Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 83: Chapter 83

ASHLEY

"How's everything on the hfront?" Levon mutters toafter we wrap up our board meeting. | survey the

thinning room till my assistant, Lexi, shuts the door behind her and sigh exasperatedly.

"Good. Thanks for the last time. Turns out | was worried for nothing."

"Really?"

"Yep. Wife was a little stressed and confided in my brother. Paranoid, | misconstrued the situation. We've

managed to work out our issues. It's our five months anniversary in a few days and she’s excited to celebrate

our love."

Levon nods with a smile. "Amazing. Happy for you."

"What about you, Levon? How's the girlfriend or wife?"

"Girlfriend. She's great. Got a new job. Coupled with the hours | spend here, we barely see each other now but

when we do, fireworks." He finishes with a tic flash of hands. "I'm really happy for you, boss. Love looks

really good on you."

"Thanks, Levon."

"Can | expect to be a godfather soon with rumors in the air?" The nasty wink he givesmakeschuckle.

"Very confident of you to assyou'll be my kid's godfather. I've got three brothers that'll jostle for that

position in a bloodbath. Thanks for the thought though. Now, get back to the job I hired you for while | am still

being nice." We exchange smiles as he makes his way out of my boardroom.

With him gone, | shut my eyes and sigh. Demi and | are indeed planning a little private dinner to celebrate our

fifth month of marriage and the new era in our lives. She doesn’t want anything elaborate. We are in a good

place right now.

After we made up following Ashton’s confession two weeks ago, she spends snights in my room and vice

versa. | understand the switch to sharing a room can’t happen overnight so | am letting her take her time.

She was right. Being the Ashley that took her on that date before the gift box incident is a surefire way to touch

her heart. It’s been paying off. Without being made to feel pressured or love bombed, Demi has been easygoing

and loving towards me.

The best part is that | didn’t have to shed my dignity by groveling at her feet. | go about my life, working hard. |

don’t act insecure when she gets a call or text in my presence or when she’s around Ashton. She quickly clears

the air even when | never planned on asking questions.

It's been great. She is indeed making efforts to fulfil her promise while | readily reciprocate every affection

thrown my way. | think it’s a win in the end.

The only upsetting thing is that Ashton is still angry withfor everything that happened. | could go on just fine

ignoring him but my other brothers keep pushing for our reconciliation. Now, | am forced to seek Ashton’s

forgiveness. It sucks.

Mother didn’t take Ashton’s confession to Demi lightly. Despite our collective plea on Ashton’s behalf, she’s still

upset with him for telling Demi the truth and has been giving him the silent treatment ever since. Mother's anger

and watching Demi and | thriving as a couple are part of the reasons why Ashton can’t stand me.

Adding to the fray is the fear of Shay’s next move. My brothers and | have all gotten new phone numbers but

Shay has yet to take the bait by calling or texting any of us. That bit is what has gotanxious right now. It’s

never a good sign when Shay stays silent.

| don’t even know why | haven't shared her recent escapades with my brothers. | think we are just too divided

right now. Ashton used to be the captain of my ship and the most determined to capture my blackmailer.

Though he is heading the new operation to catch Shay, he’s more interested in capturing her because he

suspects she’s the sperson toying with his head regarding the identities of our biological parents. It’s not

just aboutanymore.

With everything that’s happened between us and his past failures, it will be foolhardy forto count on him to

win my battle. Hence, why | am taking my fate in my own hands.

| check my time. My next meeting won't start for about two hours. With tto kill, | resolve to scope out Cree’s

apartment and her job. She hasn't calledback after | left her a message at work. | want to head over there

once more to talk to her. Afterwards, I'll tail her to her apartment and we'll see from there.

| also believe that Cree and Shay are one and the sperson. Before my brothers unmask her, | want to get to

her first. | have a few things to say to my blackmailer. If | can get her to spill the truth, | will soon be rid of this

Shay problem before she ruins everything | have worked so hard to build from the scraps of my life years ago. |

can’t let that happen.

Demi’s call comes through on my new phone line.

"Hey, | was just thinking about you."

"Liar. You would have called first then."

| chuckle at that. "Are you saying you were thinking aboutand that’s why you called first?"

"Maybe."

Her response makes something warm blossom in my chest. "I miss you too." | can imagine a small blush seeping

into her cheeks now. "What's up?"

