Chapter Four
Bryce and Ivory got married a month back and Briar was busy with Ivory's cousin Alexia who was staying at their ranch. The way things were between them, Brody could see another wedding coming up in two months. Blade had lost all hopes of finding the love of his life and he overworked himself to forget his grief. Bronson was away at Austin pursuing his MBA in finance and accounting.
Valentina didn't know how to discourage Brody anymore. She knew he would visit her everyday and she just went with the flow, not showing much interest in him, ignoring him or just answering him in monosyllables. Alexandra still called her telling her about hers and Brody's sex life. She usually didn't pick up her phone but when accidentally she did pick up, it would be only to excuse herself and disconnect the call after a few minutes.
After eight months, Brody still came to visit her everyday. He would bring her a red rose. She didn't have the heart to throw them. She kept them in one of her lockers. The whole locker was full of dried up red roses. She didn't know what to do anymore. Why Brody kept pursuing her was beyond her understanding. He never showed irritation or impatience. He never yelled at her for her behaviour. In fact he was the sweetest guy she'd ever seen, going out of the way to help her. He never expected anything in return. He still asked her out everyday, but didn't ever curse when she made lame excuses.
Briar and Alexia got married and Blade met a beautiful girl on the church steps on the day of the wedding and brought her home. Her name was Brooklyn and she was hiding from her stepfather and stepbrothers who were after her property which she inherited from her mother after her death. Blade and Brody were busy the next month with the sheriff and the US Marshals team trying to catch her tormentors who had followed her all the way from Vancouver to Travis Springs.
After four days, Valentina arrived at the ranch with her designs. The moment Brody heard her voice, he hurried down from his room and sat down in front of her before Brooklyn or his mom and aunt.
"Show me the tuxedo designs," he said staring at her beautiful face.
"Wait for the groom. He gets to select first," she explained as Brody groaned. His mom, aunt Olivia, grandma and Brooklyn came over and sat down around her. "Shift Brody. What are you doing here? Where's Blade?" Asked his mom.
"I'm here to check the tuxedo designs," he said sitting stubbornly.
"Go call Blade," said his mom.
"No mom. My place will be gone," he said, unhappily.
"Seriously?" His mom glared at him.
"Alright. I'm going," he said getting up and going out to call Blade, grumbling all the way.
Aunt Olivia chuckled. Poor boy, no one understood him. Even a blind person could see that the boy was head over heels in love with Valentina. He returned with Blade soon, like he ran to and from the barn where Blade was.
They checked the designs, selecting the bridal gown as well as the bridesmaids dresses and the dress for the maid of honour. Alexia was the maid of honour as she and Brooklyn bonded well over the last few days. Ivory too became close to her but with her pregnancy she couldn't help her much. So Briella, Brittany and Ivory were the bridesmaids.
"Will you be my bridesmaid Valentina? I want you to be," said Brooklyn as everyone agreed that she should be.
"Ok, I'll have a dress prepared for myself too," she said excitedly. "Once they are all ready, I'll call you down to Brittany's warehouse for the fitting," she said smiling. She got up to leave. Brody led her to the door and went with her to see her off.
"So, Valentina, are you busy tonight? I was thinking of going for a movie," he asked.
"I'm always busy. I only watch movies with my parents at home," she said, going to her car.
"Why won't you go out with me?" He asked, frustrated at her attitude. He had been nice with her for the last one year, always asking like a gentleman, yet she never once agreed.
"Why don't you go out with your whores? I'm not interested," she said, glaring at him with hatred in her eyes. She opened her car door and climbing into her car, she drove away.
Brody stood there like a statue. True he had been having fun with girls when he was younger but not anymore. He never promised them a relationship, they were available and looking for a night of fun and he obliged. He had matured now and left all that behind. He seriously liked Valentina. Couldn't she see that?
Heartbroken at her harsh words, he went inside and straight to his room. Was he so repulsive, bad and worthless that she couldn't even talk to him properly. For the last one year he had asked her out, never touched her, never forced her, helped her even many times, yet she didn't once think about him. He took out a bottle of whiskey and drank straight from the bottle.
Next day, he went to Austin with Blade and bought two heart-shaped pendants, one for Valentina and the other for himself. He would fit her picture and keep it for himself.
He drove all the way to her shop to give her the gift. "Valentina, I've got this for you," he said excitedly.
"Leave it on the counter please, I'm at the stockroom," she said. He left it over the counter and went into the stockroom to see her. If he didn't see her how would he survive the day?
"Hi, see what I've got for you?" He asked excitedly, knowing fully well that she might throw away the gift. "You can fit a picture of someone you love and wear it around your neck. I've bought one for myself too. I'll fit your picture in it," he said, smiling.
"Hmm," she said, her heart breaking at his enthusiasm. She didn't want to snub him, but everytime she saw him, she remembered what Alexandra told her. She felt all the more angry.
"Will you go out with me, tonight? Please? Just this once?" He asked, hope shining in his blue eyes.
"Some other time," she replied, counting stocks.
Brody heaved a deep deep sigh. He knew she didn't like him and that 'some other time ' would never happen in this life. "Ok, I won't disturb you anymore. You carry on. See you tomorrow, Valentina," he said, smiling. He left the shop with a heavy heart and went home.
The moment he left, Valentina picked up the pendant. It was a beautiful silver pendant which opened so that you could insert a small picture inside it. She loved it. She kept it inside her handbag. She was really feeling terrible to be a bitch to Brody. She decided to ignore Alexandra from now on. She couldn't give Brody a chance. She didn't want to be another one in his string of conquests. Her father's reputation was at stake and she didn't want to put him to any kind of shame. Throughout her life she strove to achieve perfection, as a perfect daughter, as a perfect sister, as a student and now as a designer in her career. She didn't want all that effort to go down the drain.
A few weeks later, Brittany asked her to visit the Summers ranch house to take measurements of all the members. Brooklyn's tormentors had been arrested. Blade and Brooklyn were getting married in a month's time. Since Brooklyn was pregnant and unwell, Valentina needed to go and get the measurements for the wedding gowns and tuxedos. Brittany was also pregnant and with two children to take care of, it was impossible for her to do the work herself. She reached the ranch and introducing herself to Brooklyn, set about her task.
Aunt Daisy helped her with uncle Jamie and Blade's measurements. Uncle Rob already knew his measurements. She took grandpa's measurements.
Happy with her work, she went about taking Brooklyn, Ivory, Briella and Alexia's measurements. Aunt Daisy, aunt Olivia and grandma also had their measurements noted down. Aunt Olivia helped with Bryce and Briar's measurements. Bronson gave his measurements over the phone. Brody wasn't there at home, thankfully and she left. Once the designs were ready, she would come back for approval.
Valentina was at the gate of the ranch when she collided with Brody.
"Sorry, I didn't see you," she mumbled, as she tried to leave.
"I saw you. So you came to see me?" He asked with a happy grin.
"No, I came to take the measurements for the wedding dresses and tuxedos," she said, looking down. She didn't want to look into his mesmerising blue eyes. She had to admit that Brody Summers was sinfully gorgeous, the most handsome guy she had ever seen.
"Oh? You didn't take mine," he said blocking her path.
"I'm leaving now. Give your measurements at the shop tomorrow," she said without thinking. He smirked and allowed her to pass.
He visited Brittany to ask her when he could visit the shop to give his measurements.
"You could come in the morning around 9 am, Valentina opens the shop or you could come in the evening at around 5. I stay with her," she said as Brody grinned and thanked her and left. He would definitely go at 9 o'clock in the morning.
Humming a tune, he reached home, excitedly waiting for the next morning.