The Brother He Hated
814 Words
The tension in the room became so thick Vesper was convinced she could choke on it.
Cassian Draven and Zephyr Draven stared at each other like two men deciding who would throw the first punch.
Neither looked willing to lose.
Unfortunately, Vesper was standing directly between them.
Which meant if a fight started, she'd probably get hit first.
Wonderful.
"Someone want to explain what's happening?" she asked.
Neither brother answered.
Cassian's eyes remained fixed on Zephyr.
"You can't marry her."
Zephyr's expression never changed.
"Watch me."
The simple reply nearly started a war.
Cassian laughed.
It wasn't a happy laugh.
It was the kind of laugh people made before committing crimes.
"Out of all the women in the country, you chose Vesper?"
"I didn't choose her."
Vesper blinked.
Excuse him?
Zephyr glanced toward her.
Then back at Cassian.
"She was chosen for me."
That somehow sounded even worse.
"Oh, that's romantic," Vesper muttered.
Cassian snorted.
Zephyr ignored both of them.
"I have a meeting in thirty minutes."
Cassian folded his arms.
"I don't care."
"I know."
"Then cancel it."
"No."
The brothers continued staring at each other.
Vesper suddenly understood something.
These two genuinely couldn't stand one another.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
And possibly useful.
Before anyone could speak again, Zephyr reached for Vesper's hand.
Her breath caught.
The movement was completely unexpected.
His fingers wrapped around hers.
Warm.
Firm.
Possessive.
The room froze.
Including Cassian.
Vesper looked down.
Then up.
Then down again.
What exactly was happening?
Zephyr gently pulled her toward him.
"You're leaving with me."
"Oh, am I?"
"Yes."
"No."
His eyebrow lifted.
Her eyebrow lifted right back.
A challenge.
The CEO looked almost impressed.
Cassian suddenly stepped forward.
"Take your hand off her."
The smile vanished from Zephyr's face.
Instantly.
Danger flashed through his eyes.
"Careful, brother."
The warning hung in the air.
Cassian didn't back down.
Not even slightly.
For a second Vesper wondered if both men had lost their minds.
Then she remembered they were billionaires.
Which probably explained everything.
Rich people seemed to enjoy unnecessary drama.
Meanwhile she was trying to remember if she could fake her own death.
A phone rang.
Zephyr released her hand.
The interruption felt oddly disappointing.
Which was ridiculous.
The man terrified her.
The phone continued ringing.
He glanced at the screen.
Something shifted in his expression.
The cold mask slipped.
Only briefly.
But Vesper noticed.
Concern.
Real concern.
Without a word, he answered.
"Talk."
Silence.
Then—
Zephyr went completely still.
The room darkened around him.
Whatever he was hearing wasn't good.
Not good at all.
The call ended.
Slowly, he lowered the phone.
Cassian frowned.
"What happened?"
Zephyr ignored him.
Instead, his gaze landed on Vesper.
A strange emotion flickered there.
Fear.
Gone almost instantly.
But she saw it.
And it sent a chill through her.
"Change of plans."
"What plans?" she asked.
"You're coming with me."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Vesper."
The way he said her name made her stomach flutter.
She hated that.
"Stop saying my name like that."
His gaze darkened.
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying to seduce me."
Cassian burst out laughing.
A genuine laugh.
The first one all day.
Even several lawyers looked amused.
For the first time, Zephyr appeared caught off guard.
Then something shocking happened.
The CEO laughed.
A small laugh.
Deep.
Rich.
Dangerously attractive.
The entire room stared.
Apparently nobody had heard Zephyr Draven laugh before.
Vesper suddenly felt oddly proud of herself.
Then annoyed she felt proud.
Then annoyed she was annoyed.
This man was becoming a problem.
A very attractive problem.
The worst kind.
Zephyr stepped closer.
Close enough that she could see the faint scar disappearing beneath the edge of his silver mask.
Close enough to feel his warmth.
Close enough to forget how breathing worked.
His voice lowered.
"For someone who claims to dislike me, you spend an awful lot of time staring."
Heat flooded her cheeks.
"Oh my God."
Cassian laughed harder.
Vesper wanted the floor to open and swallow her whole.
Immediately.
But before she could recover, Zephyr's phone rang again.
This time his expression hardened instantly.
He answered.
Listened.
Then swore.
The room went silent.
A powerful CEO swearing was apparently rare.
"What happened?" Cassian demanded.
Zephyr's gaze snapped to Vesper.
Every muscle in his body tensed.
The fear she had glimpsed earlier returned.
Stronger.
Much stronger.
Then he said five words that changed everything.
"Someone broke into her apartment."
Vesper froze.
"What?"
The room spun.
Her apartment?
Who would break into her apartment?
She didn't own anything valuable.
A terrible feeling settled in her stomach.
Zephyr's voice became deadly calm.
"Whoever did it wasn't looking for money."
Vesper's pulse quickened.
"What were they looking for?"
Silence.
A long silence.
The kind that made her heart pound.
Then Zephyr answered.
"They were looking for you."
And for the first time since meeting him...
Vesper became truly afraid.
- Writer
