Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 183: Chapter 183

ASHAL

Walking into my own company has never felt weirder. It feels like I have my clothes on backwards or there’s a sign with something mean scribbled on it stuck on my back. My staff welcomes me cheerfully but the awkwardness hangs thickly in the air. They have significantly dwindled in size.

This comes as no surprise to me. After our parent company took a hit, the impact spread across all subsidiaries. Sales tanked. Our goodwill staggered. Frankly, I consider it a miracle that we still have a standing building to return to instead of a vandalized property.

When I walk into my office and find Elyon making sure my desk is set right, a warm smile creeps into my face. He beams at the sight of me.

"Good to see you, Elyon." I shake his hand and pull him for a much-needed hug. He’s been holding down the fort for me ever since my family made the ugly side of the news. "I could never thank you enough for your support over the years."

"Welcome back, sir." He replies, gesturing to my seat till I sit down.

He pulls out a chair, plunks down on it and crosses his legs atop my desk. "It’s a pity I’m straight as a ruler and that gorgeous face belongs on a man. If you had been a woman, we might have worked something out seeing as I have recently returned to the dating market."

"What? She finally dumped you?"

"Plot twist. I DUMPED HER."

"Get out of here. For real?" I lean forward to listen to his story.

"Yes, dumping women isn’t the exclusive preserve of the Danvarr quads." He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Speaking of his eyes, they fasten on his hands as he recounts how everything happened. "Found her tinder profile still active. She’d been talking to this guy for over six months." He sighs heavily. "These bitches aren’t loyal, you feel me?"

Then dropping his legs and leaning forward, he steeples his hands with a mischievous look in his eyes. "You owe me big time for keeping this place running in your absence. Too bad you don’t have a sister with that pretty face of yours. That would have put a huge smile on my face."

I swallow hard and look away. "Yeah, too bad." With a nervous laugh, I run a hand over my desk and look around the room. I actually missed it.

"So, before you address everyone on your first day back, can I ask how things are on the home front? How’s everyone holding up?"

"Thanks man. Everyone’s doing great. We’re taking it one day at a time. Things are looking up."

"They sure are. The hate train is running out of steam." We share a smile. "Really glad to have you back, man. I mean that."

"Thanks, brother. I’ll be out in thirty minutes. Just need to center myself. Let the team know."

We shake hands once more before he leaves. I inhale deeply, lolling back on my chair. Quietness has never felt less lonely and more peaceful. A fond memory of Maddi bursting into my office with a ripe scowl on her face and an acerbic tongue ready to go off, makes me smile. Grabbing my phone, I dial her number. I didn’t have time to kiss her goodbye this morning. She must be stewing after walking up and realizing I left so early.

She picks up the phone on the third ring.

"Don’t be mad at me, Maddie." I utter, fully intending to play the pun. "I had to rush out this morning. Guess what? I just arrived in my office and the first thing I recalled as I sat on my chair was the thought of you bursting through my door and giving me an earful about what a devil I was for holding your sister hostage. In hindsight, maybe that’s when I started falling for you." A sheepish grin spreads across my face. "You look cute even when you’re fuming."

She sighs on her end. "Maddi is in the bathroom."

I sit upright in shock. "Olivia? I...didn’t know...."

"It’s okay. I’ll let her know you called."

up." I bite down on my lower lip. "How

If you really did, you wouldn’t ask me such a question as an afterthought and you

not like

to do this song and dance. I know where your loyalties lie. As soon as I give your family the baby they crave, this little drama where you all get to pretend like you give a shit

pick up Maddi’s call and hear all that? She almost had a pregnancy complication yesterday. The last thing I want is to cause her any more problems. I massage a throbbing spot on my temple, wondering how much of a mess I’ve made and if I should call Olivia’s phone. I don’t think she’ll take the call anyway. Like she

raps on my door twenty minutes later and pokes his head in.

right out." I dispel the worrisome thoughts cluttering my head and choose to carry

to have

though my mind has been whirling. Maddi hasn’t returned any of my calls all day. Her phone’s been switched off. It’s very

hear from my loved

everything

I toss aside my barely touched burger and call mother after lunch, because it feels easier

day going?" She replies

home? I haven’t been able to reach her all day. Can you

Olivia have been keeping me company all day. Just a second. Madeline? Can you come over here, dear? Ashal will

I’ve been trying to reach you all morning. Why is your

sorry. I accidentally dropped it from the balcony. I was trying to call you but my hands were slippery with my body

couldn’t reach you. You should have found a way to

us in the living room,

good to

feelings about my relationship with Maddi clear beside showing concern for her sister’s safety with me. When I assured her that I had gotten the help I needed and that I will never hurt Maddi, she hadn’t looked convinced. That was

my birthday party, she had walked in on us kissing in my bedroom. Her expression that night was more of disgust than anger. Hence, I can’t really fathom her feelings on the matter, whether it

new

I

ease, I double down and get some work done. While reviewing the names of the new hires that Elyon made in my absence, my eyes double in

office line.

***

appears in five seconds. "What’s

flash the papers at him. "Why the fuck did you hire

takes a good look at the resume.

he was up to that

was also prepared to receive half of what we pay interns. I thought I’d give him a shot. He’s

people to take his place." Flinging the resume, I plunk down on my seat and focus on more reports floating on my Mac book while Elyon watches me with a confused expression. "it’s not open to debate, Elyon.

just mopping floors,

mop MY floors. You

later, a meek looking Iman enters my office. His head hangs low when he locks eyes with

go stand in front of him. My fingers are jammed in the pocket of my pants to keep my clenched fists in check. "What’s the grand plan here, Iman? Don’t give me that silly excuse of being a changed person. I’ll break your nose before you’re done spouting

flash, he drops to his knees and clasps his hands. "Please sir, I beg you. Do not kick me out. I’ve been living off of food

wonder why." I snort

twice as hard to earn

under, there’s a staffing standard we can’t go below." I whip out my check book and scribble down on it before tossing it at him. "You better make good use of that to fix yourself up. Consider it a gesture of goodwill seeing as