Chapter 4

Orion stands by the door to Anders’ house, ready to bolt if Anders comes at him again. He holds the handle, an apologetic look sits on his face.

“I didn't know Maria would take me seriously and tell everyone about it.” He explains.

“Maria is a gossip. You should know better than to tell her anything. I mean anything!” Anders grits.

Now he knows the source of the rumors. Orion had playfully told the office gossip that Anders was taking things seriously with Electra. A piece of news was all Maria ever needed to create a vivid imagination of her own. And she never hesitated to spread what she thinks.

“You could have said no.” Orion offers.

The look Anders dashes him, has him thinning his lips and swallowing the words right back.

Anders cannot say no to Granny. Not at this time.

“So when does she move in?” Orion asks. He gets back inside the house. Anders has taken a seat on his couch.

“Today.” His response is filled with horror.

“Great! This house could use a feminine touch.”

Anders glared at him and hisses. “Right. Only she's not feminine.” His mind travels to Electra in that dress.

She was every bit feminine in it. His mind reminds him.

“You didn't think that way when you were kissing and groping her at the event.” Orion states as though he could read Orion's mind.

Anders glared at. “Shut up! That was part of our act.”

Orion nods in mock understanding. “An act… That was some good acting.” He mutters.

Anders snarls. Orion raises his hand in surrender. “I'm just looking out for you bro.”

“Mind your business!”

Orion’s expression grows serious. “Are you going to tell her about… you know?” Orion raises his brow in question

Anders' jaw tightens. “No. She doesn't need to know.”

The door bell dings, interrupting their conversation.

“I guess that's her.” Orion stands from the couch and goes to the door.

“Hello, Electra. Welcome to your new home.” He greets and sends a mocking smile Anders' way.

If looks could kill, Orion would be long dead from Anders' glares.

Orion helps Electra with the valise she is holding.

“Thank you Orion.” Electra says. “I'll get the other bags.” She heads back outside.

Once Orion drops the bag, he turns to Anders.

“Alright, bro. I'll see you later.” He says and makes his way to leave before Electra returns.

Anders stops him. “Where are you going?”

“My house.” Orion states the obvious. “Why?”

“Are you not staying?” Anders asks.

Orion laughs. “Nice one. No. I'm not staying. Didn't you just advise me to mind my business?... Well, I'm taking your advice. Bye.” Orion says. He goes out before Anders gets another chance to protest.

Electra returns with another bag. She looks around. “Where did Orion go?”

“He left.” Anders says flatly.

She doesn't respond. She goes back outside to bring the rest of her things.

“So where do I put these?” She gestures to her boxes laying around.

Anders drags a hand over his face. Couldn't you have said no to all of this? You're a grown woman.”

“Just as I thought you're a grown man and could sensibly explain to your granny that we are not moving in together.” Electra fires back. “I didn’t come up with the ‘let’s pretend to be a couple’ idea.”

“Of course. Says the infamous architect.” Anders taunts.

Electra thins her lips. “This is a bad idea.” She turns to leave but Anders stops her.

“You can't leave.”

“And why?” She raises a brow at him.

“You need this as much as I do.”

Electra gaps. He isn't admitting that he needs her here. He's playing ‘turning tables’ instead. How appalling!

“Don’t give me that look. Your father doesn't know you work at an auto-shop. I bet there's more to that story. To keep it coherent, you need this relationship.”

“Are you blackmailing me?”

“No. But if you want to leave, then be my guest.” Anders points to the door. “Good luck keeping your shit together.”

Electra looks to the door. Painfully, Anders is right. She's in a fix as much as he is.

Her father must never find out she had never studied architecture. That she doesn't have a job with Brimstone. That she still visits her brother in prison. And that she's keeping her brother's auto-shop running.

But she wasn't going to cave in to Anders. She won't let him see that he has the upper hand.

“I guess you already made up something to tell your granny.” Electra taunts. “Or your cold heart would watch her die without fulfilling her wish.”

Anders cusses under his breath. He glares at Electra, wondering what kind of a girl she is. Others would be begging and apologizing to him at this point. Not cornering him with a weakness.

“I can handle my granny.”

“And I can handle my father.” She turns on her heels.

She takes slow steps towards the door, fighting within herself and praying he'd stop her.

He hisses and curses as he fights within himself hoping she'd change her mind.

“Wait.” He says just in the same time she turns around to say. “Let’s talk.”

Electra is amused at their unison. Anders' expression remains flat.

It's a tie. Neither of them can win.

Anders wants his granny to be happy. Die happy at least. He can never forgive himself if anything otherwise happens as he already blames himself for his parents death.

Electra, on the other hand, wants to protect her brother at all costs. But she also wants to protect her father. This seemed like the only way to protect the two people she loved. Her loved ones being enemies to each other made it so difficult.

They each have something to lose if this goes south.

She peels her gaze on him. “So?”

He huffs out a breath.

“I'll show you to your room.” He begins to lead the way. “Try to stay in it as much as possible.”

“Maybe you should just buy me a leash.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

She hisses as she follows him. He stops in front of a door.

“If you're going to be living here, there'll be rules.”