Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 110

ASHER

Today has been unreal. Father has never spent this much time with me personally unless it had something to do with work. We’ve spent the first part of the morning in a private shooting range. Then we proceeded to play mini golf which father enjoys. Finally, we are at Soul foods to refuel ourselves after a fun but exhausting father/son day if I can call it that.

A small smile keeps playing on my lips no matter how much I try to get rid of it. I haven’t had this kind of quality time with father before and it beats me why he just spent over four hours of his morning with just me.

"Something on your mind?" He asks, quirking a brow at me as he butters his bread. I exhale and lean back on my seat.

"A lot actually."

"I was wondering when you would share."

I narrow my eyes at him while the smile remains in place. "You can’t blame me for finding all of this a bit strange, can you? I’ve lived with you all my life and yet, we’ve never really done anything like this."

"And by this you mean?"

"Bonding. I know we spend a lot of time together but mostly, we just talk shop or work. Today was different, unexpected and I want to know why."

He lets out a short laugh. "You boys are funny indeed. You complain that I suck at being a dad and when I make an effort, you get suspicious. Why can’t it be normal between us? Why do you have to have that suspicious glint in your eyes every time I break character to do something nice with my boys?"

"I appreciate the effort but you still didn’t answer my question."

He thought me to be this distrustful and to never let my guard down. I took that lesson too seriously and now, I don’t really trust anyone but myself. Brett Rollins rarely breaks character, unless you’re his wife, Barbara Rollins or his son, Josh Randall. When it’s outside those two, one should really not ignore their guts. Father regards me with his watchful eyes as I study his as well.

"That’s why you’re my favorite son. You remind me so much of my younger self."

I scoff at that. "Don’t. We both know who your favorite son is."

"No, you’re wrong. I love each of my sons for different reasons and I have favorites for different things. You’re my favorite because of your business acumen and your unwavering focus on what’s important. You indulge yourself in somethings and people I don’t approve of but in spite of such distractions, you remain laser focused on the goal ahead of you. No other son of mine is that focused. That’s why I love you the most in that regard."

I don’t know whether to feel giddy or silly. Did he just give me a pat on the back for refusing to live and being a slavish workaholic?

"And if I stopped being those things? Would you still love me?" I lean on the table and peer deeply into his eyes. "If I stopped expanding your business reach and net worth, if I stopped being relevant to the success of Rollins Empire say because I suddenly fell terminally ill, would you still consider me your favorite for whatever reason?"

He only laughs and sips his coffee. "You’re not planning on falling sick, are you? We have a lot planned for this quarter. We can’t afford any inconveniences. You know I need you every step of the way." At the disheartened look in my eyes, he leans back with a weird look in his eyes. "What is this about, Asher? Why are you testing me?"

"This is about Josh and how he never has to live up to any expectations to earn your unconditional love." I blurt out dryly. "This is about how you love him because you made him and how you will never toss him aside even if he gets crippled or blind or even dies."

"Hey, don’t say such things!"

"See? That’s what I am talking about." I slam my hands on the table, spilling our coffees on the white linen.

"Control yourself, Asher. You’re better than this."

"And if I am not? Huh? Would I be considered less than?"

"Everything okay here?" A waiter asks with a meek bow. Father assures him we’re fine and dismisses him gracefully.

"Why exactly did you bring me out here to pretend to spend time with me? Is it some kind of guilt over spending quality time with Josh but not my brothers and I?"

"You and your brothers hardly take me seriously when I want to spend time with you. You know how many times I have literally begged you to come eat with me here but you keep turning me down."

"I didn’t want to be a third wheel!" I snap at him. "You and I have worked at the company for so long. You never offered to eat with me or accepted my invitation but the moment Josh joined us, you made every lunch break a father-son date between both of you and you expect me to be thrilled at being invited to that?"

He shakes his head. "I have told you countless times that you and your brothers do not have to be jealous of Josh. He is not a threat to you and you all are in no competition for my heart. I love you all."

Ok. I am done with this delusion.

"Just ask me what you want to know, father. Enough with this charade."

Whatever it is, it has to be good since he spent a good amount of his precious time with me and not his favorite son. True to form, he nods his head.

"Fine. I want to know what your brothers have been up to."

I thought as much. He wants me to snitch on my brothers.

"Why would you think they’ve been up to anything?"

"I’m their father. I know them. They always get themselves into one sticky mess or another and you swoop in to clean their mess hopefully before I notice. I commend you for that, I really do. However, I know that you haven’t been able to tackle everything by yourself. There has to be loose ends. I just want you to tell me about them so I can help you tie them."

