Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 44

ASHAL

"Cool ride." I sputter when I see the red, spanking new Lexus RX 350 that graces the driveway with a bow on it. Ashton leans on the bumper while Demi stands next to me, a contemplative hand on her chin. "This is beautiful, Demi. Go for it. I can totally see you behind the wheel."

Demi tosses her hair back and circles the car. Ashton and I know she has no idea what to look out for in a new car but Demi likes to pretend she does so we humor her and watch in silence.

"I don’t like it."

"What?" Ashton leaps off the car like the new paint isn’t dried yet and goes over to Demi. "Demi, this is the fifth car I’ve shown you in a week. You said you wanted a simple car. You rejected the previous ones for silly reasons; the lack of a cupholder, the advanced technology of the car, the way the tires looked and the way the car keys felt in your hands. What could possibly be wrong with this one now?"

Ashton is at his wits end. I have no idea why Demi is punishing him like this but it is funny to watch.

"Those were all valid reasons in my book!" Demi insists with a scowl.

Ashton calms himself by sucking in a breath. "Fine. What’s wrong with this one now?"

With her hands on her waist, Demi jerks her chin towards the car. "I don’t like the way the engine sounds when you start the car."

"OH, FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE..." Ashton throws his hands up in the air but Demi maintains her stance. I quickly pull my frustrated brother aside and grab his shoulder while he glares icily at Demi. "She’s toying with me. I know it."

"Yes, it’s as plain as the nose on my face. What exactly did you do this time? C’mon, tell me."

He hisses a breath and shakes his head. "I blocked her number, okay. I was pissed. I didn’t mean to. She’s been mad at me ever since. Mother wants to gift Demi a car but instead of coming over to the showroom and choosing herself or picking one from the pictures I send her, she insists I bring them down here one after the other till she finds ’the one’." He ends his explanation with air quotes around the last two words.

I stifle the urge to laugh. Then head over to Demi to repeat the therapy session.

"Simply because I don’t know much about cars beyond their fancy names doesn’t mean I don’t know what I like about them. I want to find the perfect car for me." She explains herself with her mouth curved in a petulant air and hands akimbo.

"YOU SAID YOU WEREN’T PICKY" Ashton counters her behind me. Then mimicking Demi’s voice, he goes "I’ll be fine with whatever I get. Those were your words!"

"Fine being the operative word. The cars I’ve looked at so far haven’t been fine by me!"

"Ok, calm down, Demi. Don’t mind him. He’s being silly, not you."

"Thank you."

"How about you and I go over to the showroom and do some window shopping. There are more cars over there and I’m certain you’ll find ’the one’ among them, especially with me by your side." Demi eyes twinkle with suspicion.

"You’re not doing this because you think I am being silly and you want to help your brother out of a tough situation, are you?"

"Of course not. I’ve been thinking of getting a new car myself. Yeah, Out with the old and in with the new, right? I want something new and different for the new phase of my life that I am stepping into. I guess we could just shop for our cars together." I genuinely mean that. I am thinking of getting a new car with more swag than I usually go for. Demi smiles.

"In that case, I think it’s a lovely idea. After we both get our cars, can you whisk me away for rest of the day? My friend’s out of town and my cousin just got a job. Can we spend the day playing games at your penthouse? I thought it was cool the last time I was there, even though I was dragged and threatened." She chuckles while my body stiffens. "Ashal? Did you hear me?"

I shake my head. "Oh, um, sorry. My penthouse is off limits. Quads only." She grabs my arm as I try to move away.

"C’mon. I literally have no friends..."

"THEN MAKE SOME." My sharp tone shocks Demi as she steps back. Ashton’s hand on my shoulder douses the anger in my eyes. "I’m sorry." I quickly spit out. "I didn’t mean to be rude but my penthouse is like a play pen for my brothers and I exclusively. It’s always been that way. I’m sure you and I can hang out someplace else." I hope my smile is natural and alluring.

Ashton perceives the situation and weighs in. "Sorry Demi, I broke the rules by dragging you there back then but the penthouse is actually a girl free zone." He edges close to Demi and whispers into her ear. Her eyes dilate at his words. Smirking, Ashton tugs me away, leaving Demi baffled.

I gnash my teeth thinking I handled that situation poorly. "Why is she suddenly interested in visiting my penthouse? How long do you think I can stall her for before she gets suspicious?" Ashton squeezes my shoulders to calm me.

"Calm down, bro. You’re overthinking it. She just made a harmless suggestion. I’m sure there isn’t much to it. Deny her as many times as she asks and she’ll get used to it like she has gotten used to staying away from the game room."

We cross the small flight of steps into the mansion.

"I was reminded of the text she had gotten from Olivia. Do you think they might still be in contact? What if she knows about Olivia staying in my penthouse?"

