MY EX's BILLIONAIRE BROTHER

8: HELLO FAMILY!

Josephine gawked at the black SUV until it disappeared out of view. Even then, she kept staring, willing it to reappear somehow, so she could glance at her adorable daughter a little longer.

“Joss…” She heard her chippy best friend, Andrea, call from behind her. Reluctantly, she turned.

“Hi,” she murmured wearily.

“What's wrong, gal,” Andrea asked apprehensively. “You've been staring at the road for the last twenty minutes or so.” Josephine sighed in defeat. She hadn't realized she had been just standing there, for that long. “I waited for you to come in, but…”

“I am fine, Rea.” Josephine interrupted softly.

“Seriously, what's wrong?” Andrea stepped closer and grabbed Josephine's shoulders, forcing their gazes to meet. “Is this about your daughter?” Andrea had been Josephine's best friend since high school. And she knows everything about Lewis, and now Kristine and the enigmatic Sebastian.

“She is unwell,” Josephine said sadly, with a faraway look in her eyes. Before Andrea could demand additional information, the depressed mother murmured, “let's go inside.” The two forever neighbors ended up in Josephine's apartment. At Andrea's insistence, Josephine told her all about her day, leaving out the part where Sebastian McCain had aroused every fiber in her body. She didn't need anyone pointing out how unfair that was to Andrew because she already knew. And it scared her because she didn't regret having the sexy devil plastered so tightly against her. If anything, she reeled in the sensations that he had ignited in her. If he had attempted to go further with her, Josephine wasn't sure she would have stopped him. The man is perfect on all fronts. A young successful business mogul, an outstanding father, and Josephine suspected he would be a wonderful lover as well. Unfortunately, she had begun on the wrong footing with the man. And more than anything, she wanted to rectify that. Seeing him with Kristine made her wish she was a part of their small family.

“At least that jerk allowed you to see her,” Andrea grumbled, trying to comfort her best friend. “I am sure your daughter will be fine, he obviously cares for her.”

“He adores her,” Josephine argued with conviction. It wasn't a secret that Sebastian breathed Kristine. She is his world, his weakness. He couldn't seem to say no to her. The hospital trip was a great example of how she gets whatever she wants.

“So, will you attend the birthday party?” Andrea asked in a goading manner. And Josephine wasn't a fool not to catch on to her friend's dare.

“If you haven't realized it yet, my daughter loves Sebastian.” Josephine articulated slowly like she was talking to someone really dumb. “And he might be my only way to get to know her, and aggravating him doesn't feel like a smart plan. I will attend the party only if he wants me there.”

“But Jos…”

“That's my decision,” Josephine shot her down hard before sauntering to her bedroom, leaving her the stunned friend pacing on the tiled-carpeted floor.

Andrea never thought she would see a day when Josephine Lawrence tapped out in a fight. She didn't like the fact that her best friend was at the mercy of that awful man. She knew Josephine enough to know she needed to be alone for a while. She quietly closed the door behind her, heading back to her own apartment.

**

To Kristine, her father was just being rude to the nice miss Josephine.

“Tell him, Will,” Kristine argued her case for the hundredth time why Josephine should attend her birthday party. Sebastian wasn't fooled. He could tell Kristine was trying to match make. It wouldn't be the first time.

“I know what you are trying to do, pumpkin,” Sebastian informed with a knowing smile. “But I am not interested in her like that.”

“You are lying daddy,” Kristine blurted, making William laugh, but he zippered up almost immediately at the deathly glare Sebastian cast at him.

“Kristine McCain,” Sebastian scolded his little girl, but she just stared unmoved. She knew her daddy liked Josephine. She had felt the awkwardness between the two adults. “Daddy, I can tell when you are lying.”

“Really?” Sebastian scoffed, narrowing his eyes at his know-it-all daughter.

