CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 183

ASHAL

Walking into my own company has never felt weirder. It feels like I have my clothes on backwards or there’s a sign with something mean scribbled on it stuck on my back. My staff welcomes me cheerfully but the awkwardness hangs thickly in the air. They have significantly dwindled in size.

This comes as no surprise to me. After our parent company took a hit, the impact spread across all subsidiaries. Sales tanked. Our goodwill staggered. Frankly, I consider it a miracle that we still have a standing building to return to instead of a vandalized property.

When I walk into my office and find Elyon making sure my desk is set right, a warm smile creeps into my face. He beams at the sight of me.

"Good to see you, Elyon." I shake his hand and pull him for a much-needed hug. He’s been holding down the fort for me ever since my family made the ugly side of the news. "I could never thank you enough for your support over the years."

"Welcome back, sir." He replies, gesturing to my seat till I sit down.

He pulls out a chair, plunks down on it and crosses his legs atop my desk. "It’s a pity I’m straight as a ruler and that gorgeous face belongs on a man. If you had been a woman, we might have worked something out seeing as I have recently returned to the dating market."

"What? She finally dumped you?"

"Plot twist. I DUMPED HER."

"Get out of here. For real?" I lean forward to listen to his story.

"Yes, dumping women isn’t the exclusive preserve of the Danvarr quads." He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Speaking of his eyes, they fasten on his hands as he recounts how everything happened. "Found her tinder profile still active. She’d been talking to this guy for over six months." He sighs heavily. "These bitches aren’t loyal, you feel me?"

Then dropping his legs and leaning forward, he steeples his hands with a mischievous look in his eyes. "You owe me big time for keeping this place running in your absence. Too bad you don’t have a sister with that pretty face of yours. That would have put a huge smile on my face."

I swallow hard and look away. "Yeah, too bad." With a nervous laugh, I run a hand over my desk and look around the room. I actually missed it.

"So, before you address everyone on your first day back, can I ask how things are on the home front? How’s everyone holding up?"

"Thanks man. Everyone’s doing great. We’re taking it one day at a time. Things are looking up."

"They sure are. The hate train is running out of steam." We share a smile. "Really glad to have you back, man. I mean that."

"Thanks, brother. I’ll be out in thirty minutes. Just need to center myself. Let the team know."

We shake hands once more before he leaves. I inhale deeply, lolling back on my chair. Quietness has never felt less lonely and more peaceful. A fond memory of Maddi bursting into my office with a ripe scowl on her face and an acerbic tongue ready to go off, makes me smile. Grabbing my phone, I dial her number. I didn’t have time to kiss her goodbye this morning. She must be stewing after walking up and realizing I left so early.

She picks up the phone on the third ring.

"Don’t be mad at me, Maddie." I utter, fully intending to play the pun. "I had to rush out this morning. Guess what? I just arrived in my office and the first thing I recalled as I sat on my chair was the thought of you bursting through my door and giving me an earful about what a devil I was for holding your sister hostage. In hindsight, maybe that’s when I started falling for you." A sheepish grin spreads across my face. "You look cute even when you’re fuming."

She sighs on her end. "Maddi is in the bathroom."

I sit upright in shock. "Olivia? I...didn’t know...."

"It’s okay. I’ll let her know you called."

"Wait, don’t hang up." I bite down on my lower lip. "How are you? Does it hurt anywhere?"

I imagine she rolls her eyes at me. "Save your breath, Ashal. You don’t have to pretend to care. If you really did, you wouldn’t ask me such a question as an afterthought and you certainly won’t dump me with your mother to be a burden on her."

"Liv, it’s not like that."

"It’s exactly like that, Ashal." She heaves a deep breath. "Look, we don’t have to do this song and dance. I know where your loyalties lie. As soon as I give your family the baby they crave, this little drama where you all get to pretend like you give a shit about me will end. I literally can’t wait for the day, to be frank. I’ll let Maddi know you called." She hangs up abruptly before I can get another word in.

"Shit." I cuss under my breath. Why did she have to pick up Maddi’s call and hear all that? She almost had a pregnancy complication yesterday. The last thing I want is to cause her any more problems. I massage a throbbing spot on my temple, wondering how much of a mess I’ve made and if I should call Olivia’s phone. I don’t think she’ll take the call anyway. Like she said, it’ll be painfully obvious that calling to check on her was an afterthought.

