Four Brothers and a Bride-Chapter 69

ASHAL

The post on billion-err regarding my mystery woman hasn’t blown over like I hoped. A lot of people have even started speculating about my sexuality.

Unlike Asher who has had exes, I haven’t really dated anyone publicly until Olivia came into my life. I see why everyone is so intrigued by the woman who managed to steal my heart.

There are threads and sub threads on different platforms dedicated to uncovering my secret girl. More articles keep popping up about speculative guesses as to who she is. Though it’s flattering to see how invested people are about my life, it’s also annoying and intrusive to have your personal life under a magnifying glass.

The only upside is that the attention on Olivia has dwindled. Olivia. She has been different lately. Whenever I come around the house, she always has a pot of something aromatic going. She has poured herself into her cooking classes to ensure she makes me all the best meals I am used to having at home. I literally don’t have to beg for her attention. She always clings to my side while I play my games or work from my office at the penthouse.

The last time I visited days ago, she set up a candlelight dinner just for the two of us. After the meal, she lured me up to her room to show me her new collections of lingerie in dangerously sexy colors of red and black.

She mentioned leaving some in my room too and that’s how she pulled me away to my room as well. Her new purchases were everywhere like she was a new girlfriend trying to put ideas into her man’s head that she was ready to move in with him.

I ran my hand over her sexy night dresses neatly arranged in my closet next to my clothes. That’s when I felt her hands crawl up my chest from behind me. She smelled so good and it felt really nice to have her do that all on her own.

"Do you have to leave tonight?" She whined like a petulant child. Her hands moved to trail up and down my torso and when her fingers snaked under my shirt to tease the buckle of my belt, my breath clogged in my throat.

"You don’t have to leave, you know. I’d love it if you spent the night with me." Her hands descended to cup me. Gently, she stroked my hard shaft. I moved away, all flushed in the face, towards the bathroom door.

"You don’t need to do this to prove anything to me." I said with my back still turned to her. My voice came out a little breathy to my chagrin. I whirled to face her and was shocked to find that she had stripped down to reveal the sexy red lingerie she had underneath her robe. My eyes raked her body ravenously, like I hadn’t had her before.

"I want this." She said, drawing closer to stroke my face. "I want you, Ashal. I don’t know how else to show you." Her eyes were almost pleading. She took my hand and guided it to her rotund ass cheeks. Her skin felt extra soft like a baby’s and slick with oil.

"Say you want me too, please." She begged, laying her head on my chest and inhaling deeply. I sniffed her fragrant hair and wrapped my arms around her too.

It felt nice. It felt really nice.

We had sex that night. I found myself watching Olivia’s face contort with every orgasm that quivered through her. She moaned loudly with every stroke, deep and shallow.

Every few minutes, she grabbed my face to ask me if I was close, if I wanted her in a different position, if I was enjoying her dirty talk or wanted her to be more aggressive. My body was enjoying everything thing she was doing to it but my mind chose to blank out her face because the emotions displayed on them didn’t feel right to me.

When we used to have sex as Olivia and Asher, Olivia glowed with a sheen of sweat. Her entire body opened up to me (as Asher). Our hearts melded and over that period, I came to know what a pure look of sexual satisfaction looked like on Olivia Dunn. It was lacking while I rode her as Ashal, no matter what I did.

Grossed out by her fake screams and moans of ecstasy, I pulled out and lay spent on the bed, trying to catch my breath. Olivia craned her neck with a hint of worry on her face.

"Is something wrong?"

I gently took her hands off my chest and headed for the bathroom, mumbling being late for an appointment. When I came out with a towel hanging on my waist, she was fully robed on the bed. Her eyes were downcast.

"You’re leaving? It’s past one am."

"I know that." I rifled through my clothes for a fresh set. The sight of her dresses grated on my nerves but I ignored them.

"Did I do something wrong?"

I didn’t know how to answer that. How was I supposed to explain to her how I knew what she was like in bed with my brother whom she loves?

"I told you, I’m late."

I couldn’t even be mad at her. I hadn’t been fully committed to the act either. I kept torturing myself with images of she and Asher and imagining them together. Like that wasn’t enough, I made comparisons of my own sexual prowess.

