Brothers - Episode 20

 

Isabel ended the call and decided not to go, she didn't need anymore reason for Richard to hate her besides she hadn't forgiven Raymond for what had happened between them...

She made dinner that evening pending when Richard returned with his guest. Richard got home by 10:pm as was his routine these days and talked about how they had finally clinched the deal, he looked obviously happy

"That's great news" she said "we should celebrate, I made dinner" she said

"I think we should go out...pop some wines" Natasha slurred instead, touching his shoulders with a smirk

Richard looked at her then Isabel

"Let's eat dinner, I have wine...we can have the party right here" he said moving towards the dinning table...Natasha winced, stared at them then walked upstairs, Isabel ignored her and went to serve her man

"I know the food is delicious.." he said sitting down as she opened the food to dish it out for him, there was a lot of food on the table, and he couldn't remember the last time they ate like that, he wondered if she was trying to bribe him or something...

"Are you trying to poison me?" he asked, skeptical

"No I'm not, that's not my style, I prefer a poisoned dart" she said keeping his glass of wine as she sat down

He chuckled as he took up his fork to eat, he moaned at the taste

"This is nice..I missed  this" he paused "missed us"

There was a silence

"I'm sorry.."

"Guess one day you ll stop saying that.." he said

"What did I miss?" Natasha returned to interrupt as usual, Isabel wished she would just die, she was freshly bathed and wearing a dark robe with a lace bra peaking out underneath, Isabel wondered why she had to look so perfect all the time, she hated her but smiled sweetly taking up Richard's hand

"Nothing much, we were just talking about our wedding"

"Wedding?.." Natasha sat down to eat "I wasn't aware there was a ring"

"Oh its being safely kept.. Its quite expensive you know"Isabel said

Richard stared at the both of them

​​​​​"I'm thinking that since you guys are..done with whatever it was you were ​doing, its time to go back to the UK," Isabel said sweetly

"Oh Is..makes me feel like you do not enjoy my company"

"I thought there was no need to pretend" Isabel said plainly

Natasha stared at her

"I'm leaving tomorrow first flight, I have things to attend to anyway..

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. I'm sorry if i made you ...uncomfortable.."she paused"it wasn't my intention "

"I'm sure" Isabel replied

​​​​​​"I believe in another life we could be friends"she took up.her drink and sipped "there must be something you're giving him though, Richard usually could not resist me..."

"Nat.."Richard began...

"Goodnight" she stood up, closed her robe and glided away..Isabel looked at Richard

"What.. you told me she was just your friend"

"Calm down Is, you about to ruin dinner"

"You mean you brought your ex girlfriend here, to our house?"

"To show you how.to.resist temptation Is.. She was here.. under my roof and nothing happened, you couldn't even say no.to.my brother"he taunted again, she stood up

"You are despicable Richard, to keep throwing my one mistake back at me, why can't you just find it in your heart to forgive me"

"Because its not so easy to let go of the thought of another man touching you, thats all the images i see when i look at you Is...I wanted to marry you, I loved you that much"

She stared at him, knowing it was lost and all over, tears formed in her eyes when she said

"Fine Rich, you win, we are done"'she walked out while he sipped  his wine and finished dinner alone.

​​​​​​It was a week later, Mrs Wallace had called her sons with Isabel to the house for dinner, Isabel wanted to be anywhere but in the family house for dinner but she had to go out of respect for Mrs Wallace, Jamima wondered at the sizzling tension at the dinning table..as she kept looking from one to the other

" I want to put an and to this once and for all, you both are grown men, acting like children, fighting all the time and disgracing the family name"their mother began"wish your father was here, he must be turning in his grave"

"Why don't you ask him what happened to the company "Raymond accused

" Last I check you were in charge of it..how is it going brother, the work is trully telling on you, must be stressful"Richard said

"I'm sure you wake up every day happy with yourself that the company your late father worked for is all gone"

"In your hands" Richard said leaning forward to continue eating unconcerned

"Where is all these coming from Richard, are you gloating over your brother's misfortune, your family's misfortune"

" I'm in the clear in this ma, he brought it upon himself "

"You think I don't have prove that you have a hand in it"Raymond said, none of the suggestions the board had made had fallen through, it was obviously done by someone in house who was equally very smart, he couldn't put it past Richard besides he had been very absent in all of their meetings and was obviously gloating over his downfall

"I'd like to watch you prove it"Richard said

"Well for one I have your man in custody..Jacobs"

Richard stared long at him calmly

"Who's that?"

Mrs Wallace looked at Isabel tired of the bickering

"Isabel dear, how's work going?"

Isabel looked up, she wanted to be anywhere but here, though she knew Mrs Wallace had no idea about what she had done, it didn't mean she was still comfortable in the house, she had moved out of Richard's apartment a week ago after Natasha left and was squatting with a friend till she could find an apartment...

"Its fine..looking for an apartment "she replied

" why, I.thought you were staying with Richard.. "

"We broke up" Richard said with no preamble,  Mrs Wallace gaped, surprised then looked at Jamima who was listening with rapt attention

"Jamie get more wine from the cellar"

"But.mom we have.wine here.."she protested

Mrs Wallace gave her the look and she grudgingly stood up and left

"What happened, what's been going on?" She asked them

"Are you going to tell her or I would" Richard asked Raymond, Raymond glared at him

"Get off your high horse Rich and let everything go, you've destroyed everything on your path because of one mistake,  the company is gone so is your relationship, what else are you gonna destroy, yourself?can't you see how much you're hurting her, she loves you and only came to me because you were careless with what you had.."

"She had no right.."

"Oh but you did?...severally when you cheated..I've lost my relationship, don't loose yours too because of your hardened heart, you've always been like that, for once in your life be different"

"Hm, its so easy to say that because your not the one I did it to.."

"Forgiveness...that's what its called"he paused" you have a special woman Rich, don't loose her like I did mine"he finished sadly

"What is going on....Isabel?"Mrs Wallace turned to her who with tears spilling, she excused herself to go outside, she didn't know why Raymond had defended her like that in there even though she had scorned him for so long especially when he needed a friend.. Richard had every right to be angry with her but she loved him so much still...and it was a mistake she'd live her life to regret..she heard footsteps but didn't turn, she cleaned her eyes and stared out, Richard moved closer to her

" Remember when we first met.."he said, she didn't turn just stared out still, her thoughts on the first time they met, at that corridor..it felt like the.best thing that had happened to her then...

​​​​​"All.I remenber are the lies, cheating and scheming that we made out of our relationship "she finally replied

" well maybe we don't have to focus on that, we both made mistakes and acted out of context.."he paused"I'm willing to take you back..."he paused again"we have to take it slow"

She turned to look at him "maybe we can start all over again"she said

He stared at her as she leaned and kissed him, he responded and soon pulled her closer... Raymond walked out, saw them and cleared his throat

"I came to confirm if you have done the needful"

Richard chuckled, stared at Isabel dreamilly, then looked at his brother

"I think I know how we can save the company" he said

*OK no one saw that coming I guess, so I finished typing this and had to retype bcs it deleted, what I go through for Ebonystories, phew..

Can you forgive someone who cheated on you?

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