“Yes,” she answered confidently. “You tend to c*ck your head to the side and hold my gaze without blinking.” She sassed, making William snicker and Sebastian gape. “You also normally arch your back straight trying to appear confident, but you overdo it.”

William couldn't hold back anymore. He burst out laughing, eyeing Sebastian. He raised his hand for a high five, and Kristine tapped into it fast, grinning. The two were definitely having a field day at Sebastian's expense.

“What did we say about lying, daddy?” She milked it with mock innocence. Sebastian grumbled with a quick 'I am not lying' but otherwise didn't attempt to argue his case. He briefly wondered if his indecent attraction to Josephine was that obvious.

“She can come to your birthday party,” Sebastian grunted. “But to warn you, I am not interested in her and I will not marry her, and she will not be your new mommy.” Sebastian scowled. William smirked proudly. Kristine smiled, turned, and headed upstairs to write a letter, inviting Josephine to her birthday party. William promised to deliver it on her behalf as he dropped off Josephine's car later.

“I swear she knows,” Sebastian complained to William. “I will not be surprised if she confesses to knowing that woman birthed her.”

“For a minute, I assumed you thought Kristine was dense,” William retorted. “She is far too smart not to figure out there is a history there.”

“What am I supposed to do?” Sebastian asked distraught. He didn't want his daughter to know about her despicable mother. And he knew his family would not be happy to learn that Kristine has already met the woman.

“Honestly, she doesn't seem so bad,” William shrugged. With everything he had heard about Josephine Lawrence, she looked rather harmless.

“We both know looks can be deceiving,” Sebastian snapped, making William flinch. A couple of years ago, William was engaged to be married. Little did he know that his fiancé was a runaway wife and mother.

“I will be watching her,” William decided. “Very closely, I am not letting anyone hurt that little angel under my watch,” he promised. He loved Kristine too much to let that happen.

“I just want that woman out of our lives,” Sebastian whined.

“You should have thought of that before getting involved with her,” William scoffed. He, too, had felt the tension between his boss and Miss Lawrence. It was obvious something had happened between the two in his office earlier.

“I am not involved with her,” Sebastian argued, appalled that William had the same conclusion as Kristine.

“I am not blind,”

“Didn't say you are,”

“Then stop denying the obvious, dammit!” William rasped, raising his voice. “I know you, and if I say something happened between you two, then something must have happened.” Sebastian gulped. He ran his hand through his hair, gripping it tight until his scalp hurt before sighing deeply.

“It is not what you think it is,” he murmured, “I am leading her on, but not because I want her.”

“Why else then?” William asked exasperated.

“I want to break her heart,” Sebastian growled, surprising William momentarily. He had never seen that vindictive side of his boss, and it was unsettling. “She played my brother and later accused him of r*ping her. I know I am grasping here, but I think if she hadn't done that, Lewis would have never resulted to using. And maybe he wouldn't have gotten in that damn accident.”

William went quiet. Very quiet. He knew how sore of a subject Lewis' death was to the McCain's.

Lewis had been the baby and the life of the family, literally. He was everyone's joy. He had this exuberance no one could say no to. Even without knowing the full details, William opposed the accusation made against the youngest McCain. He had known the boy for five years, and he had never met a kinder soul. So, he understood why Sebastian hated and blamed Josephine. And he knew if it was his brother, he would have probably contemplated the same. What scared William though was the fact that Sebastian didn't know how enamored he was with Josephine. He might think he is toying with Josephine's emotions, only to f*ck himself over along the way. That would wreck the McCain's. William didn't see a future where Luther would accept Josephine as a daughter-in-law!

“You are not thinking straight,” he told, honestly. “I am afraid you like this woman for real, Sebastian.”

“I do not like her,”

“Don't you want to kiss her?” William taunted, making Sebastian speechless. “Swear to me, you are not thinking of her right now, in any way, and I will let you be,” he challenged.

“I am thinking of ways to punish her, William. Not ways to love her!” Sebastian grunted.

