My Ex-Boyfriend’s Brothers: Chapter 44

Brad wrapped his arms around me and pulled me forward, dragging my body over his. I tried to fight against his hold but he was stronger than me. He held me there, pinned to his chest, his mouth crushing mine. Panic seized me as I struggled. I was trapped, pinned to his chest like a bug in a science project. The realization that I was at the mercy of his will scared me so deeply that I froze.

I felt Brad’s arms slip away and felt his hands instead shift under me, to my shoulders. Just as I screamed at myself to move while I could, I grunted as Brad shoved me off of him, into the floor. He jumped to his feet and stood over me, eyes blazing.

“What the fuck are you doing?! I’m getting married, Maggie! Jesus!” His words didn’t make any sense. Neither did the furious way he glared down at me. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”

A small cry came from the doorway into the lounge and Brad whipped his head around to the sound, horror on his face. I followed his gaze and saw Christina staring back at me, tears in her eyes.

“Baby, I’m so sorry! I don’t know what happened. We were working on my vows and then she just lunged at me.” He rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I feel sick. Please tell me you believe me, Christina. I didn’t want that. I would never want that. I only love you.”

I moved to my knees and pulled myself up by the couch. My stomach rolled painfully as I realized what he was doing. “I didn’t-”

“Why couldn’t you just let me be? I don’t want you, Maggie!” Brad was aiming for an Oscar. I could see his act working on Christina.

“Christina, this isn’t what it looks like. I swear to god, I’d never-”

“You’re fired.” She swiped at her eyes and shook her head. “I know what I saw, Maggie. I trusted you. I cared about you! You were on top of him! I saw him have to push you away! You can’t fake that! I can’t believe you would do this to me. I thought we were friends!”

Hearing the pain in her voice crushed me. I shook my head vehemently, desperate for her to believe me. “I didn’t kiss him, Christina! You have to believe me. I would never hurt you like this. He did this. He wouldn’t let me go and I-”

“Stop!” Brad’s scream shocked me into silence. “Just stop your lies. I’m taking Christina to our room and I want you gone. You’re fired and you’ll never work in this field again, Maggie. You’re trash.”

“I don’t want to see you again, Maggie. Please leave as soon as possible.” Christina refused to look at me as Brad turned her away and walked her out of the room.

I sank onto the couch and curled over with my face in my hands. I still felt the crawl of disgust from Brad’s mouth on mine but even that was no match for the overwhelming sense of doom that settled over me. I was fired. They would trash my business. He’d made Christina think I was a monster. She’d never speak to me again. What scared me more than anything, though, was the reality that she’d paid for my mom’s care. If she decided I wasn’t worth the effort and took that money back, Mom would have nowhere to go.

I felt my dinner climbing up my throat and barely made it to the bathroom in time. I sobbed into the toilet even as I threw up. I felt like my world was crashing down on me. In my desperation, I pulled out my phone and dialed Cara Conway’s phone number.

“H-hello?” It was clear I’d woken her up. “Do you know what time it is?”

“Ms. Conway? If someone tries to take the money back, could they?” I was crying so hard that it took me two more times to make myself clear.

“This couldn’t wait?” She must’ve felt sorry for me, though, because she cleared her throat and carried on. “No. I don’t think so. The money has already been promised and delivered. If they tried, we’d sue to stop them.”

I let out a breath and sank into the wall beside the toilet. “Thank god.”

“What’s this about?”

“I… I have to go. I’m sorry.”

I hung up and let my head fall back against the wall. I wanted the guys. I needed their comfort but I wasn’t sure I could move. I was devastated. My career, my life, all of it would be so easily ruined by Brad. He had no reason to do what he’d done, but it didn’t matter. He’d done it and the worst was already done.

Christina hated me. She believed I’d betrayed her after what she’d done for me and Mom. I wanted to convince her that I would never hurt her, but the look in her eyes haunted me. She would never believe me.

Maybe if I hadn’t been so tired and running on fumes, I would’ve thought of a way to fight back. I would’ve done everything I could to save my job and reputation. I was empty, though. I couldn’t lift my head, much less make things better.

Brad had won.