Page 52 of Discord
Brandon’s angry form retreated outside to meet with everyone else, leaving me rooted in place. He hadn’t spoken a word to me since, though he’d spare me a glare every so often. Composed. Collected. Ice cold. I wasn’t sure who should be more insulted that the protective ice around him still hadn’t melted, the sun or me.
It wasn’t enough to corner me with my back against the wall. He was still punishing me for my “betrayal.” He was adamant I went back on my word, discounting my mere suggestion to wait until the situation wasn’t precarious to our lives.
Our relationship had turned ambiguous given the recent development. Nonetheless, I had never met a boy’s mother (or stepmother). That son of a bitch brought me here without telling me his family or friends would be in attendance, then left me to fend for myself.
Frustrated, I searched for an empty room and threw on my bikini before sprawling out on the sofa.
A few people were kind enough to approach me and introduce themselves, including Carmen and David. Luckily, she didn’t ask a whole lot of questions about my acquaintance with Brandon. Meanwhile, David simply stared at my tits during the entire conversation. He subsequently left for a swim, though I suspected the real reason was the two women in bikinis sunbathing by the pool.
I had no idea who they were, nor had Brandon bothered to explain. At least one of them was bequeathing him with an infatuated look, one I was quite familiar with.
I wondered if he also towel-dried her hair after she had a bad night.
“David!” Carmen cried out when he started toward the girls with a bottle of sunscreen in hand. “Excuse me.” She set her wine glass down and ran outside just as David reached his hand out in the likely process of putting sunscreen on one of the girls’ chests.
While Carmen and David fought over the tub of sunscreen, the next duo to introduce themselves stole my breath.
A strikingly good-looking boy in cargo shorts and flip-flops marched up to the couch. He couldn’t be more than eighteen or nineteen. An equally handsome man, closer to Brandon’s age, lagged behind.
“Hi. I’m Noah, and this is my brother, Asher.”
As the man next to him stepped forward, I realized that I hadn’t needed an introduction.
Dark hair. Chiseled cheekbones. Abercrombie Fitch looks.
Asher what-the-fuck-was-he-doing-here Huntzburger.
* * *
I stood from the couch, awestruck. I needed to introduce myself, but the words wouldn’t part ways with me.
If Brandon and I were found out, not only would it destroy Brandon’s reputation, but Milo would also kick him out of their company. Brandon claimed it wasn’t speculation. There was validity to his paranoia because the same happened to Asher Huntzburger. I had forgotten all about him, but Raven and Brandon, along with Asher’s looming presence, had brought back the past.
JAMBA started with five business partners—Jaci, Alexa, Milo, Brandon, and Asher. After Asher made a pass at Raven, Milo kicked him out of their business. Dissolved their partnership. Ruined his name. Stopped a few future opportunities as well.
Milo always stated that Raven and I were off-limits to his friends, and he had liked Asher a hell of a lot more than he ever liked Brandon. He wouldn’t think twice before destroying Brandon’s life. The other partners could do nothing to challenge him if Milo remained the majority owner.
Asher waved his hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my haze. “Hi.”
“Umm… sorry. Hello.”
I knew Brandon remained friends with Asher, but I hadn’t expected to meet him anytime soon. This was one of the moments I felt happy not to have a remarkably recognizable face. Asher had no idea who I was.
“Mia, don’t you recognize me? It’s me, Asher.”
There was a slight possibly that I might be wrong.
Noah stared between us. “You two know each other?”
Before their falling out, Asher was a regular at our home. I had met Noah a few times as well, though he was all grown up now.
Asher laughed. “You know her, too. This is little Mia Sinclair.”
“Mia?” Noah mused. “Oh, wow. You look… different.” So I have heard.
I hadn’t expected such a warm welcome from the Huntzburger clan. Shouldn’t they be kidnapping me, demanding that Milo reinstate Asher as one of the rightful owners in exchange for my safe return?
With a big smile, Noah stepped forward and engulfed me in a hug. Glancing outside the sliding doors, I caught Brandon’s eye. He sipped out of a tumbler, looking apathetic as ever. But his head was tilted just enough for me to catch the moody way he glared at Noah.
