One Night Stand With My Husband’s Brother

The Axfords met the president of the United States,

Alexander Montgomery, and his family at the rooftop of Axford Hotel.

Richard Axford was more than delighted to meet him, and so was Eleanor. He was with his wife and daughter, Christen and Sarah Montgomery.

Mackenzie stood behind the Axfords, along with every other important staff in Axford Hotel. Nora was present to ensure the smooth welcome of the president and his family.

They were ushered into a banquet hall, with a dinning table of ten set for them. A live classical band was stationed at the end of the room for live entertainment. Stewards were present behind ever chair to serve each and every person on the table.

Chase and the president walked ahead of the rest of them. The president was not a boring old man like Chase had thought, he was full of jokes and pleasantries, and Chase found himself smiling at regular intervals.

Until they were all seated around the table, and Mackenzie was nowhere to be found.

He took out his phone from his pocket and sent a message to Nora, asking where Mackenzie was.

“So, Mr. Chase, my daughter told me all that you did for her in Slovenia. I must say, she considers you a hero.” Mrs. Christen Montgomery started to speak.

Chase tore his eyes away from his phone and forced a smile at the president’s wife.

“It was nothing serious, your excellency.”

“Oh! Do not listen to him, mother! It was more than serious. A lot of things would have happened to me if Mr. Chase did not show up. I was lost in a strange city with a language I could neither speak nor understand, and he helped me get back to my hotel. There were so many things that could have gone wrong.”

Chase turned to look at the young girl. She must have been in her early twenties, bright blue eyes and sunny blonde hair.

Richard leaned into Chase and whispered something that caused him to scoff.

“She definitely has a crush on you, son.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, father. She is the president’s daughter.”

“So what? Imagine marrying into the president’s family.” Richard sat up straight and sipped from his champagne flute.

Chase looked at the younger girl and found her cheeks darkening. His attention was immediately stolen by the sound of his phone’s chiming.

He picked up phone in a rush and checked Nora’s message.

“She took a quick break to the bathroom, sir. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”

He heaved a sigh of relief and placed the phone on the table. His father pinched his knee and Chase raised his eyes to glare at his old man. Richard’s eyes dropped to his phone, then gestured for Chase to put it away.

Chase rolled his eyes and slipped the phone into his pocket, still keeping an eye out for Mackenzie.

He picked his phone and texted Mackenzie to ask of her location. She hadn’t read it yet, so there was no reply.

“Mr. President, it is a pleasure to have you here in Axford Hotels.” Eleanor started to speak. Jeffrey was seated beside his mother, yet the only thing he cared about was speaking to Mackenzie.

“My son here, Jeffrey, is a big fan of what you’re doing in Ashville state. The speed subways are a very important investment, and as a businessman, he has a lot of light he can shed on the project plan.” She turned to look at Jeffrey.

“Jeffrey, tell the president all about it!” Eleanor called out, quite excited that she had cleared the floor for her son to speak.

Perhaps she should have informed him seconds earlier. When Jeffrey snapped out of his reverie, he was as clueless as a deer stung by headlights.

Chase could barely contain his laughter. He picked up his flute and sipped his champagne slowly.

“I guess the power’s been cut.”

Richard and the president laughed heartily. They seemed to be the only ones who caught the joke quickly. The president’s wife and daughter followed seconds later, while Eleanor struggled to recover from the embarrassment. Yet, Jeffrey didn’t seem to care. He continued to count the seconds when Mackenzie would join them at the table.

***

Mackenzie stood in front of the sink. Her right hand gripped the body of the sink, while the left squeezed her lower abdomen.

She had been walking beside Nora when her stomach began to hurt. She quickly excused herself and rushed to the bathroom. It was only then she remembered it was her time of the month.

A frown stole across her face as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had to find a way to excuse herself from the rest of the meeting, and go home to rest.

She turned the faucet, and placed her hand under the running tap. When she raised her head, the image of her ex mother-in-law caused her heart to skip.