Was I only good enough when I was pretending to be Asher or did Olivia just respond better when she believed she was with the man she loved?

She came up to me. "Please, talk to me. If there’s something you like or didn’t like about my performance, share with me so I can continue to improve. I want to be the best for you."

Apparently, you can’t do better than a robot with your heart still elsewhere, I had thought in my head as I stared at her face. None of it was real, not the cooking or the loving looks and touches. She wasn’t allowing herself to love me. She was playing a script.

I leaned down to kiss her lips. She returned the kiss with a fierceness that irritated me yet again. Why was she quick to assume I only liked it aggressive? Did it have something to do with her perception of me as someone with my peculiar condition?

I ripped a shirt in annoyance while tugging it off a hanger.

"Ooh, it ripped. I’ll have it stitched before you return."

I tossed the shirt across the room and glared at Liv. "IT’S JUST A FUCKING $400 SHIRT. I HAVE TONS OF IT IN DIFFERENT COLORS. I DON’T NEED YOU TO STITCH ANYTHING FOR ME."

Though she remains standing, her eyes go wide with shock at my outburst. She swallows hard and mumbles an apology.

"Don’t be a fucking robot, Liv. I don’t know who this person is but I don’t like her. I don’t need you pretending to be everything I ever wanted. That’s not what I want."

The spark in her eyes were gone. The strength of her will too. She was an empty husk with bouncy books and a good backside. That was not the Olivia I fell in love with.

"Then what do you want?" She croaked out with a glimmer of tears in her eyes. "How much more should I change myself for you? Tell me what you want so I can be exactly that."

Now she sounded pitiful and made me look needy. Maybe I am. I finished wearing my clothes and grabbed my keys from a tray close to the door. Before heading out, I glanced back at her, a quick sweep of that beautiful, sculptured face.

I want you to love me as Ashal Rollins, while being your authentic self, I reply in my head.

"Get some rest, Liv. Good bye." I uttered before leaving.

Elyon’s entrance into my office jerks me out of my thoughts. I didn’t even hear him come in.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, sure." My eyes dart to the screen of my desktop where the articles about my mystery woman continue to draw comments. I frown at one. Elyon wheels the monitor to himself and chuckles.

"Why do you have that up? You shouldn’t be reading that."

"I can’t avoid it every time I go online. People are ruthless and I get tagged all the time." I sigh tiredly.

"What’s the deal though? Your mystery girl wants to remain mysterious or is that just you?"

"She was just a date to my sister-in-law’s party. It wasn’t that serious."

"You don’t like her?"

I think of Olivia now. I love her no doubt but right now, I don’t know if I like her. "Not really."

"Then get yourself a girl you like. It can’t be that hard. You’re Ashal Rollins. You don’t have to do with out of pressure from these useless blogs but if you want one, put yourself out there and go for it. If Ashley can get married, I believe you can."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask with an arched brow. Elyon chuckles.

"Some men fear commitment, you know. I always pegged Ashely as one of them but then he got married and he appears to be doing a good job so far because his wife hasn’t left him yet. I can’t think of a reason why a decent, hardworking and rich guy like yourself hasn’t landed a wife yet. I know you want one. You’ve always given off family guy vibes to me."

"Whatever man."

"Seriously, are you looking for any qualities in particular? Tell me what they are and I can hook you up."

"Are you pimping on the side, Elyon? God knows I pay you well enough."

"I have sisters and they’ve got tons of beautiful friends. They relentlessly set me up on blind dates with varying classes and types of hot women before I met Lisa. Just say the word and you can be a happy boyfriend by nightfall."

I tinkle with the idea in my head. A blind date would mean the lady wouldn’t know it’s me from the jump. That could be interesting. I have always been recognized by most of the ladies I interact with at the club and social events I attend. The only thing they fail to guess right is my name as I am often confused with my brothers. A blind date should be refreshing.

"I know you want to do it so don’t overthink it. Just tell me what you want her to be like; career, height, hair color, size, interests, you name it and my sisters will get you someone very nice to have drinks with later today."

"Today?"

"Why not? There are lots of women single and waiting to mingle."

