Emily’s Dilemma: Seduced by Billionaire Brothers

“Anita?” Ethan had called again, when he noticed she was the one, her presence threatening to shatter the tranquility of the evening. A mix of emotions flooding Ethan’s mind disbelief, frustration and somehow there was a tinge of guilt wedged in there, but he managed to conceal it all so perfectly and keep his expression stoic. Anita James had clearly said she didn’t want to marry him, he had even offered a contract marriage and they could split after a few months but she had vehemently refused, and now she was here? He couldn’t process it, the mix of emotions flowing through him, it was even harder to ignore the confused expression plastered on Emily’s face, he threw an apologetic look her way. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was about to unfold. From what he knew, Anita James could be extremely difficult to deal with.

Anita’s gaze locked with Ethan, a hint of defiance and jealousy lingering in her eyes, the ring still on her finger.

“Ethan” she called, still with that buttery voice Ethan knew she used when she was about to wreck havoc “Who’s she?” she pointed to Emily without even glancing at her. Ethan knew he had to address this situation swiftly.

“What are you doing here Anita?” Ethan said, his voice laced with a hint of urgency, then he quickly took hold of her hand an slipping the ring out the same way she had slipped it in and shoving it in his pocket “And this is not your ring, it’s for Emily, I was just about to propose to her before you rudely interrupted”

Anita scoffed, her gaze flicking to Emily, her eyes clouded with superiority as she sized her up “Her?” she pointed again and turning back to Ethan “Her over me?”

“Now don’t be delusional Anita, you turned me down, severally so don’t play that pity card right now”

“And so what? You just gave up?” she whisper-yelled “I wanted you to fight for me Ethan, I wanted you try again because I wanted you to be sure that’s what you really wanted because you’re always so nonchalant about everything”

Ethan could feel a familiar ache in his chest as he looked at Anita, her pretty doe eyes that were threatening to gather tears, her jet black hair was straight as a pin going down her back.

“You had your chance Anita and you blew it because you were waiting for some sort validation; I don’t have time for that. I’m going to marry Emily, I…. love her and that’s final” there was a slight hesitation in his words, but he knew he couldn’t let it slip that it was a contract marriage.

“Love?” Anita said in disbelief “You love her?”

Suddenly she turned to Emily with venom in her eyes “This is not going last and you’re going to regret ever meeting him, Ethan doesn’t have the ability to love anyone except himself” before turning back to Ethan.

“This is not over” before scooting low to whisper in his ears, so low that she made sure he was the only one that heard “You’re mine, Ethan. Always have and always will be, don’t ever forget that”

With that, she flipped her hair haughtily and walking away after throwing one last venomous look in Emily’s direction, Emily who quickly let out a long held breath.

“What the hell was that all about?” she asked in a shaky voice.

“It’s nothing you should worry about, she…”

“Nothing I should worry about?” she immediately cut him short “Did you see how she looked at me?”

“Anita’s my ex and she can be a bit extreme, I asked her to marry me and she turned me down. Remember the evening we met at the park and I gave you those flowers, they were for her”

“I seem to be getting her rejects a lot” Emily said suddenly referring to the ring also and Ethan pulled it out again

“This is not her ring Emily, It’s yours I promise, and not that it matters but I have no interest in going after her”

Emily shrugged, sipping from her wine “Not that it matters Ethan, it doesn’t. Besides, there’s no love here, it’s strictly business remember”

“Sure” he nodded “So will you marry me now?”

******************************************************************

Jackson Hatton felt consumed by a whirlwind of emotions, cutting a striking figure against the backdrop of the sprawling cityscape in the new office he had coveted for himself through his father, he was ready to participate in the family business. News of Ethan’s impending marriage had reached him unexpectedly, through Anita who had called him bawling on the phone on how much she hated him and she was going to make him pay. Yes, he hated him too now. Ethan cared for no one himself and of course he had found someone unsuspecting to carry out the marriage deal, he didn’t really care for that, except it was Emily Walker. The same Emily Walker he had kissed at the masked party? He wasn’t so sure.

Seeing that name fly all over the media had sent a shiver down his spine, a name that had been etched into his memory since that fateful night at the masked party. He had spent every waking moment, thinking about that kiss, the softness of her lips and how their tongue danced in a rhythm. The echoes of the lavish ballroom resurfaced in Jackson’s mind transporting him back to that enchanted evening. Their encounter had been fleeting, a stolen moment amidst the revelry. A single kiss, charged with a magnetic energy that defied explanation and had left him breathless and longing for more, but she had vanished leaving nothing but her name and a bracelet.

“Emily” he whispered, the syllables carrying a mix of curiosity and wonder. The name had haunted him ever since, a puzzle piece he had been unable to place until now.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see his brother, Ethan. An unreadable look on his face as he scanned the office.

“Nice one, Jackson. I see you’re keeping yourself extra busy by getting involved with the company” Ethan said as he walked in casually

“Please” Jackson rolled his eyes.

“Well, I have something to tell you” Ethan began

Jackson’s gaze locked with his brother’s, his eyes betraying a mix of emotions

“I think I know already, it’s everywhere already. You have finally found someone to get married to you, congratulations brother”

Ethan couldn’t miss the hint of sarcasm in Jackson’s tone and he sighed “Are you still sulking over what you heard? You tried to ruin the deal so I guess we’re pretty even”

“I’m over it” Jackson said “So your fiancee, what’s her name?”

“I’m sure you must have seen it already but her name is Emily Walker”

Jackson’s breath hitched but unnoticeably so

“And when did you guys meet?” he asked further

“The day I proposed to Anita” Ethan responded

Jackson stood pensive, his eyes and mind inspecting Ethan thoroughly before he asked “So when are we meeting her?”

“I should say never, but I guess next week sounds fine. We have to start planning to the wedding and I want you to be my best man even though you’ve been a total prick since”

Jackson nodded with a smile at his elder brother, which morphed into a smirk. He was going to meet Emily Walker, and he had to find out if she was the one from the masked party and there was only one way to do that.

He had to kiss her