Chapter 4

Martin's pov

I received an urgent message from my secretary saying that I must return as soon as possible there are problems in the company that needs my attention. I wasn't gone for two whole days and here I am back at my house.

Can't these people do their fucking jobs?

I wanted to escape this place for a week telling everyone I had business to take care of in England but in reality, I wanted to get away from her.

I walked into the house and I noticed how quiet everything is. That's strange? I thought as I walk in further. Where could Brooke be?

I quickly run to her bedroom thinking she run away please let her be there.

Opening the door I saw all her stuff still there I walked to her closet opened it and I saw her clothes still neatly in there.

I take her room in and saw how perfect everything here looks. Not one thing out of place. I smile thinking about her.

Yes, I like her.

She is beautiful, smart, funny, and talented. She has a big mouth on her not backing down from a fight and if she gets mad she has a potty mouth on her.

She challenge me from the first day I saw her. She's the first girl to do so well except for my sister of course.

There is a reason why I treat her like this. I can't let her fall in love with someone like me. I don't want to ruin her life as I did with the last person I loved.

I knew she loves my brother any idiot can tell that but he only uses her because of her popularity. My brother is an idiot for doing that.

She was ten years old when we met her and her family I was fifteen years old. I think it was that day that I knew I liked her but she was young, innocent, and already had a temper on her.

I smile as I recall how I would tease her about everything just to see her spitfire. She wasn't and still isn't scared to say what's on her mind.

I know she deserves better than an asshole like me but she was stuck with me because of an agreement between our grandfathers.

I quickly snapped out of my trance and dial Jackson's number.

"Hey Marty," Jackson screamed into the phone making me a scowl and he laughed.

"I thought you would have grown up by now," I said rolling my eyes.

"Hey I can be a grown man if I want to," he gasps fake hurt.

"Yeah I'm not so sure about that," I told him making him chuckle.

"Now what can I help you with?" He asked and I know she was there with him.

"I want to ask Georgia something," I told him pinching my nose.

"How?"

"I know the two of you are getting it on so hand me the phone to her," I growled.

"Yes Mr. Grumpy," he says as I hear whispering in the back.

"Mr. Taylor?" Georgia asked carefully.

"Georgia do you know where my wife is?" I asked getting straight to the point.

"Yes, she went out with a girl named Payton," Georgia purred in my ears making me winch.

"Thank you I want to talk to Jackson," I told her rudely.

"What do you want now?" He whines.

"Get somewhere private!" I ordered him.

"Yes boss," he says and I hear him telling her he has to take the call privately.

"What do you think you are doing?" I asked him once I'm sure he is alone.

"I don't know you tell me," he resorts back.

"Jackson I told you not to get involved with her and yet there you are fucking her at least twice a week!" I say shaking my head.

"She's good man give me a break besides she knows it's only fun and that I don't want something serious," he says.

"I hope for your sake, Jackson. I know how emotionally attracted she gets to the men she sleeps with," I informed him.

"Don't tell me you fucked her?" He asked

"Ate you crazy?" I shout out.

"I was only asking because how would you know this?" He asked.

"She always gets weird whenever a new guy sleeps with her it's almost like she's stalking them. I bailed her out a few times for break-in and entering," I explained hoping he would listen.

"Thanks for the heads up, anyway why are you back?" I asked curiously.

"Something came up that needs my attention," I shrugged.

"And why didn't you take your lovely wife with you?" He asked again making me groan.

"I was going on a business trip," I told him.

"No you were trying to hide from her," he laughs as if it's the funniest thing he ever heard.

"Fuck off I'm going now," I said ready to end this call.

"Wait! Look all I want to say is try making this work. I know how much you care about her Martin. Don't you think she also suffers from the arrangement? She also sacrificed maybe even more than you did," he says all jokes aside.

I sight, "I know it's just that I'm scared. What if I lose her or she doesn't feel the same way?"

"Look I can't say that she loves you or cares for you but I do know that for the next five years she will be trapped in this marriage and the way you are treating her now aren't fair man. I don't say make her fall for you but the least you can do is make it work at least for her own peace of mind," he continues.

"I will try," I finally say. Who knew that my childish best friend could talk like this?

"Sure if you will excuse me now I have some business to take care of," he says chuckling lightly.

