Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 79

ASHLEY

Finally, it feels good to get it out of my system. I was already sick of lugging Ashton’s secret around. It’s so infuriating to watch him act so entitled around the same woman he rejected months ago. He has no right to disrespect my position as Demi’s husband.

I don’t care if he regrets his action seeing as Demi somehow fell hard for him. He probably never envisioned that love would blossom between them but that is not my problem. They can’t be together. Demi’s mine now and six months is a decent amount of time to win her over completely and possibly elongate our contract.

Ashton remains speechless after my outburst. I meet his cool eyes and note the war brewing behind them.

"You’re going to stay within your lane and out of my business." I tell him, stabbing a finger in his direction. "How I choose to win my wife over should be the least of your concern. If you try to interfere in any way or sway Demi’s mind, I’ll involve father."

The slight twitch of his eyebrows can only be because he’s afraid of what father would do to force Demi to do what I want and not because Ashton is scared of him.

"You don’t love her, do you? All of this is just to spite me."

"You think you love her? You’re the reason she got stuck with me, remember? You just feel bad right now because the woman you rejected ended up warming her way into your heart and you in hers. Let me guess, you two must think I am in the way of your epic love story." I scoff at him. "This is no love story and if you don’t accept the reality that she isn’t yours, it’s going to be an epic tragedy. Don’t test me, Ashton. I’m not afraid to go as low as possible to keep you away from her just to stroke my ego."

Ashton chuckles at me. "Damn Ash, I didn’t realize how much you were intimidated by me. This is refreshing." The smile withers from his face. "You’re right. I didn’t expect to have any feelings for any woman, least of all the woman I married while drunk. But you’re dead wrong too. I was in no frame of mind to welcome a bride into my miserable life the morning after but you and I know that I was neither speechless nor unperturbed when mother offered her to you on a platter, right Ashley?"

I swallow a lump in my throat as he approaches me with fire in his eyes.

"I am not the only one in need of a reality check here. Demi wasn’t tossed into your lap because I couldn’t be bothered to have her; no one gave me a chance to keep her. YOU were the one who sat there speechless and unperturbed when mother made you the offer. Despite my protests, you went along with her idea like you couldn’t have turned her down. What was the kicker for you? The fact that she alluded that Demi might have zero body count? Is that why you broke character and settled for a woman you wouldn’t deign to look at on a normal day?"

"No! Virgins throw themselves at me all the time, Ashton. I am not starved of them." Our identical faces are within touching distance now.

"Then you jumped at mother’s offer to..."

"...spite you? YES." I preempt him. "It felt good for once to snag something from you, Ash. You do that to me all the time and never considered it a big deal. The dopamine hit was a different kind of high, even though I was technically helping you fix the mess you caused."

"I didn’t need help fixing anything. I was more than ready to handle Demi."

"You were only ready to annul the marriage. Mother wanted differently and that’s why she roped me in."

He chuckles now. "Yeah right. She roped in the one son who already suffers from gamophobia, to marry a total stranger and you went along with it just to spite me? I thought you were smarter than that, Ash. Does it still feel like a good decision four months down the line? You don’t have to answer that. I can tell that your ego is bruised given the lengths you’re prepared to go to force Demi to give you a double take."

My fists clench tightly by my sides. Ashton’s eyes droop to my hands and when they look back into my eyes, they’re laced with pity. I fucking hate being pitied.

"Look, I didn’t call you here to bitch and moan, Ashley. You came here looking for a fight when all I wanted to do was reach an amicable settlement. Asher and Ashal went through something similar to the situation we find ourselves in right now and they never fought with each other like this."

He grabs my shoulder and holds me in place when I try to shake his hands off. "Our family is suffering. Our brothers are suffering. We can’t continue like this, Ash. Tell me what I can do to end this strife once and for all." His eyes are sincere enough as they hold my gaze.

I peer deeply at him. Asher must have given him these lines. It’s the same line Asher used on Ashal when he realized how much Ashal was suffering due to Olivia’s rejection. Ashal had shared same with me. He had told me that sometimes, it’s better for men in our position to be vocal about how we want our brothers to earn our forgiveness rather than leave it up to them to do whatever they feel is enough.

"Tell me." Ashton reiterates. "How can we move past this? I’m prepared to do anything!"

He means it. These are not just words. His eyes, they’re bereft of pride and glazed over with remorse.