"It has to be very private, okay? I don’t want anyone taking pictures of us."

"You got it. Make a short list of everything you’re looking for and I’ll get to work." Elyon beams at me before leaving.

I don’t know how I feel about the decision I just made. I am not really looking to date. I have Olivia but a fresh face and conversation with a woman that reminds me of the one I fell for might help remind me of everything Olivia could still be.

I make my list, describing my impressions of Olivia the first time I had met and fallen for her at first sight. To avoid overthinking it, I forward the list to Elyon’s phone and return to work.

We hit a major sales record hours later. Everyone in the office celebrates with Champagne for a new milestone achieved. I step up in front of the water fountain in the reception area to address everyone.

"Thank you all so much for your continuous hard work and dedication. I am proud of every single one of you who immersed yourself into this project till we hit our numbers. HQ will be calling soon to congratulate our team heads but I want the rest of you to know that the appreciation extends to everyone. Additionally, you will be taking bonuses home at the end of the month."

Everyone hoots and claps excitedly.

"Thank you once again, guys. Let’s keep winning."

I toast to more success in the business and clink my glass with a good number of my staff. I drain my drink in one gulp as Elyon plows his way through walls of limbs to meet me. He tops off my glass once more and clinks his glass to mine.

"Cheers." We both gulp down our drinks.

"Careful. Working hours aren’t over. I can hold my liquor pretty well unlike some people I know."

Elyon laughs. "Work is over for you. Your date will be arriving the Grand Casa Hotel private bar in..." he flicks his wrist to check his gold wristwatch. "...precisely fifty minutes."

"What? You said tonight. It’s still early."

Elyon flashes his wrist at me. "Bro, it’s four thirty. Work ends in thirty minutes. What are you on? Get out of here and Ashal," he calls to me as I begin heading for my office to grab a few things, "did I mention I secured a backup date?"

A frown creases my brow. "What do you mean?"

"My sister found two amazing women that fit your description almost too perfectly and she didn’t feel it was right to deprive you of a chance to meet both ladies before making a choice so...I might have scheduled the second date for two hours after the first, at the same location."

My head is aching now but I don’t even have the time to be mad at him. I jab a finger at him. "You better be right about this. If things go south, you’ll be looking for a new job."

Thankfully, the hotel is a few minutes’ drive from my office. With Ashley’s advice and help, I learnt to always keep a fresh set of clothes in my office just in case. We all do it except Ashton and father. They can’t be bothered. Today, I am glad I inculcated that habit as it saves me a considerable amount of time in getting to my date.

The sun is already down when I park in the VVIP lot and hand my keys to the valet. I use the elevator to the fourth floor where my date is awaiting me at the bar. As the elevator opens and I head for the bar, I nod at Elyon’s choice. The area is quite luxurious to my standard and most importantly, the bar has been reserved for us.

I check my time as I approach the door. I am late by two minutes. If my date is anything like I described, she might be twitching in her seat by now at my tardiness. My hands close around the knob of the glass door but before I push it open, my eyes zero in on my date. She is in a sexy red number with sleek brown hair swept towards the right side of her neck. She plays with the umbrella on her mojito and checks her time.

Just from the side of her face, I immediately recognize her. My eyes dilate in shock.

Maddie?

***

My hands fall from the door. I quickly swerve to flatten myself by the door when Maddie’s eyes pivot towards my direction. She’s probably running out of patience with her mysterious date.

What the fuck? I rush back towards the elevator, tapping on my phone screen to call Elyon and give him a piece of my mind but just as his voice sails through, I remember he doesn’t know anything about my secret marriage. How do I expect him to know that the date he arranged for me is with my wife’s kid sister."

"Ashal? You there?"

I hang up and blow a frustrated breath. Seeing Maddie is honestly shocking only to the extent that I didn’t expect Elyon’s sisters to be friends with Maddie. However, I can totally understand why she made the cut. She’s almost identical to her sister as far as their interests, features etc. go.

When I hear the clack of heels coming down the hallway, I know it’s her. I duck behind a wall and silently watch her leave with a huge frown on her face. She must have a lot to tell Cher about the asshole that stood her up.