"You are going to catch a disease one of these days," I say shaking my head.

"I always use protection," he yells as I hang up the phone.

I walk over to the sofa sitting down. I will wait here until they get back.

I think about what Jackson said, maybe he is right I should stop treating her like trash but the voice inside me is telling me not to let her too close to me.

I run my hands through my hair fuck I need a drink. I was just about to pour myself some scotch when I hear the front door open.

"Come on Brooke work with me," I hear a voice and quickly walk towards the door.

I noticed Brooke asleep and her friend trying to carry her inside, "Fuck women will you wake your drunk ass up and help me?" She whispers yells at Brooke who just nods.

"Here let me help you," I finally speak up.

The blond girl looked at me with a frown, "What are you doing here?" She asked rudely.

"I live here," I respond helping her with Brooke.

"Oh so know you want to be the caring husband?" She resorted to a snort.

I help her put Brooke on the sofa when Brooke opens her eyes, "Payton I think I see an angel," she says giggling.

"Alright honey just go back to sleep," Payton says patting her back.

She turns towards me and the next thing I know her hand connects with my cheeks, "That's for being a shitty husband to my best friend!" She says glaring at me.

"I admit I did deserve that," I told her rubbing my face.

This girl can through a punch dammit.

"Why are you back anyways?" She asked looking over at her friend.

"Business," was all I said.

"Great and here I thought you realized what a dick move you made two days ago to go to England alone leaving your wife at home," she snort shaking her head.

"I had business to take care of," I lied to her.

"Business my ass! What I know is you are lying because you went away in the morning hours and came back two days later I don't think so Mr." She says pointing at me.

I just stare at her, "Look I know both of you are being tortured by this whole marriage thing but just so you know it isn't just you in this but Brooke as well. Yes, she can be a bitch if she wants to but under that thought exterior of her are a sweet girl. She's hurting even though she doesn't show it. She tries to act like the way you are treating her doesn't affect her but it does so please get your head out of your fucking ass and make things right with her," she says with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," was all I could say.

"I'm not the one you should apologize," Payton says pointing to a sleeping Brooke.

"I will," I nod looking at Brooke.

"Oh and one more thing, I am sure you know that she's in love with Daniel but that bastard you call a brother is only using her and I'm sick and tired of that bullshit! I saw something today that will break her if she comes to know of this and I want you to be ready for when that happens that is why I am asking you to stop your bullshit and treat her better," she says making me frown.

What the hell is she talking about?

"Let's talk in the kitchen while you make me some coffee," she says smirking at me.

This girl! The nerve of her to demand me in my own house.

I walked out of the room to the kitchen while Payton follows me.

"You must be confused?" She asked making me nod.

She laughs lightly, "You see Brooke has been in love with Daniel since I can remember but she never told him because she is or was afraid of what will happen to their friendship, and I know you have always had feelings towards Brooke," she says making me look up at her.

"I don't know what you are talking about," I deny.

"You can deny all you want but I know for a fact anyway, our other friend Katherine and Daniel are both working together. I don't know what it is they want but one thing is for certain they want to break her," Payton says taking the coffee.

"Doesn't Katherine work for Brooke?" I asked her.

"Yes, she works as a secretary for Brooke," Payton says.

"I see, why would she want to hurt Brooke if they are friends?" I ask not understanding.

"Let's see there are two reasons I can think of and correct me if I'm wrong, one her family got a lot of money and Brooke makes triple of the two of them put together, and secondly, they are afraid she wil find out that it was you and her that was best friends first," she says watching my reaction.

"How?" I was speechless.

She laughs at my reaction, "Oh come on I know Daniel isn't your real brother. I know your parents took him in when your father's brother and his wife died in a plane crash, I also know it was Daniel who tried to drown her when all of us went on vacation that first year we met. You were the one who saved her but Daniel told everyone it was you who tried to kill her," Payton revealed making me shocked.

The only ones who knew the truth were Jackson and me.

"Don't look so surprised I was there," she says sipping her coffee.

"It's getting late please take care of my friend," Payton says standing up.

"I will I promise," I told her as I walk her out.

"I know you will," she winks before walking to the waiting taxi.

I close the door not believing what I just heard.