Gently, I pull his hands off my shoulders. "There’s only one thing I want from you, Ashton. If you can make it happen, all will truly be forgiven."

"And what is that?" He croaks out, his eyes a little nervous. I only offer a thin smile in return.

"I’ll let you know soon."

***

I haven’t been able to get Shay’s message out of my head. Despite the frequent public outings Demi and I have staged to dispel our divorce rumors, nothing seems to be enough distraction for me.

The irony of the situation is that I am more shocked by Demi’s lie than by Shay’s threat. I can’t seem to make sense of it. Why would she fabricate such damaging falsehood and where did she get that peculiar information about Tobias from? I am certain the details of Tobias’ death hadn’t been made public at the time. Has Asher been right about her all this time? Is there truly more to Demi than meets the eye?

"Want some?" She asks me, offering her bowl of popcorn in the cinema I rented out for our movie date. I smile as I let her stuff some of the flavored popcorn in my mouth. While she continues to concentrate on the movie, I silently watch her. How did she know so much about Tobias? Why did she lie about a second note in the gift box?

My eyes skirt around the dimly lit cinema. Could Shay be lurking around somewhere?

"Are you alright?"

I turn back to Demi. "Yeah."

"There are bodyguards outside and two in here with us. We’re fine." She beams at me. I return her smile. She resumes watching the 90s movie.

"I’m sorry. I can’t seem to concentrate." I rub a hand over my eyes. "I keep expecting her to do something to scare the daylights out of me."

"Shay? I don’t think she’s got anymore tricks up her sleeves."

"The second note you found..." I study her face as it tightens. "What did it say again?" She stuffs some more popcorn into her mouth and shakes her head.

"Don’t do that to yourself. I’ve tried my best to expunge that memory and you ought to do the same."

Clever girl, I think. What a smart way to hide the fact that she can’t remember what she had said the note contained.

My phone rings out. When I check it, it’s Nicola. Demi glances at the caller ID and turns back to her movie without saying a word. Since I am trying to get her to accept my offer, I decline the call but I don’t hurry to explain if it was work related or not. I will no longer be acting desperate for her attention or love.

"They’re still out there." I tell her after we wrap up the movie and prepare to exit the cinema. It’s a little shy of seven pm and from what our bodyguards whispered to me, there are a few reporters hanging outside and ready to inundate us with nosy questions about our private life and whatever else they can scrounge up.

"They’ll definitely ask about the divorce rumor. Are you ready?"

"Why can’t they just give it a rest. We’ve already had a few interviews and clarified everything. Why are they still pressing for information when we already answered all their questions?"

"Let’s just indulge them for two minutes. If we don’t, they’ll go back and write lies. It wouldn’t take long." I swing my jacket over her shoulder and grab her purse to portray the chivalrous husband. I grab her hand and walk ahead of her on our way out of the cinema.

As planned, we allow ourselves to be accosted by the paparazzi who ask for our photos. While we pose for a few, they throw questions at us regarding our divorce rumors and I do my best to reiterate that the rumors are false.

"What about the rumor that you both are expecting a child soon. Is that also false?" Demi’s grinds her teeth silently next to me. I can feel the tension pulsating through her.

"My wife and I are in no rush. We are still getting to know each other better and when we feel like we’re ready to start a family, we’ll do so." I pull Demi towards our car.

"Mr. Rollins, why have you been personally targeted with respect to the death of Tobias Woodley? Did you play a special role in his murder or is it all a coincidence?"

"What?" I gasp in shock, whirling.

"Can you confirm if you’ve been the victim of assault from a stranger claiming you have personal knowledge of what truly happened to Tobias Woodley and asking for your confession?"

Time seems to slow down as the shrill voice rings in my head. When I turn to make out the interrogator, I am almost blinded by the white flashes from the cameras.

"Who said that? Who was it? Identify yourself!" Stubbornly, I squint my eyes and search frantically in the small crowd. It has got to be her. No one else will bring up such an impertinent matter. Demi tugs my sleeve when I try to plow through the cameras to find Shay and begs for us to leave.

"Let’s leave now Ashley. She’s just trying to get to you. Don’t fall for this."

"She’s here. I can feel it." Though the reporter who admits to asking the question is a middle-aged woman and claims she was tipped anonymously, I am certain Shay is close.

"You’re not in the right frame of mind to handle this right now. Please, let’s leave." Demi feigns a smile for the cameras while she lightly tugs me towards the car.

