Chapter Sixteen Asher
‘… and he’s not even listening.’
A pen flies across the room and lands squarely on the middle of my head, pulling me out of an Imani-induced daydream I hadn’t even realised I was drowning in.
Teddy grins at me from across the table. ‘Now he is.’
Next to him, Andreas runs a hand down his face and sighs. ‘Yes, thank you, Teddy.’
Teddy gives him a mock salute.
‘Asshole,’ I mumble, lobbing the pen back in his direction.
He catches it deftly and winks. ‘And I was listening. The new French location is opening next week and our head chef is still refusing to sign his contract until his fee gets renegotiated and has yet to settle on a menu for the launch night. Our father is currently losing his mind and you’re,’ I point to Andreas, ‘meeting with three other potential chefs to replace him over the next two days. And you,’ I nod in Teddy’s direction, ‘are meeting with the original chef to see if there’s any chance you can convince him to sign without having to increase his fee. Did I miss anything?’
‘My bad,’ Teddy says, not sounding at all apologetic. ‘I guess he was listening.’
Andreas doesn’t look convinced, but he mercifully decides to let it slide and turns his attention back to his laptop where a PowerPoint presentation about the launch of the newest addition to the Vouvalis Resorts empire is up on the screen.
As soon as his gaze dips to his screen, my attention starts to wander again.
I should be paying attention. I know that.
Though my father will undoubtedly take all the credit, this particular hotel has, from the very beginning, been Andreas’ baby.
He spent months scoping out the location, negotiating with government and local officials to get the right permits, drawing up marketing and publicity plans, and hiring staff.
It’s the biggest launch of his career and I can see the pressure eating at him.
His jaw is clenched tighter than usual, his eyes are bloodshot and sunken from late night after late night, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the usually clean-shaven and immaculately dressed Andreas with this much five o’clock shadow and wearing a crinkled shirt in my life.
I swallow down the instinctive brotherly concern that rises within me.
Before, I would’ve done just about anything to help him out and try to take some of the stress off his shoulders.
Now all I can think about whenever I look at him is how easily he stood in that office and let our father tear me apart without even one word in my defence.
I feel like I’m looking at a stranger when I look at him, so maybe it’s a good thing that I’m utterly distracted by thoughts of Imani and last night.
The way she gasped into my mouth, how soft and perfect her body felt against mine, even the perfume she was wearing has embedded itself in my memories and I keep getting phantom whiffs of it that send a rush of blood straight to my dick.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone as badly as I want Imani Davies.
And so of course, I’m doing everything in my power to make sure we don’t end up together. Life is funny sometimes.
My memories flit from the sensation of Imani’s soft lips slanting against mine to a new, and entirely fabricated, fantasy.
I’m imagining waking up beside her in the morning – every morning – the sun barely peeking through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room.
I imagine the warmth of her skin against mine, the way her breath would slow as she slowly wakes up next to me.
She’d stretch, maybe mumble something semi-incoherent as she starts to wake, and I’d get to smile at the simple pleasure of her being there. I’d never tire of it.
‘Not again.’
Andreas’ tired sigh snaps me out of my reverie. His gaze is locked on me, and it’s like he can see the way my mind is wandering, despite my best efforts to hide it.
I blink, suddenly aware of the room again. ‘What?’ I mumble, pretending like I didn’t just let my thoughts, once again, wander into extremely dangerous territory.
‘Cut him some slack,’ Teddy says, shooting me a knowing look that immediately has me apprehensive. Nothing good ever comes from Teddy looking at you like that. ‘He had a big night last night.’
Ah.
It’s suddenly clear to me that Teddy has seen the photo of me and Imani leaving the premiere last night circulating on social media. From the slightly bemused look on Andreas’ face, he’s seen it too.
‘That’s right,’ Andreas says thoughtfully. ‘I’m glad you two are getting along better. I know Father was…’ He trails off, brows pinching slightly in the middle. ‘… concerned about how things were progressing.’
Teddy snorts and I can’t help but echo the sentiment. Concerned is an understatement.
‘And how are things progressing?’ Teddy asks. ‘Will we get to meet our future sister-in-law anytime soon?’
The idea of Imani becoming Teddy and Andreas’ sister-in-law and therefore my wife absolutely shouldn’t sound appealing to me in the slightest.
And yet…
I shake my head, ridding my mind of more delusional visions of Imani by my side. She’d be so disappointed if she knew I was entertaining thoughts like these when we’re supposed to be on the same page.
