Four Brothers and a Bride

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.

is. I’ll let you know but thank you for a wonderful evening." I

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

in the establishment since our blind date happened. After she

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

the receptionist and ask to speak with the hotel manager. She gladly puts a call through to him. Rather than talk to me

hospitable thought, Mr. Rupert but

you say

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

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

a hard time the last time we met. I just want to help her out. My accountant will be in touch with you.

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

sure Cree is contacted and hired the

***

resumed work at the bar weeks ago, I have avoided drinking there. My other dates with the women Elyon picked for me doesn’t pan out well because of my fixation with Cree.

you the last time?" He asks me as I prepare to go on yet another date with a stranger just to convince myself that I am trying

over and done with?"

a happy ending? First, I got stuck with Olivia by Asher’s doing. Despite falling for her, she never reciprocated my feelings genuinely. The second woman I think I might be crushing on is

has Nessa pining for him. Ashton has Demi’s heart and Mila’s too. Ashley has Nicola and now Demi too who has been working hard to make their marriage successful. Why am I the only brother whose love story

I wait 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 well,

to be kidding

at me. What the hell is she doing here? Oh fuck. I forgot

meeting right 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 much she

in her mini dress. Did she really come out here to seduce her date in such a skimpy outfit? When she notices my eyes accidentally lingering on her

don’t expect any less from the Rollins’ quads. Your promiscuity

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

"Mr. Ashal?"

deny it. I am the only one who calls her Maddie. My brothers always call

"How could you even think of cheating on my sister after everything you’ve done to her?

going on a blind date with strangers? Are you that desperate to

What’s her hurry? Then I remember she’s practically

tired of her, LET HER GO." Tears shimmer in her eyes as her voice wavers. "Divorce and send her back to us. My family is not the same without Liv.

words and brush past her to make my way out of the bar. Long after I am back

"Get in."

continues walking down the busy road while I follow her closely in my

Don’t be stubborn. You can’t walk around like that. There are bad people everywhere and with what you have on,

the back seat. We say nothing to each

***

email." Cree says while we share her break together. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I had to see her, meet her and talk to

last time. I am sorry about my brothers and I. We mistook you

that she’s completely innocent of the accusations levied against her but I don’t care about that right now. If my brothers find out about this, I’ll justify my action as a pretense to keep an eye on her and investigate her connection to Shay, just

"Are you still acting?"

have no need to jeopardize it by juggling an acting career that’s yet to take

woman is her normal self around me. She isn’t fazed by my business portfolio or bank account or even my family name. It’s refreshing to be around someone who is their real,

like you’re really passionate about acting. I have a few friends in the film industry. I could put in a good word for you if

but twenty grand is way too much to pay a rookie waitress with no real experience working in a place like this. You did that for me and

stare into her beautiful eyes while resisting the urge to

Is that good

her eyes. "Even though I am totally kissing you senseless in my head right now, I’ll just say thank you out loud to preserve my job." She had meant it on a light note but my breath catches still. Her smile wilts as she

I am totally kissing you in my

I drop her off at her new

into

hell are you guys doing?" I grumble as Ashton opens my blinds and bright light washes in. I was just enjoying another kiss with Cree in my dream. Ashley yanks

roars. They all stand

when one is asked to read a new article. What else has been written about

kissing Cree outside the Grand Casa hotel after her shift. She has been tagged my mystery girlfriend and details of my influence in getting her the job and even her

tag it as adultery and hammers heavily about my rumored marriage to a

Maddie!