Enemies But Lovers

Chapter 1

"This is the last time we do this. I'm getting married." Emma said as she picked up her undies from the floor.

"Married?" Brandon asked her in surprise.

He was on the bed with just the blanket covering his lower body but sat upright immediately he heard her say she was getting married.

"Yes, Brandon. Don't act so surprised." Emma replied to him with an eye roll as she wore her bra.

"So I slept with an engaged woman?" Brandon asked her.

"It's not like it's anything new to you. I'm just telling you so we stop this." She said to him,

"You should have told me before we had sex." Brandon replied to her with a scoff.

Emma gave him a sharp look immediately he said that.

"Of course. I'm the one at fault for having sex with you when it was clearly an agreement between the both of us." She replied to him with an eyeroll.

"And we agreed to put an end to this when the other person eventually settles down." He told her.

"It's not like anyone even knows I'm getting married or even engaged. The news isn't out yet." She said to him,

"And nobody knows we are sleeping together. Your whole life is a secret." Brandon replied to her with an eyeroll.

He stood from the bed and also moved to put on his clothes.

"I don't know why I ever expected anything more from you. You are still the same." Emma spat out as she wore her dress, her face contorted in anger.

She could not understand why she was feeling so angry. She and Brandon were enemies. Their families hated each other and it extended to their children also. She hated everything about him and if not for the fact that they had slept with each other once when they were drunk-yes, the sex was out of this world. That was the main reason why they had this arrangement. Why they started sleeping with each other without anyone knowing but their relationship wasn't like what was seen in novels. They never had any emotional attachments to each other. For one, she still hated Brandon but she could not deny that she loved sex with him. But that was just it. Sex. So why was she still angry?

She had no right to be angry at him. She was the one getting married even if she harbored no affections for her supposed spouse. Her relationship with Brandon was ending or had already ended. There was no need for her to get angry. They were not lovers. Just two people who slept with each other. She was not attracted to him even with how handsome he looked. His brown hair and blue eyes made him stand out in the crowd. And the tattoos on his body made him appetizing. He was sex on a stick, she knew that but she could not bring herself to see him as nothing more than her enemy and also, a temporary sex partner.

"And you are still the same. I wonder what your husband would think when he finds out his wife slept with someone she dislikes even after they were engaged." He said to her,

"Why are you so bitter? Do you have feelings for me?" She asked him with a smirk.

Brandon turned immediately with his shirt unbuttoned. He moved towards her like a lion approaching his prey with his eyes darkened. He held her chin between his fingers and said in a low growl.

"Don't flatter yourself, Emma. The only thing you are good for is sex. You and I know that." He said to her,

"I could say the same for you." She said to him as she licked her lips.

His deep voice always made her hot and even if they were trying to degrade each other, her eyes darkened and her breathing became shallow. She drew him close and kissed him.

Brandon opened up and kissed her back. There was no love in the kiss. It wasn't filled with affection for each other but pure bridled lust. Just lust and nothing else. He moved his mouth to her collarbone but then, a phone rang, snapping them from the trance. He released her and Emma coughed.

"Your husband needs you." Brandon said as he pointed to her phone.

Emma narrowed her eyes but picked up the call. In just a few minutes, she left the cottage. Brandon waited for some time and made sure the coast was clear before moving to his vehicle. He was almost home when he received a call from his brother.

"What is it?"

"Someone's grumpy." Kevin said to him with a chuckle.

"I had a rough night. Tell me what you want." Brandon told him but on second thoughts, maybe it was a tough morning?

"Well I don't really want anything. Just that we lost some goods. The hurricane that happened destroyed our warehouse." Kevin told him.

Brandon cussed out. He should have suspected that something like that would happen. He heard of the hurricane and they were already making plans to move the goods to another location but the hurricane happened earlier than expected. Lives were lost and houses were destroyed and even if he felt pity for those who lost lives and homes, the goods they had lost pained him more. It was worth millions and it just had to be that the storehouse was in a place susceptible to being destroyed by hurricanes. He and his brother had plans to change the location but it turns out it was too late.

"That's not all. The Templeton's got wind of it. It's all over the news now." Kevin told him.

"The hurricane happened less than two days ago. How the fuck did they get wind of it?" Brandon asked, in frustration.

"I suspect it's Godson?" Kevin said.

Brandon cussed out again. Of course it would be Godson. Emma's fucking cousin. Brandon already hated her father and grandfather but Godson was on another level. He was younger than Emma but was more greedy and would do anything to make money even if it meant he had to dirty his hands. And was it a surprise that he would be the one behind the news spreading? No, because he moved with the trashiest of people. Brandon wondered how the Templeton's could still raise their head in public like they were the purest and tarnish his own family's reputation.

"Where are you?" Brandon asked his brother.

