Page 57 of Forbidden Desires

Brody

Emerson walks into my living room, searching around the place, and I can already tell by the expression on her face she’s not happy. “Is Gisele here?Don’t fucking lie to me, Brody. I need to know what I’m dealing with here before I go into damage control.” Her voice is shaky, and after my chat with Noah tonight, I can only assume Victor hasn’t heard the warning and he’s spreading rumors.

“You’re overreacting, Em.” I run a hand through my hair. It’s just past midnight, and while I was still working, I’m also not up for dramatics. “I have this under control.”

“Am I overreacting? Because we all know what we stand to lose. You two think you're sneaking around being discreet, but you’re not. We all know what’s going on.”

She shoves a paper in my direction. There is an image of Gisele and me coming out of McAllister’s last month, my arm wrapped around her and her smiling up at me.

“Fuck,” I curse, running a hand through my hair.

“You bet fuck. Read it.” She snaps.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree. Scandal Erupts as The Alexander Hotel’s New CEO Follows in Father’s Footsteps

In a stunning turn of events, it has come to light that Brody Alexander, the newly appointed CEO of The Alexander Hotel, is alleged to be following in the scandalous footsteps of his father. Gisele Kelley, the recently appointed events planner at the hotel, is now entangled in the web of controversy surrounding The Alexander,and the once-idyllic town is left in shock as it grapples with the betrayal of one of its own.

Gisele Kelley, known for her impeccable event-planning skills, had quickly risen to prominence within the hotel’s staff. Her appointment as the planner for The Alexander was initially met with enthusiasm, as she was seen as a beacon for change and a fresh start for the hotel’s events department. However, recent revelations have shattered this image, linking her name to the scandal involving Brody Alexander and his apparent emulation of his father’s behavior.

As the scandal continues to unfold, engaged couples who had entrusted their special day to The Alexander Hotel and Gisele Kelley are left in a state of uncertainty. The once-enviable wedding venue, now under the cloud of Brody Alexander’s alleged indiscretions, has become a focal point of doubt and skepticism, prompting soon-to-be-weds to reconsider their choices and seek alternative locations for their celebrations.

The serene façade of Deception Bay has been shattered by the scandal, and The Alexander Hotel, now under the leadership of Brody Alexander, finds itself at a crossroads. Can the hotel recover from the tarnish on its legacy, or will it forever be remembered as a symbol of betrayal and intrigue, just like the scandals that plagued its predecessor? As the small town grapples with the implications of this shocking revelation, the fate of The Alexander hangs in the balance, leaving the community to ponder whether history is repeating itself in the once-celebrated haven.

Sweet Tea Scandals, Annabelle Grace Turner

I shake with anger as I read the words in front of me. We might be about to lose it all. Not only that but this story drags Gisele’s name through the mud as well, and that’s just not fair to her. All I had to do was control my fucking dick, and I couldn’t even do that. The paper’s right, I am just as bad as my father. “This photo was from the night I took her home because she was drunk, nothing was going on. This is bullshit. You know that, right?”

She rolls her lips. “I believe that, but I’m not some innocent little thing that hasn’t seen the way you two look at each other. I know there’s something going on between you. Are you going to keep lying to my face?” she says angrily. “I don’t fucking deserve this, Brody.I’m sick of the lies and secrets in this family. Tell me the truth so I know what we’re up against.”

I run my eyes over the paper again, knowing how upset Gisele is going to be. “This paper is dated with tomorrow’s date. How did you get hold of it?”

Her angry eyes flick back to me. “It was dropped off at my house.” She shrugs, and there is something in her guilty expression I don’t like. What does she know that I don’t?

“Why would someone from Prescott Media do that?” I study her expression while I wait for her response.

Guilty eyes meet mine. “I have no idea. They just knocked, and when I went to check, it was there. I’m grateful for the chance to go into damage control before the shit hits the fan tomorrow.”

“Hmm,” I say in response, running a hand through my stubble. Why would someone at the paper alert my sister to this story early? It doesn’t make any sense.

She goes to leave, and I hate the tension in the air between us. What Gisele said to me has stuck, and as hard as it is to talk to my sister, I know I need to make things right. “Emerson.” She turns back to me. “Thank you. I know this makes me look like him, like I want to sleep with any young thing that comes through those doors, but it’s not true. I knew Gisele before she even came to work for us. We met in New York the weekend I went to finish up at work. When she arrived here a month later, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was shocked at the coincidence, but mostly I was pleased. I never thought I would see her again, and she was right there in front of me.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I saw how the article about Dad affected you, and I know you haven’t been the same since. I don’t want you to hate me. Not all men are out for one thing only. I know this is bad and I fucked up royally, not waiting to be with her until this contract is over. But I couldn’t. I fell in love with that girl the first night I met her. I couldn’t stay away from her. I would never do what our father did. There is only one girl for me, and she’s it forever. I already know that.”

Emerson wipes her eyes and sniffs.

“Are you crying?” I ask my sister, amused she’s such a softy.

“A little, that story is kind of beautiful. Honestly, I didn’t think the big grump had it in him to love anyone.” She comes over to me and wraps her arms around me. “Maybe true love isn’t dead.”

“I would like to hope not. But also, if you tell anyone what I admitted to you tonight, I will deny it and tell them you read too many books.”

She smiles softly. “We will fix this. You don’t deserve to be lumped into the same category as our daddy. As much as I loved the man when he was here, I’m so angry at him for the pain he caused. For what happened to Mama.”

“I know.” I pull her into me, hugging her properly. Gisele’s right, I know Emerson needs me just as much as I need her. We’re all in this together now.

She looks up at me, so much pain in her big brown eyes. “I don’t even remember her, Brody, I was so little when she died. What was she like?”

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