Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 84

DEMI

I wake up to Ashton smiling beautifully at me as he plays with my hair. He looks so good. When my eyes slide down his bare chest, thoughts of our passionate night together cause a crimson blush to spread across my face.

I recall his face contorting as he moved over me, our tangled hands, our synced breaths. My body never felt more alive, more sensitive. He outdid himself and shattered all my sexual fantasies about us, filling my head with new, graphic and sensory images. It’s too good to be true.

"Good morning, beautiful." His fingers trace my jaw. "How was your night?" Mischief twinkles in his eyes.

It’s too good to be true, I repeat in my head as memories of my anniversary dinner with Ashley overshadows my passionate sex memory. Eyes wide with shock, I look down at my naked form underneath the blanket and swallow a heart wrenching scream. Did I really sleep with Ashley? How drunk was I? How could I go so far?

"Are you okay?"

I flinch at his touch now, fully aware of who is in bed with me.

"Mmhmm." I avoid his eyes and the shock welling up inside me when I take in our clothes littered on the floor.

The memories are coming back now. I wasn’t that drunk and though I knew Ashley had brought me to my room, I did imagine he was Ashton. I desperately wanted him to be with Ashton so he could satisfy the need inside me.

I should have pretended to drift off to sleep. I shouldn’t have reciprocated the kiss. I kept giving him all the wrong signs while my body ached for Ashton whom I have missed terribly.

Somehow, my desperation to feel his touch convinced me to pretend it was Ashton in my room. The alcohol made it easy. I gave myself willingly as though Ashton had done all of that to my body. But it’s morning now and reality has struck. I can’t even look at myself or Ashley who is trying to understand my coyness.

"It’s a little too late to feel shy." He says, still playing with my hair. He isn’t wearing anything either.

In my head, I am off the bed with the blanket bunched around me, screaming bloody murder to be left alone and sobbing as a misplaced sense of guilt for betraying Ashton overtakes me.

In my head, I am cussing, throwing things at and screaming at Ashley for yielding to me while I was not completely sober but who can blame him? I have been very cozy around him for the last few days. One would almost think I no longer have a problem being intimate with my contract husband. He had every right to not doubt my willingness share that special moment with him under the circumstance.

I only have myself to blame for this. What hurts the most is that I can’t lash out. I can’t have Ashley doubt me again or question my loyalty. Regrettably, I have to stay in character to keep the steam rolling on my grand plan. So, as much as it kills me inside, I allow him kiss me hard on the lips.

"Thank you. Last night was magical."

All I do is beam up at him.

"Wish I didn’t have so much work today. I would have loved to stay in bed with you."

"I have to get ready too." I mumble, then clear my throat. "Lots to do too." With one last kiss on my forehead, he leaps off the bed. The sight of his ass cheeks has me looking away sharply. There’s only so much I can take. He chuckles at my reaction while he shrugs into his clothes.

"You hungry?"

"Yeah. I’ll be down soon."

"I’ll be waiting." He flings his shirt across his shoulder while his pants ride low on his waist. After winking seductively at me, he exits my room. Can he be more obvious we just had sex last night?

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until the door clicks shut. I cradle my head in my hand and bite down on my lips. What the hell have I done? How could I have let this happen? I mean I always dreamed of doing this with a face like that but not with Ashley! I wanted to do it with Ashton. I brush off the moistness in my eyes and harden my face. I can’t get emotional about this. These sentiments will only come in the way of my plans.

"Suck it up, Demi Branson. You enjoyed every bit of it last night. The same way you pretended you were doing with Ashton, keep that narrative going in your head if it makes you feel better. No sentiments, remember? Ashton isn’t yours. Keep your head in the game."

Despite how much I repeat that, my hands still tremble. I still feel nauseated and want to slap myself repeatedly on the face for everything. I allow myself to wallow in regret and self-pity for ten minutes just to purge myself of the emotions flowing through me so I can get on with my day.

After a few more tears, hair pulling, pillow tossing and gritting of teeth, I roll off the bed with the blanket wrapped around me. My morning face is further crumpled by a conspicuous frown at my messy room.

