A Brother's Love

The Text

The impatient well-dressed man gave me a right back home. Entering the apartment I quickly took in my home, impressed Easton's man did not only repaint my walls but also cleaned it. It was odd but I wouldn't complain. It helped me focus on other things like quickly changing clothes and heading to the flower shop, I was seriously falling behind with my tasks and if this continued I actually needed to hire someone to help me which I couldn’t afford. Easton Dehn was trouble in so many ways. After changing my clothes I quickly left the apartment building, seriously confused when I saw Mr. Impatient man leaning against his black gleaming SUV.

“You’re still here?” I asked him, dropping my arms to my side and staring at him as if he was a lifeform from outer space.

“I’m still here.” He answered without any emotion.

“Why?”

“Because Mr. Dehn asked me to drive you around town.”

“Why?” I asked again, “Answer the damn question or I won’t be getting in your car.”

He sighed, shaking his head at me as if I was a toddler throwing a tantrum and he was the tired parent just wanting to get some rest already. This was my life and if there were people following me, driving me from and to work it meant something was going on. Easton Dehn drugged me to keep me at his mansion. At this point, I could assume that I was in danger because the stupid man decided to come to my apartment when he got shot at.

“You need to ask Mr. Dehn that question.”

“I would have.” I forced out between clenched teeth to contain my anger so I wouldn’t start yelling on the sidewalk, “But the man drugged me.” I lowered my voice enough so only the driver could hear me, "Also what's your name? Because I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of each other and clearly, you know a lot more about me than I know about you. I demand an even playing field.”

He chuckled, “You demand?” He asked, “It’s Jake.”

“Hello Jake, I’m Poppy Miller.”

Pushing away from the car he opened the door to the back seat, "You got what you wanted, now could you please get in."

“Since you asked so politely.”

Also because I was pretty sure that I would get kidnapped by the wrong kind of people if I didn’t stay close to Easton’s people. I wouldn’t let Jake know that though. Climbing in the car I watched as Jake closed the door and got behind the wheel.

“So Jake let’s be honest with each other.” I started, “Are you assigned to watch over me.”

“Yes.”

“So I can conclude that I’m in danger and Easton is keeping a close eye on me because he f****d up by coming to my apartment that night.”

"You can conclude whatever you want," Jake answered.

He was such a pain in the ass, but also loyal to his employer which I could respect. Then again I didn’t know if Easton was threatening his employees to keep them loyal. I didn’t know much about him in general. I just knew he was successful, having a criminal side business. He controlled his brother’s life because he thought Alex was incapable of taking care of himself. He was kind to his parents. He got shot at and now had tight control over me, not even feeling bad for drugging me to keep me at his place to protect me. If he wanted me at the mansion because he thought I was in danger he could have said so.

“So the answer is yes. Do I have to move? I asked.

“Why don’t you discuss this with Mr. Dehn?” He suggested.

He either didn’t know s**t about my situation and did as ordered or he didn’t have the right to answer. I would ask Easton Dehn what the hell was going on, but marching into his office was not something I was going to do again. Security probably wouldn’t let me through this time. I imagined they had pictures of me with orders to let that crazy woman nowhere near the building. I couldn’t blame them. I did lose it that day.

“When will Easton be ready to have this conversation with me?”

Jake sighed, “Listen it would be in your best interest to do whatever Mr. Dehn wants you to do in this situation. He’ll keep you safe. Just go about your day and when things have calmed down again, you’ll know.”

It was probably best to keep quiet and go along with what Easton wanted but my head was pounding and not due to the wine. I wasn’t the type of girl who kept quiet and just let someone control their life without an explanation. I wasn’t like Alex Dehn.

***

“He drugged you?” Serena leaned closer to me, she was in my face about Easton Dehn because she didn’t want to believe anything I was telling her. Entranced by a guy’s appearance. I couldn’t believe her right now, “He actually drugged you?”

“Why would I lie about it?” I asked, pushing her back so I could have some space.

"It's just hard to believe, Poppy," Serena muttered.

I raised an eyebrow at her, “What’s hard to believe is that I sent you a text saying to save me if I didn’t contact you within an hour. But you never saved me. What the actual f**k, Serena?”

“You did text me last night saying you’re fine and staying the night at Easton’s place.”

I dropped my cup of tea, spilling the contents all over my couch and fluffy rug. That rug was forever ruined and I didn’t even want to think about my couch.

“What?”

Serena quickly got up, moving to my kitchen to grab some paper towels to clean up the mess. She pressed the towels to the liquid stain on the couch and moved to the rug.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Poppy? You’ve been acting so weird ever since you broke up with Alex. Do you want to talk about it?” She looked at me, “Like seriously talk about it?”

My best friend thought I lost grasp on reality because Alex and I broke up. She didn't believe anything I was saying. Why would she believe me when I told her that I didn't send her a text last night? I still said the words though. I needed to say it out loud to process what was happening to me right now.

“I didn’t text you last night about staying with Easton.”

She sighed loudly, "Girl, you did." She grabbed her phone from the coffee table, scrolled to the proof she had and showed it to me, "You texted me last night to say that you were fine and staying with Easton. It says it right there, doesn't it?"

“It’s a text from my phone, but I swear I didn’t send it!”

“So not only did Easton Dehn, f*****g famous billionaire drug you last night. He also got into your phone to send me a text so I wouldn’t come to his mansion to what? Let you sleep in his guest room and have a decent breakfast in the morning? Honey, seriously. If you want to talk, I’m right here.”

I pulled my legs under me, resting my chin on my knees while I wrapped my arms around my legs. It was frustrating when someone didn’t believe you because they were completely taken by an image of a person they didn’t even know. I called myself a horrible friend because I completely focused on my flower shop and relationship. But at this point, I felt like Serena was the horrible friend for not believing a word I was saying.

“What I want is for you to leave .” I told her quietly, “I just need to take a shower and head to bed.”

Serena got up, looking down at me but I refused to meet her gaze, “I think that’s for the best right now. Get some sleep, okay?” She grabbed her things, tossed the wet paper towels away and left the apartment.

Once she was out of sight I got up and locked the apartment door. I didn’t bother with my broken teacup on the floor, I grabbed my phone and headed into the bedroom. I texted Alex to send me Easton’s contact information. I knew I wouldn’t be able to see that man if he didn’t make time to see me. I tossed my phone on the bedside table and walked into the bathroom, filling up the tub so I could soak and de-stress a little. I needed to calm down otherwise I would surely drive myself insane at this point.