Mr CEO’s Little Bride

Family get-together

Ruby’s Pov;

I ran all the way from the balcony to the garage, gently engulfing Michael in a warm, tight embrace.

He giggled, wrapping his smallish, soft tender arms around my neck.

We stayed this way for a while, with me trailing kisses all over him.

” So no hugs for me” I heard Dad said behind us.

Just then, Mr Martins walked out with his wife, Tracy.

” Nice to see you again Mr Staffers” Tracy greeted as they all exchanged pleasantries before going inside.

I held Michael’s palm as we walked in.

The table was set already and the maids were doing finishing touches to whatever that was on the table.

Ella was seated on the couch but got up immediately she saw us.

She greeted Dad and soon, we were on the dinning.

” Nathan will be here soon. Please pardon his rudeness” Mr Martins apologized on behalf of his son to Dad.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

” Uh, no; it’s okay” Dad beamed and the silence resumed.

We were halfway into the meal when Nathan arrived.

He only greeted Dad before he took his seat and his meal was served.

As usual, he barely ate anything.

” So… I was thinking, how about we all go for the yearly party of De Martins company. It’s going to be bigger this year and I was hoping we could use that to step out together as a family for our first family business outing” Mr Martins said casually.

” What do you say Nathan, Ruby?” he turned to us both and asked.

” I’m fine with…”

” Did you have to bring business to dinner? That’s rude coming from someone who always talks about rudeness” Nathan growled, a displeased look on his face.

” Nathan!” Tracy yelled in an attempt to caution him, but Mr Martins held up his hand telling her to hold it.

That didn’t stop Nathan from shotting her a hard glare.

He suddenly dropped his fork and was about to get up when his Dad spoke.

” You won’t do that when we have guests” he growled in anger.

I had to admit it was the first time I was seeing him get angry.

” I’m done eating”

” It’s rude to leave when you have guests”

” They are yours, not mine”

” They are your wife’s family” Mr Martins dragged, the smile not leaving his face.

I could tell this was pissing Nathan off already.

” You invited them over, not me,” Nathan said nastily.

” I dare you to take a step out of this table” Mr Martins challenged.

” Come on Martins, it hasn’t gotten to that yet”.

” Oh, yeah, it has. I can tolerate it when he does this when we are alone, but not when you are here. That goes to show how he doesn’t have any regard for me whatsoever” Mr Martins said truthfully, his mood dimming.

I like the way he was able to keep the smile still on his face.

The tension was building up and I could feel my adrenaline build up.

Ella decided to glare at me at that time.

I ignored her but she wouldn’t stop doing things I don’t know to me with her eyes.

I wondered how it was going to end, but it turns out Mr Martins won, as usual.

*

*

The maids took care of taking the plates to the kitchen and maintaining the table.

Nathan went to his room, Ella went to the sitting room to watch movies, Mr Martins and Dad went somewhere to discuss, while I went to my room with Michael. I had missed him so much.

I think Tracy was in the kitchen with the maids, instructing and directing them on the things to do.

” I miss you!” Michael whined out as soon as we got to my room.

I beamed with smiles, placing him on my bed.

” Is this your room?” he asked, looking round.

I simply nodded, staring at his face. I missed him so much.

Gosh! I never knew I could live without him. He’s annoying and all that, but I miss that also.

I suddenly felt bad and wished I could go back to how my life was before… before everything.

” You okay?” I felt his tiny palm on mine and snapped out of my thoughts.

” How’s school been?” I asked and his smile boomed up.

He blushed hard.

” Hmph!. Someone is being cheeky” I teased, tickling him.

He laughed so hard, begging me to stop but I never did.

I decided he’s had enough and stopped before he would die of shortage of breath.

” So, tell me, what’s it?” I asked, laying close to him.

He blushed hard again and it made me wonder what it was.

” There’s this really pretty girl in our class – Jennie” he said childishly and I couldn’t believe what I just heard.

My jaws dropped in shock.

It sounded both funny and shocking to me.

” What the fuck?! Michael!!” I screamed, not minding the words I was using.

He covered his face with his palm and turned to the other side.

” Seriously?” I asked, unable to hold my laughter.

Goodness!! I didn’t see that coming.

Omg!!. I guess there aren’t kids out there anymore.

” Stop being shy and look at me” I told him, but he didn’t bulge.

” Have you told her you like her?” I asked and he shook his head.

” Why?” I asked but I never got a response.

” Probably because you’re shy right?” I asked and he nodded.

I allowed a small silence linger between us, before speaking up again.

” If you would stop being shy, I will gladly tell you how to win her over” I said and the next thing I know, he was up, staring at me with intensed eyes.

” How??” he asked.

For a minute there, I paused to think.

Was this really my brother??.

Goodness!! I couldnt believe how big he has grown since I last saw him.