I shake my head every two seconds so the vivid images from last night will fizzle away. I walk into the bathroom to have a bath. Done, I return to my room, fully dressed for the day, slicked in a basic outfit because I don’t think I can pull off one of Ashley’s daily selections for me. I am in no mood to look corporate and sexy.

While I brush my hair in the mirror, I recall his fingers tangling in them during the energetic moments of the night. The brush clatters to the floor as I grip my dressing table and suck in a breath. The memory is too fresh. I can’t stop them from flooding my head. How am I supposed to work like this? What do I do if I see Ashton? How do I keep pretending I am fine with what happened when Ashley comes close to me?

Speaking of the devil, Ashley messages me on my phone.

[You coming? Your breakfast is getting cold]

I toss the phone to the side and try to calm myself with breathing exercises. When I bend down to pick up my fallen hair brush, something catches my eye.

"Oh my god." I exclaim at the sight of the unused condom under the table. Anger prickles through the shock. Did Ashley not use a condom? Did he seriously....? My trembling hands drop the condom as I stagger backwards. How could he? I wouldn’t even indulge Ashton like this. How could Ashley do such a reckless thing?

I am still reeling from the shock when Ashley comes looking for me.

"Hey. What’s taking so long?" He is impeccably dressed for work as usual. I shove him back when he tries to give me a peck. The cold fury on my face smokes away the cheerful smile on his. "What’s wrong? Demi, are you alright?"

I toss the condom on his chest and watch him catch it. Like I suspected, his eyes tell me all I need to know.

"Why would you dispense with a condom, Ashley? How could you?" I hate the pathetic whine of my voice and the tears that blur my vision.

"I’m sorry. I was in the throes of passion and I forgot..."

"You’re lying. I was the only drunk one. You always carry enough condoms on you for obvious reasons and I’m certain you use them with Nicci so why would you conveniently forget to strap one on when we’re having sex for the first time, Ashely? Is this how you plan to give your mom her birthday wish? By tricking me?"

"Woah, calm down. You’re doing it again." He tosses the condom aside and winces when I refuse to be touched by him. "It’s not what you think. I promise you it wasn’t deliberate. We were all over each other and impatient. You wanted me inside you faster than I could strap one on. It kind of slipped in and so I dispensed with it. Besides, I didn’t think it would be such a big deal since we’re married."

"Are you kidding me?"

"I pulled out just before. I am not an amateur, Demi. You don’t have anything to worry about, trust me."

With a hint of shame, I remember desperately begging him to insert himself into me when I thought he was Ashton. However, I don’t remember him pulling out. My heart is thudding in my chest. I have to get out of here. I can’t even look at him.

"Demi..."

"Don’t." I snarl angrily when he tries to grab my hand. "I am late for work." I pluck my bag from the bed and walk out.

Ashley trails after me with more excuses till we get into the elevator. I refuse to listen to anything he has to say. Before the doors can click shut, someone’s hands block them. The leather watch strapped to the wrist makes my heart plummet to my stomach as Ashton pulls the door open. His eyes widen in surprise at the sight of us.

"Oh, sorry, I didn’t know anyone was in here."

My eyes blur with tears as I hang my head low.

"I’ll use the stairs." He adds.

"Yeah. Sure." Ashley replies, shifting closer to me. My hands tighten around my bag when he holds my waist. He leans close to my ear but echoes in a voice loud enough for Ashton to hear. "I’m truly sorry about last night. I’ll use a condom next time."

The blood drains from my face as I glare up at him. Ashton retreats with an embarrassed hue on his face to take the stairs. Alone in the elevator, I bite back the urge to slap my husband.

"What was that?"

"An apology?" He replies, pretending to be clueless.

"Do you have to stoop so low every time you see him? It’s been weeks, Ashley. Let it go. Trying to make Ashton jealous only makes you look insecure. It’s embarrassing at this point but mostly for you."

When the doors open, I storm out. Mother intercepts me to ask why I am skipping breakfast and I mumble an excuse to her. To ease her worry, I grab a croissant and thank her before hurrying into my car to head to work.

***

"Are you okay?" Nessa asks me for the umpteenth time.

"Yeah. Why?"

"You keep zoning out, Demi. I’ve been standing by your door for the last three minutes and you didn’t even notice."