Elyon raps on my door twenty minutes later and pokes his head in. "We’re ready for you, sir."

"Be right out." I dispel the worrisome thoughts cluttering my head and choose to carry on with my day.

During lunchtime, Elyon joins me to have a meal in my office.

"Expecting a call from someone? You keep checking your phone." He tells me while enjoying his bowl of salad. Frustrated, I set my phone aside to concentrate and be in the moment even though my mind has been whirling. Maddi hasn’t returned any of my calls all day. Her phone’s been switched off. It’s very unlike her. Is everything okay at the mansion? I hope Olivia didn’t give her sister a hard time because of what she heard over the phone.

"Yeah." I reply Elyon. "I hate it when I don’t hear from my loved ones regularly, especially this period. Makes me anxious."

"I’m sure everything is fine."

"I hope so." But my appetite only continues to diminish with every bite of food I have. Eventually, I toss aside my barely touched burger and call mother after lunch, because it feels easier than calling Olivia directly.

"Hey son, how’s your day going?" She replies cheerily.

"Great. Um, mother? Is Maddi home? I haven’t been able to reach her all day. Can you put her on the phone?"

"Oh, sure. She and Olivia have been keeping me company all day. Just a second. Madeline? Can you come over here, dear? Ashal will like to speak with you." I hear her saying. There’s a bit of static interruption before Maddi’s beautiful voice sails in. "Hello?"

I expel a deep breath of relief. "Baby, what happened? I’ve been trying to reach you all morning. Why is your phone switched off?"

"I’m so sorry. I accidentally dropped it from the balcony. I was trying to call you but my hands were slippery with my body lotion, and it fell right off my balcony."

"You knew I’d be worried if I couldn’t reach you. You should have found a way to inform me."

"I’m so sorry, baby. I got carried away with mother and Liv. Can you believe Liv stepped out of her room today? She joined us in the living room, saw a movie with us and even did some laps in the swimming pool. I think she’s starting to feel better about everything."

"Really? That’s good to know."

Liv hasn’t made her feelings about my relationship with Maddi clear beside showing concern for her sister’s safety with me. When I assured her that I had gotten the help I needed and that I will never hurt Maddi, she hadn’t looked convinced. That was the most we spoke about it.

She has never let us know how she truly feels seeing Maddi and I together. During my birthday party, she had walked in on us kissing in my bedroom. Her expression that night was more of disgust than anger. Hence, I can’t really fathom her feelings on the matter, whether it is that of resignation or indifference.

"I’ll send over a new phone. Keep it handy, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks. I love you."

"I love you more." I blow a kiss into the phone that makes her chuckle before hanging up. Finally feeling at ease, I double down and get some work done. While reviewing the names of the new hires that Elyon made in my absence, my eyes double in size as a particular name and picture strikes me. What the hell?

Immediately, I dial Elyon’s office line. "My office, now!"

***

Elyon appears in five seconds. "What’s up?"

I flash the papers at him. "Why the fuck did you hire this guy?"

He takes a good look at the resume. "Because he’s competent? Why?"

"No, he’s not. He’s clearly a high school dropout with a police record spanning rape, theft and assault. He’s also got a huge employment gap of five years! Ever wonder what he was up to that entire time, Elyon? For goodness’ sake, what the hell were you thinking hiring just about anyone simply because our workers were dropping like flies? How did you think this was ok?"

Elyon rubs the band of his neck. "I’m sorry. The dude’s resume leaves much to be desired but he was really desperate for honest work. He was also prepared to receive half of what we pay interns. I thought I’d give him a shot. He’s been here for three weeks and has proven to be a fast learner. He’s been very competent, Ashal."

"Fire him. We’ll find more competent people to take his place." Flinging the resume, I plunk down on my seat and focus on more reports floating on my Mac book while Elyon watches me with a confused expression. "it’s not open to debate, Elyon. Get on with it. I don’t care what official reasons you have to give him just get him out of my company, now!"

"He’s just mopping floors, man..."

"I don’t care1 He’s not qualified to mop MY floors. You know what? Let me handle it. Call him in here."

Three minutes later, a meek looking Iman enters my office. His head hangs low when he locks eyes with my fierce ones. I wait until Elyon leaves us before I speak.