"I doubt it. Look, we only saw one text and it was the one where Olivia invited Demi to the penthouse. You deleted it before Demi could see it. That was weeks ago. If Demi actually knew about the penthouse, she would have brought this up a while back, don’t you think? Besides, I was crystal clear with Olivia. She wouldn’t risk her life and that of her family. She knows Demi can’t really help her. My bet is she was just trying to get the poor girl in trouble with our family by making her raise questions that will unsettle everyone."

That makes sense. What could Demi possibly do for Olivia anyway? I guess I am overthinking it. It’s Saturday and since I don’t have any work, my mind is wandering again.

"Did you really mean what you said about changing your Mercedes?

I give him a shrug. "I think it’s about time."

Ashton’s smile splatters across his face. "I think I know the best car for you."

I chuckle at his confidence. "I bet you said the same thing to Demi. Five cars later and you’re pulling your hair out." I laugh at him.

"Haha, very funny." He replies.

Throughout the day, I can’t seem to get it out of my head that Demi still harbors suspicions over my reaction earlier even though she does nothing to bolster that worry. She spends the day with mother out in the garden. Asher has barely come out of his room all day. He has been moody for some reason and it’s usually best to avoid him whenever he’s like that. Ashton went over to the racetrack with Ashley.

After lunch, I call Lily to check on Olivia. She tells me everything is fine but Olivia seems lonely and heartbroken. Asher’s visit flashes in my head. It got Olivia’s emotions all confused.

"Take care of her. I’ll come see her this evening. You can let her know." When I hang up the phone, I turn to find father watching me by stairs. He has an impatient look in his eyes.

"Father. I didn’t see you there." He says nothing but continues to pin me with his uncomfortable stare. "Can I help you with something?

"Was that about Olivia?"

I square my shoulders and meet his eyes firmly. "Yes. I was calling to check on my wife." I know how much he loathes hearing me call Olivia my wife. Still, I never fail to remind him since he conveniently likes to forget it and talks about her like she’s no more than a sore pain in the family’s collective butt. True to form, father presses a hand to his eyes.

"You really want to maintain that farce you call a marriage? Ashal, I am prepared to have you wed to any other woman of your choice, one whom you can proudly show off to the world. Olivia clearly doesn’t love you. Why do you still put up with her? It’s not like you can’t get another woman. Have you seen yourself?"

Is he being for real right now?

"And Olivia? What are your plans for her if I do agree to wed someone else?" Like I suspected, father exhales and stares darkly at me. "That’s what I thought."

I shove my phone in my pocket. Staying with Olivia is now beyond love. It’s the only way to protect her from Brett Rollins. I walk up to father with a hint of annoyance on my face. He grits his teeth while maintaining his stance. I know he’s wary of me.

"What do you think will happen when you get me married to the daughter of a wealthy family and I hit her? Will you be able to hide me then? Are you sure you can stand Rollins Enterprise being pulled into my mess and condemned? I know exactly what you think of me, father and I don’t blame you for it. If I were in your shoes, I’d be wary as a parent too and pretend to understand but unlike you, I’d actually care."

Father snickers. "You’re right. I haven’t been too caring." He runs a finger over his moustache. "I have left you to your whims. Perhaps if I cared deeply, I’d have realized that the best help you need can only be found inside a mental asylum or a rehab facility." He chuckles when my face pales. Now, it’s his turn to step up to me. Though he’s a head shorter, there’s no mistaking the dangerous aura around him.

"Do you still think I should care more?"

My fingers clench into fists by my sides. Like he anticipates it, father’s eyes drop to my tightened knuckles. His brows furrow as he raises his eyes to my face.

"The day you try to put those hands on me or your mother, I’ll have you put down like a rabid dog." My hands go limp. "Now you listen to me boy, you can continue with that sham of a marriage if you so please but if that woman EVER causes any trouble that affects this family or the business, you will pay for it with your own freedom. I’ll have you carted off to a facility for as long as it takes to restore the family’s image AND fix that problem of yours. For your sake, I hope you’re right to trust that woman."

Father’s words still ring in my head when I arrive my penthouse an hour later. The plans I have for Olivia haven’t changed. I still love her and envision a life with her in the mansion.

In my head, she reciprocates my love which makes it easy for her to accept me and my family. In my head, she’s not a threat to the longevity of my family or the business. In my head, I can trust Olivia.

Before stepping out of my car, I stare up at her room and inhale deeply. With everything that’s happened over the last couple of weeks till my proposal and Asher’s visit, I think she has had enough building blocks to make an informed decision about which brother she can trust or have a life with. If my freedom is on the line right now, I have to know that my dogged pursuit of Olivia is worth it. I hope to gain that clarity today.

I find Olivia cooking in the kitchen with Lily. She’s wearing a colorful beach dress that brings out her green eyes. She has the sweetest smile on her face as she hums to a soft tune in the background. Lily also chuckles at Olivia’s funny dance moves while she gives her a helping hand. For a whole minute, I imagine I have walked into an alternate universe where Olivia is actually glad to see her husband. Her eyes track towards the door and finds me standing with a baffled expression on my face.