I run a hand over the ache behind my neck and sigh. "Just got a bit on my mind."

A courier arrives with a colorful bouquet to my office and asks for my signature. Anger surges within me when I realize they’re from Ashley, again. He has already sent a box of chocolate and expensive jewelry earlier. An envious gasp escapes Nessa’s lips after the courier leaves. I refrain from tossing the bouquet into the trash bin like the rest of the gifts since she knows it’s from Ashley.

"You’re one lucky woman, Demi. I truly envy you. Your man is smitten. What else could a woman ask for?"

I feign a smile till she leaves. When Ashley calls, I decline yet again. I am not ready to talk to him. With a tired sigh, I press my hands to my eyes to try and focus.

"Are you okay?" This time, it’s Anna asking while I visit her restaurant for lunch. I keep poking my food. I couldn’t wait till later to tell her how badly I’ve screwed up.

While she’s working, she stops by my table every few minutes to snap me out of my forlorn trance and ask how I am doing. Worry lines are etched on her face and multiply with every new stop.

"I’ll be fine." I tell her even though I don’t believe that myself.

She squeezes my hand and dashes through a door near the kitchen. When she returns, she’s all changed into her casual fit. "Let’s go. I got someone to cover my shift. It’ll be fine." We head to her house where she watches me binge on a bucket of ice cream.

"Don’t be too hard on yourself, Demi. You were drunk."

I shake my head. "Not that drunk. I should have stopped it but I let him carry on because when I looked at him, he easily passed for Ashton...and I was craving a man’s touch, Ashton’s touch. I am so stupid."

"No, you’re not. You’re just human."

"I’ve tried so hard to get Ashton out of my mind, Anna. It doesn’t help that I live in the same house with him, see him every day, have breakfast and dinner on the same table..." I shove more ice cream in my mouth. "Then there are three other brothers that look just like him. Sometimes it gets hard to not distract myself from the sadness of not being with Ashton by pretending Ashley is him. And now that coping mechanism has made me do something I never planned on doing with Ashley until it was necessary to save our marriage. I feel terrible."

Anna pulls me into her arms. "It was one night."

"He didn’t use protection."

"I’m sure you’ll be fine. We’ll get you on birth control just in case."

"IT’S NEVER HAPPENING AGAIN."

"Not even with Ashton?" Anna asks with an arched brow. I hate that my response doesn’t come with the speed of light.

"No. I can’t get distracted."

"Then you have to stop sulking. Shake it off. You’ll have to be much stronger than this if you must succeed."

"Yeah. I am. I just need to get the shock and pain out of my system so I can forge ahead." I shove the ice cream bucket into Anna’s hands and wipe my eyes. "Liam can’t find out, not about the sex with Ashley but about how weepy I got because it was with the wrong brother. He’s got minions in the mansion. They’ll probably convey everything to him after my room is cleaned. I just need him to believe that I am doing what I can to stay in the mansion."

"I’m sure he will understand."

"I have to speed things up. I need to get into father’s study, Asher’s office and other sensitive areas to get my hands on real information. The sooner I get Liam hard evidence to work with, the better I’d feel about myself and my commitment to my mission. I have to take Olivia’s rescue more seriously. I have to onboard more people with grievances against the Rollins family so Liam and I can have more helping hands. It’s time for all the dirty, nasty secrets of the Rollins family to become public!"

I suddenly feel revved up. Anna smiles thinly at me.

"That’s the spirit."

***

"I am surprised to see you, Demi." Josh quips while ushering me to a seat in his office.

Ever since his return from his suspension, Josh has really kept to himself and his office. I have actually missed him walking about arrogantly and snooping on others.

Save for his occasional spat with Asher, every other person seems to have faded around him. I am here to make him see the invisibles again, to stir up his quest to be known publicly as one of Brett Rollins’ sons.

I smile while helping myself to a couch. "Thank you, Mr. Randall. I know this is a surprise. I won’t take much of your time. I’m just here to apologize for my poor conduct and blatant disrespect of our corporate relationship over the past few weeks. I overstepped. Despite the fact that the bone of contention was a family matter, I shouldn’t have been so tactless. You were only looking out for my father-in-law who no doubt treats you no different than a son. In hindsight, I now understand why you did what you did. I’m sorry for talking back."