"Office. I'm with Benji and Alec." Kevin said to him.

"Wait, Alec? What the fuck is he doing there? Playing video games?" Brandon asked his brother.

"I thought he might be useful." Kevin said to his brother.

"Useful? How? He's only good with a computer." Brandon told him.

"Which is why he may actually be useful."

"Alright, I'll meet you guys in some minutes." Brandon said to him with a sigh as he ended the call.

He had no idea why Alec and Benji were present and he felt like there was more to the issue than his brother was letting on.

Fucking Templetons.

Chapter 2

"You are late." Benji said to him from the sofa he was curled on.

"Why are you lying down there? And in my office?" Brandon asked him with a frown.

He took in his surroundings and the only person who appeared to be working was his brother. Alec as always was neck deep in a video game. His hoodie, covering half of his face. Benji looked like he was about to pass out on the sofa he was lying down on.

"I feel sleepy. I don't understand all your business jargon. The only thing I understand is something that has to do with fists but Kevin dragged me here." Benji told him with a yawn.

"Wrong, I never dragged them here...."

"Forced, more accurately." Alec added not once lifting his eyes from the video game he was playing.

"....I never forced them. They just happened to be present when I got the news. They took it upon themselves to be present." Kevin said to him with a yawn.

Brandon took note of the bags under his brother's eyes. He appeared tired.

"How long have you guys been here?" Brandon asked him as he moved to his chair.

"Few hours." Kevin said.

"Six hours thirty six minutes, forty seconds, oh, make that forty one now." Benji said to him.

Brandon wasn't surprised. Benji was a time freak. He was one who made sure his time was spent doing something worthwhile. Brandon turned to his brother.

"It's been hours since you found out about this and you are just telling me?" Brandon asked him.

"I'm sorry. I thought I could handle it but then things spiraled out of hand." Kevin said to him with an apologetic gaze.

Brandon sighed. His brother was always trying to prove himself and no matter how many times Brandon told him he was doing good, he always felt he wasn't doing enough.

"Give me everything. What is going on?" Brandon asked him.

"Basically what I told you on your way here but, JJ is annoyed and wants to speak with you. He thinks his goods have been destroyed." Kevin said to him.

"Thinks." Benji chuckled.

"Okay, they were lost in the disaster." Kevin corrected himself as he gave Benji an eye roll, not that Benji cared. He just chuckled again.

"I'm guessing this is what Godson revealed to the public?" Brandon asked his brother with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes." Kevin said as he avoided his gaze.

"You know you don't have to do everything by yourself right? There is a reason why grandfather made both of us CEOs." Brandon said to his brother.

"I know but you were having your time off and I know you needed the much needed rest." Kevin said to him.

They may be twins but Kevin was the one who cared more. He was the only one in their group who openly cared for the others like he did his lover. It was no surprise that he was the first to get a girlfriend. The rest had none. Well, Benji was in a different situation. His ex wife had divorced him. And the ex cop still did not tell any of them the full story. Then there was Alec. No one knew if Alec would actually settle down any time soon. And they also did not know if it would be with a girl or a boy because he swung both ways.

"Have you guys eaten?" He asked them.

"Nope, waiting on Carson." Alec said as he bounced his legs.

"He's back?"

"Yeah, but he's spending time at his mother's restaurant. He should be here soon." Kevin said.

"He better be. I can't function without food." Benji growled out.

Five minutes later, Carson barged, yes barged -because he had little respect for privacy- into Brandon's office.

"Did someone say foo..."

Before he could finish the question, Alec took a bag from his hand and went back to his seat to devour whatever it is that Carson's mother had prepared.

"Trust Alec to interrupt me." Carson said as he gave the others their food.

"What is it?" Brandon asked as he took the food.

"Nigerian, jollof." Alec moaned out.

"Thank your mother for us." Kevin said to him.

"Will do. I have to run though, I need to take mama home." Carson said to them.

"Are we still up for dinner night?" Alec asked him.

"Yup. Same time, my place." Carson said as he walked out.

Alec nodded and focused all his attention on his food.

Carson was the only black person among their group of friends. His father was Nigerian but he died a long time ago. His mother is Hispanic though and she loves cooking. Her restaurant sells mainly Spanish cuisine or food from her Hispanic culture but there was a time when it was a mix of both Hispanic and Nigerian. She and Carson's father had run the restaurant together but after he died, she stopped cooking anything African but ever since her diagnosis, she started cooking the little African dishes she knew how to. Carson had not given them the full story but Brandon knew his mother was dying. And Carson was spending every waking day with her. Any break he got from shooting, he spent with her.

"I'm ready to work now." Alec said with a loud belch.

"That is just so irritating. And how the fuck did you finish that in just a few minutes?" Benji asked him.

"I eat fast, I don't know why you are acting surprised." Alec replied to him with an eyeroll.