While | listen to her, the sound of locks jiggling behindmakescrane my neck towards my bookshelf. A

small wave of uneasiness settles in my gut as | realize who my unwanted guest is. Nicola enters with a face

smeared with tears and mascara. | hold up a hand to stop her when she tries to walk towardsto cry in my

lap.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

"Alright hon, I'll talk to you when | get home." The term of endearment makes Nicci snort loudly as she plunks

down on the sofa.

"You have company?" Demi asks me.

"Nah, it's Lexi. She and Levon have been butting heads all morning. Talk soon."

| wait for her to hang up before swiveling my seat to face Nicci. "What the fuck was that? Could you be more

obvious?"

Nicci’s response is to curl into a fetal position on the couch and sob quietly. Seeing her so sad douses my anger.

Her father lost the election and has been just as miserable. He took out his frustration on her by blaming her for

fumbling her relationship with Finn who had been his golden ticket to the political position.

The media has been brutal towards her family. Nicola has been sneaking in and out of my office for solace and

comfort in my arms. She has managed to convince herself that she is entitled to my attention and comfort

because my nplayed a key role in bringing about her condition.

Though I can easily fault her logic, | refrain from doing so out of empathy. | mean, I used to be whipped for this

model. The feelings have ebbed since her betrayal but | can’t say every last dreg has left my heart. | feel sorry

for her.

"She's trying too hard. That's because she’s pretending to be in love with you." Nicola sniffles. "That sort of thing

doesn’t just happen overnight, Ash. | know she’s playing you."

"You're not allowed to talk smack about my wife simply because you're sad. Still, Ill let it slide this once." | trail a

hand down her cheekbone. "You have to rise above this, Nicola. You've turned down three modeling offers in two

weeks. This kind of behavior will harm your career. You know how the industry works. You can’t let them deem

you replaceable."

"I can’t walk a runway right now, Ash. Look at me. | am a laughingstock. There are memes about my father and |

everywhere online. I'd slip and fall if | try to walk a show right now." She yanks a Kleenex tissue box and blows

her nose into a tissue. "Everyone's abandoned me, even my own father. After blamingfor everything, he

took off to Croatia. | don’t know when he’s coming back. I'm all alone, Ashley."

Her hand grapples mine. "I keep slipping in and out of depression. Two nights ago, | contemplated doing drugs."

"Nicci!"

"I don’t want to but I just...it hurts. It hurts and it sucks to feel so miserable and alone. The one good thing | had

going forwas snatched by Demi. I'm slowly losing the will to live, Ash. I've got nothing if | don’t have you."

My heart hammers in my chest. Is she really going to consider self-harm?

"Snap out of it, Nicci. Don’t say shit like that. Your father only lost a political position. People have lost worse and

you don’t see them trying to self-harm or sabotage their careers. Grow up."

| move away from her to my desk to pour myself swater to drink. | won't let her charms work on me. How

convenient. The first ta woman (Demi) decides to givewhat | have always silently craved for-true love-

my ex who has hit rock bottom suddenly wantsto believe that she feels that way for me.

"You have concrete reasons to doubt me, Ashley but | swear to you, | did all that because my dad forcedto."

She comes to stand next to me. With teary eyes, she starts to take off her shirt.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Her hands close over my shaky ones that try to stop her.

"It's not what you think. | need to show you something." When she turns her bare back to me, there are red and

purple welts across her back. "For every t| refused to heed his orders to seduce or sleep with one big shot or

the other. | can’t model when the marks are fresh." Nicci’'s whimpers as | trace the scars. Anger arrows through

me.

"Croatia, huh?"

"No, Ash, let it be. He's not worth it." She says, spinning back to face me. Her hands cup my face. "You're all |

need." | stare into her blurry eyes and lose myself to the pain, fear and hope glistening in them.

"I'm so sorry, Ash. My dad madeblyou and end our relationship because it no longer served his

purpose. | couldn't tell you how miserable | was. | miss you so much. | miss us. Please tellthere's still a real

place forin your heart. I'd die if..." | shut her up with a fierce kiss, unsure of any other moves.

ork

| want to regret it but | can’t. It’s true what they say. Women fuck you differently when they really like you. Every

pore in my skin and every nerve in my body can feel it.

| know Demi is trying but no matter how comfortable | get around her, there will always be that nagging feeling

that she secretly wishes | was Ashton. Like my feelings for Nicci, hers for Ashton are only dormant not completely

doused.

| try to justify my fling with the idea that the inadequacy Demi will always makefeel will be compensated for

by Nicola’s enduring affection. | need both women to keepfrom being the asshole I've been lately towards

my brother when | felt | was losing on every front.