I shrug my shoulders. "There’s really nothing to tell. We’ve encountered a few snags here and there but nothing major. I’ve got it handled." I take a long sip of my coffee and beam at him over the rim of the cup.

"Since they learnt of Josh, Ashton and Ashal have drifted even further away from me." He dips his eyes remorsefully but I don’t buy the act. "I’m worried about them. Let’s start with Ashal. He’s gone and knocked up that wife of his. I don’t have to tell you that Olivia was always a short-term plan, just like Demi is. There’s no way in hell those women are birthing my grandchildren. I can’t allow it."

My mind flits to Demi who is also pregnant for Ashley. Father will freak out if he learns of it.

"Haven’t you been able to convince Ashal to divorce that woman? How long are we supposed to put up with that secret?"

I haven’t had time to investigate what is really going on between Ashal and Maddie. Whatever it is, I have to end it. The last thing we need is another saga featuring Olivia’s sister. I have to convince Ashal to take a worthy bride.

"He’s stubborn, father. You’ve met him. I have to be very careful so I don’t trigger him. It’s a dicey area. I’ll keep talking to him and let you know what he decides."

"And Ashley? Tell me he isn’t seriously considering hanging onto Demi till the contract expires." He gets suspicious over my silence. "Talk to me, Asher! You’re the only sane son I can rely on. You and I have been shouldered with the responsibility of shepherding your brothers. Don’t keep secrets from me because if they leak out and hurt the business, I won’t be able to trust your judgment again. I am asking you to confide in me if you know something so we can quietly nip them in the bud."

I clench and unclench my fingers. "Demi is pregnant."

Father remains eerily quiet for a few minutes. He works the anger bubbling inside him by gritting his teeth and breathing heavily.

"I’m handling it. I’ll force her to get rid of it before Ashley finds out. Yes, he is unaware for some reason. I don’t know why she lied to him about it but this works for us. If he catches a whiff of it, he’ll stubbornly want her to keep it. We can’t let that happen. Father," I reach for his hand. "Trust me, no one wants that woman out of our lives more than I do. I won’t let her trap my brother like that."

"And Olivia?"

Olivia has been discharged from the hospital. Ashal is very protective of her. There’s no way I can get past his security to get to her.

"I’m also handling it. If Ashal won’t end their marriage, I can talk to Olivia and convince her to leave him. I am sure she’s done with the relationship and wants out. That should be an easy sell."

"You plan to let her walk away just like that? You trust that she-devil not to seek our downfall the second she’s free?"

"I need you to trust me. She won’t go blabbing to anyone, not after everything. Her family has also been apprised of the risk if they try to talk. They’re done playing activists and heroes. They just want their daughter back and to lead a quiet and peaceful life."

Father expels a deep breath and finishes his coffee.

"Ashton. What’s up with him?"

"Nothing that I know of. He’s resigned to his fate as Mila’s would-be husband and the bane of Ashley’s marital life."

"No." Father disagrees, shaking his head. "He’s been too quiet and compliant with my decisions lately. If he wasn’t distracted by whatever it is he’s doing, he would have put up more resistance regarding his engagement. He doesn’t even give me his signature death stares anymore. He completely avoids me."

"You’re just being paranoid."

"I know he searched my study, Asher."

My fingers grow ice cold while holding the butter knife. I stare up at father.

"What?"

"You think I wouldn’t know if one paper is moved in my study? I know you deliberately lied to cover up for him when I found the mess. Even if you were in a hurry to find any documents relating to work in my study, you would have called me first to try to narrow down your search and there’s no way you would have made such a mess. Plus, I have cameras installed in there. I watched the whole thing. So, tell me, why was Ashton looking for your adoption papers?"

***

I fork some eggs and chew as calmly as I can.

"He was distraught to find out that you had another son. We got into a shouting match and a small fight. The truth about us being adopted slipped out. Ashton has been having a hard time swallowing that one so he refused to believe it until he saw the papers for himself."

I hope I am convincing enough. If father even suspects that someone has been feeding Ashton with defamatory lies against our parents, he’ll kill them in a blink of an eye. As for Ashton, I don’t know what father will do to him for believing the lies.

"Why didn’t he just ask me?"

"Two reasons. Firstly, he was and still is furious at you for the whole Josh situation and for not telling us all the truth of our adoption sooner. Secondly, he doesn’t believe you’ll tell him the truth so he chose to find out for himself. He thinks you’re a pathological liar." I scoop more eggs and chew with a wicked smile. Father only shakes his head.

