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"Is it done?" I asked my brother when he sat down on the bar stool beside me, grinning. He sported the expression of a cat that had just eaten a canary.
"Are you doubting me, Bastian?" He averted his gaze from me, winking at the waitress. We were in one of my clubs, in the VIP lounge, where no one could come without my permission.
"I’m serious, Andreas. Is she off the hook?" I was annoyed by his behaviour. It was a game for him, and most of the time, I let him have his fun, but not when the life of the woman I cared for was at stake. Electra could end up in jail because of this misstep.
"Well." He sighed theatrically, taking the glass of whiskey into his right hand. "Criminal law isn’t exactly my area of expertise."
I flashed him a deadly glare, and he chuckled. He was in an excellent mood, which could only mean that he had achieved what he wanted.
"Stop this charade, Andreas, or I swear to God..." I fisted my palm, clenching my jaw so hard it almost cracked. I needed this to end.
"Okay, okay." He raised his hand, taking a gulp from his drink before he finally told me the news. "There is no record of her ever being arrested during that raid." A wide, proud smile stretched across his face when he clicked his glass with mine. "It never happened."
I released a deep breath full of relief, slamming his shoulder hard. I knew he was the best. Even when he was a corporate lawyer, his connections and knowledge miraculously got my girl out of that unenviable situation.
"Do I want to know what you had to do for this?" I lifted my eyebrows at him, and he shook his head, still grinning.
"Nothing illegal, don’t worry." He waved at the waitress to bring us another round, watching me out of the corner of his eye. "What is the next step?" he asked after a few seconds of silence when I acted like I didn’t notice him observing me.
"Next step?" I echoed, turning to the side to look at him better. My anxiety slowly dissipated, and I could finally think and breathe without the feeling of being squeezed by the giant iron chain wrapped around my chest.
"With her. What are you going to do?" He leaned over the bar, snatching the expensive bottle of whiskey from the waitress and pouring us generous amounts of the honey-brown liquid. "You can stop with this plan of yours and ask her out."
"Are you going to lecture me?" I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him. I hadn’t decided how I wanted to proceed with Electra. I tried to give her space. We worked together, but other than that, I kept my distance. I wasn't sure if she had experienced any trauma as a result of her time in jail.
"I’m the married one here, Bast," Andreas pointed out, tapping his fingers against the glass surface of the bar. "What’s the next step?"
I shrugged, drifting my gaze to the bottles on the modern shelves. I was overthinking the situation with Electra because I wanted it to be perfect. Yet, I realised too late that it wasn’t the right approach. Most of the time, I took the risk; I was a player, but not when it came to my assistant.
It was idiotic of me to test her. I should have acted like an adult, maybe asked her out on a date, and let the whole thing run its course. Perhaps she would have agreed to try something with me, or she would have sent me to hell. It was fifty-fifty. But now, I was in a position where I didn’t know what to do.
Yes, my little test confirmed that she was a submissive person, that she loved to please me or others, yet it still didn’t mean that she would submit to me in bed. I couldn’t be sure that she would sign a contract with me. I messed this up more than I could have ever imagined.
"Do you want my advice?" Andreas interrupted my musing, and I nodded slightly. Sometimes he had helpful ideas. "Do what you should have done at the beginning." I frowned, blinking a few times. "Be yourself. You want her. You're offering her a different type of relationship, but you can’t know if she's interested if you don´t ask."
"Ask?" I looked at him as if he had grown a new head. This was the worst advice ever. "What should I ask? Can I tie you to bed, darling?"
To deepen my frustration, he burst into laughter. I could tell he was enjoying my helpless state. But I just didn’t want to create even more confusion. I was done with games.
"You know exactly what to do, brother," he stated when he stopped laughing. "You like her; she likes you. Take it to the next level. Then you’ll know where you’re standing."
"That’s horrible advice," I groaned, grimacing.
"But the one that works," he replied casually as he finished his drink. "I have to go. I have in-laws at home."
"Since when?" I glanced at him as he stood up and buttoned his jacket. Suddenly, he appeared to be on his way to an execution.
"Since this morning. I gave Ava divorce papers, and she brought her parents to our house." He shrugged, checking the time on his silver watch. "She thinks her intolerable mother and alcoholic father could change my mind."
"Are you sure about this?" His marriage was ruined long before he decided to divorce. I was only thinking about his kids. They would suffer from this choice the most.
"Yes." He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His usual cockiness disappeared into thin air. "You, brother, better clean this mess."
I nodded, and with one last look, he left. He had his own problems, and I couldn’t ask him for more than he already did. It was my job to stop being a dick and make a move. I just hoped it wasn’t too late.
14
The Letter of Resignation