My bodyguards start to back the small crowd away from our car while another helps Demi to nudge me into the SUV. Inside, Demi tries to calm me down. I refuse to tear my eyes off the handful of reporters clustering around the car. Where the hell is she?

While our car starts to drive away, I spot a woman at the back of the crowd, dressed in black pants and a black sweater with a hoodie. Her hands are tucked into her pockets. She lifts her head just as our car moves and in those few seconds, I make out her face.

Cree Baxter!

***

"Are you sure it was her?" Ashal asks me, perplexed, after I get home and spill everything to him in his room. I stop pacing to glare at him.

"Of course it was. Do you really think I wouldn’t have the face of the woman mistaken to be my blackmailer etched in my memory? I am certain it was Cree."

Normally, I’d involve the rest of my brothers in this but I am still not cool with Ashton. As for Asher, he is a stark reminder of the reason I despise Ashton right now because of his role in Ashal and Olivia’s strained relationship. Ashal is the only one I want to speak to right now.

"What do you plan to do? Do you want to confront her?"

I run the idea in my head. "I have a feeling she would only lie through her teeth like before. However, it can’t be a coincidence that she was there when those questions were posed. I believe she’s the one who anonymously tipped that reporter. She has to be the one blackmailing me under the alias, Shay Woodley."

I clench my jaw. "Confronting her would be quick but not very effective. I don’t think she realized I recognized her at the cinema. I think I’m going to lay low and pretend she’s still mysterious to me while I work on exposing her."

My eyes slant up at Ashal. "I’m going to need you to help me keep an eye on her."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You got her that job at the hotel, right?"

"It was just a favor. I was informed that after our date, she kept begging for a job at the hotel. I called in a favor."

"Whatever man. I need you to pretend to woo her and keep tabs on her. Try to reignite sparks from the date you both had..."

Ashal shakes his head. "I’m sorry, Ashely but I’m going to pass. I know you’re dealing with a lot here but I can’t help you with Cree. The date I went on with her was a huge mistake. I was having issues with Olivia and thought making new connections with other people would cure the emptiness I feel inside. I only ended up feeling guilty like I am cheating on my wife. I want to try to fix the problems in my marriage and pretending to date another woman will be too distracting right now."

"Oh, I’m sorry, Ash. I didn’t realize. It’s fine. I completely understand."

"Are you sure you don’t want to involve Asher or Ashton? I’m sure one of them would readily do anything to earn your forgiveness right now."

I recall Ashton offering to do anything to make peace with me. Frankly, I know he would be a great fit for this role but I have other plans for him. Asher seems promising too but he will get pissed that I hid Shay’s message at my hotel from him. Even worse, he will bray for Demi’s blood when it becomes clear that she lied about a second note in the gift box.

I don’t have the mental bandwidth to argue with his impeccable logic or stroke his ego for him being right all along. I also want to personally confront Demi on the issue before telling my brothers.

"I’ll handle it." I say, patting Ashal’s shoulder.

I refrain from telling Ashal that I plan to pretend to be him when I confront Cree. I don’t know how he would feel about it right now being sensitive about his marriage.

However, I have no choice. I need an in and I suspect Cree would be more receptive to the man she went on a spectacular blind date with who landed her her dream job as opposed to his brother who suspects her of being evil.

I slug through the rest of my week days, only thinking about meeting up with Cree. Nicola comes by my office running on nerves and caffeine. Her father’s election week kicks off in two days and she’s tensed about it.

"Finn broke up with me." She whimpers with misty eyes.

I look up from the magazine I am perusing when her loud sniffles hit the air. Before I can ask why, she preempts me while blowing her nose with Kleenex tissues.

"Word got out that I spend a lot of time in here. I tried to explain that we work together and that it’s only natural that I come over regularly. He wasn’t convinced because of our history. He accused me of vile things, Ashley. He accused me of cheating on him with you." She sobs some more. "I’m afraid for my dad. Finn means to withdraw all his help. Dad won’t spare me."

So, she’s conveniently going to blame me for this now. Typical Nicola. I push back my chair and come around the couch. Catching her chin in my hands, I give her a sympathetic look.

Did word get out or did you spread the word, Nicci? I want to ask her but keep my thoughts in my head. Ever since mother chided her, she’s not been happy losing to Demi. This is her way back in; emotional blackmail. She looks up at me with big, teary eyes.

