Chapter 51: He couldn't have missed this chance

He couldn't have missed this chance.

Tacha Williams.

Anthony Brown was at her doorstep. The immediate brother. Also the right hand. Also the closest sibling, to Nathan Brown.

Tacha understood what that meant.

And it scared the shit out of her.

Safe?

She was not.

Now, Anthony Brown was staring down at Anna.

Then he smiled at her.

Tacha saw a slow smile spreading across Anna's thoughtful face. Her daughter was probably thinking about who the gentleman at their doorstep was. But since he was nice to smile at her, Tacha watched her daughter's face relax. Her lovely smile was fully spread out.

When Anthony looked up at Tacha, she knew he didn't need to ask her whose child was that. Even the heaven and the earth will never be able to side with her. Sweat clings to the back of Tacha's neck, because...Anna was the definition of---

Face card never declines.

Anna had his brother's face. Anna had his brother's eyes, and her height made her look older than her age. She was everything like the Brown except both mother and daughter were in a thug of war for who had smooth and fair skin.

Tacha knew she was never going to be able to deny or defend herself.

What was Anthony Brown's connection to her client?

Could it be what she was thinking?

Tacha used all the strength left in her to focus on Maria. The tall beauty who was a little bit darker but had shining skin stared back at her. Her breasts would take an ultimate search winner to locate them in her long, floral-wrapped dress. And Tacha thought if Maria decided to take one more spoon of food, her stomach would pop out of that dress.

Something else came to Tacha's mind that made her relax a little. Maria didn't know who she was. Her Instagram page never had a face. Just her works. And obviously, Maria looked lost. This had to be a---

coincidence.

Tacha took a shaky breath. A weak smile covered her uneasiness. "Good evening. Please come in." She paid Anthony no further attention, directing her offer to Maria as she opened the door wide.

Maria's face sparked a bit of confusion when she saw Anna's eyes. That was enough to gradually make her curious. But the lady she had come to meet had a great beauty that surpassed her expectations.

Maria thought Tacha's skin was in a good relationship with whichever skin care she was using. She was spotless. And gwad, she was light-skinned! How effortlessly beautiful Tacha looked standing by her door sent an invitation of jealousy to Maria. She thought Tacha would pull traffic with her body.

With her body, Tacha was a baddie. But her face looked calm, innocent and pure. Maria's eyes rested on Tacha's own "I'm sorry I came late," she apologized. "I must have changed your plans."

Of course, she did. And she was about to ruin her life again.

At this point, it was either she rejected the job, and then lost her contract.

A brief, frozen smile crossed Tacha's face. "It's fine. But would it be okay if we fix another day?"

Please just say yes.

"Another day!" Maria's eyes widened. "No, please, I beg you." Her response was faster than expected. "I know you must be tired, but I have a feeling you are about to change your mind the moment I leave your doorstep. Just look at me. Nothing I wear fits anymore. I don't even want to take part in what I ordered versus what I got on my wedding day cause I will so cry, and it's going to break his heart." Maria glanced at Anthony and then back at Tacha. "I have seen your works. You are naturally incredible. My beauty has been stolen by someone down here but you must save my life. Ma, you have to save my life with these amazing hands of yours."

Tacha tried so hard to suppress her smile. Maria's lips weren't just full for no reason. But they must have attracted Anthony for another reason. Tacha wouldn't say she was strikingly beautiful, but she spoke well of herself. Carried herself so well, and must have a great personality. Something she lacked when she was her age.

Tacha was left with no choice but to open her door wider for them to come in.

But she pondered---

That woman had a problem with whoever her sons were picking.

Whose daughter was she, that Mrs. Brown didn't have an objection against her?

•   •  •   •   •

The cell phone on the mahogany desk rang abruptly for the third time.

Alade, the name on the screen must be determined to spell his name fully till the owner picks it.

When it rang again, Nathan Brown did the last thing he wanted to do. He reached for the phone. "Do you not have phone etiquette, Alade? Just because you are my cousin doesn't mean you should call me more than twice. What is it?"

"I understand this is what happens when you have love etiquette. But you are just proud."

Nathan tried not to smile.

He knew what he could have said. But he wanted to get off the phone quickly.

"Alade, what is it? I'm in the middle of something."

"I was told you rejected the invite again?"

