The Fashion of Love | Adult F/M Romance [COMPLETE]

ch. 4 - January

Sora pulled herself together. She didn't break down over love anymore. Anthony couldn't have her peace of mind and her heart.

She was just about to make her way to the private elevator leading to the office of the CEO when she heard not one but two familiar voices raised in false politeness.

"What brings you to my neck of the woods, Rav?"

Sora rose quickly, moving to the door to listen. Ravi's here. She disregarded the happy thrill that came over her at the sound of his name. Ravi hated when Anthony shortened his name. It was meant as a sign of disrespect and it landed. Sora winced. She'd hate to have to separate the two of them. They'd nearly come to blows once already this year over Hana.

"I came to see Sora," Ravi finally replied.

"And what, pray tell, do you want with my wife?"

"She's your ex-wife, in case you've forgotten that. You made that happen; it ought be right in the forefront of your mind. Say it with me, 'ex-wife.'"

"You don't want to have that conversation with me, not here."

"I can't think of a better place for it." A pregnant pause ensued, leaving Sora tense, waiting for the sounds of fists striking flesh. God save us all from hypermasculine bullshit.

"What's your business here," Anthony prompted, testily. "I won't ask again."

"I wanted to say hi."

"That's cute. Don't you have a craft store to run?"

"I get it, that's funny. I'm just a dressmaker, I make dresses. I took a break from making dresses to visit my ex-sister-in-law."

"See, that doesn't make sense to me. You've got Hana throwing herself at your feet and you're standing in my place of business for no good reason. It's enough to make you wonder." It made Sora wonder.

"At the risk of drawing out this conversation, I'll ask the obvious question: Wonder about what?"

"What kind of man looks at all Hana has to offer and walks away? I don't understand a man like that."

Sora dropped her head against the wall. Anthony's true colors were rarely far from the surface. It was a shame his motives had never been so transparent.

"I don't know what you're talking about, which doesn't surprise me much. You're like a dog walking on its hind legs: you don't make sense."

"Maybe you should leave."

"I will, after I've seen S." Some shuffling ensued and Sora wondered where Sam had gotten to so quickly. He would have known better than to leave his father unattended. "I have to ask, why are you so worried about Hana? Haven't the two of you done enough damage by now?"

"You're a fine one to talk about collateral damage. How many homes have you wrecked?"

Ravi's response was terse and dismissive. "Enough to know that one more is too many. If you'll excuse me..."

Those were the last words Sora overheard before the doors to her private elevator closed.

...

...

When a sighing Ravi dropped into the chair across from Sora's desk a quarter of an hour later, Sora was more composed. He'd sent her a text early this morning mentioning his plan to stop by, only she hadn't expected to see him so soon. She glanced away from the memo she was drafting to see her former brother-in-law scrub a hand down his face. He looks exhausted and fed up.Sora was sensing a pattern.