CHAPTER NINE- BETWEEN BROTHERS

CHAPTER NINE

I took a seat on my new chair and breathed in. Ridley stood in front of my new huge glass and wooden table with a wide, triumphant smile. His smile was so infectious that I smiled back and stretched my arms, excited about what was to happen ahead.

"So?..." He looked at me with huge eyes. "How do you like it? Is it okay?" He asked, and I nodded before turning in the swivel chair to look at the huge window on the left side of the room.

Unlike my office back at the Waterfalls branch, this one had a larger window and a better view, even the furniture was better. Lisa had also done a good job sorting my things and preparing the office just the way I liked. After working with me for only a few months, she kind of knew my likes and dislikes better than my husband.

"It's perfect. Almost feels like a promotion." I replied and turned to face him.

"Of course, it's a promotion. Not just anyone gets an office right next to Ridley Stetson." Cockily, he ran his hands through his hair.

I scoffed and stood from the seat. "I have a feeling I'll regret this," I said jokingly, and he mumbled something under his breath that I was unable to get. "Sorry?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"Nothing important." He dismissed with a flick of the hand. "Your assistant's desk is right outside, and there is a telecom, basically the usual stuff, and if you need me, I'm right next door." For a second, Ridley looked serious and more like someone who could actually do their job properly as he explained everything I had to do.

"You're doing the same job, but I'd also like you to help out with some other stuff occasionally. I promise not to overwork you. My brother may fall in love with you again." I knew that he meant the end of his statement humorously, but it still hurt when I remembered.

Ridley let out an awkward cough when he noticed the shift on my face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you...I-I was ju-"

"It's okay," I cut him off.

He rubbed his hands together. "Okay then, I'll get going. I have people to answer to." I nodded, and he walked out of the office and closed the door behind him.

My mind almost instantly went back to what had happened only a few moments before, the stares from the people on the first floor to the eighteenth floor where Ridley's office was. I even remembered the silent but erupting chatter that rumbled in the hallway as well as the first floor. The few people who had seen Ridley and I had surely spread gossip among colleagues, and by now, even the employees on the twenty-eighth floor knew... maybe even the customers in the hotel.

After letting my mind run wild with my current situation and loathing Ashton and Dorothy, I decided to actually work because even though the motive was entirely different now, I was still an employee.

After what felt like hours on end and getting myself accustomed to how everything was, Ridley entered my office after knocking. "Lunch on me, milady." I guessed that was his way of inviting me for a meal, and I stood up.

"Anything for a free lunch, even eating with a total douche."

"My brother fed you lies, I'm a total gentleman." He reiterated and hooked our arms as we walked out of the office.

"And so do the media and all the girls whose hearts you've trampled on?" I mocked, and he pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Every story has a villain, and those girls choose to make me the villain in their stories." He defended himself, and I chuckled lightly.

I could feel the stares of the people who were in the hall as we walked to the elevator. Their stares made me feel small and judged, while Ridley beside me looked like it was just another day for him, and he continued to joke easily. Even though I had told myself that I would be ready for the verbal manslaughter, it still pierced right through me when I could hear the hushed gossip. Words like 'whore' and 'gold digger' sounded louder than others.

"It's okay," Ridley whispered close to my ear.

I appreciated his care and concern, and his words were a bit reassuring, but I would be the one getting most of the backlash, I already knew this. People loved Ridley even though he was an absolute jerk and betrayer.

Just as the elevator opened, Ashton stepped out, and his glare landed on Ridley. He looked nothing like how he had in the morning. His hair was ruffled, and his tie was messed up. It reminded me so much of the Ashton I knew before marriage, the one that used to wait for me over time with his tie crooked and shirt tucked out of his trousers.

"This is too low even for you." He told his half-brother. "What do you think you're doing?" His eyes wandered onto me, and he noticed our interlinked arms. His jaw clenched, and he got a hold of my free hand.

"You're going home right now." Ashton pulled me away from his brother, but Ridley pulled me right back.

"Ridley, let go of my wife," Ashton gritted out, his jaw clenched.

