IN THE ARMS OF HIS BROTHER

CHAPTER FOUR

Lucas’s pov .

I was so close to brushing my lips against hers before Austin rushed at us and pushed me away from her . He put on an angry look ,his blue eyes had turned icy blue and it seemed as though there’s a fire burning inside.

“Get your hands off of her,” he commanded as he rushed at us and yanked me away from her. “She’s mine.”

“Oh really!”

I maintained my balance and edged closer beside Austin making sure my mouth was close to his ears.

“You don’t need to be dramatic. I know you’re using her to get to me and you don’t know s**t about my relationship with her,”I whispered.

“Stay away from my fiance,” he warned, giving me a stern look. “I don’t care about whatever relationship you had with her , you should be aware by now that it’s all in past and it doesn’t matter. ”

I arched my brow in surprise. He knew all along about my private relationship with Emery , which explains why it was too good to be true when he came out to announce her as his fiance. Something is definitely wrong somewhere.

“Babe… I’m sure you have some clearing out to do. I can help with that,” he smiled, kissing Emery on her forehead and she nodded back in response.

Satisfaction filled his face as he narrowed his eyes at me . Austin is acting all lovey-dovey just for a show and getting good at his manipulative tricks. Poor Emery .

The buzzing of our phones at the same time made suspect that the text came from Dad . What could he possibly want this time?

I checked my phone to satisfy my curiosity and he did the same.

Fiancee. Airport. Dinner.

These three words reflected in my eyes as I read the text from my father. My pulse spiked . Everything is happening so fast . Brielle Sinclair is back. My betrothed .

Emery stood there wondering in confusion.

“Come on, Emery, we've been summoned for dinner,”Austin sighed, strolling her away from my office .

Any emergency summons to the Reynolds manor never boded well.

I picked my car keys and my suit jacket .

I arrived at the airport as her supposed-to-be fiance and spotted Brielle at the curb outside the terminal . She wore an ironed linen two piece and shades , styling her not-so-brown coloured hair in curtain bangs.

She flashed a smile at me as she recognized me.

“Good to see you,” I sighed as I approached her.

“Good to see you too,” she responded in return.

A few hours later, we were all seated for dinner . After all,tours from Georgia and welcome greetings between us.

We stopped at a boutique to get Brielle a befitting outfit for dinner.

Emery sat at the spot where the chandelier flashed more brightly while Austin as usual sat beside her. She looked more elegant putting on a gown than the mere office wear with the red lipstick she put on that always made her lips more plump.

“Aren’t you delighted at how ladylike Brielle is now . She grew up so well . I remember how tiny she looked when you both attended social gatherings together. How time flies,” Dad grinned at me .

“Of course I am ,” I responded with a smile that fits an air hostess.

Arranged marriages were common between big businesses for alliance . Sinclair owned one of the biggest retail chains in New York and both our fathers were best friends. Sealing their bond with our marriage was a sure way to expand our business.

“She’s perfect for you,” he added.

Despite our families’ closeness , I barely knew Brielle . We weren’t close enough for me to feel any way towards her besides she’s three years younger than me .

“We sure make a good match,” Brielle said ,rubbing a hand at my back. I noticed how irritated Emery felt as she did that. I loved it and I decided to play along.

I sliced my steak into tiny bits and exchanged it with hers .

“Thanks,” she gestured.

The grip Emery had on her wine glass tightened . I’m definitely hitting a spot .

I pierced a piece of steak with my fork and fed it to her with a side eye at Emery to see her reaction. As I predicted, she downed her wine in one go.

“Ohh…nice ,” Brielle muffled through the steak.

“I see your love is blossoming already,” Dad smiled at us .

“Emery , you should go shopping with Brielle for your engagement outfits. You know she’s new around here,” Georgia quipped in, she smiled showing no hint of a snake coiled beneath her expression.

“ Yes ma,” she said respectfully.

“Engagement outfits!” I snapped . The food in my mouth suddenly tastes sour. Distaste curled through me.

“ Your Dad and I have already discussed it. You and your brother will be having a double engagement in two weeks,” she stated clearly.

“Public announcements should go out right away as you all will be moving in. We should live as one big family ,” Dad added.

“What!”

“That would really be great,” Lucas finally spoked .

The whole family was in cohorts against me .

The only thing still keeping me from walking out is the respect I have for my father. As upset as I was at my father for springing all of this on me , I could freak out later , after I got through this evening. It wasn’t like I could call off this engagement with Miss Perfect. If I did , my father would take away my inheritance.

“ And…I will be announcing the future CEO at the upcoming anniversary of our company,” Dad concluded, piercing his eyes through me. It’s as if a stray bullet penetrated through me.

The upcoming anniversary of our company is in six months , that meant meeting up with my target, and sealing a deal before the due date to prove my capability to him .

As soon as the dinner was over , I didn't wait a second before I stormed out to the next location that popped up in my head —the club—somewhere I could calm my adrenaline from all this drama.

“Hey, give me some shots,” I instructed the bar man and he placed it on the counter.

I downed the shots, but it didn’t burn me enough to erase how I felt so I demanded for more shots. Dammit! What the hell is she doing here?

I could recognize those hazel eyes and blonde hair from a distance even when everything seemed blurry from the effect of the drink .

She looks wasted in the midst of the crowd , I guess I’m not the only one the whole situation is taking a toll on . I pushed myself amidst the crowd to meet her .

“Emery, you’ve had enough,” I shouted , snatching the bottle of whiskey from her hand.

“The only thing I've had enough is your bullshit,” she responded, hitting her fingers in the middle of my chest.

“Look, you need to leave right now before you do something—”

“Why do you care?” She interrupted.

Her words hit through my spine because I have no answer to the question.

“You don’t dictate my life anymore. I want you ,but your f****d up obsession to please your father has made me end up with a man I don’t love,” she added . I quickly ran my hands over her mouth to stop her from bluffing and strolled her away from the noisy and crowded arena.

“Oh my God! Lucas, I feel like throwing up,” she muffled through my hands . I helped her to the toilet inside one of the rooms, and cleaned her up as she finished.

Next thing; she pounced on me, moaning all over me like I was her favorite cake.

“Hey, hey… you’re not in your right mind at the moment, we can think about this when you’re sober.” I tried to stop her from regretting later.

“I know what I’m doing . Hold me, touch me, f**k me , I need you,” she said as she drew closer grabbing my c**k with those soft hands .

As her warm breath brushed against mine , my breathing grew heavier . Her body heat was a living, breathing thing, clouding my mind and stealing my focus until my world consisted of nothing except hazel eyes, tempting lips, and the clean, warm scent of lavender.

“ Are you sure?” I asked softly as our eyes locked.

“Yes.”

Fuck it.

I rushed to lock the door.

My mind says this is wrong, but she wants me and I want her back . My body can’t just resist.