The glow is back on Nicci’s eyes as | help her put on her shirt.

"Feeling better?"

She nods vigorously before planting a soft kiss on my lips. Just then, Lexi knocks twice on the door and walks in.

"Um, so s-sorry sir." She stutters with an embarrassed look on her face. Nicola bidsfarewell and uses the

secret door out while Lexi tries to look less judgmental.

"Lexi?"

"I didn’t mean to..."

"I know."

"My lips are sealed."

"Bet they are." A fond image of Lexi and | in the lounge area makes a small smile tug at my lips. Lexi seems to

be recalling the sthing as she avoids my eyes. "Chere, love." Cautiously, she edges close to me. I trail

a finger down her face.

"I mind my business, sir."

"I know, else you wouldn't work for me. How's Gabe?" The mention of her husband always spikes her nerves

because her extramarital affair withcomes to the fore of her memory.

"He's fine."

"Well, let's keep it that way."

| hate to be such a jerk sometimes but | don’t have Ashton’s aura that makes people dread getting on his bad

side even without him threatening them. I actually have to threaten people to remind them not to get any ideas

about betraying me.

"You smell really good." It's an old perfof mine that | introduced her to. | know she clearly loves the

fragrance but | indulge myself with the thought of her wearing my signature scent for other reasons just to enjoy

a heady feeling.

"Thank you, sir."

With an hour to spare before my meeting, | drive over to the Grand Casa hotel. | am certain Cree should be at

work. When | get to the bar, | scan the area but can’t find her anywhere. | walk up to the bartender to ask about

her.

"Welcback, sir."

"What?"

"lI wasn’t expecting you to return so soon." His eyes dart around. "Where's Cree?" | adjust my face not to look too

lost at his words.

"She's waiting in the car. I, um, | forgot something, | was hoping you saw it. A ring."

"Oh. I didn’t find any missing ring" He starts giving the counter a quick search.

"Can you ask the waiters? Maybe they can search the table."

"Why would it be on a table? You and Cree shared a drink here at this bar, like you did on your first date. If you

dropped your ring, it has to be here somewhere."

Ashal is with Cree? Why? He had blatantly turneddown when | suggested he woo her and tail her to get

sanswers. What's up with him?

"Is that the ring on your finger?" The bartender asks, staring at my hand. "A wedding ring?" The suspicion starts

to build in his eyes as he looks at me. "I'm sure you weren't wearing one earlier."

"Oh no, no, it's decorative. Makes people ass| am my married brother. Keeps desperate women away." | lean

forward to whisper in his ear. "The whole mystery girlfriend thing hasn't really subsided so..."

"Oh, I understand. So sorry."

| quickly leave from there and call Ashal in my car.

"Hey, are you at work? Wanted to stop by."

"Oh, crap, | am not there currently."

"No? Where are you? Can we grab lunch?"

"Sorry man but | rushed over to the penthouse. A little emergency. I'll call you when | am free."

"Okay. Take care."

When | set the phone down, I grit my teeth at the boldfaced lie. What the fuck does Ashal think he is doing?

ork

It's been five days since | confided in Asher about Ashal’s romance with Cree Baxter who is suspected to be my

blackmailer or at least working with her. To my surprise, Asher didn’t explode like a cannonball. Instead, he asked

condition, blah, blah, blah.

I swallowed my pride and informed Ashton. To my shock, he already knew and never told the rest of us. Like

Asher, Ashton was wary about confronting Ashal and asked for my understanding as well.

He claimed to be waiting for Duncan and his team to apprehend the culprit leaking our phone numbers to

Shay/Cree. After we have solid evidence on Cree, we will confront Ashal but not before then so we don’t stomp

all over something that might be good for Ashal.

"Earth to Ashley." | blink out of my consuming thoughts and refocus on Demi’s beautiful face sitting across from

dinner, lots of talking, little alcohol and movie night.

"How's the food?"

"It’s delicious."

She shakes her head. "How would you know? You've barely even touched it."

| stare at my steak. "I'm sorry. | just have a lot on my mind. This is all great by the way." She watcheswith a

flat look as | guzzle my champagne. "lI am a party pooper, aren't I?"

"Pretty much."

"I'm sorry." And because | know sorry isn’t going to cut it given the resignation that washes across her face, | add

hesitantly, "Shay uh, reached out toagain."

"What?"