“Same sh*t!”

Before Sebastian could snap at his loyal employee, the doorbell rang. William moved to the camera and gasped, wide-eyed. He beckoned for Sebastian, who hurried to his side. “Why are they here?” Sebastian whispered, surprised, and afraid that if he spoke any louder, his unexpected guests could hear.

*****

William shrugged his shoulders. He, too, didn't expect to see them without prior warning. “Open it,” Sebastian ordered with a sigh.

“Baby,” Kathrine McCain called her second-born, kissing him on both cheeks.

“How are mum?” Sebastian asked warily as his father stepped in, followed by Anthony, and what surprised him further was the presence of Damien. The priest was rarely available for the family's get-together.

“This is a wonder,” Sebastian hugged Damien happily. “Now I am intrigued,” he scowled, wondering why his entire family felt the need to pay him a surprise visit.

“I missed you too, Ian.” Damien shot back, grinning at his elder brother's expense. No one missed the apparent confusion on his face.

“Where is Ethan?” Sebastian asked instead, looking around for his nephew.

“In school, moron,” Anthony answered.

“And Joshua?”

“It's his day off.” Joshua was Anthony's chauffeur and head of security. He and William were employed by elder McCain, Luther, to protect his boys when they were in college and surprisingly, the two men have stuck with them to date.

“Should I even bother asking to what do I owe the inconvenience?”

“Aww…” Kathrine cooed, shooting Sebastian a playful smirk. “I knew we should have told him we are coming. He has never been the kind to appreciate a good surprise.” Everyone burst out laughing. Sebastian did hate surprises, it was a simple fact that even Kristine knew.

“Grandma,” the said little girl called excitedly, hurrying down the stairs. She was in her room when she heard the familiar voices, and she couldn't resist. Josephine's invitation letter was left halfway.

“She doesn't seem sick to me,” Luther snickered, eyeing his mischievous granddaughter approach them. “You spoil her too much,” he turned a scolding glare at his son.

“As he should,” Damien countered, lifting the little girl who was now in front of him in his hands. She hugged him tightly.

“I missed you, uncle D,” she muffled, burying her nose in his shoulder.

“Missed you too, my love.” He confessed squeezing her gently. “Daddy says you are sick,” he murmured, lifting his head to look at her ridiculously beautiful face. “Do you want me to pray for you?” Damien teased, making Kristine groan.

“You know I don't believe in religion, silly.”

“Bu…”

“Uncle, I already told you there is no proof backing up religion's standpoint.” She interrupted, articulating each word slowly like she was talking to someone really dumb. “Above those crowds is just our planet's sky. Beyond that, there is a lot of unexplored vastness of dark matter and stars and other planets. You will be appalled to know that humans have just explored approximately one percent of the universe.” She made unimpressed faces at him.

“What about the highest of the skies? There must be one, surely.” Damien engaged her, just like she loves. “Who do you think lives there?

“I don't know, no one knows yet.”

“So it's safe to assume that God may indeed be living there?” Kristine chuckled.

“Then he must be an alien Uncle,” she blurted. “No wonder Mary didn't need int*rcourse to conceive God's son, who must have been half-alien born to a woman.” She added thoughtfully.

“Ooh, ooh, …” Anthony knew his niece had just begun with her theories, and Damien realized his mistake a little too late. Kristine was already bent on proving that God was an alien.

“Come here, pumpkin.” Sebastian took his chatty daughter into his arms before he called his housekeeper Cleo. “Please take her,”

After Cleo took Kristine away, Sebastian turned to his family with a frown.

“Okay, enough stalling. What's going on?”

“Jamestown town reached out to me,” Luther McCain blurted. “That vile woman is trying to marry his son fast, hoping it will help her get Kristine somehow.”

“That b*tch!” Sebastian growled hatefully, thinking how right he was about her, and how she didn't deserve any kindness from him.