Tangled with my Ex Boyfriend's brother

It was my wedding anniversary.

Supposedly, wedding anniversaries are the ones where you take your partner for a special treatment, make them feel special, shower them love as an appreciation for the past years of shared love as a couple.

Mine was exactly in that manner. Infact, I had just delightfully left my office to Mr Barnes - my cocky boss, CEO of Barnes Magazine - to inform him about the two days break I intend to take in order to use those time with Davis.

A vacation to Maldives was well planned and organized by Davis and I to spend our fifth year anniversary.

Liv, the first and only child of Mr Barnes had already given me a go-ahead. She claimed her father was a lover of celebrations like that so, he would grant the two-days break in a heartbeat.

When I first started working at Barnes and discovered that Liv, who worked in the same department as I, was the Ceo's daughter, I wasted no breath to form alliance with her.

In this world, there are three things that keeps you on your feet - money, power and connection.

If you lack all, you are most likely to be at the receiving end of anguish.

So, I had to get smart real quick. However, over the years of my stay in Barnes, I saw beyond making an alliance with Liv.

She was a very warm person and someone I often confided in. And, she always gave the best, effective advice.

Friendship with her kept me sane in Barnes.

So, when she assured me that her father would approve it, I got delighted, positive.

Things were going my way just as I had planned. I was about to have the best time with Davis.

The sole of my black pump heels pinched my toes as I made it towards Mr Barnes office at the top floor.

The heels was three years old and way past it's expiry date on my legs.

But, I planned to replace them, in Maldives. Everything I plan to replace, every shopping I plan to do would be done when I arrive Maldives.

What a great day to be alive!

As I halt before Mr Barnes' mahogany door to his office, I took a deep breath and knocked gently.

"Come in." Mr Barnes muffled answer caused me to give the door a gentle push and I let myself in.

Mr Barnes sat behind his mahogany desk that facing the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the busy city. And, Liv stood beside him.

Could she had helped me deliver the request? Oh, I hope so. It would be of my greatest delight if I get an answer without having to ask any question.

However, something felt wrong. They both had their faces molded in deep frowns.

This worried me.

Had Liv made the request and he already rejected it?

Regardless, I approached them.

So, help me God my perfect break request don't get ruined by whatever is causing the creases on their foreheads.

"I would like to make a request, Mr Barnes."

Mr Barnes nodded, putting away his glasses to get a proper look at me.

Oh, the cause of their frowns wasn't my two-days break request. Thank goodness!

Mr Barnes had this striking resemblance with his daughter, Liv, that made the air at the back of my neck stand.

Liv took every of her father's feature, leaving nothing untouched. From his chocolate brown hair, to his sharp jaws, his cupid's bow-shaped lips, his short angled-shaped brows, his oval-shaped face, his extremely dashing greyish eyes and his creamy skin tone.

It was a complete carbon copy.

To be honest, I envied Liv. I took zero features of my dad. And the only parent I had managed to steal few of her features was a slutty bitch who fled the minute she brought me to the world. So, I am not in the least bit proud of taking those features of hers.

I quickly faced Mr Barnes, maintaining my smile. I should be polite as possible. I must get this break by all means. It was my last chance at spending an alone time with Davis after our distance these past few months.

"If you don't mind, I'd love to request for a two-days break. Actually, Liv said you wouldn't so, I'm asking you, hoping that you wouldn't."

Jeez! Why do awry statements always choose to slip out of my silly mouth in moments like this?

"Actually, there is a more pressing issue,Miss Ford. I don't think the break would be needed."

I frowned, catching Liv's disappointed gaze at me. No, it was more like a pitiful gaze. Like, she did something awful and wants my forgiveness.

What is this goosebumps I feel?

"In few minutes, detectives would bash into the place under a search warrant."

My jaw dropped. A search warrant? So, the rumors were true?

Few days ago, there were rumors that Mr Barnes had being involved in an embezzling act but, I and every other employees in Barnes chose not to believe, reproaching it afterwards.

Mr Barnes would never get involved in such act, we argued. Ridiculous, we thought!

After the rumor made it to the headlines about four times, it eventually died down and everyone found something else to be their center of focus and discussion.

The news that the police had being given a search warrant to search the company, reaching me just now surely confirmed that; not only the police had being secretly conducting investigation on the case, Mr Barnes might be guilty.

No, he was.

I know the face of someone who is being accused wrongly of something and this isn't it, in the least bit.

So, he was really guilty.

Liz didn't seem surprised too. She knew.

Why was I denied of such truth?

I scoffed in disbelief.

