REBORN: MEET MY BROTHERS-Chapter 80: HE WAS THERE BEFORE

His eyes fell on her the moment she walked out of the building in her mini flare skirt paired with an off-the-shoulder top. Her black knee-high leather boot gave her finishing look and she let her wavy hair pour down her shoulders.

Ava couldn’t help the smile that grew on her face at the sight of him. She paused as she noticed his eyes that roamed down her body, and the look in them gave her the satisfaction that the time she took in picking them out was worth it.

"Did you wait long?" She strode toward him.

"Not really..." When Ava got to where Maximus stood, he gently pulled her to himself, holding her waist. "But seeing you is worth the wait." All the while he held her, his eyes were fixed on her lips.

Ava blushed, knowing why he was staring at them, but she cleared her throat slightly. "My eyes are up here."

"I know, little one..." Maximus looked into them. "...but I’d rather focus on the part of you that’s tempting me right now." He traced a gentle finger along her waist. "If you keep showing up like this, I can’t promise I’ll be able to behave."

Her blush deepened. "Who said I wanted you to behave?"

The desire in his eyes flared and in the next second, he captured her lips with his. The light, feathered kiss made Ava’s head spin and her knees weakened. With the desire that flooded his beautiful blue orbs before the kiss, she’d expected something hot, demanding too.

But the soft kiss set a different kind of spark surging through her. She held onto Maximus’s neck to stop herself from falling.

The kiss lasted long enough to make Maximus want to explore more of her, but he pulled away before he let his desires control him. He could never get enough of his little wife, but they had somewhere important to be right now.

He waited for Ava to open her eyes before he planted another soft kiss on her lips. "We have to go."

Ava’s cheeks burned but she swallowed to control herself. "You still haven’t told me where we’re going."

Maximus hesitantly released his hold on her tiny waist as he held open the door. "You’ll see when we get there."

"You’re being mysterious again? I thought we’ve gotten past this stage."

"We can never get past surprises, little one. Come on, we don’t want to be late."

She gave him a suspicious look before entering the car.

.

Matilda forced a smile as she stood from her seat and straightened out her dress. "Mr. Rowland, what is the meaning of this? Are you seriously planning on kicking us out?"

"This is outrageous! You can’t seriously kick us out just because of some ridiculous policy you cooked up overnight." Sasha glared at Wesley with a frown.

The girl beside him was about to say something, but Wesley held out a hand to stop her.

"I understand this situation is frustrating, but rules are rules. As much as I sympathize, I cannot make exceptions. This is not personal; it’s procedural."

"Don’t give us that!" Sasha crossed her arms. "You walk in here with... her and your guards like you’re running some sort of prison, and you dare say it’s not personal?!"

Matilda gave the girl standing beside Wesley a side eye as she noticed the frown on her face. "You should at least try to be understanding. My husband is a very busy man, but because he understands the urgency of this situation, he’s taking out his time to come here. There must have been a delay, but he will be here any moment now."

"I am also a very busy man, Mrs. Whitlock, yet I took out my time to come here and inform you of the policy out of respect. I expect you to reciprocate the respect and leave peacefully to avoid the embarrassment of having my guards throw you out of the room."

The forced smile on Matilda’s face vanished. "Is that a threat?" She took a step closer to him. "I don’t know about the so-called respect you’re claiming to have shown by coming here."

"But threatening to have your guards throw us out? I’ll applaud you... that’s brave. I’ll also advise you to watch your tongue, Mr. Rowland. You seem to be forgetting the family you’re addressing."

"He even barged into our room with his little entourage, and he’s claiming to show ’respect.’ Please, spare us the act." Sasha scoffed.

"I am simply doing my job. If you feel disrespected, that’s unfortunate. You can take it up to the board, but I just insist that this room be vacated until the legal guardian arrives. I’ve been generous with my time."

Sasha let out a short, humorless laugh. "So in essence what you’re saying is you’re going to have us dragged out like criminals? Is that it?! Can you hear this, mother?! He wants to have us dragged out!"

"That’s not going to happen, sweetie. There is no way Rowland will have us dragged out of this room. He knows who and who not to mess with."

Wesley smirked before signalling to the guards at the door who immediately stepped into the room.

Matilda and Sasha exchanged glances. "What is the meaning of this, Rowland?! How dare you ask your filthy men to step into my father in law’s room—?" The words were barely out of her mouth before the guards got to where they stood.

"Mrs. Whitlock, your refusal to cooperate has left me with no other choice. I gave you more than enough time." Wesley clasped his hands to his back as he faced the guards. "Escort them out... Respectfully."

Sasha stepped forward angrily. "Get these filthy men out of here before I make a call that’ll end your entire career! Do you know who you’re dealing with, you arrogant little puppet?"

Matilda shot him a glare that could pierce steel. "This is William Whitlock’s room in case you’ve forgotten. You’re crossing the line, Rowland. When my husband gets here, you’ll regret ever stepping into this room with your... entourage."

The guards stepped in front of them and Sasha pointed to them. "If any of you so much as touch us, you’ll wish you hadn’t!" She yelled but the men ignored her threats and simply held their arm. Sasha struggled against the man’s grip. "Let go of me!"

Matilda also struggled. "Call off your men now, Rowland! This circus you’ve created will not end well for you. My husband is on his way, and I promise you, he won’t be as diplomatic as I’ve been."

"I’m being lenient, Mrs. Whitlock. I could have had you removed much earlier, but I gave you a chance to leave with dignity. Until the legal guardian comes, you can’t stay in this room."

"Get your filthy hands off me before I make one call and have this entire hospital crawling with lawyers and reporters!" Sasha screamed as the guards pushed them into the hallway.

The girl that was standing beside Wesley brought out their bags from the room and handed it to them. Sasha’s eyes flashed with anger as she jabbed a finger towards Wesley. "You’ll regret this! I promise you," she screamed.

But Wesley simply smiled, infuriating Sasha even more. "Have them escorted downstairs," he said to the guards who nodded at the order.

Matilda was too shocked to speak. She couldn’t believe she was dragged out of the floor by some weaselly guards like she was a nobody. The very thought made her blood boil but all she could do was struggle to free herself from the guard.

The guard holding Sasha pressed on the elevator button. Even as the door opened, both women struggled but when they saw the man standing inside the elevator, they stopped struggling.

Sasha whimpered. "Father..."

Gaulin’s piercing eyes moved from the guards to Wesley and the girl beside him, then to his wife and daughter. He gritted his teeth when he finally pieced what was going on. "What exactly do you think you’re doing, Rowland? Release them. Now."

Recognizing the man in front of them, the guards hesitated and turned to Wesley for direction. Wesley gave them a curt nod before they released Sasha and Matilda. The moment they let go of Sasha, she slapped the guard. "You imbecile! How dare you touch me and my mother?!" She also kicked the other man who held Matilda.

"That’s enough, Sasha." Matilda held her to stop her from hitting them.

Wesley watched her without saying a word.

"If you keep hitting them that way, Miss Whitlock, the hospital will file for assault," the girl beside Wesley finally spoke for the first time.

"And it’s okay for them to manhandle my family?! Do you think I’ll not file a lawsuit against the hospital?"

The girl glanced at Wesley before turning back to Gaulin. "With all due respect, Sir—"

"Don’t you dare use that word when you don’t know the meaning! If you had any respect, you wouldn’t have dared to lay a hand on them in the first place."