"Yeah, I have no idea either." Benji said as he went back to his food.

Brandon wasn't that hungry so after taking a few bites, he went to work. They worked into the night. And even after that, they still had things to do. Brandon would have to call a meeting the next day with the staff although his brother would be put in charge while he spoke with JJ. Alec and Benji had no need to be present because it wasn't really their expertise but Brandon thanked them for what little help they could provide. Now, all he wanted was to take a quick nap before the buzz of the next day.

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A phone rang in the distance, awakening Brandon from the little nap he was trying to get.

"Put it off." He groaned as he adjusted on the bed.

"It's yours." He heard a voice say to him and opened his eyes immediately.

His assistant stood with Brandon's phone in his hand.

"Your grandfather." Charlie said to him.

Brandon took the phone with a groan and answered his grandfather.

"Grandpa, could you not look for a better time to call?" Brandon groaned out.

"What better time than now? The day is bright, the sun is up in the sky but my grandson is down on his bed." His grandfather replied to him.

"Very funny."

"Someone's grumpy."

"Work."

"I heard. I trust you and your brother so I'm not bothered. You guys have done a lot more than your father could even do in his time." His grandfather said with a hearty laugh.

"I was the only one father, they are two." Brandon heard his father grumble.

"Are you with dad?"

"Yes. We are going fishing."

"Fishing? This early?"

"It's never too early to catch those little things with fins." His grandfather replied to him.

"Too bad you've never gotten one once in your life." Brandon heard his father say to his grandfather.

"Your father has started his series of disrespecting me. I don't know how Riley copes with him." His grandfather said.

Riley is Brandon and Kevin's mother and she was the best person Brandon knew. Well, along with Carson's mother. She was the only one their father gave a little ounce of respect.

"Mum loves him so she keeps up with his nonsense." Brandon said to his grandfather.

"I know. I still thank the stars that she stayed with your father all this time." He said with a chuckle.

"Have you spoken with Kevin?" Brandon asked him.

"He's my favorite grandson. Of course I have."

"Way to rub it in, grandpa."

"I support you both. I'm just a little bit biased to your brother. I trust you both will do what's best for Silver enterprise." He said to him,

"It's just another hurdle. We will. Thank you grandpa." Brandon said to him with a smile.

"I'm the coolest grandpa you would ever get." He replied to Brandon with a big smile and ended the call.

Brandon took a deep breath. Today was going to be hectic but they will get through it. Godson thought this little trick could bring them down, but he thought wrong. Brandon stood up from the bed and moved towards the little bathroom. He was lucky that there was a little bathroom and bedroom in his office. It came in handy anytime he worked overtime.

"Is my suit ready?" He asked Charlie as he gave him his phone.

"Yes sir."

"How about Kevin?"

"I'm ready to get this started." Kevin said as he walked into the room.

Chapter 3

Brandon and his brother were able to avoid the upcoming crisis that was lurking around their company. Godson thought he was smart but like they said, two heads were better than one. Brandon wasn't even sure how accurate that was but Carson said it was something his Nigerian father had always said whenever he and Carson's mother passed a hurdle or created a new recipe together. Brandon was just about to leave the office to meet with his brother for lunch, when he heard a knock on the door. There was only one person with that much respect for him, Charlie, his assistant.

"Come in."

"What is it?" He asked him immediately as Charlie walked into his office.

"It's not a serious matter but I do not know how you will take this." Charlie said to him with a wince.

"Just tell me what it is. I have to meet with Kevin for lunch and I can't lie and say I'm not starving after all the work I've been through." Brandon said to him with a sigh.

"Right. Um....I'll just give you this then." Charlie said as he extended a white envelope to Brandon.

Brandon had no idea he had walked in with an envelope. How did he miss that? With a frown, Brandon took the envelope from Charlie. What the fuck was going on and why did Charlie looks so uncomfortable? Brandon wasn't curious but he needed to know what was in the envelope. He opened it and......

"What the fuck?!" He said out in outrage.

The envelope contained an invitation to Emma's engagement party. The fact that her family even thought to send him an invitation, was the least of his worries. Although he could not fathom why an invitation for an engagement party would be sent out, the Templetons were anything but normal. And he knew that Emma was getting married or engaged or something. He knew but she never told him it was to a man twenty years her senior. And even if the world saw him as some hot dilf, the man could hardly keep his rod in his pants and he had several baby mamas although the public wasn't aware.

Brandon could not believe that Emma would want to get married to someone like him. Was she into older men? Was that it? No, there was no way. He was sure of that. Emma did not like dilfs. She wasn't interested in them but why the fuck was she getting engaged to one and if the engagement went through, then marriage would be next. He was sure of it. Brandon felt irritated and felt like crumbling the invitation in his hand. The last time they had talked was that morning when they broke things off. It's been months already and he had difficulty moving on. Anytime he tried sleeping with someone else, he remembered her. How she tasted on his lips, her responses, her movements and how everything about her fit into his arms. He knew this wasn't supposed to happen. He did not like Emma and the least thing was feeling anything romantic towards her but their sex had been out of this world.