"Yeah but you can’t tell my brothers. They've been working really hard to nab her. | don’t want them getting

stressed out even more. She didn’t hurtor anything."

"When was this? What did she say or do?"

"When | travelled for the award show. The night before the red carpet. She sent a note to remindnot to get

too comfortable with her silence. | was so disoriented the next day that | forgot to wear my ring. Actually, | forgot

a lot of things on my way to the show; socks, mints, the tfor the show. | was more focused on the

antidepressants in my pocket."

Gradually, the sympathy returns to Demi’s face. "I'm so sorry. | didn’t know. | feel like an idiot for accusing you

earlier."

"No, no, | wasn’t ready to share with anyone at the time." | reach forward to take her hand. "It'd not your fault. |

am not holding any personal grudges. You had a good reason to doubt me." | kiss her knuckles as the candle

flilluminates her smiling face. Blushing, she grabs her wine and drains the content.

"Wanna dance?" She asks gleefully.

"Lead the way."

We sway to sclassic music and rock to ship pop for about fifteen minutes. Demi’s head starts to spin.

She laughs hysterically.

"You can’t be drunk. You only had two glasses."

"I'm a lightweight. Why do | keep forgetting that?"

| stop her from trying to pour herself another drink.

"Ok, we've still got movie night, remember?"

She sleeps on my shoulder throughout the car ride back home. | don’t feel bad that movie night that is a bust. |

know she planned to make us watch another one of her 90s movies. Frankly, | don’t get the fascination. | only

wish we could have cuddled under the blanket so | can feel her body heat against mine.

| try and fail to ignore the tug of guilt as my ongoing secret fling with Nicola flits across my mind. Tonight, | was

overwhelmed by guilt. | pushed Demi to givea chance and tormented Ashton for being the subject of her

affection.

Why am | screwing it up by entertaining Nicola? Why can’t | shut down that little voice that keeps tellingto

hold on to Nicola’s love because | will never truly have Demi’s heart? It’s infuriating.

"Ok, settle down." Gently, | take off Demi’s high heels and lay her down on her bed. This is not how anniversary

celebrations should end in my head. Whatever happened to steamy sex in the shower? Demi has a sloppy smile

on her lips as she battles against the drowsiness.

"Did you have a good time?" She slurs. | take a seat by the side of her bed and stroke her cheeks.

"Yep. Best anniversary yet." She chuckles at my sarcasm. | hold her gaze for a moment longer. Her eyes are

glassy or maybe dreamy. | watch it till the lust swells inside. Her hand reaches up to stroke my face.

"You're so freaking handsome."

"I know." | lean down to kiss her goodnight. Her lips are soft and yielding so I linger just a bit, tasting her,

teasing. A small, sexy moan erupts from her when | begin to trail slow, open-mouthed kisses down her throat.

Her groping hands desperately try to get through my silky shirt to my biceps.

| know she’s drunk and not thinking straight but every touch of hers kindles tiny, erotic fires all over my body,

snapping every control. | crave the taste of her so much I can’t see myself walking away from this.

"You want me?"

"Yes." She pants. | tug off her top till her hardened nipples gape at me. My mouth fastens on them, sucking.

Demi eyes glaze over while her fingers scrabble the sheets. A wave of pleasure arrows throughwhen she

reaches between us to my hard center and strokes it.

With the plea in her eyes, | hastily remove the rest of the fabric on us till our naked bodies slide warm against

each other. It takes a lot of willpower to not straddle her and satisfy my craving. | have dreamt about this for

months and in no hurry for the moment to end.

| smother her protests forto hurry with a long, rough kiss. "I want to taste you." | tell her in a raspy breath

before going down on her. | watch with glee as the pleasure quivers through her center till her body shudders,

implodes after a small scream. Dazed and disoriented, she goes limp. | crawl up to plunder her mouth once

more. She can barely open her eyes.

"Please. | need you now."

"Ok." | reach for my pants and pull out a condom.

"Ashton, please hurry."

My body freezes midway through biting open the condom at the sound of that name. While she strokes my shaft,

all | feel is anger. All this tand she’s been thinking about my brother? That nagging feel was right after all.

My fingers squeeze the condom. In a split second, | change my mind, chucking the condom at a corner of the

room.

Her body arches fluidly as | straddle her. | capture her lips in a ferocious kiss while her hands race through my

body. Then I lever her hips high and position myself at her center.

"It's Ashley. Say it."

"Ashley" She hums with a sultry smile.

Her eyes flutter half closed when | plunge myself inside her.