DEMI
[My place, 8pm sharp.]
I scowl at the message on my phone. When mother comes down the stairs, I slip the phone into the back pocket of my jeans and beam up at her. She looks radiant as always in a fuchsia pink dress that hangs just below her knees, exposing her beautiful long legs.
"Is that what you're wearing? Demi, why don't you try the clothes Ashley painstakingly handpicked for you?" A small frown creases my forehead as I recall the complete overhaul of my wardrobe.
"Most of them are either too sexy or too elegant. I can never find something that feels just right like a plain shirt and pants. Can we just go? I promise I'll wear something classy on our next lunch date." Reluctantly, she nods.
We meet up with the quads and Mr. Rollins for lunch at a five star restaurant. Mr. Rollins makes a scathing remark about my outfit.
"How could you let her come here dressed like that?" He asks, turning to his wife. "You know this lunch is a PR stunt to show our family as a unified front irrespective of the negative media attention we've garnered over the past few weeks. How are the photos supposed to turn out with her looking even more shabby than waiters in a two-star diner."
"Calm down Brett. I am sure it won't be so bad. Everyone in Danvarr knows Demi comes from a humble background. If we hastily try to change her to our own image of the perfect daughter-in-law, that might backfire. I think people will appreciate the fact that Demi feels very comfortable being herself around us. Nothing will look forced upon her."
"I think mom's right."
I glance up and note from the hand signal he gives me that it's Ashal talking. The last time we spoke at length, he had told me to expect a very unique but subtle hand signal to tell him apart. It's our little secret, he said.
"Judging from the comments from her response to Iman's accusations, a lot of people insinuated that based on her outfit, Demi seemed uncomfortable and pressured to live up to our standards. I think it will be a breath of fresh air if they see her in her usual clothes every once in a while."
Father grunts. "You all had better be right about this. I shelved some very important meetings to make it to this lunch. I will hate for all our efforts to go to waste."
The paparazzi start taking photos of us once our meals arrive. We are discreetly instructed to smile a lot to portray a happy, thriving family. Ashely and I sit next to each other and every three minutes, he is supposed to feed me and vice versa. The early shots of our public displays of affection are horrible and seem forced, like it actually is. We're both still struggling to be our usual selves after the shocking truth in Brellis. After a couple of shots and some believable photos later, we are instructed to kiss each other.
My heart plummets. "What? Nobody said anything about kissing." A cold sweat breaks atop my forehead. I don't like the sound of this.
"What's so unbelievable about you and your newly wedded husband being unable to keep your hands off each other in a public restaurant?" Mr. Rollins mutters in anger. Mother tacitly implores me to cooperate. I stare across the room. There are only a handful of customers at the well-spaced tables but they steal glances at us every now and then.
"Do you realize we are doing this to salvage our reputation that your sorry past tainted? You have the audacity to sit there and act like a prude who's finding it difficult to kiss a handsome face like that? Are you kidding me?"
"Father, please." Ashley pleads.
"Calm down, Brett." Mother adds.
"She's not so innocent. Have you seen her ex? What self-respecting woman would date a druggie like that?"
"Enough now, Brett. You're not helping."
"I don't have time for this. Hurry up, Demi so we can be done here."
"Demi, you're wasting everybody's time. Get on with it so we can all go back to our busy schedules." Asher sends me a heated glare. My heart is thumping wildly. Asher exchanges glances with the rest of his brothers. I can imagine the suspicions building in his head due to my reluctance. Grim images of the past few, harrowing days flit across my memory. Asher has left no stone unturned in his efforts to expose me. I can't let him convince everyone before my plans come to fruition.
Ashley takes my hand and muffles an apology for not telling me about the kissing part. "I deeply apologize. It'll just be a second or two. A quick kiss on the mouth and then a few pecks on the cheek. That's all…" His eyes dilate as I clamp his lips shut with mine in a sensual kiss. It takes him a few seconds to recover from the shock and return the gesture. All around our table, I hear the clearing of throats. I break off the kiss and smile lovingly at Ashely.
I hope they got the pictures they need because I don't think I want to do that again. Ashely's cheeks are just as flushed as mine. I dip my eyes and shove food into my mouth to hide the embarrassed hue on my face.
