Catching Bad: Am I Worthy

Chapter 5: Misunderstandings

~Brian's POV~

"Raise 50," Ian said as he pushed a couple of chips into the middle.

It had been a long time since Brian played a game of poker with his brother and father. But when his father came by the hospital room early that afternoon with the set of chips and cards from his apartment it was nothing but a brilliant idea. Something to keep his mind off everything that was going on. Besides he was much better now, it was about time he found a way to beat his father.

Brian smiled inwardly "raise 100." He said as he pushed a few chips into the middle of the table, how his father had talked the nurse into dealing he wasn't sure.

Sean shook his head slowly, he had to be bluffing. No one looked that defeated in a fake poker game. "Raise 50."

"Ah, damn, I fold," Ian muttered placing his cards on the table.

"All in."

Sean glanced at him almost like he was trying to read his expression. "Alright, all in."

Brian laughed softly placing his cards down "queens four of a kind."

"Seriously? Full house," Sean said.

Brian grinned, turning his gaze up to the door when Elise stepped into the room. "Hey. How was Skylar?"

"Fine," Elise said as she placed her bag down on the table. Something about her tone was off. She never had such a hard tone.

"Is something wrong?" Brian asked.

Elise looked at him with a small sigh "I feel guilty unloading on you, right now."

Brian frowned softly turning in the bed to better face her. "Elise what is going on? Is something wrong with Skylar?"

Elise hesitated a moment before finally; "did you sleep with Gabby?" she nearly blurted.

Brian frowned softly, running his hand through his hair. He glanced at his brother and father both looking at him in confusion. "Yeah, I did, once." He turned back to Elise.

"I thought you said you never slept with any of your employees. Except for Elise," Ian said with a sort of disapproving tone.

"She technically wasn't my employee when it happened. She had worn this really distracting shirt, it wasn't really that appropriate for an interview, and her perfume was... well very strong... I'm not particularly proud of it. But I never slept with her while she was my employee. I swear to you Elise, I never slept around at the office." Brian gazed at her trying to read her expression. "She promised me that she wouldn't say anything."

Elise almost laughed as she sat down in one of the armchairs, "yeah, well she has broken that promise. She has told practically every one of the secretaries."

Brian felt a frustrated frown cross his face. Awesome. No wonder rumours flew around the secretaries like wildfire, wildfire fueled by the gasoline that Gabrielle fed them. He was almost tempted to fire her, although he knew that was technically not a fireable offence.

"Is that really what is bothering you? Elise, you know my past, I slept with a lot of women..."

"No... it's just..." she trailed off, gazing at her hands.

"Elise, talk to me, please," Brian urged, he held out his hand, offering it to her.

Elise glanced at it but didn't take it. She just sat in the chair, tapping her thumb against the armrest in the nervous sort of rhythm she always did when she was worked up. She had done it her entire interview.