He was just about to delete the mail.

Whatever modern-day business they called the conference, it would be a waste of time attending. No business strives immediately. What other special thing would they love to hear? Besides, he had so much on his head.

Nathan deleted the mail. "But you didn't call me for this last year. We've both moved on. What's special this year, Alade?"

There was a sudden pause.

The silence lasted for about three seconds.

"Should I be worried?" Nathan's face was flooded with worry already, and what he planned to finish in a hurry, he stopped. "Alade!"

A sigh escaped Alade's mouth. He didn't plan on ever telling Nathan what he had kept away from him for a whole year, but at this junction, he thought he could help his cousin with this information. "Guy, if you had come last year, you would have seen what I saw."

"What you saw! Who did you see?" Nathan was out of his seat. His brows drew together, puzzled by what Alade was talking about when he could have just explained the whole matter to him. He was tired, which was the reason he never wanted to have any conversation. And he also wanted to finish the task before him, but he was suddenly interested in what his cousin was saying. His voice dragged out. "And you never mentioned this to me until this moment."

"It wouldn't do you any good if I had mentioned it. I thought you've moved on but you clearly haven't, Nathan! What's up with the whole counselling thing you did back then? You stopped, then nothing! Just the same obsession with money." Alade blurted. His voice had no traces of joke anymore and his deep voice came out deeply concerned.

Silence.

"Mum has called you."

"For gwad sake, I'm expecting my third child!" Alade roared. "Are you waiting till you are forty? Being single at thirty six is not a flex. And I'm not happy."

Nathan went back to his seat. He suddenly doesn't find the conversation refreshing again. He understood Alade was speaking his mind. But they saw two days ago and he was more passionate about his vodka and laughter that he had no time to discuss his life. "You new generation of Brown must love impregnating your woman. You are not giving that woman a break. And I'm really not happy about that."

A rough chuckle escaped Alade's mouth. His hisses came out many times as if he was tired of Nathan.

Nathan listened to the loud chorus of water running down his cousin's throat. "I see, you have just finished eating. Take it easy on your throat. Let's continue this conversation when I have enough strength too." Nathan's eyelids came up. His eyes went straight to the door that opened slightly. "When my mum calls you again, just congratulate her on Anthony's wedding preparation. And if it's about those girls I dated recently, they enjoy the relationship more than I did. Don't ever mention them to me again."

"Nathan, who I actually saw was---"

Nathan threw his phone back on the table.

"You had your chance."

Anthony Brown gazed at Nathan before he dropped on one of the seats opposite his brother. His mind had not been at peace with him with who he saw. How would he tell Nathan? How would he tell him he saw the lady who shook his heart really hard before he was back to himself? Nathan had dated a few young girls but he wasn't sure if he still loved her.

They had not mentioned Tacha's name for few years now.

How would he bring her name up?

Seeing Tacha again was a shock.

But seeing her with a child who looked like Nathan was the biggest shock of his life.

He doesn't know how to handle this information while being around his brother. He knew that Tacha wasn't prepared to see him or any of them, and she was ready to quit making Maria's wedding dress. He observed all of her expressions.

Anthony yawned. Heavens knew he was tired. His day had been from here to there. "I came here so I could go home with you. I tried calling you to ask if you were at the Lounge but you were on a call. I don't think I can drive another minute."

"Did you guys meet the designer?"

Anthony had hoped his brother would never ask him about that. "Hmm..." Anthony nodded and guilt ate him up instantly.

Nathan shut down his laptop. "I promised to help her compensate the designer for travelling down here. But after she got there as she said, she sent me your account details."

Anthony's eyes blazed with surprise. "She did!"

Nathan got up. "I haven't sent it."

"What's your plan tomorrow?"

"Dubai."

"Do you think you can drop me at the designer's place before you leave?"

Nathan raised his brows at him.

"I'm leaving very early."

"We can leave earlier."

Nathan found his brother's face. "Gentleman, do you also want me to meet someone?"

Anthony did everything possible to appear calm. "Where did you get that idea?"

"Alade expressed himself not quite long."

"Whenever you are back then." Anthony got up. He doesn't want to appear desperate. Nathan was too smart. Besides, he was living his life again, but---

His child.

"I will be back a few days to your wedding day."

"Nathan!"

"Let's continue this conversation at home."