"Listen, Sum," Liz started, approaching me with that pitiful gaze pinning mine.

Oh, this shouldn't be good.

Whenever Liz wanted something, she would always address me like that. And, they were always situation where I had adhere to her request.

But, something told me that this request was more daring.

What could she need this time? Coupled with that pleading look on her face, I hope it wouldn't be something that would be too much of a favour. I just want to get a break and enjoy my vacation with my husband.

"Dad dealt with them already. He managed to tip off the police."

Great nation. Great law.

As much as I liked Mr Barnes, embezzlement wasn't a piece of cake crime that should be overlooked just by some silly tip off.

"But, the police said they'd need someone to take the blame."

Liv continued and my frown deepened.

This had better be not what I think it is.

"My dad thinks you are the perfect person for the job."

"Excuse me?" I frowned and glared at Liv. Darting my glare from Liv to Mr Barnes. Maybe their face would both burst into laughter and call it a joke.

But, they still have that expression on their face - Mr Barnes, the remorseless frown and Liz, the pitiful frown.

They were dead serious.

"I promise to get you a lawyer and he would see to it that the judge at least, reduced the jail term." Mr Barnes proposed. It sounded effortless, slipping out of his tongue. So casual and less formal.

It felt as though he was requesting me to lead a new project. As if he was inviting me for a team party.

This man is literally asking me to take his place in the prison without an ounce of remorse pleasantly.

What the actual fuck?

"Once your term is done, there is a big position with a mouth-watering salary awaiting you."

Liv added as if she was making sense. When, in actuality, her lips moved but, her voice was inaudible.

My head had gone blank. And I felt dizzy and nauseated.

"You both must be out of your mind."

I'd rather lose my job and remain jobless than take the fall for such.

Nonsense!

I swirled around instantly, proceeding to exit the office.

As I rested my hand on the door knob, ready to push it open and show myself out, Mr Barnes got up and made it towards me.

Well, I should believe he had something to say so, I turned around to face him, my hand still firmly gripping the door knob. After all, whatever he says or asked would get a whooping "No" from me.

"You don't have a choice."

Mr Barnes said.

Now, I am terrified. Why does he look so relaxed? It surely wasn't a good thing. He looked confident as well, like I didn't have a choice indeed.

Oh goodness, what has this man done?

I began to panic.

"In the next few minutes, the police would arrive with an arrest warrant after the search party. And, they'd be arresting only one person."

My lips quivered. I think I already knew what he was going to say. But, I still hoped and prayed it wasn't what I was thinking it was.

"You. They wouldn't be arresting me but you, Miss Ford."

What?

"W-what do you mean?"

I stuttered. My palm had slipped off the door knob, sweaty and stiff.

"It means all evidence needed to make you the culprit has being planted in your system, Miss Ford."

I gasped, my lips a quivering mess.

"No. No. No. Mr Barnes, you can't do this to me, please." I began to beg. "It's my anniversary and-and-and I'm just thirty-five, ready to settle for marriage and-and raise kids. I have a whole lifetime ahead of me. And my dad-"

I was a stuttering mess.

I quickly went on my knees.

"Mr Barnes, please!"

"Miss Ford, I'm afraid it's already late."

I jerked back onto my feet and rushed towards Liv who had remained behind the mahogany desk the whole time.

"Liv," I grabbed her hand, almost sending her flying with her butt on the floor. "Help me, Liv. You are my friend, you can't let your dad do this to me."

"Sum, I'm so sorry but, my dad can't afford to serve term in jail. His reputation-this company would be ruined."

"What about mine?!" I snapped, tears trickling down my eyes. "What about my reputation? My life?! I fucking have a life too! I have a fiance! I have a father I must take care of! This is not fair!"

Suddenly, a ridiculous sound filled the room. Liv burst into laughter, her pitiful gaze immediately disappearing like it was never there.

"Be for real, Summer. The only reputation you have is your friendship with me. And, once you get arrested, it's not yours at stake but, mine. Do you have an idea what people will say about me once the friend I have kept for years is accused of embezzlement. You should be glad I'm risking that for you."

I stepped backwards, tears stinging my eyes. I was loss of words. Even my mother abandoning me couldn't compare with the shiver I felt.

A siren wails from afar.

"Sum, just make this one sacrifice. Please."

Liv proposed.

"I hate you."

My lips trembled, more tears trickled down my eyes.

The police men suddenly burst into the office, greeted Mr Barnes and brought out a paper that looked just like an arrest warrant.