Mackenzie turned off the tap quickly, and turned to look at Eleanor.

Eleanor made sure to open all the bathroom stalls, just to make sure there was no one who could listen in on her conversation.

There was a lot she had to say to Mackenzie Torsney, and none of it was good.

Mackenzie swallowed hard and fought to stand her ground. She was not going to he detered by Eleanor’s words. She wasn’t the helpless daughter-in-law Eleanor could toss about four years ago, she was stronger now, and she was determined to show it.

Eleanor Axford slowly cat-walked towards Mackenzie. The woman had not aged at all in four years. Her brunette bob was straightened to her broad shoulders. Her black dress clung to the slender curves of her body like a second skin. Mackenzie could not deny it, the woman was an epitome of beauty, elegance, and raw danger.

“Mackenzie sweet Torsney,” Eleanor started to speak. As she smiled, Mackenzie took note of the beauty of her white set of teeth against her blood red lipstick.

“I hope today was enough to show you that you do not belong in the Axford family. The gap between us would just never be covered, no matter how many times you sleep with both Axford sons.”

Mackenzie’s heart skipped in her chest. Eleanor Axford swore to stop at nothing to break her down.

“All you can do is work for us, work under us, slave away for us.” As she spoke, she walked in circles around Mackenzie.

“We are just too good for you. We will always be. Don’t you get it yet, my dear?”

She stood in front of Mackenzie, a feigned sad smile crept up to her cheeks.

“You should return home to your father, to your little town in North Dakota. Stay there, farm with him, grow crops like the farmer’a daughter you are. You’ll have more purpose there then here, darling.”

Tears threatened to rush from Mackenzie’s eyes, but there was no way she was letting the woman have her way.

She fought to gather her thoughts together, before forcing a smile that matched Eleanor’s fake one.

“Is this really the way you want to say hi to your daughter-in-law? After four years? Tsk.” Mackenzie kissed her teeth and pouted.

“You wound me.”

Eleanor’s smile dissolved into a glare.

Surely, the country rat had not dared to talk back at her, or did she?

She bursted into laughter, a mocking, cruel one, before fixing her gaze on Mackenzie again.

“You really think Chase would take you seriously, don’t you?”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Mackenzie’s throat ran dry at the mention of Chase. Eleanor saw the look in her eyes, the wishing, the longing.

“Oh! You really do. That explains the nerve you have to throw words back at me.” She took one step closer to Mackenzie.

Mackenzie tried to move backwards, but her waist collided with the edge of the sink.

“You should listen to me, Mackenzie Torsney. You should runaway, or I would make a thorough mess of everything you’ve ever cherished.”

Eleanor reached for Mackenzie’s right cheek and caressed her skin with her thumb. She looked the younger woman dead in the eyes, so Mackenzie knew she wasn’t bluffing.

“You know me too well, Mackenzie. You know I don’t make empty threats. Go away, disappear, don’t make us cross paths again, or I would squash you between my fingers like the insect you are.” Eleanor leaned into her and blew a kiss past her right ear. She pulled herself away and turned her back to Mackenzie, swaying her hips as she glided out of the bathroom.

Mackenzie let out a long sigh. She was not aware how long she had held her breath until Eleanor was out of the bathroom.

She rushed out of the female bathroom, suddenly feeling the walls close in around her, and made her way to the general door.

She was tired, so tired. These were the same people she had fought hard to stay away from. How did she end up here?

What if Eleanor found out about the children?

What would she do then?

Panic clawed at Mackenzie’s chest, as tears rushed down her eyes.

She held onto a sink and bowed her head, sobbing, her shoulder shook and her fingers trembled.

She hated how weak she was, how helpless she was when it came to the Axfords. She hated the fact that she could not hide her children away from them.

She hated the fact that…

Her shoulders tensed once she felt a firm hand clasp the right blade.

Mackenzie did not need to look up to know who it was.