‘I’m doing my best,’ I grumble. ‘But she can’t stand me. Not much more I can do there.’
‘You sure about that?’ Andreas asks, one brow raised.
‘Extremely,’ I grit out. No part of me mistakes his question as brotherly concern; I know the only thing he’s concerned about is the company. Just like our father.
‘Can we get back to business?’ I ask, gesturing lamely at Andreas’ laptop. ‘Don’t you have a hotel to launch?’
Andreas looks like he wants to say something else about the Imani matter, but then he seems to remember that we’re technically in crunch time for this launch and there are still too many loose ends.
He clears his throat, turns back to his laptop, and immediately starts reeling off a list of things for Teddy and me to do.
I nod as Andreas tasks me with triple checking the marketing assets before we officially go live with the website, forcing myself to stay grounded in the present. No more daydreaming. No more fantasising. No more replaying the events of last night over and over and over—
My phone vibrates aggressively on the table and my heart stutters as I catch sight of the notification that pops up.
Imani
Guess who’s coming to France?
I’ve never been prone to dramatics, preferring to leave the theatrics to Teddy, but having to see out the workday before I can properly speak to Imani might actually kill me.
It doesn’t help that Andreas is getting more and more antsy as the day progresses. Every time my attention ever so slightly starts to drift back to Imani and the bombshell of a message she left me, Andreas is suddenly standing in front of me with more additions to my already bulging to-do list.
I barely have enough time to scarf down a sandwich for lunch, let alone dedicate a spare moment to figuring out what the hell she means by ‘Guess who’s coming to France?
’ She didn’t respond to the quick ‘???’ I managed to fire off before Andreas descended on me again, and I haven’t had the chance to follow up since.
By the time the end of day rolls around, I’m more tightly wound than I’ve ever been in my life.
‘Ash?’
I jump as Andreas appears, yet again, seemingly from nowhere, at my door.
‘Do you have a minute?’
I glance at the time and start to shake my head. ‘I’ve really got to—’
Andreas enters my office and closes the door behind him without waiting for my response. He slides into the empty seat opposite my desk, crosses his arms over his chest, and lets out a deep sigh.
‘Is everything alright?’ he asks.
I nod, almost robotically. ‘I’ve done everything on the list. Just waiting to hear back from a few—’
‘No,’ Andreas cuts me off. ‘I mean, with you. Is everything alright with you?’
He stares at me pointedly, the way only an older brother can, like he already knows the answer and is waiting to see if I’ll bother lying about it. The realisation ignites a flare of anger inside me. How dare he act like he cares about me now?
‘I’m fine,’ I say brusquely. ‘Is there anything else, or—’
‘And Imani?’ Andreas asks. ‘How are things with her?’
I shrug.
Andreas narrows his eyes and purses his lips. ‘You two are getting along better then?’
‘Why?’ I ask. ‘Are you going to tell me again how you think it’ll be good for me if I marry her?’
Andreas opens his mouth but I keep on talking.
‘Or are you going to man up and tell me what you really mean?’
He frowns. ‘What?’
‘That the only reason you want me to marry her is because it’ll be good for whatever the hell you and our father have planned.’
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Andreas look so stunned. ‘I…’ he starts again. ‘Ash, I—’
‘I overheard you,’ I say. ‘A few months back. I heard the two of you talking and he was saying how easily manipulated I am. How desperate I am for his approval and love.’
‘Asher—’ Andreas starts again, his voice hoarse.
‘And you agreed with him.’
‘I didn’t—’
‘You didn’t defend me,’ I snap, feeling the anger I’ve been holding onto for the last few months rise like red-hot lava inside me.
‘You sat and let him say those things about me and then, when push came to shove, the only thing you cared about was whether he’d be able to use me to get this fucking deal over the line. ’
Andreas seems to crumple in on himself. ‘You don’t understand,’ he says, shaking his head.
‘Then help me understand! Hasn’t it always been the three of us against him? Or have you been playing both sides my whole life?’
‘I’m not… It’s not…’ He runs a frustrated hand through his hair. ‘You’re upset. I get that. I’m not on his side, I’m on yours.’
‘Sure as hell didn’t sound like it.’
‘I know,’ he says. ‘I know.’ He leans forward in his chair, elbows braced on his knees and his hands clasped so tightly together, his knuckles have gone white. ‘I should’ve told you sooner. I just… There’s never been a right time.’