"Miss Summer Ford," The police man started, extending the warrant paper to my viewing. "You are found guilty of embezzlement and you are under arrest."

As they clipped the handcuff into my wrist one after the other, my gaze stayed planted on Liv and as the police men showed me out, I mouthed to her one last time; "I hate you."

Everyone had already gathered in the lobby and they watched me with disgust and disappointment as the police men led me out of the building.

Now, what more could have being a nightmare than getting framed and arrested on ones wedding anniversary?

And just like that, I spent a terrific time of six months in prison.

Mr Barnes, promises were futile. Fruitless.

That bastard lied about getting me a lawyer for a reduction of sentence. He lied through his fucking teeth.

That old buffon of a judge had slammed me a whooping nine years jail sentence.

He never intended to get me a lawyer. He never got me one.

Tyler, my colleague had hired a lawyer for me. A wack one who watched as that spiteful judge sentenced me to nine years in prison. He watched even as I protested and swore I didn't do it and was towed away by the hefty security man.

Then, twenty-four hours later, he visited. I was hoping it was about reopening the case or something. But, the bastard had laughed in my face and told me he was paid off by Liz to lose the case.

Liz.

Liz, someone I had regarded as my friend for good five years had paid someone off to keep me locked in a prison, for a crime I was clueless about.

Every night, as I had trouble sleeping, I cursed her with a promise of payback as soon as I made it out.

But, that wasn't my problem. Liz wasn't my problem. The lawyer that was paid to keep me locked up wasn't, either.

My problem was, Davis, my so-called fiance, who I had expected to show up on the first day of being kept behind bars, hadn't shown up at all.

One month after waiting for him, I stopped thinking he probably hadn't been informed about my arrest.

In the fourth month, I was certain he had been informed and something was wrong.

In the sixth month, I began to get worried. I tried his number with the cell telephone but, it wasn't reachable. I couldn't reach his elder sister, Charlotte, either.

Something was wrong.

I paced back and forth in my prison yard everytime, biting my lower lip anxiously.

This was unlike Davis. The day I had simply sprained my ankle on my intern days at Barnes magazine, he had rushed to the hospital five minutes later after I informed him over a text, abandoning his work at the fast food restaurant a few miles after our house.

I remembered that day vividly. He still had an apron on when he walked up to me. He had flour on his face and ketchup stain on his apron.

He smelled of cooking oil.

Everyone casted irritable gazes at him but, I had watched him, as he approached me, with an admirable gaze.

And because of that, he had lost his job at the fast food restaurant and became jobless.

Davis would have run over the moment he figured out I was in prison. He would have abandoned everything at the moment and came over.

What exactly was wrong?

"Inmate 2345, a visitor is here for you."

I didn't realize the warder was speaking to me until I checked my prison uniform and confirmed that she just called my residual number.

I lazily got up, stalking towards the door.

For six months consecutively, Tyler had being visiting me to give me reports on Barnes magazine. I asked him that favor because, I was waiting for a day he would visit me and tell me Barnes Magazine had gone bankrupt and since that day wasn't looking like it was anytime soon, I had to tell him to stop coming.

Perhaps, this might be his last visit.

"The short sturdy man?"

I asked the warder for confirmation as she opened the prison metallic door to let me out.

Tyler was short and sturdy. We became friends when I had repeatedly teased him about his height.

"No. A different man. This one is hotter."

She joked, smiling at me and jerking the door open.

"Different?"

I frowned.

"Yes. Sexier. I was scared for you for a minute, girl. I thought that sturdy man is the only man in your life."

Wait, what? So, it's not Tyler? Then, who?

Oh my God, Davis? Oh heavens, thank God!

"Do you wish to receive him or-"

"Yes, I do!"

I cut the warder with a wide grin planted on my face.

I hadn't realized just how much I had missed Davis until this minute. His pretty grey eyes. His beautiful calm smile. His plum lips. I missed him so dearly.

I almost leaped on my feet as the warder led me to the visiting room.

As the warder opened the door to the visiting room, I did my hair with my handcuffed hand, hoping I would look at least, half as presentable as I always did.

Surely, this prison life wouldn't have taken a toll on my looks.

The warder jerked the door open and let me in, shutting the door behind me.

With a huge smile, I stepped forward, walking over to take my seat. But, as I looked up, I didn't see Davis.

I didn't see the man I was expecting, I saw the man I least expected - Abel Knight.

My mouth hung open in the air and I stayed frozen.

Then, the memory of our first moment came back rushing back like the waves. They came back as if they never left. As if I never fought them off.

