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BRANDON
GOD, NO. WHAT HAVE I done?
There is nothing else I could do but send her away. I’m only trying to bear the anguish I feel in my chest from the moment she is close to me. I like the feeling of her skin, her warmth, the look on her face when she smiles...
But damn it, it all burns me. I still can’t bear it. I thought I was getting better, but it is still there.
I’m wrong. I’m only getting worse.
I clench my chest with my fists. “Fuck! Not again,” I groan. It is burning again, and it is too damned painful.
Where is Oliver?
“Ollie...”
It hurts. My chest, my head, my face. God, it all hurts.
I fall on my knees. I can’t feel anything but the scorching in my chest. I force myself to stand and grope the phone with all my remaining strength, and I press the speed dial.
Oliver answers on the first ring. “Brandon?”
“Where are you?” I ask, catching my breath.
“Brandon, what’s wrong?”
“I need you right now,” I grunt. “Please, brother...”
“I’m on my way.”
It is the last word I hear from him, and everything goes dark.
THERE ARE FAMILIAR voices, whispers—I can hear them talking about me. One of the voices is Oliver’s, and the other is someone I don’t wish to hear again. I know that voice exactly.
Ah! My doctor. Oliver’s younger brother. The other person I used to trust. I haven’t heard from him for a while—almost a year. Almost a year since my last episode. It’s funny to hear him again. It means I will never get better.
I want to move or open my eyes, but I can’t. I also can’t speak for myself. Maybe they put those medicines in me again—the ones they used to calm me.
“I know. I thought it was an opportunity, Cassius. He finally had a chance to get out of his comfort zone.” It’s Oliver’s voice.
“It is good for him, Ollie, yes. It is a good sign that he can actually let anyone in again.”
“Her name’s Alayna. She’s amazing. I’m in awe by her actions and strength. She’s an undeniably talented chef. Brandon told me he’s intrigued by her. I’ll introduce you to her later.”
“Ollie, don’t engage yourself too much with her,” Cassius warns. “Your eyes do not lie. I can see that she’s appealing to you.”
What? No. No way!
“No, of course. You know me, brother. Besides, you know my current status, which I still haven’t mentioned to him.”
Status? What is it that he didn’t tell me?
Cassius clicks his tongue. “Tell him right away, Ollie. It’s not good for Brandon if you are hiding something from him. You know what I mean.”
What the—what the hell was that about? Hiding what from me? Damn it.
“He’ll understand. He’s more understanding than all of us,” Oliver states, almost certain. “I’m glad that part of him remains, but I thought his illness wasn’t going to bother him again. I thought he was healed.”
“His scars and the injuries, especially the one on his chest, are all healed, Ollie. What he is suffering from isn’t physical. It’s all in his mind. His body remembers the pain. I don’t know when it will stop. It depends on him.”
“I don’t know what happened exactly. Brandon was shouting for help, but he was already unconscious when I found him. It was after Alayna left,” Ollie explains. “Do you think something happened?”
Yes, she touched me, and I wanted her to. I thought I was fine. Everything felt right.
“Maybe she touched him,” Cassius guesses. “Do you remember what happened last year? It caused his last episode, and then now...”
Ollie hurls out a sigh, and silence follows. He speaks again.
“That’s also possible,” he concludes. “It happened before when you tried to calm him down.”
“I know, and it was my fault back then. I’m not going to give up on him—even if it takes a lifetime,” Cassius’s voice is low and full of guilt. “But thank you for calling me. I’m just worried he might not want to see me again.”
“You know Brandon. He would be glad to see you again. You needed to do what you had to.”
“How about you?” Cassius asks abruptly. “How are you? You don’t come home anymore. Mom is worried. You almost give your whole life to this setup—his company, his life, your freedom. When are you going to stop stressing yourself when you can get our help? I can help you, brother. You don’t have to tell him. Grethe and Elga Enterprises is already heavy enough to bear. Do you still sleep?”
“Don’t worry about me. This is only temporary. You have a job. Take care of Mother. She needs you more. I just hope that someday Brandon will come out and finally face everything. He already did once, because of Alayna,” he says as if certain.
Was that how much of a burden I put on Oliver? On everyone? I sounded pathetic in Cassius’s words, and I knew it was true. They should give up on me. There’s no more hope for someone like me.
“Anyway, I’ll still be in Manhattan until next week. We should grab a drink sometime,” Cassius invites him.
“Of course. I’m actually planning to go out this weekend with Betty before her birthday,” Oliver says. “But yes, I’m thinking of some night out since you’re already here. What do you think?”
