THE PERFECT DECEPTION

Chapter 8

Jonathan King

My fingers brushed the sleek edge of my phone, her face shimmering on the screen. She was as alluring as a siren, her age only adding to her beauty like a fine whiskey, my preferred drink. Was it odd to have unearthed an old photo of her and set it as my wallpaper on a seldom-used phone?

"Well, she's ten minutes late," Nicolas grumbled, his voice heavy with sleep. Unlike our grandfather, the phrase "Early bird gets the worm" didn't seem to stick with my brothers, the man's sole disciplinary mantra. Levi groaned, his face buried under a wine-scented blanket, singing, "Here comes the bride," prompting an eye roll from me. "Here comes the bride..."

"Shut it," Nicolas snapped, squinting at his overly bright tablet. "Looks like someone's the joker this morning and a lovelorn fool," Levi teased, nudging me with a smirk that met my stony gaze. I refocused on the screen as the minutes ticked, now fifteen minutes late.

Patience was not among my virtues, especially not with tardiness or broken punctuality. A heavy sigh escaped me as irritation crept over my features with each passing second. The thought of leaving her behind battled with my frustration. Investors were waiting, money was on hold, meetings were in limbo, and someone's dreams hung in the balance. Yet, here I was, waiting for this enigmatic woman to stride in, her stunning heels accentuating her long, graceful legs.

I perked my face to my watch as 20 minutes came along and by this time, I was creating delusions of her in my mind and all the words that would spill from her lips. ''If you look at your watch, time won't magically make your sexy fake girlfriend appear,'' Levi snickers as he yawns widely against the wall. My hands clench softly as my jaw grinds slightly trying to hide the tinge of jealousy that passes me. 

I've never been jealous or possessive, but the mere thought of another man gazing at her boiled my blood. I took pleasure in the thrill of not catching feelings that could weaken me. "Her body isn't for your eyes," I stated coldly, without giving him a glance. Levi laughed heartily, clutching his chest as he leaned his head on my shoulder, "Possessive or jealous lover type? I've never seen such a simp," he remarked before pulling away.

I rolled my eyes as those words echoed in my ears like irritating bells or birds chirping at strange hours. "Is he drunk already?" I wondered, ignoring Levi to focus on my watch, which was nearing 25 minutes. "Not. It's just him and his incessant whining," Nicolas commented, still tapping the screen as if it might explode any second. Levi scoffed, "The only jerks here are you guys."

As the watch hit 25 minutes, Nicolas sighed, locking his lifeless eyes with mine as if something was always amiss. "You really want to go there?" he muttered, acknowledging my request that might seem peculiar. There was no need to woo or impress her, yet the desire to do so lingered.

"The decision is made," I responded with an icy stare.

"The media has been kept away from you, and three bodyguards are at your service," he reported mechanically, as if ready to reboot.

"And if it isn't?" I inquired.

"Then you can serve my head on a platter to mom, who's on her way. She'd be disappointed," Nicolas smirked, causing my jaw to clench. My mother would have a lot to say if she ever discovered that all this was merely a facade.

Her heart beats for the three of us, even for the monster hardened within me. My brothers may despise me, even with a smile, but I would endure hell to ensure their lives are secure. I would never harm the people I love or destroy the world around us, not even with my dying breath.

Could that be why Anupama's tears wound me? It seems unlikely, as the Roman Empire wasn't built in a day. Is it possible to feel something previously unfelt? No, time is power, and relationships require an effort I was unwilling to make.