ASHER
Whenever dad summons a meeting with all his sons in the ground floor living room, it's always for one reason; one of us has messed up and we need to fix it. Lots of meetings have been called in this living room over Ashley, Ashton and Ashal, never for me. It's not luck or a coincidence. It's strategy. Somewhere in dad's head, he is keeping the records. I am not any different from my brothers. I love women and hook up with them sometimes, but not as much as Ashley. I drink and party too but I never let my guard down or allow myself cause a dent in my good reputation as future CEO of the Rollins Empire. I can't allow father have a reason to not appoint me in his stead, after he retires.
I stare intently at Demi and instantly analyze the situation. I want to say this is Ashley's mess. Probably, he's knocked her up. This wouldn't be the first time but Demi isn't exactly Ashley's type; busty bimbos with BBLs. She is too natural, too prim and proper for him.
"Demi Branson?" Father repeats curtly.
Demi snaps out of her entranced stare at my brothers and I. I can't blame her. We get that all the time.
"S-Sir?"
"You want to tell me why there's a horde of paparazzi in front of my house and incredulous articles of you allegedly being married to one of my sons this morning? It might be an alien concept to you all but this family has an empire to run. I especially detest people who waste my time."
Demi's quivering lips crack open but before she can say anything in response, her mum jumps in.
"Mr. Rollins, I am Mrs. Elizabeth Collin and this is my daughter, Kira Collin." The bright-eyed, heavily dressed young woman next to Mrs. Elizabeth waves a hand at us like a pageant winner. She is smiling too much. Nobody cares. I flick a glance at my watch. We don't have time for this crap.
"Demi here is my niece" Mrs. Elizabeth continues, a tad bit somber now. What a drama queen. She whips out a crumpled paper and offers it to my dad. Instantly, I retrieve it from her in his stead. "That's a marriage certificate showing that one of your sons did wed my niece last night." I nod in agreement when dad glances my way.
Oh boy, what has Ash gotten himself into? The signature is legit. I flash a quick glance at my brothers. We are all thinking the same thing, that one of us disobeyed rule number thirteen (Never go alone to a public space routinely visited by all four brothers together and do something crazy that could hunt the others. If you must go, notify the quad).
"You are mistaken. None of my sons can be so foolish as to wed a nobody, intoxicated or not. Isn't that right, boys?"
We all nod. Of course, we will deal with this later but family supports each other in public.
"Are you calling my niece a liar? This poor girl is no liar. She's a good daughter. She's never had a jot of alcohol until yesterday and that was only because she caught her boyfriend cheating on her. His reason? Demi refuses to be intimate with him until marriage. One of your sons here clearly took advantage of my poor niece in her inebriated state to play such a prank but while you can easily sweep this under the rug by padding envelops to the bloggers, my poor niece will have this in her official records for life. She just turned twenty. She doesn't deserve to be a divorcee at such a young age."
Wow. I will give it to this woman. An Oscar is deserving of this performance.
"Look Mrs. Elizabeth" I intervene. "Your niece's claim is nothing new to us. We are all aware of all the lengths young women go to affiliate themselves with the Rollins Empire, from rape and pregnancy accusations to fake marriage claims. The only reason you're still standing here and not on your way to jail is out of the goodness of our heart." I squeeze the paper in my hand and throw it on the floor. "You've been given more than enough time to own up to your lies and leave quietly but if you want to insist on taking this to court, we will gladly oblige you. Be warned that no person or institution has ever defeated us on the legal front. We will absolutely crush your family's reputation. Is that what you want for your daughter and niece?"
A storm is brewing in Demi's eyes. "Don't threaten my family." She barks at me.
"Why?" It's Ashton. I'm surprised he has reined in his anger till now. He steps up to Demi, pinning her with a death stare. "Y'all have the fucking nerve to barge in here like some entitled pricks and the temerity to accuse my brothers and I of being hitched to you?" He scoffs, giving her a once-over. "Left to me, I'll have had you all whipped severally for your guts before handing you over to the cops."
"Ash" Mum warns him to back off. She also can't tell us apart so she calls each of us Ash, like everyone else.
"Easy tiger." Ashley pulls Ashton back, then steps up to Demi. The flirt. I am certain his antenna didn't fail to pick up the insinuation that Demi might be a 'virgin' while Mrs. Elizabeth was speaking. She might not be his type but he's a sucker for everything pure and tight down a woman's legs.
"End this farce now missy and take your family away before it's too late." He winks at Demi. "Trust me, we've heard better rumors, seen better theatric performances but this is getting old, okay?" I admire his restraint in not playing with her hair.
"I want an annulment."
"What?" Mrs. Elizabeth quips. "Shut up Demi. You don't know what you're saying.
"I think she does." I reply.
"Then, she'll have what she wants." Ashal adds. The sentimental, feminist quad. He speaks, ha.
"No" Mrs. Elizabeth insists. "She doesn't know anything."
"Aunt, please. Let me handle this."
"The same way you handled your heartbreak and ended up married in one night? You better shut up and step back."
"I see" Father nods. "So, you brought her here hoping to exploit us. You want to rewrite the poverty out of your family by using this falsehood?" Father laughs hard. "Poor people never cease to disgust me. Maybe you three would be the scapegoat to teach others never to mess with my family, especially my sons, ever again. DUNCAN!"
I place a hand on his shoulder and whisper in his ear. "Don't be in a haste, dad. The rumor is gathering digital dust, especially with the marriage certificate on display. Even Billon-Err has bought into this rumor. Our stock prices might dip if we don't handle this logically."
"What are you saying?" Dad bellows angrily.
"Let me handle this." I take the floor. "Demi, tell us what happened last night. You claim to have wedded one of us while intoxicated. Where was this?"
"It's right there on the certificate"
"Shut up Mrs. Elizabeth! I was talking to Demi." I turn to Demi again. "Where did you meet me or one of my brothers as you allege?"
Demi quivers. I know she can't admit it. She can't possibly be allowed into the Blue Cove so someone must have snuck her in. That someone must be dear to her and she wouldn't want them losing their job.
"Where, Demi Branson?"
"At a club, the Blue Cove. I remember having whiskey with one of you. I distinctly recall…" she trails off as I laugh.
"Whiskey? We all drink whiskey Demi, as do so many other men, I am sure." Except Ashton. He can't stand it for some reason but Demi doesn't need the fine details. "And the Blue Cove, how did you get in? I know a person of your class can't afford to." Demi hangs her head low. Whether you decide to speak or not, I say in my head, whoever snuck you in is as good as fired.
When she remains quiet, I continue, "I guess that settles it. You and your family will have to pay for this inconvenience. You have not only kept us from meeting a morning appointment but you have also put the Rollins Empire in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Our stock prices may take a hit. You can't possibly be let off easily. DUNCAN!" I call out to the head of our home security detail.
"WAIT" Demi shouts with a raised hand.
"What? Begging won't change anything now."
"I don't want to beg." She stands firmly. "I know who my groom is."