CHAPTER 21 - THE SOBER DECISION

Meanwhile as Ben head to the taxi as this is the only option for him to get home. He couldn’t have asked his brother to pick him up but he had enough headaches in the morning so he decided the first option. The entire ride home Ben was so pissed making few curses that made the taxi driver glance once in while at his direction. When he reached his pad, Ben immediately took two Advil and took a shower to make him relax. He stood under the cold water while placing his two hands both on the wall. After getting himself ready he went to his car and drove to the Café still totally pissed. As soon as he reached his office, he went to the wine cellar and found a strong alcohol.

"Woahh! Why are you drinking this early morning?" Eric saw the bottle of Jack Daniels on his brother’s hand.

“I'm not in the mood to talk right now!" Ben snorted and takes a big shot.

"You’re acting like an old grumpy old man who had a fight with his wife.” Eric messed around with him.

"Shut up!" Ben barked.

"Let me guess Courtney back out from the deal?" His brother ignored his order.

“The deal is off! She can go fuck the guy she’s supposed to get married with!” Ben took another gulp again.

“Off? How did that happen?” Eric is now confused and wants to know what could possibly be the reason.

“I don’t want to talk about it!” Ben dismissed the conversation but his brother will definitely keep pestering him.

“What happened?” Eric tried convincing him.

"Quit talking and leave me the hell alone!" Ben yelled in frustration.

“What the fuck man! I’m trying to help you out and yet you’re pushing me away?” Eric burst out.

“I don’t need any help!” Ben grunted.

“Fine! Go get yourself drunk but don’t come running to me after you get sober to ask for my help!” His brother was about to walk out the room when he finally lowered his voice.

"We need to find a new bride.” Ben spoke after a minute.

“A new bride?” Eric turned around to face his brother.

“Yes.” Ben short replied.

“But I thought you already had an agreement and there is no way that Courtney will reject the deal?” Eric analyzed his brother’s word.

“Courtney and I spent the night at her place.” Ben finally spilled what he’s been thinking all day.

Ben recalled how his night went by and blamed himself for not trying to control the situation. The fact that Courtney is still a virgin made him admire her and wants to pursue what they have started but after what happened, his plan went to drain.

“I don’t get it; you spend the night—wait you had a one night stand with her?” Eric finally caught his brother’s statement earlier.

“Asshole that’s not it!” Ben cursed.

“So that’s what makes you grouchy, didn’t you have enough huh?” Eric tease.

“So what happened?” Eric waited for his brother to open up.

“Like I said we spent the night together and then one leads to another, now the deal is off.” Ben chugged the bottle.

"How did you even up having sex? No scratch that I don't even want to know." He got this disgusted face.

"We decided to celebrate last night by having few drinks but I’m sober to know what is happening." Ben decided to tell him anyways.

“How did she react about it?" Eric held his chin.

"That’s where this morning came in; she lashed out and claiming I took advantage of her. I admit I lost my self-control but damn it! I'm just a guy!” Ben exclaimed.

"Was she great?" Eric put this smug face.

"I'm not telling you anything asshole! You know too much!" Ben hits him with the stress ball by the counter.

"Oh come on! I'm your brother and I won't sell you out." He smiled like a lunatic.

"I'm her first happy now?" Ben smacked his brother’s head as a response.

"Holy fucking hell! Are you serious?” Eric ignored the smacked.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Ben grunted and placed the half empty bottle on his desk.

"I'm sure you are protected." Eric assumed while Ben is trying to remember.

"I'm not sure if we did. Damn it!" Ben threw a punch to the wall.

“You're in deep shit fratello." He patted my shoulder.

"What is more shitter than confessing that I'm attracted to her?" Ben gave out an irritated sighed.

“I was wondering when you are going to admit it.” Eric reminded him with a victory smile.

“I will not say it; it will only boost your ego.” Ben denied commenting on his brother’s observation.

"Does she feel the same way?" Eric sat beside me.

“She admitted it or maybe it was the alcohol talking to me last night.” Ben remembered his conversation with Courtney about it.

"Did you regret it?" His brother’s questioned caught him off guard.

Ben contemplated what to say and thought thoroughly about it while his brother has this smile on his face that can read him well. All of a sudden the thought of her getting pregnant crossed his mind. If she does then he is willing to take responsibility of the child. Somehow Courtney bearing his heir made him proud.

"We wouldn't end up on her bed if it wasn't a mutual feeling, yet she regretted it this morning." Ben pointed out.

“Instead of drowning that bottle, just consider her a good fuck if she acts like a bitch.” Eric shrugged his shoulder

“She is not like that all right.” Ben knew she needs to protect Courtney even she can’t hear the words that his brother said.

“So what are you going to do about it?” Eric held his chin.

“I don’t know, my anger gets the best out of me.” Ben inhaled deeply.

“Let’s not forget that Mamà is expecting her over the weekend to introduce her to her friends.” Eric informed him.

“She did what?” Ben is now having a full blast migraine from the day events after hearing the plan of his mother.

“I overheard her talking to her friends this morning.” Eric went to the espresso machine.

“How come I didn’t know about it?” Ben is now thinking of ways to lie to his mother.

Just as Eric was about to answer Ben’s phone started ringing and it was his mother. Ben put the line to speaker so his brother can hear everything that their mother has to say. Mrs. Venoso asked for Courtney’s number that Ben easily found an excuse that she is currently busy at her clinic. He convinced his mother that Courtney will know about it and she will come over the weekend. His mother accepted his answers and ended the call with excitement.

“Drink this damn coffee first.” Eric handed him the coffee.

“What a sneaky mother we have huh?” Ben sat on his chair looking stress.

“You know Mamà there is no hell way you can’t say no to her.” Eric sat and drinks his own coffee.

“What the fuck I’ll do now.” Ben groaned.

“First sober up; second you need to call Courtney tell her the deal is still on.” Eric can tell his brother will not like this idea.

“Hell no, I won’t back down on my word.” Ben refused.

“So why in the world you agreed that Courtney is coming over the weekend?” Eric asked him.

“You know how persuasive Mamà is.” Ben sighed.

“Let’s not forget that she can have a background check on her without our knowledge, of all we knew she already did that.” Eric made a valid point on that.

“Why we didn’t think of that?” Ben muttered.

“Think about it later, call Courtney now.” Eric handed him his phone.

“Let’s just find another woman.” Ben declined the idea.

“What about the dinner you agreed with her parents?” His brother asked again.

“Damn! How could I forget that?” Ben spat.

“You need to figure out what to do on that since it’s going to be five hours from now.” His brother checked the time.

“Fuck my life!” Ben balled his now bluish fist.

“Would you rather let Courtney to be married to another guy than saving the woman you’re having an interest with?” Eric knew that last statement will get his brother’s attention.

"There is no fucking way I'm going to fucking allow that! She’s mine!” Ben claimed.

“Then go fix your shit and call her." His brother advised him.

Eric decided that it’s best to give his brother some privacy and head back to his office. Just as before he left Ben apologized for his action earlier and thanked him for the advice.