Touched by the man i shouldn’t want (step by step, sin by sin)

Scarlett’s POV. The car pulled up in front of the hotel and I alighted while letting out a heavy sigh. This was one of the few properties under my mother's name and I hated to be in spaces like this. It made me feel suffocated and uncomfortable, I didn’t know why. Ever since my father died, I have not recovered and I don’t know if I ever will. Mother was the owner of Claudio, the biggest fashion brand in America and that explained why I looked extra. I looked down at my dress and sighed, mother could be very extravagant when it came to fashion. I struggled to understand because my mother was one of America’s biggest fashion icons. She would rather die than for me to look less than I should look. I was clad in a pair of black pantyhose and a black dress that stopped a little above my knees. My dress accentuated my curves which I loved to hide underneath my baggy pants and shirts and the heels on my legs cost more than a million dollars. Mother even went to the extent of bringing a whole makeup team for me. I didn’t know what was so important about the function that mother had me dress like this, I hated it. She reminded me about it all through the day and I got sick of hearing her talk about it. At times I wished I was not her daughter because my life was entirely different from my peers. It was safe to say I was a princess trapped in a castle. “The madam is waiting for you, ma’am” the chauffeur said and I flashed him a smile before making my way into the hotel Luckily, Phil was waiting for me and his lips curled into a smile when he set his gaze upon me. Phil was my elder brother and believe me when I say he was one of the best things that had happened to me. I loved him with everything inside of me. “Mother really have you looking like a seductress, didn’t she?” He asked jokingly and I flashed him a smile but I didn’t say anything, I felt like he was right. I was actually overdressed and I didn’t like it, how I wish I could escape this so called function. I don’t think anyone would believe me if I told them I was just twenty two and was in my first year of college. “Is mum here already?” “Hmm” Phil nodded, “let’s go” We made our way to the private elevator and in no time, we were on our way to mum’s private suite. As soon as Phil pushed the door open and I entered, I froze right in my tracks when I set my eyes on the man in front of me and his gaze immediately met mine. My breath hitched! It couldn’t be him right? But his eyes—those same cold dreamy eyes were identical to the man from my dreams—the one who had tied me up. He held my gaze for what seemed like ages until I realized what I was doing. I gulped as I sauntered into the room. He was the same man from my dream, I couldn’t be mistaken. Just that morning, I had a very disturbing dream but I shoved it to the back of my head when I woke up. Who would have thought that I would walk into this place and see the man from my dream? How was he even real? I thought dreams were only figments of our own imagination? I was reading a book and I found myself fantasizing about the main character—I didn’t expect to actually meet him here. A lump formed in my throat,my breath hammered. I was about to lose my mind. I didn’t know dreams came to pass in such a way. “You are here” mother’s voice jolted me out of my thoughts and I nodded. I used this opportunity to study the man in front of me. He looked a bit old but he was one hell of a hot man. His hair was left to fall in ringlets beside him and his eyes looked lifeless yet dreamy. I have never seen someone so handsome yet so evil before. If my dad was alive, they probably would have been the same age, he definitely was over thirty eight. That means this man in front of me was twice my age, if not more. He was clad in black suit and why the hell was his two upper buttons undone? I could see the tattoo peaking out of his chest. “Scarlett!” Phil called out to me and I jolted out of my train of thoughts and that was when I noticed the other man in the room and my eyes bulged again. He looked just as handsome as this man and I was forced to wonder if they were both from this earth. He was clad in a sweatshirt and his hair was pulled back in a neat bun. Unlike the other man, his eyes were more lively and more relaxed. “You should sit down, Scarlett” mother’s voice filtered into my ears and I nodded before lowering myself on the chair that Phil pulled out for me but my gaze was still on him and the other man, why exactly were they here? “This is my youngest daughter, Scarlett,” mother went ahead to introduce me and I saw his lips curl into a smile. “I must say you have a beautiful daughter, Alexia” His voice was deep and hoarse, I couldn't get over it—a certain amount of excitement surged through me but I kept my face neutral, I didn’t want to give anything away. “Thank you” mother flashed him a smile, before turning to me,“You should say hello, Scarlett” mother said again and I gulped before turning to them. “It is nice meeting you” “The pleasure is mine” he answered with his gaze still lingering on me, “it is nice meeting you” I faked a smile and turned my gaze away from him but the hair on the back of my neck tingled, he was still looking at me. “So mother” Phil began, “what is this great function about?” “Yes” mother dropped her wine glass and made to stand up but he stopped her. “Why don’t I do the honors, sweetheart?” My heart skipped a beat, did he just call mother sweetheart? He pulled himself out of the chair and he stood up, his gaze swept over me, slow and deliberate, I could feel it on every part of my body. I shook my head and turned to the man beside him who was also looking at me. Were they both weirdos? “Hmm” he cleared his throat, “before I delve deeper into why we are here, let me introduce myself to your children. I am Jamal and this is my brother, Beau. My junior brother to be exact. He came into town last night for some work and I made him come here with me today. He is my only family” He was his junior brother?? No wonder he looked so handsome, clearly, it ran in the family. He was not much older than Phil though, they would probably be the same age but compared to him? Phil was average. I shook my head to remove such thoughts. I shouldn’t be thinking of that right now. “Your mother and I are going to get married and we will become a family” his words cut me out of my train of thought again. I began to cough and Phil hastily handed me a glass of water which I collected and gulped immediately, what did I just hear? My head was spinning and it felt like I was going to get dizzy. “What?” Phil was also surprised, he wasn’t expecting this “Yes” mother chipped in with a smile, “we are getting married and that is why I decided to introduce all. Jamal and I have been seeing each other for quite a while now and we think it is time we both take it to the next level” “Congratulations, man” his brother finally spoke “Do you really love my mother?” My brother asked me, “she has a son and a daughter, are you okay with that? You are—“ he didn’t sound very pleased and I was glad, I knew he wouldn’t agree that easily. Phil was a very suspicious man, he had always been like that, hardly letting his guard down. “The least you can do is congratulate us, Phil” mother raised an eyebrow and Phil heaved a sigh. “I am only trying to look out for you mum” “Trust me” Jamal chipped in, “your mother is safe with me” But he was ogling me!! How pathetic. “This means so much to me, Phil,” mother added again and from the corner of my eyes, I saw my brother’s firm resolve break. “Congratulations to you two” Phil added blandly and my eyes rested on him for a second, I thought he was going to object—again “Congratulations” i forced the words out of my mouth as my eyes continued to linger on Jamal His brother didn’t look like he had a problem with it after what mother said but I did and I was hoping Phil did too but that didn’t seem like the case anymore. “Do you really want this?” Phil asked after a few seconds of silence and mother nodded with a huge grin. “Of course son, I love Jamal a lot” “If it’s fine by you then” he shrugged. He was not following the damn script! Gosh!! What the heck was happening? Phil was supposed to object to this wedding. But why? Why should he object to the wedding? I wasn’t quite sure but I wanted him to. Maybe that would be able to save me from the impending doom I could already feel in my gut. I just wanted someone to help me realize that what I was feeling wasn’t just in my f*****g head. All eyes were on me waiting for me to say something but I was lost for words. What could I possibly say? “Let me use the restroom” I blurted and before anyone said anything, I rushed out of the dining room. My legs barely carried me as I rushed out.