"Again, virgins don't kiss like that." I don't have to look up to know it's Ashton.
We finish our lunch and everyone starts dispersing to their places of work.
"I'll just stop by my aunt's house. She wants to see me." I inform mother.
"I'll drop you." Ashely offers and when I shift uncomfortably, he explains, "It's along the way to one of our stores where I have a consulting meeting anyway. I just thought we could ride together."
"That sounds fine. Demi, let him drop you off." Mother's tone brooks no question.
The ride to my aunt's place is the most awkward I have ever had with Ashley. This is what I feared. I really don't want us to get weird around each other anymore than we already are, especially since we would be seeing a lot of each other for months to come. Ashley apologizes again for the inconvenience I had to go through. I look out the window, at the zipping houses and trees. I can't let him fill his head with the wrong ideas. Though my heart did flutter when we kissed, we can never be more than this. I won't let any hormonal reaction sway me from my mission.
The Rollins family have been getting away with so many wrongs. Someone has to make them face the consequences. I stifle the urge to glance at Ashley. He might not be the monster I once thought he was and he might actually have likeable traits but he has been complicit in a lot of appalling actions perpetrated by his family. For that reason, he isn't entirely innocent. At the end of this, revenge might not feel as good as I envisioned earlier but at least, it would feel relieving to have avenged the death of my folks.
"How's Nicola?" I chime, abruptly cutting off his apologies on behalf of his father.
"What?"
"Nicola, your ex-fiancé. How's she doing these days?" His surprise fades to annoyance when he sees the smile on my face. Nothing about my evasive technique is humorous. I merely want him to understand that I am not going to be losing sleep over our kiss.
"Really?"
"The kiss." I continue, "It meant nothing."
"You think I don't know that?" His voice rises an octave as his tone turns brash. I stare at him in surprise. "I deemed it necessary to apologize to you on behalf of my entire family because no one else had the decency to do so. I am just trying to be a gentleman, not warm my way into your bed."
The car screeches to a halt in front of my aunt's. "Contrary to what you might think, Demi Branson, I don't lack self-control or women with enough sexual experience to give me a great time. Get out of your own head for one second and maybe you'll recognize the thin line between a man just trying to be kind and one trying to get into your pants."
The passenger door locks disengage, startling me. Ashley inclines his head, expecting me to use the door. When I grab it, I realize someone is standing right outside my aunt's porch. Liam. Ashley follows my eyes and frowns conspicuously at the sight of Liam. He grabs my arm before I can leave.
"Remember, people are always watching you. Be careful."
I get his message loud and clear. Don't get photographed smooching another man and smear my family's image with dirt.
I slam the door shut and head over to greet Liam. Ashley lingers a few seconds before igniting his engine and taking off.
"Trouble in paradise?" Liam asks.
I shake my head. "What are you doing here?"
"What? Aren't you allowed to keep old friends anymore? Ah, I see. Did I make your husband feel insecure?"
"You wish."
He laughs, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Ok Liam, why are you really here? You could have called me."
"Somehow, you've become a difficult woman to reach, Demi Branson. Phone calls won't do it anymore. Hence, I've decided to be a regular face around you. I'll make social calls every now and then. Maybe that will spur you to take our 'thing' more seriously."
Aunt and Kira aren't home from the looks of it. I toss my head back. "You really think I'll let myself be sidetracked by the quads? Every time I look at them, I am reminded how my life took a deep plunge into hell five years ago because their father, as usual, swept their wrongs under the carpet and buried the truth behind the death of my parents. You think you want to see them go down more than I do?"
"I don't know what you see when you look at those blue-eyed hunks and I really can't blame you. You're a woman after all, with a beating heart and needs. I saw the pictures of your cozy family lunch," His smile disappears. "Your kiss. You can stand here all you want and tell me it meant nothing and I will tell you for free that you're fibbing. You still have months to go before your contract expires. You'll probably have to kiss Ashley a couple more times before then, and do whatever else that family requires of you just to buy more time. Do you still think you won't be biased after all of that?"
"What would you have me do? They already suspect me. Asher is very close to uncovering my schemes."