"I didn’t find the adoption papers though." I throw in, treading cautiously. "Ashton is still interested in seeing them. Perhaps you could show them to me so I can put him out of his misery." I need to know that the adoption papers exist so my mind can stop drifting and making up scary assumptions as to how my brothers and I came to be heirs of the Rollins empire. I’d hate for anyone to challenge our inheritance later.

"That’s no problem at all. It’s in the safe in my bedroom. I’ll personally hand them over to him myself when we get home today."

The papers exist? Ashton’s informant was wrong then. Phew. I can’t believe how relieved I feel. Ashton will love to hear this.

"He’d love that. Hopefully, this will be the first step that leads to your reconciliation."

"I truly hope so."

We continue our brunch in companionable silence, until the last two people I want to see stroll in.

"Brett?"

"Kristy." Father returns with a smile at his baby mama. He stands up to hug her while Josh grins next to his mother. I tighten my fingers around my bread knife and swear in my head. You’ve got to be kidding me.

When they ask to join us, I stare daggers at father before turning to grab my gear. He closes a hand over my shoulder to keep me in place.

"As much as I’d love to, I already promised my son here that today was going to be just me and him, right Asher?"

Flustered, I turn to Kristy and her son who have shock written all over their faces and relish ever bit of it.

"Yes. That’s right."

"I trust you can understand." Father continues. "I am trying to share my spare time bonding with ALL my sons now. It’s what a good father would do."

"It’s okay, dad. We get it."

Josh’s reply grates on my nerves. Once a brownnoser, always a brownnoser. Mother and son feign an understanding smile before going to get their own table.

Father plunks down on his seat and gauges my reaction. I know he expects some kind of appreciation for the nothing he just did by giving me, his oldest son, his precious time but I refuse to give him any accolades. If ours was a normal father-son relationship, I wouldn’t have to coerce him to do that much for me.

We share ten more minutes to ourselves within which time father attends to a few emails on his phone while I keep texting on my phone. I am waiting to hear from a few people today regarding a few things. They assure me over text that all is going well.

My phone buzzes with a new message.

"I have to go. I’ve got other appointments."

"Now? I just declined eating with them so we can spend more time alone."

I glance behind at Kristy and Josh who keep stealing glances at us.

"Don’t act like you brought me out here to bond with me. You got the answers you wanted. We don’t have to keep up appearances. I’ve got to go. You’re welcome to rejoin your other family. I won’t take it personally. Just don’t forget to give Ashton the papers tonight."

"I won’t."

Before I leave, I give him a hard stare. "I understand that Josh is your son and he deserves your attention too. However, I sincerely hope your relationship with his mother isn’t deeper than it looks. You know better than to toy with my mother’s feelings again."

"Have a great day, Asher. I’ll meet you at home."

I say nothing and leave him to his business.

Nessa’s text is a pleasant surprise. I have been craving a woman’s touch all day. Since I already contacted Iman’s friends to help me take care of Demi today, I feel some type of way going over to Anna’s place. I don’t know if I’ll be able to pretend around her. Plus, she’s always going to talk about Demi every thirty minutes. I’d hate to be reminded of something I feel slightly guilty about. I want to be distracted as much as possible until I get the text from my men that tells me the job has been done.

I’m a little worried too, especially with father’s piqued interest in what my brothers have been up to. Maybe I should have enlisted his help after all.

No, I was right not to. I can’t work with father. No one can. He only has people work for him. If I let him in on my plans, he’ll just do what he feels is the best solution and ignore my rules. Left to him, he’ll have Oliver disappear off the face of the earth. He’ll make Ashley divorce Demi using the dirtiest tricks in the book. I guess I learnt all that from him, except the killing part. That one is still a bit difficult for me to stomach.

"Hey." I kiss Nessa on the lips the moment she slides into my car after I pull up at her place. It’s always refreshing seeing her outside work. "You smell good." I add, nuzzling her neck. She smiles sheepishly.

"I missed you. You never call me."

"I’m sorry. My weekends are swamped." You know how it is." I kiss her again, my fingers teasing her buttons.

"Do you have time now?" She asks with a sexy glint in her eyes.

"Yeah. How’d you know? I just finished brunch with my dad. I have a few hours to kill. Let’s go to our usual place."

"Sure."

***

I didn’t mean to fall asleep but when I open my eyes, it’s already dark outside. Nessa is purring softly next to me. How the hell did I lose track of time? I rush for my phone. My men must have tried to contact me regarding Demi.

