Chapter 66 Family

Chapter 66 Family
Laura's POV:

My stomach flipped with annoyance as I retold what had happened to Gwen.

“How could he be such an asshole!” She swore, at the end of my story— fuming. Her face contorted with rage.

“I'm never going to that studio anymore.” I said firmly, curling my legs together under me on the settee.

We were both seatting outside, close to the curved mosaic pool outside my premises. Gwen was sitting, spine straightened out on a lounger, a bowl of popcorn lying lazily in her thigh and her Scottish terrier, Will was lying on his stomach at her feet.

“I think that's the perfect thing to do honestly. If he keeps up making passes at you— we can sue for sexual assault this time.”Gwen said, relaxing a bit.

I nodded. “Exactly, I'm not planning to keep letting him off!”

I hated the fact that he felt like he could control everything!

The world didn't fucking revolve around him!

Barely minutes later, I caught sight of Brian approaching from the corners of my eyes— a bottle of tequila in hand and we'll, three glasses. 

Gwen's face lit up immediately he caught sight of him too.

I sucked in a breath.

I knew my best friend had always had eyes on my brother and even though it was all cute— it felt too strange.

“Hey ladies, what do you say to a few shots before going to bed.” Brian drew closer, holding up the glasses.

“I will love that.” Gwen accepted. Obviously!

The air spilled out of my lungs in an audible rush, as I twisted around to give him an approving smile.

He returned it with an actual grin and slumped down into the second lounger beside me, before placing the drink and glasses on the small table by the side.
And began pouring us the drinks.

“So tell me, Laura.” He began suddenly pouring tequila into the last drinking glass. “How was your little date with Jaxon today?”

My eyes flew open, startled.

He was not supposed to know that!

Gwen and I had tried to keep it discreet enough.

His scowl dug deeper, his pale eyes thinning into suspicious icicles. “You didn't think I'd find out, did you?”

Gwen and I exchanged a quick glance, our both faces flushed red.

How the hell did he find out.

He finished mixing the drinks and handed us each, a glass.

I kept my eyes carefully trained to the still pool water, avoiding his hard penetrating stare glowering at me from the corner.

“So something this important happened and none of you thought it was right to let me know.” He accused.

I gulped down a quite large amount of the alcohol in one gulp, making red patches spread across the inside of my cheeks.

“We didn't think it that way, Brian.” Gwen said defensively from the side.

I still kept my eyes trained on the water.

There was nothing we were going to do or say, that wouldn't make Brian even angrier than he was— we both knew that.

I bit into my lower lip, when his glare got pretty intense. My stomach did that little flip again, protesting against the large amount of alcohol — I had gulped down in one sitting.

“Of course, y'all figured everything out perfectly, I should think..” He continued slowly, his deep hoarse voice not helping the sarcasm heavily laced into the statement.

“Brian, you're overreacting.” Gwen said pointedly.

“Oh, fuck! I am.” He snapped cutting her off, his gaze cutting from me to her. His glare was intense.

“I know this was your fucking idea— I thought you cared more about Laura than to allow take such stupid risk!” He accused.

Gwen's nostrils flared up, she dropped her glass on the side table and shot a fierce glare at her favorite person after me. “Don't be unreasonable Brian.”

Brian downed his glass in one go, I swirlee what was left in mine, eyes still staring at the water— as if none of the outrage was even about me.

“Oh, so I can't afford to be unreasonable. But you can make Laura make reckless decisions, decisions that even go as far as jeopardizing her safety?”

My head snapped to his face then, I was breathing heavily. Too heavily trying to rein it in— but I couldn't anymore, not right now.

Before Gwen could throw him another retort, I did. 

“I didn't make reckless decisions.” I snapped.

His eyes narrowed. “So going on a date with Jaxon is the perfect normal thing to do?” He asked, his tone sarcastically uncomfortable.

“It wasn't alright. We just wanted to talk about a way to resolve the fucking scandal.”

“And I guess you two had a pretty little chat then over dinner.”

Of course we had a swell time! 

“I walked out on him.” I snapped again, my tone dry and clipped.

More anger unfurled in my chest as the memories of the date rushed back into my head.

Stupid! Pathetic! Pervert!

Brian quirked a brow, lowered his drink and sat up in his seat. “What the fuck happened out there Laura?”

My gaze shifted to the water again.

“Laura!” 

My mouth ticked open and then closed again when Henry, my Butler appeared with a male kitchen staff in tow.

“Belon oysters with a delicate mignonette sauce.” He announced, signalling his companion to place three attractively decorated dishes in front of us. “Russo also specially recommends a glass of the 1996 Domaine Raveneau Blanchot Chablis to bring out the fresh flavors of the dish.” 

Brian gave a nod of approval at Henry, and he popped open the bottle.

“Bon appétit.”

I barely paid attention to any of it, as my gaze was firmly stuck on the water and the shot of tequila— I was still swirling in my glass.

“What happened on the date Laura?” Brian repeated, when Henry and the attendant had retreated far out of earshot. His gaze trained on me still.

“Well, if you want to know..”Gwen began, still glaring disapprovingly at Brian. “After you beat the crap out of him the last time, Jaxon has been frequenting here apologizing and all..”

That was the wrong thing to say, Gwen realized too late— as Brian's eyes widened, rage and surprised etched into them.

“That little whack was here? On this premises?” His eyes darted from Gwen to me, “and you think it was not important to tell me this Laura?”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

“Laura answer me!”

“Yes,” I snapped.

“Why?” His tone dropped lower. “Why?”

“Because I know you'd react exactly this way.”

His brows furrowed. “What do you mean by that?”

His tone dropped low, in unpleasant surprise.

“You overreact to everything.” Gwen snapped.

“I was asking you Gwen.”

“I don't care if you were asking me or not?” Gwen retorted.

I downed the last of the tequila, dropped the glass back on the table and reached for one of the oysters. Determinedly ignoring the fierce glare fight going on between the two lovebirds.

I finished the first oyster furiously and dove for the second one and was on the third, when Gwen snapped out of it and turned on me angrily.

“Are you going to finish the fucking oysters?”

I rolled my eyes. “That's right, because these are fucking delicious.”

I reached for a forth, but she snapped it from my hands and stuffed everything into her mouth, all the time still glaring at Brian.