The Aron brothers exchanged a glance, realizing their well-intentioned explanations were about to be tested. Kai cleared his throat, trying to salvage the situation. "Well, you see," he began cautiously, "it was ant to—"
"My own good, huh?" Es interrupted, her tone dripping with mockery as her smile widened. Her eyes, however, were cold and steely, not a hint of warmth in them. "Please, do enlighten . How does turning into a so-called lustful woman benefit in any way?" She tilted her head slightly, her expression both curious and nacing, as if daring them to continue.
The atmosphere in the room grew tense. The brothers could feel the weight of her gaze, each word she spoke laced with barely concealed irritation. Ray, who had been trying to stay out of the fray, shifted uncomfortably, while Jay glanced nervously between his siblings and Es.
Kai, usually unflappable in his professional deanor, felt the pressure. His face tightened, but he pushed forward, trying to remain composed. "It’s not—" he started, but the frustration in Es’s eyes was palpable, and he could sense she was in no mood for excuses.
"Go on," Es urged with a chilling calmness, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Tell how you think humiliating in public and making the subject of gossip is for my own good."
Her eyes were sharp, reflecting a cold determination that reminded Kai of the relentless interrogations he faced in his line of work. He could almost see the taphorical knives she was wielding, and it was clear she wasn’t going to let this go until she had answers.
Kai swallowed hard, realizing that trying to reason with her now might be futile. He glanced at Ray and Jay, both of whom looked equally uncomfortable.
The truth was far simpler than any grand strategy or intricate plan. The Aron brothers had acted out of a personal vendetta, driven by their resentnt toward Es. During her tenure as President of Vallahe Group, she had targeted them relentlessly, causing them significant financial losses and sleepless nights. Her aggressive tactics had left deep scars, and their actions were a form of petty revenge.
As they faced Es, the brothers scrambled for a justification. Kai, his eyes scanning the room for an excuse, finally blurted out, "We did it because we wanted to keep the elders from finding out what’s really going on between us."
Es’s expression remained a mask of disbelief. She arched an eyebrow, silently challenging them to explain further. Though she had her suspicions about their motives, she chose to let them dig their own graves. The truth was, she knew well that the brothers were under constant threat from their elders and competitors who saw an opportunity to oust them. She understood that the stakes were high for the Aron brothers, and their actions, while misguided, were born from a place of desperation and fear.
With a steely gaze, Es scrutinized Kai. "Is that the best you’ve got? You think this excuse will justify your actions?" Her tone was icy, a stark contrast to the earlier warmth.
Kai swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Es’s scrutiny, struggling to hold his ground as he rambled on, "Yes, it’s true. We were trying to protect ourselves and distract the elders from prying too deeply into our lives. If we sleep separately, there’s a big chance they’ll target us individually, but now that we all sleep together, they have to believe our relationship is strong—strong enough that we brothers truly love you, enough to share you."
Es’s eyes narrowed, disbelief and frustration flashing across her face. "These brothers could make any excuse under the sun," she thought, barely able to hide her irritation. She shook her head, the absurdity of the situation weighing on her.
"Enough. I’m tired. Just let rest," she said flatly, her voice devoid of the playful banter she often used with them. She turned her back to the brothers, heading towards the almirah. Her movents were swift, betraying the simring anger she was holding back. She grabbed her nightgown without a word, and in one fluid motion, she marched towards the bathroom.
The door closed behind her with a firm click, and the room felt suddenly quieter, heavier with the tension left behind. The Aron brothers exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of her frustration settling over them like a cloud.
Kai exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping in relief the mont she disappeared behind the bathroom door. Jay, who had been holding his breath, let out a soft chuckle under his breath, though it was more out of nervousness than humor. Ray, always the quickest to mask his discomfort, rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, eyes flicking to the others.
"Well... that went well," he muttered, sarcasm dripping from his voice, trying to break the uneasy silence.
...
The room had settled into a focused, albeit tense, silence. Es, seated comfortably on the sofa, was fully engrossed in the docunt in her hands. Her expression was one of calm confidence, eyes scanning each line with practiced precision. Across from her, the Aron brothers—Kai, Ray, and Jay—sat on the bed, each of them similarly absorbed in their respective files. The constant threat of surveillance from competitors and the ever-ddling elders ant that they had to keep their most important work confined to this room. Stepping into the study or anywhere outside was too risky.
The only sounds were the rustle of papers and the occasional deep breath from Ray, clearly frustrated by so minor issue in his docunt. However, Jay’s focus had drifted. Instead of his file, his eyes were now fixed on Es. She looked so composed, so in control, that it irked him a bit—not in a bad way, but in that curious, mischievous way that made him want to push her buttons.
Es, without even looking up from her file, spoke in that calm but pointed tone of hers. "Have you stared enough, Jay?"
"Hmm ...no".
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