IN THE ARMS OF HIS BROTHER

CHAPTER 3

Emery’s pov

Could this day get any worse?

As I sat opposite Lucas with his eyes never leaving me ,guilt filled me. His gaze was unreadable . He was looking effortlessly handsome with his sleeves casually rolled up. I could not look at him eye to eye.

“This is just a physical connection. No commitment. No promises, Emery,” he’d say, always reminding me that he was not interested anytime I tried to have a real conversation with him.

He had all the qualities I wanted . Chiseled cheekbones. Average build . Handsome with broad shoulders but he lacked courage and didn’t want commitment which was the most important.

Mom played both roles perfectly , loving me so well so I wouldn’t feel the need for a Dad . I understood but deep down inside me I knew something was lacking. The balance . As I watched other families when mom dropped me off at school —l’d feel it .

In his eyes I saw more . I waited for a change of mind from Lucas these years, but it was high time I became the rule and not the exception.

As I accepted the ring from Austin three days ago , he offered more. He promised me a family , power and money . Although he’s manipulative but I could bear it at least I had a future.

Lucas…God, I love him . But love without courage feels a lot like standing still.

“Welcome to the family where the men are hotheads , ” Williams grinned at me as he dropped the glass of orange juice.

“Thank you sir . I appreciate your warm gesture ,” i remarked, snapping back out of my thoughts.

“I thought you worked for Lucas ,” he sighed, angling his face towards me .

He has seen me on several occasions whenever he visited the offices and commended me for my hard work.

“ Ehm… yeah but she had to keep her personal life from work ,” Austin countered.

“That’s thoughtful,” Williams finally said .

I could feel the rage in Lucas as he gripped tightly on his glass .

“ Won’t you congratulate your brother ,” Georgia chimed in, staring at Lucas .

“Congratulations Austin.” He reluctantly responded.

“Thank you Lucas .” He replied.

“Dad, Mum please I would like to drop my fiancee off before it gets too dark .” Austin continued as he stood up from his seat stretching out his hand .

Austin knew I felt discomfort from the way Lucas was staring at me throughout.

He grabbed me from my waist as I accepted his outstretched hand to get up . I bided farewell to the family before he led me down through the elevator to the parking lot offering to drive me home .

He opened the car door for me to enter the car . I was relieved that I was out of Lucas’s sight . I saw the way he clenched his fist as Austin grabbed my waist, but he had to keep his cool because of his father.

“Thanks Austin,” I said about to enter the car.

“ Wait! ” Lucas yelled from the elevator , “ I need to speak to Emery.”

“For what ,” Austin snarled , his voice dropping an octave.

“ That’s none of your concern, Austin” he hissed approaching me.

“She’s my fiancée and anything that concerns her , concerns me ,” he groaned, blocking Lucas from getting to me .

“And she works for me so I have the right to talk to her,” Lucas argued, bulging his eyes furiously and grabbing Austin’s shirt.

“As from today , she works for me and her resignation letter will be sent to your office by Monday,” Austin argued back removing his hand from his shirt. “ f**k off Lucas , you had your chance .”

Lucas waved his hair backwards in frustration as he stood and watched us in disbelief. He stopped to avoid causing a scene and attracting the rest of the family.

Austin drove off across his face almost hitting him . He did that on purpose.

As I looked at the both of them, I was dumbfounded. I knew Lucas deserved an explanation for what happened, but I can’t just leave my supposed future husband to go talk to him when he has refused me to.

Austin dropped me off at the entrance of my home. It felt awkward as he kissed me on my forehead to wish me a goodnight . I was used to Lucas’s touch .

My feet were aching from the tightness of my stilettos. I removed them and just laid down on the couch to think . I sighed …what a day? I had a mix of emotions.

Was I right for not telling Lucas everything?

The sparks in his eyes were gone as he stood there in frustration wanting to talk to me .

Flames of emotion surged through my mind as I thought about Lucas. I will definitely turn in my resignation letter tomorrow , i need to keep him at arm’s length. I can’t face him .

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Lucas was already seated in his executive chair when I arrived at work . He wore his usual dark blue tuxedo , his hair a bit messy and his collar was opened . His fingers were flying across the keys on his laptop as if he had wings on his hands .

Our eyes locked before I sat on my chair behind my desk . He is never punctual . It’s as if he came to work early so he could wait for me . I didn’t mind the rage in his eyes as he stared. I just wanted to submit my resignation letter and get it all done with .

I quickly typed out the letter and printed it , folded it in a way it should fit in the envelope. I started clearing out my desk. I paused for a minute to muster up courage to face him . My heart begins to smash against the walls of my chest .

I stood at the door to his office, and debated if I should knock or look for another alternative because I have no idea of what to say. I feel bad and nervous, at the same time I feel I did the right thing . How can I be feeling all three at the same time?

I adjusted my dress ,took a deep breath, and folded my hands to make a fist before hitting it against the door quietly.

“Come in,” I heard him calling out from inside .

I closed the door behind me and walked slowly in front of his desk, dropping the letter on the desk .

“I came to hand in my resignation letter sir ,” I looked away from him because seeing the look on his face right now cuts straight to my heart. I knew we had to have this conversation.

“You stab me in the back and here you’re acting like it’s nothing,” he grinned sarcastically. I feel his hurt but I no longer need to react emotionally like he had a gripping power in my life.

“I’m just your f**k buddy like you’ve always reminded me,”I responded, facing him but not looking directly at him . I won’t let his gaze get to me .

He pulled himself up and went straight to close the window blinds indulging privacy. And yes , we’re having this conversation.

I discreetly wiped my palms against the sides of my thighs. My shirt stuck to my skin despite the air conditioning and my skin alternated between hot and cold each second .

“ You are just a…fucking asshole, ” he shrugged, taking a step closer to me which made me take another step away from him.

“While you’re just a duckling,” I sighed pretending to be confident. As much as I wanted Lucas , I couldn’t put myself in a situation to be used again.

“Shh, I’m not finished,” his tone was condescending.

“ You’re disgusting. Trusting you was my choice;betraying me was your decision ,” he takes a step closer to me to make sure my eyes meet his .

“I just made it easier for you . I’m clearly not enough for you,” I wince at his words , trying not to let it get through me. I’ve just stabbed him straight through the heart.

“Did it make it easier for me?” he clenched his fist in the middle of the air before bringing it down.

“You were clearly hooking up with my brother who is also my rival while working for me and sleeping with me,” a hurtful expression mixed with rage takes over him.

“It just happened to be that way,” I muttered , “he wants more than what you want from me.”

I grabbed the edge of the desk with my sweaty hands holding myself from doing what is in my mind . His lips were still as ravishing as ever . He looked angry but it’s like this is the sexiest state he’s ever been in.

He leaned closer holding the desk with both hands trapping me in between them. The hairs on my skin stood, his scent of cedarwood infiltrated my nerves .

“Really,” he said, sliding the hair over my face to the back of my ear. A string of electricity surged through me giving me goosebumps. I want his buccal cavity on my boobs right now .

“What the hell are you doing with my fiancee?”

Austin barged in on us .