pressure got worse with each passing day till I finally gave in. I had a nice time with Cree before the glint of the fake gun. Maybe I can still meet someone else and strike a connection like I did with Cree.

"Okay, her name is Amber and she works in an insurance company." Elyon fills me in while I put on my neck tie. I am feeling nervous putting myself out there again.

The date is scheduled for 7pm but I am going in two hours earlier like Cree had mentioned she did to get over the jitters and scope out the venue. Though the venue is still the same hotel bar as the last time, completely rented out again, I still want to go over and be there when my date walks in.

"No, no." I cut Elyon off. I can’t speed date. Let’s leave at one girl per date."

"Fine. I’ll reschedule your date with Lorraine." He flips his phone closed and stuffs it in his pocket just as my phone starts to ring on my desk. "Ooh, Olivia’s calling. Who’s that?" He asks, passing the phone to me.

I abandon my askew neck tie and snatch the phone from his hand. "No one."

"Woah, do you mean to tell me you have other chicks? And here I am worrying about your single status when you apparently have a woman. You’ve got to fill me in later. I’ve earned the right to know about your extracurriculars with the opposite gender."

I don’t acknowledge his dry attempt at humor and decline Olivia’s call.

"Seriously?"

"There’s nothing to talk about, Elyon. Give it a rest."

"Okay, sir. It’s laid to rest. Now, are you sure you want to go sit at the bar so early? Your date is by 7pm."

"I’m sure."

"Alright then. All the best, boss. I promise this time everything will go smoothly."

When I get to the Grand Casa hotel, I head straight to the bar. A table has been tastefully decorated just for my date and I with roses and a bucket of ice cradling a bottle of white wine.

I find it impressive. Yet somehow, I keep eyeing the stools at the bar where Cree and I had sat. That would have simpler. The bar tender welcomes me and I echo his pleasantries.

I take my seat and expel a deep breath. While I wait for my date, memories of my time here with Cree keep surfacing in my memory. I struggle to keep them at bay so I would enjoy my new date with an open mind. Amber arrives later, wearing a black and red ensemble. She looks gorgeous. Her curvy body makes my heart race.

"Amber Knightly." She says, offering a hand.

"Ashal Rollins." I reply, shaking her soft hands. "You have very beautiful hands." I add, then hate myself for the awkward observation.

"Thank you." Amber sits and crosses her legs. "This is a beautiful spread." She gestures to the table.

"Yeah. I’m glad you like it."

Our entrée arrives. We get talking. She’s a smart talker with a beautiful laugh. I genuinely find a lot of her jokes funny. Amber turns out to be more than a pretty face. We have such a wonderful time going through our second and third courses. We even share our desserts like a lovestruck teenage couple.

"That was great." I tell her, helping her put on her jacket.

"I thought so too. The media doesn’t do you any justice. You’re so much fun in person."

I hide a small blush at her compliment and steer her our of the elevator which opens up to the reception hall on the ground floor.

"Can I see you again?" Amber asks with a huge smile. I look atop her head to the far end where the receptionist watches with disdain as the security escorts a lady out of the premises. I recognize the strut. Cree. She’s yelling expletives at the management as she leaves on her own steam.

"Ashal?" Amber calls me.

could make it to this date. You know how crazy busy my life is. I’ll let you know but thank you for a wonderful evening." I lean down to kiss her cheeks. "I’ll have someone drop you home. Accept the little

indirect rejection. Wordlessly, she turns and leaves. Two minutes later, the driver I instructed to drop her off calls to tell me that Amber refused the ride in the limo and thrashed the flowers I got her. However, she grabbed the diamond necklace

since our blind date happened. After she watched

she came in with dark shades, strutting like a model to hide her identity since she is banned from coming back to the hotel except as a guest. She was discovered while trying to bribe one of the guards to help her and was kicked out as I

manager. She gladly puts a call through to him. Rather than talk to me over the phone, the manager chooses to make an appearance and

Mr. Rupert but this won’t

you say

want you to hire someone for my sake. It’s a young woman who is in need of a job as a waitress here, particularly at the bar on the fourth floor. She might not be refined enough for your taste but I am hoping you will be willing to groom and train her to fit into your esteemed

me a benign smile. "A recommendation from you, Mr. Rollins, is weighty around here. I’ll look into

want to help her out. My accountant will be in touch with you. I want you to top her salary with my quoted amount. The extra pay will be handled by my firm. Of course, you will be generously rewarded for your

hoot of laughter ensues. "Thank you so much, Mr. Rollins. I’ll personally see to it and

pay attention and make sure Cree is contacted and

***

my fixation with Cree. The ladies always keep complaining

I prepare to go on yet another date with a stranger just to convince myself

Can we just get this over and

Asher’s doing. Despite falling for her, she never reciprocated my feelings

Nicola and now Demi too who has been working hard to make their marriage successful. Why am I the only brother whose

for my date who is running very late. I check my wrist watch. It’s been over an hour. Indifferent, I down the rest of my bourbon and wipe my lips. Oh

got to be kidding

find Maddie staring daggers at me. What the hell is she doing here? Oh fuck. I forgot

now?" Here eyes narrow at me as she tries to guess. "Well, are you going to tell me which Ash Rollins you are???" Her voice is bitter, her face pinched with rage and disgust. She hates my family so

really come out here to seduce her date in such a skimpy outfit? When she notices my eyes accidentally lingering on her cleavage,

expect any less from the Rollins’ quads. Your promiscuity

the wrong nerve. "And you? What precedes you, Maddie? Angst? Frustration over your family’s condition?" I let my eyes

"Mr. Ashal?"

one who calls her Maddie. My brothers always

you’re on a date???" She plunks her bag on the table and crosses her arms. "How could you even think of cheating on my sister after everything you’ve done to her? You’re a heartless

blind date with strangers? Are you that desperate to throw yourself at any man that will have you? What right do

like twenty-one? What’s her hurry? Then I remember she’s practically Demi’s age but

HER GO." Tears shimmer in her eyes

past her to make my way out of the bar. Long after I am back in my car, I wait till Maddie comes out. I don’t know why I can’t let her go

"Get in."

walking down the busy road

around like that. There are bad people everywhere and with what you have on, they’ll just think you’re

my tone, then begrudgingly gets into the back seat. We say nothing

***

we share her break

least I could do for everything you went through the last time. I am sorry about my

against her but I don’t care about that right now. If my brothers find out about

"Are you still acting?"

by juggling

even my family name. It’s refreshing to be around someone who is their real, goofy self for once. I like them with what society will

acting. I have a few friends in the film industry. I could put in a good word

to pay a rookie waitress with no real experience working in a place like this. You did that for me and now

into her beautiful eyes while resisting

I can. Is that good

right now, I’ll just say thank you out loud to preserve my job." She had meant

kissing you in

in my car after her shift hours later. I drop her off at her new apartment which I

next day, my brothers burst into my room first

washes in. I was just enjoying another kiss with Cree in

He roars. They all stand around my

pick it up. It’s never a good sign when one is asked to read a

a bold picture of me kissing Cree outside the Grand Casa hotel after her shift. She has been tagged my mystery girlfriend

adultery and hammers heavily about my rumored marriage to a woman named Olivia Dunn. Olivia’s picture is even splattered across the blogs. My fingers curl into fists

Maddie!

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