The feels of his delicious lips on mine. The way his hardness pressed against my thigh. The way I had moaned out his name. The way I had begged him for sex and would have let him have sex with me if not for an interruption of his mother, Rosa, also Davis' mother.

My fiance's younger brother.

At the other side of the visiting room, Abel sat majestically, regarding me with that gentle stare through his captivating and intoxicating honey-brown eyes.

That same stare lured me into his web and made me beg a man to sleep with me for the first time in 30 years of my life. That stare stripped me of every shame I had.

I was shameless at that moment and it was all because of one "You look dashing" from Abel Knight.

Abel cleared his throat, making me jump from my frozen position.

I gently took a sit, completely speechless.

What does he want?

Had Davis sent him to me?

When I heard he was returning to Spain a few days after our make-out session, I was almost the happiest human.

I thought it could prevent Davis from knowing I had cheated on him on his younger brother.

I felt dread in my chest whenever I pictured a moment when he found out.

I hate myself, God. How did I want him so bad?

"I heard the news a few hours ago. I came here as soon as I could."

Then, that voice. That husky voice reminded me why I would have wanted him so badly.

"What do you want?"

I finally muster up the ability to speak.

"I'm here to help, Summer."

'Summer, I'm yours for the night.'

His words of that night echoed in my head, causing me to swallow hard.

"Help with what? Look, you need to leave, I can't have my fiance knowing you came to visit when next he comes to visit."

Of course, I would never tell him Davis had never visited. As long as he is convinced that I'm doing well with my husband despite my cheating with him, I don't mind lying if I have to.

"Davis has not been here, has he?"

Dear God, how did he-?

My breath caught in my throat and I anxiously pressed my palms together, trying to rid the sweat it had gathered.

"D-do you know what happened? Why he hasn't come around?"

Abel sighed, repositioning in his seat.

For the first time since his surprise visit, we locked eyes. I don't know why but, I tensed under his gaze. It was so intoxicating just like I remembered. I had been under the influence of alcohol that night which was probably why I threw myself at him but, what if I was also under the influence of his hypnotizing gaze and the way it swallowed me whole?

I took him in properly. Abel was different, in a good way. He still had that stubble. And another sexual moment with him that night flashed before my eyes.

I had drunkenly fed him lime and when a little content spilled on his chin, I licked it off with my tongue, his stubble rough against my tongue. My tongue had made a brief contact with his lips then, he grabbed my chin and captured my lips. Then-

"Summer?"

Goddamn it! Had my mind just wandered off daydreaming about my intimate moment with the man before me?

I instantly shot up.

"You need to leave."

"You need to hear me out, Summer."

God, the way he calls me feels so special.

"I've heard enough, now leave, Abe-" I cut myself. Crap.

"You need to leave Mr Abel. I don't know where my fiance is right now but, he is coming for me. And, whatever happened between us that night is a thing of the past and my greatest mistake."

What the hell am I blabbering on about?

"Leave, Mr Abel. And let this be the last time we ever meet. Goodbye."

Then, I stomped off to the door and aggressively knocked on the door, alerting the warden who stood behind it that I was done.

The warden let me out and led me back to my prison cell.

That night, I dreamt of our first encounter and jerked up, feeling wet.

Life was a laughable reality. One minute, you are stuck in a situation that you assume not to come out of and the next, you are in fact unto the next phase of life.

Life moved like a fucking roller coaster.

When the warder walked up to my cell, announcing the inmates' numbers that were granted bail and announced mine, I stared into space for a while, dumbfounded and speechless.

It wasn't like I wanted the serve the nine years as intended. But, I had only hoped for a retrial when I get to see Davis and he obtains a lawyer for me.

I never, in the next fucking million years, thought that I could be granted a bail.

And now, the big question was, who paid for my bail?

I had hoped to request the person since the person had to be a guardian before my bail would be granted but, the prison officials had been given strict instructions not to disclose the person.

Though, I knew it could never be Davis.

I had the bail for embezzlement was freaking $40,000!

The source of the money for the bail was reviewed for 72 hours. And, after 72 hours, I was out.

Out, inhaling an air that wasn't prison air again.

Staring at the sky that wasn't from the prison.

I can't believe I missed them. You don't know the worth of something until you lose it. Indeed.

Stuck in that prison, so many things that I should have done before I got locked up crossed my mind and I spent several nights tossing and turning, living in the regret of not doing those things.

One of which is confronting Liv Barnes properly.

That bitch betrayed me and didn't feel an ounce of remorse about it.

Anytime I remember her loud laugh when I spoke about my reputation, I got this urge to just scream until my lungs gave out because it made my blood boil.