I know he miss me alot more than I miss him.

How hard it must have been for him to cope without me.

He must have wanted to tell me about it so badly.

I smiled and placed his small palm in mine.

” Do you want me to tell you something?” I asked, and he nodded.

” Okay” I replied, getting up from the bed.

I walked to the wardrobe and brought out a photo album.

*

*

Meanwhile, Mr Martins and Mr Staffers were discussing about their children

” How has Ruby being? Is Nathan being nice to her?” Mr Staffers couldn’t help but ask after his daughter.

He was so worried about her and not a day passes by that he doesn’t think of her.

” Ruby’s fine. I hope you know she’s in good hands. Nathan’s not the only one living here. Being married also includes getting married to the guys family, so whatever happens, I don’t think it will be now, but I do know Nathan will warm up to her soon”

” I don’t need to tell you about his personality because you’ve seen enough for yourself but one thing I can promise you is that, he won’t hurt her. Never. I will never allow that to happen; and besides, Ruby is a good Kid, it would be hard not to like someone like her”

” But still, I think it’s best if we give them time and allow them to get to know themselves. I personally think it’s too early to interfere”

” So the overall view of what you’ve said is that she’s good?” Mr Staffers asked again.

” Yeah, except maybe for the simple fact that she missed her family” Mr Martins said to which Mr Staffers acknowledge.

” I know. We miss her too” Mr Staffers said and they went on to discuss about business.

Apparently, Mr Staffers’ business was bouncing back and it was only a matter of time before he goes back and even supercede how he was before.

It was all thanks to his good friend. One good deed deserves another.

*

*

Nathan busily looked through the files on his table.

A cup of coffee by his side.

He always brought work home and that was part of the reasons he fought with his Dad not to stay in the same room with Ruby.

He doesn’t want to have anything to do with her, that’s a fact, but there was nothing he hates more than having someone interrupt him while he’s working.

And with that , Ella chosed to come in at that time.

He had forgotten to lock the door and was so engrossed in his work to notice anyone come in.

Before he knew it, a tight hug came around him, preventing him from doing anything further.

His anger vented up as he turned to look at her.

His eyes spit fire and his face was cold and hard.

” What the hell Ella??” he yelled at the top of his voice, making her flinch.

She adjusted backwards and almost started whimpering.

” Get out!!” he wasted no time in saying that.

” What do you mean? I’m your sister but I don’t even get to see you that much. I’m your sister, you know. I miss you” she enthused, trying to get close to him again, but the looks in his eyes made her stay away immediately.

” Get the fuck out and I don’t ever want to see you here again!!” he yelled again but that didn’t seem to get to her.

Maybe she was already used to him or she was just being stubborn.

But she should have listened because he had never shouted at her like that before.

” Why?? Why are you telling me to leave? Why are you pushing me away? Is it because I’m not her? Is it because I’m not your so called wife?” she asked, almost sobbing

That was the last straw on the Carmel’s back.

Nathan decided he’s had enough. He got up and walked to her, gripping her by the arm firmly, he started dragging her to God knows where, ignoring her pleas and cries.

” Stop! Stop it! You’re hurting me” she cried but he never listened.

He dragged her to the sitting room and when he saw no one there, he dragged her to the Kitchen where he saw her mother.

He threw her to her and heaved, his hands on his waist.

Ella turned to her mom with clouded eyes, showing her her bruised wrist.

” What?” Tracy yelled, taking her eyes to Nathan who didn’t bulge or move an inch.

” What did you do to my daughter? Huh, I’m asking you” she screamed at him.

” Just what I was about to ask you. What was your daughter doing in my room?”.

” To meet her brother of course” she answered and Nathan scoffed.

” You should know better than to train your daughter poorly” Nathan said through gritted teeth.

” What?” Tracy scoffed in disbelief.

He was a complete piece of work. She was just confirming it.

” You won’t speak to me in that manner.. I can tolerate all your nonsense but there’s no way I will tolerate you leaving marks on my daughter” she told him straight up.

” Then you should…”

” There’s nothing for you to say. She’s your sister. What’s wrong with her coming to see you?”.

” She should never have and I don’t think you’re in a position to be speaking right now. Do I look like I give a damn about her being my sister. Yeah, I used to adore her but she’s grown now and should behave mature, but I guess that’s too hard because you raised her…” she almost landed a slap on his cheek, but he quickly caught her and held her arm midway in the air.

He glared at her and she did same. It was hard to believe she would actually think of slapping him.

How does she see him?. Does she think he would just let her be simply because she’s his stepmom?.

She had better think again.

Ella was already shaking in fear, not believing what she had caused.

” What the hell is going on here?!!” they heard a voice yell behind them.

Nathan quickly put her hand down and they both stared at the person and it was no other than…