After ten minutes, Elyon calls me to inquire about my failed blind date with the first girl.

I am inside the bar now, sipping a drink as I await my second date. Hopefully, she doesn’t turn out to be someone I know too.

"I’m so sorry, man. I had to make a detour along the way. I couldn’t get here on time. My apologies to Cher for the inconvenience, and to my first date. I’m sure she’s amazing. I’ll just wait for the next girl. Hopefully, it works out well."

My second date arrives an hour earlier than scheduled and looks surprised to find a lone man at the bar. She’s a true beauty with long legs that strut through every floor like it’s a runway. She is wearing a little black dress paired with a shimmering white and black purse and red bottoms to match her lips.

"Hi." Her voice is soft and soothing. I extend my hand to her, noting the recognition in her eyes. "I’m Shay."

"Pleased to meet you, Shay. I’m Ashal." I pull out a seat for her.

"Thank you. Wow, you really are the gentleman they say you are." We laugh softly.

"You’re very early. I wasn’t expecting you for another hour."

"It’s a habit of mine. Blind dates make me a bit nervous so I like to go earlier, like way earlier to get comfortable with the venue, ambience, smell, everything before my date arrives. It’s okay if you find that weird. I do too."

"What happens when you make it to the blind date after your date arrives."

"I talk a mile a minute, run out of breath and choke myself with wine. That’s not happening right now because you’re familiar. I’ve heard only good things about Ashal Rollins and it kind of puts my mind at ease." She accepts her drink from the bartender and takes a sip. "You were here earlier. Do you own this place too?"

I laugh at her joke while I brainstorm a good response. I can’t possibly tell her that I was supposed to be having a date with another woman before she arrived.

"Wouldn’t that be nice but no, I don’t own this hotel. My company hit a huge milestone today and we closed early to celebrate. Since it’s not far from here, I thought I’d stop by and check out this new place while I wait for you, instead of going all the way home and returning again."

"Oh, I get it." We hold each other’s gaze for another half minute.

"What is it? Tell me." I urge her seeing the questions in her eyes.

"I really shouldn’t."

"It’s fine. Go ahead."

She shrugs. "Ok, you asked for it. I am surprised you are here, on a date with a random stranger. Whatever happened to your mystery girl?"

Argh, that.

"Mystery girl was just a date to the party. That’s all that was."

"Is she not your type?"

"Physically, yes, but that was it. I’m looking for something more than just a pretty face and a glib tongue."

She stares intently at me. Her eyes are seductive. Her bare part of her thighs are distracting. I sip my drink and order a third round. "What about you? What are you looking for out of this?"

The light of cheer in her eyes wink out at my question. "Just one thing."

"Oh yeah? What’s that?" My phone blares in my pocket. When I see the caller, I get irritated for the interruption. I want to keep this momentum going with Shay.

"You can take it."

"It’s fine. I’m sure it’s just work."

"It won’t stop bothering us so just take it. Go ahead." She smiles at me as I excuse myself.

"Elyon, now is not a good time."

"I understand that you’re pissed. Cher just told me. I’m sorry about Blake." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

My eyebrows furrow in confusion. "What? Who’s Blake?"

"Blake Hartley, your second date. She had an emergency and canceled for tonight." My eyes boggle in disbelief. When I turn to look at my date, she blows me a kiss.

"Elyon, what the fuck are you talking about? I am currently on a date and her name isn’t Blake, it’s Shay. I am staring at her right now.

"Shay? That can’t be right. Maddie and Blake were the only two women Cher selected for you. There wasn’t even a woman called Shay on the list of five friends my sister personally handpicked for you."

Shay isn’t smiling or goofing around now as I hang up the call with Elyon.

"I’m sorry, what did you say your full name was? I didn’t catch it." She smiles mischievously now.

"That’s because I didn’t give my full name, Mr. Rollins." Rising to her feet, she edges close to me and teases my neck tie. "But since you’re asking so nicely, it’s Shay Woodley, second daughter of the late Tobias Woodley."

Her eyes are dark and hooded now as she locks eyes with mine. "And what I want is the head of my father’s murderer!" Her hand disappears into her purse seconds before the light from the chandelier above us, bounces off barrel of a gun.