The wrong Brother

chapter 11

Ezekiel's pov

The moment I arrived back at the office, my assistant's knock came in right after me.

“Sir,” he said, holding a tablet. “This is the .. issue. You said I should show you immediately when we get to the office.”

I smiled and nodded. I knew this was trouble in paradise. I was already used to it.

The screen lit up the moment he handed it to me.

It was a headline along with a photo and a dramatic but stupid caption, which read.

“City's New Playboy?–Ezekiel Lennox Spotted Carrying Mystery Woman Into A Five Star Hotel In Greece—Who Is She?”

I laughed– loud, so loud that my assistant had to take a step back. I definitely was laughing because I found it funny, but because they were too predictable.

“How stupid–” I mumbled.

The mystery woman's face was Lauren– Ezra’s wife, and so lucky how her face wasn't visible, just her hair and the curve of her shoulder and my hand around her waist.

“Sir, should I—”

“Relax,” I interrupted, tossing the tablet onto the desk. “This is definitely not the worst thing they've said about me— like I care.”

Charles, my assistant , was about to respond, when my phone rang out, and there was only one person who always called with that ringtone.

My mom, “Perfect timing–” I whispered and sighed as I braced myself.

“Ezekiel Lennox,” she said, my full name and her tone was utterly filled with disappointment. “I hope you haven't forgotten that I am used to the Internet and there is news about you that was just posted.”

“Good morning to you too, Mother.”

“Don't joke with me. Are you in a hotel with a woman again? Do you know what this does to your business and your name?”

“Chill ma, she fainted,” I said, rubbing my temple. “And as a gentleman, I helped pick her up.”

“And they took a picture?”

“Apparently.”

She finally exhaled, like I had given her a smear relief of a lifetime.

“I hope you are not staying in any hotel right now. You should go somewhere quiet.”

“I know ma– I guess I did beat you to that, I'm currently staying at Ezra’s.”

“What! Really?” She muttered with pure shock.

“Yeah, ma– And funny how I just found out he is married.”

“Married!!”

“Yes, why do you sound shocked, I thought you knew”

“No I didn't —Alright, you should say hi to him for me–”

“Okay ma, I'll do just that.”

“No interviews, no comments. Do not feed the fire.”

“Yes, Mother.”

She finally hung up without a goodbye– Her best classic move.

I tossed the phone aside and turned back to my assistant, who was still trying hard not to panic.

“Reach out to the blogger who posted this,” I said, standing up. “Tell them to take it down. Pay them– threaten or you can even throw some few dollar bills at them. I don't care which one works– just fix it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Why don’t we spin it– I mean something harmless, you know what to do don't you?” I smiled, turning to look at his already drained face.

“Y—Yes, sir.” He replied, and rushed out and within a minute he had it all handled.

The photo was removed and it was like it never happened and a new narrative appeared everywhere: “ Good samaritan Ezekiel Lennox helps a fainting woman to safety.”

I smiled, staring at the new reformed news. The city had bought it just like I knew they would.

“Crisis averted.’ I whispered, but I wasn’t done.

Because while the public knew nothing about the main issue, someone out there knew what it meant— Lauren. And teasing her wasn’t just a temptation but it felt irresistible.

Charles walked back into my office as he announced that it was already covered.

“Send the pictures to me and have them deleted off all blogs and even yours,” I said lazily, leaning back against my chair.

“I'm on it sir–” He said, and the next minute I had the photos on mine and he was already deleted.

“Done–”

“So what of the blogs?” I asked again.

“I'll make sure of it–”

“Good,” I said, staring back at the file on my phone which had her call number over it.

“Take this phone number, and my phone and send the pictures in there to her.”

Charles blinked. “Sir.. Do you mean the original picture?”

“Yes– that very one. I want her to see how the world almost saw her too.”

He slowly nodded and within a minute he handed my phone back to me and left the room.

I knew what fear smelt like and from Charles he had it all over his soul and body.

Lauren's pov.

I had been in the bathroom for almost ten minutes as I tried to steady my breath, my pulse had increased too fast and my thoughts were scattered all over the place.

I knew every word Ezekiel had said was the truth, but it was utterly crawling underneath my skin.

My body had betrayed me, so had my mind and everything was partially slipping.

I quickly splashed cold water over my face and forced out a crazy sigh of relief as I tried to pull myself together. My talent was quite the best in town— I was able to keep a stern facial expression even if my mind had been hollowed away.

Just then my phone buzzed– it was a message, I quickly wanted to ignore it but my heart went into my throat the moment my gaze caught the preview.

I quickly snatched my phone and opened it with a click.

“Jesus Christ,” I whispered, as my palm began to sweat intensively.

I quickly stormed out of the bathroom so fast, I caught Vivian almost falling off her chair.

“Lauren? Are you okay? You look–”

“I'm fine,” I said, sharply as I grabbed my purse. “Let's just leave.”

“Are you sure? You look pale.”

“I said I'm fine, Vivian. Let's leave.”

She nodded as her eyes were also unsettled as she followed me out of the lounge.

I walked so fast, my heart all panicked and the moment I got to the payment counter, I pulled out my card, ready to pay and intensely desperate to get out of the building before my lungs collapsed.

But the waiter gently lifted his hand and said,

“Oh— no need, Ma'am. The fine gentleman from your table earlier took care of your table and he told me to give you this when you are done.”

He proceeded to stretch out his hand as he handed me a small card.

I took it from his hands and stared down at it.

“You've got to be kidding me.”

It was a hotel card, the same card of the room we both stayed at in Athens.

Vivian slowly strolled closer. “Lauren are you alright?”

“Yeah—yeah, it's nothing,” I snapped, showing the card into my purse.

I quickly walked out of the restaurant without looking back , not even at Vivian who was waving me a goodbye, my chest felt tight as the picture burned into my mind and Ezekiel's voice was still echoing in my head like a curse which I could barely shut out.