Ridley laughed and glared back at Ashton. "Wife? Do you still have the right to call her that? Where's Dorothy?"

I could feel the tension between them intensifying, and so were the stares from the people around us. Ever since I had known Ashton and during the happy period of our marriage, I had never found myself in the cross‐hairs of any of the brothers' fights, and they used to fight a lot. They could not stand each other, and every time they were within the same walls, words or fists were exchanged. All the times they fought, and I was there, I mainly played peacekeeper and pulled Ashton away from the scene. This time was different...I was the reason they were arguing.

"She is still my wife, and I am telling you to let go of her right this instant, or you'll regret putting your filthy hands ." Ashton threatened after a moment of only glaring.

"Let's say she still does consider you her husband, which she clearly doesn't. Why would she obey your orders like a stupid dog?" Ridley asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You fucking-"

Ashton was clearly about to blow, and I did not want to be in between their fight, with the risk of having a punch thrown at my face.

"Hey! Hey! Let go of me!" I commanded, and they stared at each other. I rolled my eyes. "Both of you!"

On cue, I shrugged off both their hands, and they let go. "Now, if you don't have a problem with it, I am a person with free will, and I can make my own decisions."

"Jan-" Ashton began, but I raised my hand to stop him.

"Not another word from you. You already said enough this morning." I told him before looking at Ridley. "Lunch?"

"Of course, let's go." Ridley looked at his brother like he got the better present.

We side-stepped Ashton and got into the elevator. Right before the elevator closed, I saw the devastated look on Ashton's face, and just how slumped he stood. Every part of me screamed to go back to him, hug him, and tell him that he was the one I would always choose first in every situation.

Ridley must have seen through my mental battle. He placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me yet another reassuring look.

"That bastard doesn't deserve any of the sympathy you are feeling for him right now. He has hurt you more."

I nodded and gave him a small tight smile. "There's no turning back."

Ridley was not wrong. Ashton had hurt me worse, and 8 out of 10 of those times, he had seen the pain in my eyes and watched me degrade to tears, and yet he had not felt remorse. He had walked away and chosen Dorothy all the time, leaving me in tears and wine glasses.

"Good," Ridley said lowly, which I would not have heard if he was not standing close to me.

Ridley drove us to a restaurant that was ten minutes away from the hotel and kept talking about how he was tired of the food back at the hotel and had tried to eat out and had found the restaurant, including how their steak was great.

I decided to have the steak at Ridley's request, and I had to admit that it was as great as he put it, but I could not finish it. My emotions always decided my appetite, and I lost my appetite immediately after Ashton stepped out of the elevator and started arguing with Ridley. I only continued with our lunch plans because I had to make a statement, and I had to choose Ridley.

"You know what you need?" Ridley mused with a thoughtful look. "You need some wine to let loose."

"What?!" Are you insane?" I toned down my voice after realising that I almost exclaimed too loudly.

"It's just a glass," He shrugged.

If I did not know my alcohol tolerance, I would have probably agreed because a glass of wine sounded delightful. But I still had a load of work to do, and I needed to have a clear mind.

"I can't hold alcohol pretty well," I told him, and he sighed.

"How is that possible? Every time I've seen you at an event, you had a glass of wine. Aren't you like an alcoholic or something?" He asked, and I laughed.

One time at a family dinner, Maria, Ashton's mother, had called me an alcoholic because I was downing my glasses of wine, but that had happened because Ashton had slowly started to drift away from me and the rumours of him and Dorothy were only beginning to surface.

"Er...well, that was because I couldn't control my emotions."

"You can't control them now, too. How about some wine?" He continued to persist, but I shook my head.

"Ridley, I still have work to do."

He laughed lightly and shook his head. "Oh dear Janelle. Why would we go back to the office after this beautiful lunch?" He asked incredulously with a lopsided smile. I gave him a questioning smile.

"You need a break to relax and forget, and I will help you."

"Elaborate?"

"You'll see." He replied mischievously and went back to his food.

I was left curious and wondering what was going through Ridley's mind. He was clearly up to no good, and even though I wanted to press him for answers, I remained silent and sipped on my water.