"That's why you need me in the picture. They need to know you're not alone. I know your marriage is a mere contract. Ashley's still having fun with his numerous girlfriends. You need to make those quads realize that I am with you. Tell them I am your significant other whom you'll be marrying properly after the contract expires for all I care. That will hopefully make them keep their hands to themselves, especially behind closed doors."
I am not comfortable with this plan but I don't have a better alternative yet. "I'll think about it."
"No, we don't have that kind of time. We're doing this." Before I can argue, he slips away. I have a few hours to gripe about it to Anna before aunt and Kira return later in the evening.
"Was that Anna?" Aunt gasps. "Why are you still talking to the woman who tried to steal your man?"
I leap off my bed in disgust. "Anna didn't try to steal anyone. She was used. Besides, none of the quads is technically mine."
Beside aunt, Kira scoffs. "What exactly do you have against that family? Could Iman be spitting facts, huh, Demi? I really don't understand why you're desperate to throw away an opportunity most women will kill for."
Aunt wags a finger at me. "I don't know what's going through that mind of yours but if you dare jeopardize this marriage by bringing shame to the Rollins family or doing anything to make them cut ties with us, I'll never forgive you. You'll have no home here."
"Aunt!"
"You better watch the way you behave in that house. Don't ever give them a reason to complain. Be their perfect daughter-in-law. Do what they want you to do and say what they want you to say at all times. If you do anything to crumble our new lifestyle and status, I'll kill you with my bear hands."
Her eyes blaze fiercely as she issues more threats. Kira doesn't help matters. She reads out scathing comments made by people after our family lunch photos were posted and laughs derisively.
"How could you dress so poorly to that kind of fancy restaurant?" Aunt barks. "Why are you such an embarrassment?" She shakes her head. "You won't dare it ever again. You'll dress appropriately henceforth. Mrs. Rollins mentioned that she had Ashley oversea your wardrobe facelift. You'll go home and make sure you make it up to that family. Seduce your husband if you must. Promise me."
Exhausted with their drama, I pick my bag and head for the door.
"If you're really not interested in them, get a divorce! Why are you playing hard to get? Everyone knows the quads are out of your league. Stop prancing about like you are the catch or the prize in the relationship." Kira shouts.
Wordlessly, I leave. I think of calling a chauffeur from the mansion and change my mind. Everyone must be pissed at me over the comments in the post. Maybe my aunt is right. I have to find a way to pacify them, even if it's for an entirely different reason.
I recall Ashley's anger earlier. I have a lot of fixing to do. Ashley was the only one that sympathized with me today. I need to make things right between us. If I can get Ashely to be my friend again, maybe that will keep Liam off my back. My phone pings and I rush to check if it's Ashley texting to check on me.
[Are you coming over? We need to talk.]
Hissing, I ignore Iman's message. Does he really think I will fall for his tricks again?
I get home a little late, way past dinner. Ashley didn't call even once. That's proof that he is very mad at me. The maids inform me that everyone has retired to their rooms except Mr. Rollins who is currently in his study. I take the elevator and make a belie for Ashley's room. His door is unlocked when I try it and I let myself in.
It's more spacious and tastefully furnished than mine. The monochromatic theme reminds me of a bachelor pad. I stare in awe as I have never been in his room before.
Ashely is standing by the corner of his bed, his back to me. He quietly flips through his phone. Is he trying to call me or check up on me? Before he can dial my phone and disrupt the surprise, I sneak up on him.
"Ash?"
He turns, shocked to find me behind him. I blank my mind to consequences as I grab his collar, pulling him down for passionate kiss. A strangled groan escapes his throat. Lust blooms, ripe and red-hot inside me as I put my tongue to work, nibbling and teasing. I should stop now, I think to myself, but the taste of him is overwhelming. When he takes the lead, the thill of it rattles my senses. Struggling against the dizzying build of sexual tension, I shove him lightly and stagger backwards.
This kiss definitely can't pass for nothing.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to carry on." We both pant for breath.
What the hell did I just do? It was supposed to be a light makeup kiss.
A mischievous smile tugs his lips. "For the last time, Branson, virgins don't kiss like that."
Just then, the bathroom door swings open and Ashley comes out in a bathing robe with water dripping from his hair.
"Demi? What are you doing here?"