"You have some nerve approaching a Rollins family business for employment, don’t you?" Rising to my feet, I circle my table to go stand in front of him. My fingers are jammed in the pocket of my pants to keep my clenched fists in check. "What’s the grand plan here, Iman? Don’t give me that silly excuse of being a changed person. I’ll break your nose before you’re done spouting that lie."

In a flash, he drops to his knees and clasps his hands. "Please sir, I beg you. Do not kick me out. I’ve been living off of food stamps for the past two months. I’ve tried to get a job elsewhere but no one would hire me."

"Gee, I wonder why." I snort at him.

"Please, just give me a chance. I promise I have no ill intent. I promise to work twice as hard to earn a place here. I just really need a steady income to survive on."

I inhale sharply. "You need money? Sure, I’ll give you some but you working here isn’t going to happen. Even if my company is down and under, there’s a staffing standard we can’t go below." I whip out my check book and scribble down on it before tossing it at him. "You better make good use of that to fix yourself up. Consider it a gesture of goodwill seeing as you don’t deserve a dime from me after everything you’ve put my family through."

With trembling hands, he gets up on his feet, bows his head and leaves. I hate everything he represents. I can’t stand him and I don’t want my brothers or Demi running into him here and being reminded of an ugly past where he played a starring role as a torn in my family’s flesh.

On my way home from work, I call Skylar to check on her.

"The food’s bad." She blurts out the second she picks the phone. "And the bed’s starting to feel uncomfortable. I want to go home but they won’t let me."

I chuckle at that. "You need some more rest, Sky. I promise you can leave the hospital if the doctor clears you tomorrow. He just has to run a few more tests." I know Asher has asked us to give her time before bombarding her with questions about her past, our parents and all that but I keep itching to hear her bring it up. "Is there someone missing you at home? Do you need to call them so they don’t get too worried?"

She pauses a bit. "My foster brother. I heard he’s been looking for me. A phone call won’t be enough for Keith. I need to go see him."

"You will, I promise but can it wait till you’re discharged? I don’t want anything coming in the way of your perfect health." When she goes mute, I get worried. "Sky, are you there?"

She sniffles. "I’m sorry. All of this care is new territory for me. I don’t know what to say or how to react to words like that." She laughs briefly. "It still feels like a dream. I can’t believe I have siblings now, people in my life who care if II have eaten, where I am or what I am doing. I have to pinch myself every time one of you calls because it feels like a dream."

"Well, get used to it, because we’re never letting you go."

"Thanks Ashal. Don’t tell them but you’re leading the chart as my favorite brother."

I laugh loudly. "Maybe you shouldn’t have told Asher the same thing. He’s the cocky one so he already blabbed about it in our group chat."

"Oh crap."

"It’s okay. We all love you. Sleep tight. I’ll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Bring me chocolate."

"Will do." With a huge smile, I hang up.

I perfectly understand her. It feels surreal to realize that I just had a call with my sister. I never thought that would be a word I’d use on a girl but the universe has a weird sense of humor. My mind tracks to Keith. Why did Skylar mention him as the only family member that would be worried about her? I know she has no idea that we have discovered the truth about the existence of our biological father and grandfather so it beats me why she hasn’t brought them up yet.

Why is she stalling?

I arrive home just as the dinner table is being set. Maddi looks radiant in a flower-patterned dress that skims her ankles. She’s helping mother set the table. Everyone is already having their seats and commenting on the aroma of the food. I greet them cheerfully, and take my seat. Father feigns indifference when I reserve the chair next to mine for Maddi. It’s high-time my woman starts sharing meals with the rest of my family.

Maddi appears shy when I pull out the chair for her.

"Go on dear." Mother nudges her. "You made the food tonight. You should enjoy it with us." Everyone else bobs their head in agreement, except father who remains quiet, folding and unfolding his napkin. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ears, Maddi coyly circles the table to me.

I plant a soft kiss on her cheek that makes her blush even harder.

"Have a seat." I urge her.

"Do you have room for two more?"

We all glance at the elevator Olivia just stepped out of. She has a big smile on her face as she rubs her belly.

"Of course." Mother answers delightedly. "We have more than enough chairs. Come join us."

I freeze when Olivia walks right past mother who’s pulling out a chair for her and heads straight for Maddi and I.

"Thank you." She says to me before sliding into the chair I was holding out for Maddi.