"Um, sir?" Charlie called out.

"Who delivered this?" Brandon asked him.

"Godson Templeton." Charlie replied to him.

Brandon frowned. "He came himself?" Brandon asked Charlie.

"Yes. I also checked the security footage just to be sure because it seemed unusual and it was him." Charlie said to him.

So that was why Charlie was uncomfortable, Brandon thought to himself. He could not understand what would make Godson come all the way to their company to deliver an engagement invitation. Was there something he was missing?

Brandon could not understand but he sure as hell was going to get to the bottom of this. He gave Charlie a nod and moved to put on his jacket before going out for lunch like he had planned.

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"Come on brother, smile a bit. I know the sandwich is not your best but....." Kevin said to him with a smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

"Fuck off." Brandon replied to him with a growl.

"Something annoyed him." Benji said with a mouthful.

"Can you swallow before you talk?" Brandon asked him with a frown.

"It never bothered you with Alec." Benji pointed out.

"Alec is the youngest, the baby of the group. He can get away with some things." Brandon said to him.

"Don't let Alec hear that." Kevin said with a chuckle.

"What? He'll get angry? The kid loves hearing he is the baby of the group." Benji grumbled out making Kevin chuckle again.

"Um, did you guys get an invitation?" Brandon asked them.

"What invitation?" Kevin asked him with a frown.

"The Templetons. Emma is getting married....."

"Engaged." Kevin corrected him.

"I don't see any difference."

"But there is."

"Being engaged means you've already tried yourself to one person. It's the same as marriage." Brandon said to him.

"Where did you get that twisted information from? It's different. Being engaged is like a process to getting married." Kevin argued.

"But engaged couples do the same thing married couples do. The only difference is the white and walking down the aisle and maybe exchange of names or something. It's the same thing as being engaged." Brandon told his brother.

"How would you know? You've never been engaged nor married." Kevin said to him.

"Then, let's ask the person who has been through both." Brandon said as they both turned to Benji.

Benji stopped mid bite. He hated when the brothers brought him into their argument. And normally he would entertain them but he disliked the topic they were talking about. It reminded him of his failed relationship.

"If I give you guys an answer, that would take about ten minutes from the required time and don't forget I have a job protecting you guys." Benji pointed out.

"Protection, that's true. But you seem to have forgotten the fact that you have people working for you and with you." Kevin said to him.

"I don't want to give you guys a reply okay? I don't like talking about this." Benji said to them.

That was the last thing he said to them. He made no input in the discussion that came up. He was sure his friends noticed. There was no way his brilliant friends did not notice but they decided not to say anything.

"What do you mean Godson came to the company?" Kevin asked his brother after lunch.

It was just the two of them now. Benji headed back to his office which was just a little distance from Silver enterprise.

"Exactly what I said." Brandon replied to his brother.

"Did you do anything to spite him?" Kevin asked him.

"Seriously? You think I would do anything to spite him? If at all, he's the one who is getting on my nerves." Brandon told his brother.

"Fine, I'm sure but it doesn't make any sense for him to bring the invitation card to you, right? It just doesn't add up. If at all anyone should, then I expect it would be Emma but....I don't know. It's weird. You and Emma are the ones who hate each other. I thought maybe she would be the one to even try to get on your nerves."

"That's where you're wrong, brother. I hate Godson more than I hate Emma." Brandon said to his brother but he wasn't so sure anymore. Maybe he really did not hate Emma? He still found her irritating but he wasn't so sure he hated her....he wasn't so sure anymore.

"Are you serious?" Kevin asked him with wide eyes.

"There is no way I'm joking. Do I sound like I'm joking?" Brandon asked his brother.

"I never thought you would hate Godson."

"Why not? I always harbored a strong dislike for him. Even his movements irritated me. I don't like the fact that he's breathing also." Brandon said to his brother.

Kevin turned to take a good look at his brother. How was it that he never knew that Brandon hated Godson this much? Not that he was against it though. He also harboured a strong dislike for the person named Godson and what the fuck was up with his name? Who named their child Godson?

Brandon separated from his brother and moved back to his office. He thought of it for a moment but then, he picked up his phone and called Emma but like always, as it was, she never answered. Brandon had the inkling that something was going on. Something was wrong but he could not just find out what. It wasn't really surprising that Emma didn't pick up his calls. It's been over three months since their arrangement had come to an end. There was really no need for her to answer his calls anymore but why did he feel like something was wrong. It was a gut feeling and the feeling was never wrong.