"Do you want me to talk to him?" Her fingers curl around my wrist.

"No. That will only infuriate him even more. Plus, he could take your interference as proof of the rumors." She rubs her cheek against my palm. "I’ll be fine, as long as I have you."

She flicks a sultry gaze my way that makes my groin tighten. Silently, she shoots up to her feet and buries her face in my chest. Behind me, her hands interlock in a vice grip at my back.

"I only want you, Ashley."

I unhook her hands and pull her back to look at her face. This would have been music to my ears if Demi had said them. Levon was right. There’s something exciting about a woman one can’t have without a little challenge.

The thrilling hum of my blood fill my ears as I imagine Demi in Nicci’s place, with her lustful gaze and desperate grip on my arm. Maybe this is why I am stalling with confronting her about Shay. I can’t cast her away yet. I need her. I need to have her, willingly.

"The election week starts in two days. You shouldn’t be here if you plan on winning Finn back." I silence her protest with a finger on her lips, "Shhh, you definitely should work on winning Finn back so all your hard work to secure your father’s political seat doesn’t go to waste." Red tomatoes bloom on her cheeks as her eyes droop in embarrassment. We both know what hard work I am referring to.

"My best to your father, Nicci but I have an important appointment to catch. Feel free to help yourself to anything you may want while I am off and take the secret door on your way out so you don’t infuriate Finn all the more when pictures of you are taken outside here."

It’s foolish of her to come here at a time when Finn is allegedly mad at her for the same reason. That just tells me that she is lying and set the stage for the breakup just to get back with me. What I don’t understand is why she would be willing to risk her father’s political career over this.

I slide into my car and head for the Grand Casa hotel to see Cree. I have no idea what I am going to say to her when I get there or how to make a smooth transition from a casual chat to the woman who hired her to blackmail me without risking a frown on her face and the loss of interest. I’ve got to bait her to get the truth out of her. It sucks that I can’t ply her with alcohol while she’s on the clock.

While I am on my way, I keep thinking of the best way to sift the information I need from her. I don’t have the patience for a long game like I had planned with Ashal. If Cree doesn’t own up, I might have to force it out of her.

When I get there, I am told it’s her off day. Great, I think. Just great. I leave a message for her as the guy from her blind date before leaving. With some time to spare, I call Demi. Asher wouldn’t mind me stealing her for a bit.

Her phone rings but she doesn’t pick up. At my second try, she answers and tells me she’s in a meeting and will call me right back. Before she can hang up, a familiar voice echoes in the background; Ashton!

Are they together right now? I call his phone and he doesn’t deny it.

"Why didn’t you tell me you were going to have a meeting with my wife? What exactly are you two talking about anyway?"

Ashton sighs. "Demi asked to see me regarding what happened. I also want to clear the air with her too. We’re just here to do right by you, Ashley, to end this confusion once and for all so you two can live your life. If we had any ulterior motives, don’t you think we would have arranged for a more private meetup? We’re literally in the conference room at my company. You’re welcome to stop by and listen in if you want but we didn’t tell you only because we didn’t want you to misunderstand us."

I strap down on my anger. Why the hell am I so jealous of him? The worst part is that despite knowing how wrong it is given Ashton’s sincerity, I still can’t shake the way I feel. Ashton is too good at playing both the good guy and the bad. It’s so effortless and clean it hurts my pride. I can honestly see why Demi’s feelings won’t disappear any time soon.

"Fine. You two get it out of your chest then. I’ll see you all later." I tell him before hanging up.

I shouldn’t go. Demi will only deem me desperate and distrustful of her. Let them have their talk even though it kills me whenever she spends a second alone with him.

To distract myself from the tension knotting up inside me, I return to work and bury my head in it. Ashton calls me an hour later to tell me it’s over. Demi is ready to forge ahead with me.

Again, I feel some type of way. Is she suddenly pliant because he asked her to? I’ve literally been begging her for days! Why does it feel like Ashton is offering her back to me like a brother willing to share his favorite toy with his sibling? I feel slighted that he seems to have the upper hand, always.

"Did she tell you that?"

"She’ll tell you everything herself when you see her tonight."

I swallow hard. The urge to succumb to a petty move overwhelms me. I harden my face. I need a small win for myself.

"Ash, I think I know what I want you to do to aid my relationship with Demi."

"What’s that?"

I take a bracing gulp of air. "I want you to tell her the truth about that night at the Blue Cove!"