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."

down on my lower lip. "How are you? Does

You don’t have to pretend to care. If you really did, you wouldn’t ask me such a

not like

give your family the baby they crave, this little drama where you all get to

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 said, it’ll be painfully obvious that calling to check on

raps on my door twenty minutes later and pokes his head in. "We’re ready

cluttering my

joins me to

be in the moment even 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 unlike her. Is everything okay at the mansion? I hope Olivia didn’t give her sister a hard

Elyon. "I hate it when I don’t hear from my loved ones regularly, especially this period.

sure everything

with every bite of food I have. Eventually, I toss aside my barely

your day going?" She replies

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

a second. Madeline? Can you come over here, dear? Ashal will like to speak with you." I hear her saying. There’s a bit of static interruption before Maddi’s beautiful voice sails

relief. "Baby, what happened? I’ve been

I was trying to call you but my hands were slippery with my body

reach you. You should have found a way to

Liv. Can you believe Liv stepped out of her room today? She joined us in the living room, saw a movie with us and even did some laps in the swimming pool. I think she’s starting to feel better about

good

assured her that I had gotten the help I needed and that I will never

feels seeing Maddi and I together. During my birthday party, she had walked in on us kissing in my bedroom. Her expression that night was more of disgust than anger. Hence,

a new phone. Keep it handy,

Thanks. I

I double down and get some work done. While reviewing the names of the new hires that

Elyon’s office line.

***

appears in five

him. "Why the fuck did you

look at

police record spanning rape, theft and assault. He’s also got a huge employment gap of five years! Ever wonder what he was up to that entire time, Elyon? For goodness’ sake, what the hell were you thinking hiring just

really desperate for honest work. He was also prepared to receive half of

focus on more reports floating on my Mac book while Elyon watches me with a confused expression. "it’s

just mopping

to mop MY floors. You

a meek looking Iman enters my office. His head hangs low when he locks

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

hands. "Please sir, I beg you. Do not kick me out. I’ve been living off of food stamps for the past two months. I’ve tried to get a job elsewhere

I wonder why." I

I promise I have no ill intent. I promise to work twice as hard to earn a place here. I just really need a steady

Even if my company is down and 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.