Betty? I’d never heard that name before.
“With Alayna?” Cassius asks curiously.
“I can’t see why not? She has to go out of the mansion and have fun sometimes.”
“Just make sure that doesn’t mean anything. Your fiancée might misunderstand.”
“She’s beautiful, yes,” Ollie admits, “but no, Cassius. She’s off-limits, and I think you know why, and that’s why I’m asking you to come.”
I hear Cassius’s smirk. “Do you think Brandon likes her?”
“That’s a high possibility. He’s different with her.” He chuckles. “But I should warn you too. She’s not a woman you see every day in Athens.”
“Hmm... No wonder our Master is so infatuated,” Cassius comments.
“Hey, stay here for dinner,” Oliver offers.
“Of course. I have no reason to decline.”
Abruptly, their voices and footsteps fade away, then the last thing I hear is the sound of a shutting door. Funny, I still can’t move.
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ALAYNA
“ALAYNA, DO YOU HAVE a minute?” Oliver asks when he and another young, very attractive man who resembles him come into my kitchen in the morning. I just finished preparing the Master’s breakfast and am about to take it to him.
“Of course, Oliver.” I look back and forth between him and the other guy, whose eyebrow is shot up at me. There’s an amused smile on his lips.
“I’d like to introduce you to my younger brother,” Oliver says. “This is Cassius. He’s the brother I told you about before, and he’s also Brandon’s doctor.”
Oh, I remember. Oliver told me about a brother who also lives in Manhattan, but this is the first time I’ve seen him.
My mouth parts at the sight of this Cassius’s gorgeous face. He looks very stylish in his casual turtleneck shirt and brown Hermes coat, and of course, I have to admit that this man is breathtaking. His features are sharp with a firmly etched mouth and he smells sinfully good. He smells of mild soap, spicy wood perfume. He is also blonde like his older brother, tall, with a deep pair of sapphire eyes.
Finally, he steps forward and reaches out a hand to me.
“I’m Cassius Katrakis. I’ve heard so much about you,” he speaks in his deep, baritone voice.
I shake his hand immediately, and I instantly feel the warmth underneath his skin. His hand is a bit rough, but it is so strange, there are tingles between our palms. I look up at him, and I study his face intently. He is much more beautiful up close. He flashes out a playful smile, showing his perfect white teeth, and he has two deep dimples.
I smile back. “I hope you heard only good things. I’m Alayna.”
“Oh, you’re taking that to Brandon?” Oliver asks, referring to the freshly prepared food on the trolley.
“Yes, I was about to.”
“I’m afraid the food has to wait. He hasn’t woken up yet.”
“Oh.” I blink, unable to answer right away. He usually wakes up early so I wonder what happened. But then, an idea sparks that something might really have happened. It’s not also usual for a doctor to be here early in the morning. “Did something happen?”
Oliver clears his throat. Hesitation floods his expression. “The Master lost consciousness last night. I looked after him until this morning before Cassius came. Alayna, we actually wanted to ask you what happened before you left.”
My eyes widen. “What happened?”
“That’s what we wanted to know,” he says. “Did something happen before you left his room?”
“We just talked,” I say—which was partly true, but we kind of had a moment, well... ish. Though, I’m sure I could say anything to Oliver—just not with his younger brother around. Cassius suddenly makes me feel conscious of him. His presence intimidates me for no reason. I have to admit, I find him very, very attractive. I couldn’t help it.
“What did you talk about?” Cassius asks smoothly, slightly startling me. I wonder if he could sense the effect he’s having on me. It’s making me uncomfortable.
“It was nothing important.”
“Are you sure?” Oliver questions again. “Because you are the last person he spoke with. By the way, I’m not implying anything. I just really wanted to ask you.”
“I’m sure,” I continue. “Nothing’s going on between us, and besides, he was fine when I left. Really, nothing important happened.” I laugh nervously. “After we talked, he sent me away.”
“Oh no, but is he okay? He sent me away so suddenly after a somewhat heated conversation. After he just told me he wanted me...
Is he sick? Did I perhaps make something that hurt his stomach?
“Alright. I’m sure he’s fine.” Oliver nods and smiles again. “Anyway, I’ll take care of this,” he volunteers, holding the handle of the trolley. “Why don’t you prepare something for the three of us? Let’s have breakfast together when I get back,” he instructs.
I nod. “Sure. I’ll get started right away.”
“Oliver, I’ll go with you,” Cassius says. “I need to check on Brandon while I’m still here. See you in a bit, Alayna,” Cassius bids his goodbye and leaves with Oliver.