"Ashal?" She mutters some instructions to Lily before peeling off her apron and running up to me like an excited child would rush over to an amusement park. Her face mellows as she stands two meters apart.

"Lily told me you were coming. I tried to make a decent dinner but I forgot it in the oven and it got burnt. We are trying to see if we can recreate it. Do you mind waiting a little bit longer? I’m sorry if you’re starving." She bites a corner of her lip apologetically and my heart sings. This can’t be real life.

"Ashal? Did you hear me?"

I blink out of my trance.

"What?"

"Sir, I said Mrs. Olivia is on the terrace." Lily repeats herself.

I tear my eyes away from the empty kitchen and head for the stairs. Olivia is just where I am told I’d find her. She sits with her legs crossed on the terrace. Her eyes are fixated over the railing.

As I approach her, I wonder what’s going through her mind. Does she ever dream of a life with me the way I constantly imagine one with her? Does she still nurse the hope that Asher will stroll back into her life like a knight in shining armor and save her from our hellish bond?

She senses my presence and cranes her neck to face me. Her eyes lose the dreamy haze in them and refocus sharply on my face.

"Hi."

She looks away again. "Hi. Lily said you’d be coming."

She must still be upset for the way I left her hanging the other day. After Asher left, I had the intention to go drop mom off and return but once I got home, I lost the courage to face Olivia alone. It was too awkward to return either as myself or Asher. I couldn’t find the rhythm to push through with my proposal till I got a response or to break things up with her as Asher. What if she rejects me as Ashal after I already broke up with her as Asher?

Right now however, I need clarity on our future together before deciding if I would carry on with my ruse as Asher or not. I can’t lose her on both fronts.

"Yeah. I called her."

The awkwardness continues to steam in the balmy evening air. Why won’t she say anything about our last meeting? I had proposed to her for goodness’ sake! Did my offer mean nothing to her or does she expect me to say it all over again in order to get a response from her? My mind is a madhouse as so many confusing thoughts float in there. Olivia turns to me.

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why did you want to see me?"

I clear my throat. "I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay."

"Lily could have told you that over the phone." She looks down at her hands. "I could have told you that over the phone."

Shit. Is she mad I usually call Lily instead of her?

"I prefer confirming in person. It’s always good to see your face."

When she stares at me, I hold her gaze for a testing moment till she looks away.

"Is that all you came for?"

My mind turns to mush now. What would be the right answer to a question like this? After a few seconds of brain malfunction, I go with the rubbish in my head. "Yeah. Basically."

Olivia doesn’t bother to look at me again and remains mute. I guess my five minutes conversation with her is up. Cussing myself in my head, I turn around and march to the door to leave.

"I wanted to see you too."

She’s up on her feet when I beat the partial paralysis in my legs and wheel towards her. She’s a vision in white with her hair billowing in the breeze. She steps into the room and edges closer to me. My body still fails to function so all I do is stand frozen by the door.

"I’m sorry about Asher. I know you know about he and I. It was all my fault. I pursued him even when he didn’t want to betray you. I seduced him." She cowers in shame. "I wanted him to love me the way I loved him but now I know that the love I have always pined for has been right in front of me this whole time. I’m sorry for everything Ashal. It’s like your mom said, you’ve never hit me intentionally. It was out of your helplessness. In spite of it all, you’ve loved me through my rejection and betrayal. No one has ever loved me so unconditionally."

My heart is about to burst out of my chest. Is this real or am I yet in another trance?

Olivia takes my hands. "I’m prepared to start over with you, Ashal. I accept your proposal. I want us to give our marriage a second chance." Tears stream down her face. She reaches forward and wipes my eyes before my tears can fall. That seems to do the trick as her touch makes my blood start flowing again.

"Do you really mean that?"

Olivia nods. I grab her and hug her tightly. "Oh my God. I can’t believe this." I ease back and stare momentarily into her eyes. When I reach to kiss her lips, I stop myself and peck her cheek instead. I don’t want to be too fast. Olivia plants her lips on mine and kisses me.

"It’s okay."

Confident, I kiss her properly this time and hug her once more. This is best day of my life.

"What about Asher? Don’t you still have feelings for him? Things like that don’t just disappear."

Olivia nods as I steer her to sit on the sofa. "I know. It’ll take time to get him completely out of my mind. However, I plan to fast track the process by ending things with him."

She pecks my cheek and heads for the drawer to grab her phone. "I need closure. Don’t worry, I want you here with me while I do this so you see how transparent I want to be with you moving forward."

"Do what?" I ask fidgeting in my seat.

"I’m calling him right now to end it in your presence."

My blood runs cold as she dials Asher’s number and places the phone on loudspeaker.