Chapter 38
Ivy’s POV
When I saw Asher from across the hall, all of my fears, worries, and anger seemed to drift away quickly too. All of it that had waked into that all with dissipated into thin alt.
in was like seeing him made everything good again. I wasn’t angry at him anymore. I didn’t worry that we wouldn’t pass off as a good couple, nothing. He looked dapper in that black tuseda, and it was hard to explain, but he pulled it off in a way no one else in the room could.
He didn’t look like any of the other uptight, snobbish men prancing around. He was more laid back, his slightly overgrown hair fell over his face, those smiley honey brown eyes boring into me, and even in the distance, I could feel the desire swirling in their depths Goosebumps spread all over my skin.
And like a scene from a corny romance movie, we crossed the lengths toward each other, and I was almost close when he stopped in his tracks and looked past me. The desire in his eyes replaced by a stronger emotion, angen
I almost got whiplash with how hard I turned around Marcus. I sighed. Maybe Marsha was right, I shouldn’t have invited him. He had called me over the phone one day, and while we were talking, I mentioned Asher’s event. He didn’t have any idea, and in a bid to make things less awkward, I invited him, I looked back at Asher. He was rooted to the spot, a deep frown on his face.
I glanced at Marcus. He was looking right at me. He whispered something in the ear of the man whose hand he was shaking, and then he walked up to me. I turned to Asher, and he was glaring at me. I was confused. I couldn’t walk up to Asher anymore because Marcus was walking up to me. On the other hand, Asher was staring me down. I was still in my head when Marcus walked up to me.
“Hello, hy,” he took my hand in his and brought it to his lips and kissed it fervently. His lips lingered, and I could still feel Asher’s piercing gare shooting daggers at me.
“Marcus” I smiled at him.
– His gaze was sultry as it raked over me. “You look hot tonight,vy”
I didn’t know what Marcus’s deal was, but I knew he was up to something I was not stupid. I saw how he looked at me, how just know, his hands were caressing mine..
54
I cleared my throat and pulled away, “You’re welcome, Marcus, … we should go say hi-“I glanced at Asher, he had his back to us. He was dropping the flute of champagne onto a waiter’s tray and took another flute.
Marcus grinned as he saw him. “Ah! My little brother, we should gosay hi to him,” he crooked his elbow.
Thesitated for a moment, glancing around, and then I slipped my hands into the crook of his elbow and let him lead me up to Asher. Cameras flashed in our faces. Of course, they would take these pictures and run another story, detailing and Marcus’s wonderful “friendship.”
I glanced at him, he seemed to be enjoying it a little bit too much, he had a wide grin and even waved at a couple of people.
When we got to Asher, Marcus was the first to speak, “Hello, little brother, “he glanced around, “Fine party you have going on here”
Asher gripped his glass. “Marcus..“his voice was hoarse.
I noticed how he never called him brother.
Marcus grabbed a champagne flute from a waiter that was passing and took a sip. “You two haven’t greeted each other yet, you’re supposed to be a married couple, remember?”
Asher pulled me close before I could say a word, he slipped his hands around my waist and kissed me full on the lips. There was nothing delicate about the way his lips moved on mine or the way his hands gripped my hips. He was euding possessiveness, his kisses were passionate, he pulled on my lower lip and bit it lightly. If I wasn’t wearing a quality mattered lipstick, we would have lipstick stains all over our laces.
Marcus cleared his throat, and even then, Asher did not pull away immediately.
1/3
Chapter 38
“Goodness, brotherl I said greet her, not wallow her whole, Marcus exclaimed.
My cheeks were thushed. Asher still had his arms firmly around my waist, he pulled me closer until I was pressed up against him, “What are you does here, brother?” he said through gritted teeth.
Marcus smiled and glanced around, “It’s an event for Sterling Winery, our company, of course, I was…
“My company, Marcus,” he cut in, “Minel” He added through clenched teeth, “Sterling Winery in mine. You get to keep Sterling Industries and all of as conglomerates. This one is mine..”
“Ease up, brother, everyone is watching – Marcus flashed a smile, and the cameras went off, “You’re going to spread the rumors that you’re jealous of me if you continue acting like a child, Chin up, smile for the cameras, or F’ll look better in the pictures.”
Asher made to charge towards him, but i gripped his hands, he glanced at our entwined hands and then back at his brother, “Who invited you, Mart
I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it, “Oh, thankfully your lovely wile did.” He grabbed another champagne flute and passed it to the, and then he glanced at Asher’s empty hand, “Oh, brother, I didn’t notice you had nothing to drink,” ho feigned concern.
I turned to look at Asher, he was looking at me with a look of disappointment in his eyes.
“Asher, “I began.
“Surely, you’re not mad at her for inviting me?” Marcus quizzed, “You have an event for your new company, Sterling Winery, that once was a part of Sterling Industries, and you thought it was wise to not invite me? What do you think people would say if I wasn’t here?”
“Unlike you, Marcus, I don’t care for what the media says or thinks about us. I don’t want you here or around me or anything that concerns me. You are – not happy for…”
“Oh, enough, brother! We can’t continue to bore Ivy with our childish squabbles any longer. It is a party, you should go have fun…”
Asher’s face was contorted into a deep frown. I saw that as much as he wanted to lash out on his brothers, he was conscious of all the eyes glancing in our direction. He was frustrated, and I hated the role I played in all of this.
“Asher, I didn’t know, I didn’t know you didn’t want your brother here, I…” I trailed off, “I’m sorry….
“You’ve got to agree it’s a good thing I’m here, someone’s got to keep ivy company, what with all these predators ogling her… Marcus chirped in
Ifrowned.
Asher glanced around.
“And, well, her looking. Marcus’s gaze lingered on me.
Ishifted uncomfortably.
“Well, her looking like that.” there was a hint of a smile on his lips.
I cleared my throat, “You play too much, Marcus Cutout.
Asher’s jaw hardened. His grip around my waist tightened, “I don’t want you anywhere
where around my wife bonight, or any day for that matter, Marcus.”
His lips slowly curled into a smirk, he took a sip from his flute, he didn’t answer immediately. Then there was a resounding applause. I looked around in confusion, I had been caught up in the argument, and i didn’t know what was happening,
Asher looked around in confusion
Marcus had a knowing smile, “It’s time for you to shine, brother. They are calling for you on stage.”
Asher glanced at me and then at Marcus.
Chapter 38
“Go on, brother,” he said with a smile, “Ivy will be safe with me.”