Josh’s face warms. "Thank you, Demi. That’s...nice to hear."

"You know, when I first joined this office, your relationship with father struck me. He is mostly all professional and serious even at home but around you, he’s carefree, jovial and funny. You bring out a side of him that most people can’t, not even some members of his family. It was and continues to be a nice thing to watch and I thank you for bringing out that version of him. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’re one of his sons. You’re just like family."

"Family." Josh repeats, sampling the bait. "Yeah, in many ways I am. Father and I..." His eyes flash at me for the slip of tongue.

"Go ahead. You’re no less than a son to him. I’m sure he will smile just hearing you call him father." I chuckle to ease the tension in his eyes.

"Yes, I bet he wouldn’t mind. Father and I have a special relationship. Our bond can’t easily be cut off. It goes beyond my employment contract."

"Everyone can see that. Everyone," I stress, "should see that because it’s so beautiful. You and father are beautiful together and if people could see the version of him that only you bring out in him, every publication on Brett Rollins will bring happy tears to the faces of the masses because they’ll recognize that beyond his professionalism lies a simple, loving father."

Josh’s eyes are glowing with imagination. He bobs his head as a big smile spreads across his face.

"Hey, maybe you can join father and I on one of our lunch trips at Soul Foods."

"I’ll love to if Mr. Rollins and Mr. Asher have no problem with that."

"Don’t worry about father. He won’t turn me down. Asher’s not a problem either. He never eats with us."

"Oh."

"Yeah. He’s not very fond of me and I can’t blame him. He covets what I have with father."

"Well, he is always working. I’m sure if he tries to invest in some quality time with his father, he’ll start seeing that side of his dad too."

Josh shakes his head. "Like I said, my relationship with father runs deeper than you think. It can’t be formed even from a thousand meals shared with father."

I pretend not to understand the cryptic message and focus rather on how the word, father, keeps rolling off Josh’s tongue, like he is excited to finally address Brett as father around someone who wouldn’t shut him up. I rise to my feet and shake his hands.

"It’s a date then."

"It is." I reply him.

When I get home after work, I dread the sight of Ashley. I am thankful for finding the condom and using it as an excuse to stay away from Ashley. If I didn’t find it, I’d have to endure him sticking close to me like glue or even wanting to have sex with me again. I can’t even bear the thought.

When I get into the house, mother notices the dull pallor of my face and sympathizes with me.

"Do you really have to work, Demi? Look how stressed you are."

"I’m fine mother. I just had a really long day."

I swallow a shocked gasp when I catch my reflection in the glass table. Was my hair this ragged the whole day? I have dark circles around my swollen eyes. There are some ink stains on my cloth. Mortified, I hurry to get to my room.

Even though I am mad at Ashley, afraid of running into Ashton whom I have feelings for and generally don’t give two cents about what the other quads think of me on a normal day, I still draw the line on how bad I am allowed to look in a house full of gorgeous men.

The moment the elevator opens, my worst nightmare stands before me. Ashton and Mila! Mila is dressed to kill in a blood red mini gown with her hair cascading down her shoulders.

She and Ashton are holding hands. They’re even wearing the same expensive perfume from what I can sniff. I on the other hand look homeless and ragged. I wish the ground could open and swallow me.

"Demi." Mila breathes, stepping out in all her beauty to stand as a contrast against my Cinderella as a maid appearance. Ashton stays mute behind her. I am too embarrassed to read his eyes.

"I’m sorry about the last time. I didn’t mean to hit you. I completely misconstrued the situation. You were right. Trust is very important. Thank you. Ashton and I have resolved our differences now and we’re closer than ever."

"Good for you." I shuffle past them into the elevator and smash the button for the first floor.

Mila hooks an arm around Ashton’s hand and smiles sweetly at me. Why isn’t the stupid door closing?

"I hope you and I can be friends, Demi. I just moved into Ashton’s room for a week-long stay here in the mansion so we will be seeing a lot of each other. Looking forward to being house mates." She hurries to add as the door starts to click shut. My eyes finally slant upwards to meet Ashton’s impassioned ones before the door closes completely.

Mila is staying here with Ashton for a week???

.