A startled gasp escapes my lips when I realize I have a bunch of missed calls. How did I not hear my phone ring? Why is there no call from those buffoons I hired? Just as I am about to dial them, Ashton’s call comes through.

"Hey, Ash. I’m sorry I missed your call..."

"Where the fuck are you, Asher?"

"Wow. Calm down bro. What’s with the rage?

"WHERE.THE.FUCK.ARE.YOU?" He repeats icily. My mind can only think of one thing. Have my men already delivered? Why haven’t they called to inform me? Shit. If Ashton intercepts my plan, that will be terrible.

"What’s going on, Ashton? Talk to me clearly."

He huffs out a breath. It’s almost like he wants to reach across the phone to wring my neck. "You’re not getting away with it this time. I’ll make sure you pay dearly for this!"

Did Demi manage to call him? Did Iman show his face at the scene and make it easy for Demi and Ashton to surmise that her situation is my doing? I try to stay calm and play ignorant.

"You keep this up and I am going to hang up on you. I have no freaking idea what you’re talking about here, Ashton. What are you accusing me of this time?"

"DEMI’S IN THE ICU BECAUSE IMAN ATTACKED HER, YOU ASSHOLE! I KNOW YOU DID THIS. I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN PROTECTING HIM FROM ME FOR SOMETHING THIS SHADY. SHE LOST HER PREGNANCY, ASHER. SHE LOST ASHLEY’S UNBORN CHILD! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED, WASN’T IT? YOU SENT HIM AFTER HER TO DO SOMETHING SO EVIL. SHE BARELY SURVIVED. I HOPE YOU HAVE TIME TO REHEARSE YOUR DEFENSE BEFORE ASHLEY SEES YOU."

"Wait, Ashton, I didn’t..." He hangs up before I can get a sentence in. I stare at my phone in shock. Demi lost the baby? While that was my eventual plan, a few things don’t add up.

She wasn’t supposed to be attacked. My instruction was to have her kidnapped and taken to a place where I can threaten her to terminate her pregnancy or face harsher conditions in the mansion.

I was going to paint her worst fears; the same image which I overheard her telling Anna, the image of Olivia’s life. I know Demi would have succumbed if she knew her freedom would be taken away. I never asked those buffoons to harm her to the point that she’s fighting for her life.

I quickly move to the bathroom, turn on the shower and dial Rodrigo, the perceived leader of the three fools. freёnovelkiss.com

"Boss."

"Don’t you dare boss me. What the hell have you done? Why are you idiots so terrible at taking instructions? I never asked you to harm or hurt her. I asked you to whisk her away to the house. What part of that didn’t you understand? How could you attack and injure her so badly? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?"

"Boss, we never got to her. While we were tailing her, another car ran us off the road and went after her. When we managed to get back on the road, we had already lost her. I’m so sorry boss but we didn’t attack her. I’m sorry we failed you."

"What? If you didn’t do it, then who did?"

My mind begins to spin. Holy fuck. I rush out of the bathroom startling Nessa who is yawning. My eyes track to the wine and food we had. I grab my glass and sniff it.

"You laced my drink with a sleeping pill, didn’t you?"

"What?"

When I smash the glass cup against the wall, Nessa screams and cowers in fear. My hand closes around her neck.

"I thought it was surprising to get your call out of the blue. Then we had a great time and I slept like a log of wood. I NEVER SLEEP THAT DEEP, NESSA. You know this. You spiked my drink. Who asked you to distract me? Speak up!" I snarl, squeezing her throat. "Who put you up to this? Was it my father? Answer me!"

"YES!" She croaks weakly, then tumbles off the bed when I release her and bursts into a wild coughing fit on the floor. I stagger back in shock.

Father did this? He almost had Demi killed? How am I supposed to defend myself to my brothers now when father is going to play the saint and hand over the adoption papers to Ashton, thereby debunking the theory that questions the willingness of our biological parents to surrender us to him? If he does that, my brothers will hardly believe he is behind this.

If she pulls through this, Demi will also have reasons to point accusing fingers my way because she suspects I knew about her pregnancy after Anna’s place. It’s an open secret that I don’t like her in the mansion. I will be everyone’s suspect.

Ashley and mother will never forgive me for the death of the unborn baby. Ashton will bray for my blood because he perceives that Demi’s condition is the result of delaying Iman’s punishment.

Shit. Father played me.

How do I get myself out of this mess now?