How dare she mock me for saying I had a reputation?

And then, Mr-motherfucking-Barnes.

Actually, I don't necessarily hold anything against him compared to what I hold against Liv.

He wasn't my friend who betrayed me without batting an eye.

Liv fucking Barnes was it and I can't wait to see her reaction once she sees me.

Once arriving at the lobby, I was already getting stares from the little workers who recognized me including the security man who always stayed behind to lock the door after me whenever I worked late.

Oh, the things I've done for this company and they dare toss me away like that.

They were probably in a meeting, the first floor was empty and only a few workers were around.

When I passed by my office, I had this rush of Deja Vu and I was tempted to glimpse at the cubicle that was my office but, I fought the urge and managed to brush past it without casting a glance.

The meeting room immediately went silent when I walked in with my heels and the outfit I had on the day I got arrested.

Right. This was my first stop from the prison.

Mr Barnes sat at the end of the conference table while Liv sat beside him, looking shocked just as I had pictured.

She wore that pink boring gown that I had lied to her about and told her was pretty when she asked if it was the reason her seventh boyfriend broke up with her.

And, what the hell? Is that the scarf I gifted her on her 32nd birthday draped around her neck?

The stinking audacity to wear that.

I walked up to her, pinning my gaze on hers as I did.

She still had her lips parted in shock and I wish I could take off a pair my pump heels and shove it into that mouth. But then, I would return to that hell hole of a prison for assault.

So, let us just keep it cool.

"Y-you. How did you-?"

"Right. How did I get out when you made sure the lawyer lost my case?"

I interrupted, completing her sentence.

It's taking every angel in me not to find the nearest object and smash it against her head.

"W-who bailed you?"

I don't know either. And, I'm starting to think it was an error and my bail was meant for someone else. The police could arrive at any moment and apprehend me once again but, I don't give a flying fuck as much as I gave the bitch a piece of my mind.

"That's none of your business. You seriously think you are the only friend I have?"

She gawked at me.

"Actually, I approached you mostly because I knew I could get anything without lifting a finger if I should befriend the CEO's daughter but, your desperation to have a friend blinded you to see that."

She remained still, gawking at me as if I were straight out of a movie.

"It was why I had to put up with those years of ranting about the dudes that have dumbed your ugly ass."

She frowned. Good.

"And, I'm not speaking out of spite or anything but, you are right, you are an ugly bitch. There is no other explanation as to why all your exes dated you for your money. You don't expect them to kiss this for free now, do you?"

I heard snickers behind me.

"And yes, your lips are too big. You look like a humphead wrasse fish."

Another snickers. More louder.

"Also, I lied about your fashion sense. Your dress sense is coco melon kinda."

Louder snickers from other workers.

A teardrop slid down Liv's face.

I always knew she was insecure about her looks and she had managed to get rid of the insecurity when I came into her life, assuring her that she wasn't as ugly as she thought.

So, I knew where to hit the hardest.

"And lastly,"

I leaned into her.

"I made out with Michael so, that breakup text where he said he found a new girl who tasted better? It was me."

Then, I got up and stalked away. A smirk spread out on my face when I heard Liv burst into tears behind me, in the conference room, sobbing uncontrollably.

I kissed Micheal because I was drunk and hallucinated him to be Davis. But, who said I couldn't use that as well?

Anything to give that bitch sleepless nights.

I hope her insomnia returns.

Tyler had helped me gather my stuff so, I only went over to his office to grab them and headed straight home. To Davis.

After so many ideas of why Davis didn't show up, I decided to settle with the one that was the safest.

He wasn't aware.

Before I was arrested, Davis was in his hometown with his grandmother and I planned to go over there before we both went to Maldives for the trip.

Though, Tyler said he couldn't reach him but, he had issues with his cellphone and I planned to get him a new one during our Maldives trip.

He could have stopped by at my office to ask of me but, they probably fed him with more lies.

Anyway, I hoped any of those were the reason.

Or, there would be no other safe reason as to why he didn't pay a visit.

As I approached my apartment, I kept on trying Davis line, my heart panting as I did.

Let him be home, please.

When I arrived at my apartment complex, I got stares from a few neighbors and I originally thought the news of my arrest must have gotten to them.

But, that wasn't the case. In fact, that was far from being the case.

My apartment, in which I expected to be locked was open, the lock tampered with.

And, my house which I expected to be the same luxury I had left behind was the total opposite.

Every single property of mine was vandalized.

And, on my wall, boldly written with red spray said: "I will destroy you when I find you."