Brax couldn't help but stare at the beautiful woman sat in front of him. He had to admit he was a bit shocked to see Geoffrey King, his wife and daughter come into the restaurant and ask him for a table, but he wasn't about to argue. Besides he was eager to see just what the deal was between Leila and her husband. As Brax watched curiously he quickly picked up on the tension between Leila and the teenager. It didn't take genius to work out Victoria didn't like Leila.
As Brax continued to watch, he noticed how attentive Geoffrey was to his wife. He draped his arm across the back of her chair and kissed her hand every now and then. Whether Brax liked it or not, this couple were still very much in the honeymoon stage of their marriage, much to the disgust of Geoffrey's teenage daughter.
Brax's thoughts were quickly interrupted when something happened on the table. Leila had thrown her glass of wine all over her step-daughter and then stormed out. Geoffrey didn't look to happy with his daughter but he stayed to help her clean it up. Brax saw this as the perfect opportunity to slip outside and talk to Leila. As he looked around he saw her sat on a bench on the beach. He headed over to her and sat down "Are you alright?" he asked as he looked at her. Leila turned to face him "Yes, she just knows how to get to me, you know" Brax could tell Leila was still annoyed with Victoria.
"I take it you two don't get on" Brax knew he was stating the obvious.
"That's a bit of an understatement, Victoria hates me. She always has" Leila laughed a little at Brax's comment.
"Kids eh" he sighed as he sat back on the bench. Leila smiled as she followed his lead and sat back.
"It's not that I don't want them, I just think sometimes maybe my life would be easier if it was just me and Geoffrey you know" Brax nodded, he understood what Leila was trying to say. Leila suddenly sat up "Oh god, listen to me, off loading all my problems onto you, I should really get back inside" she said as she quickly hurried back inside. Brax grinned to himself before following.
Brax walked back into Angelo's just in time to see Leila give Geoffrey a kiss and apologise to his daughter. He gritted his teeth as he watched Geoffrey approach him.
"Good evening Darryl, have you thought anymore about my offer?" he asked, Brax shook his head "Not happening" he replied simply. Before either men had chance to speak again they were interrupted by a furious looking woman storming over to Leila.
"Oh boy" Geoffrey sighed, Brax looked him curiously with a half smile.
"Oh my poor darling" the woman exclaimed as she fussed over the teenager, who I have to add was grinning smugly at this point.
Leila was stood watching the performance with her hands on her hips.
"How dare you do this?" The woman finally yelled.
"Don't you think you should go over there?" Brax suggested. Geoffrey shook his head
"Oh, I don't think that's necessary, Leila is more than capable of handling my ex-wife. I wouldn't mind another drink though" he said as he watched what was about to unravel. Brax didn't even refuse Geoffrey's request. He just poured him a drink as he watched these two women curiously.
"She was behaving like a Brat" Leila defended herself.
"My daughter is not a brat, you're the spoilt bitch" Geoffrey's ex spat.
"What ever Elizabeth, now you're here you can take the brat home" Leila replied with a cool voice.
"How dare you, you are nothing but a marriage wrecking whore" Liz spat furiously.
Leila just raised her eye brows "You done" she asked.
"You're nothing to him you know that, you are just a midlife crisis" Leila had, had enough of Liz's below the belt comments and this one was the final straw.
"Now that's where your wrong Liz I'll think you'll find Geoffrey's entire marriage to you was his midlife crisis. I was just the light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel" Leila finally argued back, Brax burst out laughing before quickly covering his mouth. Wow what a comeback he thought to himself.
Liz was infuriated; she launched herself at Leila, causing Brax and Geoffrey to intervene. Brax grabbed Liz and Geoffrey took hold of his wife "Come on lets get you home" Geoffrey said as he picked up Leila's things and put his arm around her.
"Daddy, what about me?" Victoria was angry that her father had taken Leila's side again.
"You can go home with your mother, you caused this now deal with it" Her dad replied angrily as he escorted Leila out of the building.
-X-
"I'm sorry, I made a show like that" Leila apologized as she got in the car.
"It's not your fault darling, if Victoria didn't behave like a selfish little B…" Geoffrey started before being interrupted.
"Come on honey, we both know she is still angry about us getting married so quickly. She's bound to lash out. It must be hard seeing how happy we are when she knows how her mother is behaving" Leila could understand in a way how Victoria felt. It can't have been easy for her to see her dad canoodling with someone half his age.
"You are incredible, do you know that?" Geoffrey said finally before kissing Leila's hand and shutting the car door. Leila smiled to herself as she watched Geoffrey climb in the driver's seat. Little did he realise it but he had chosen her over his old life again.
-X-
Brax was cleaning up the mess the King's had left behind when Heath walked in "You'd better get used to that" Heath grinned.
"What?" Brax was confused.
"Cleaning up Leila King's mess" Heath explained "Because I'm telling you now bro if you take this further, I won't be getting down on my hands and knees to clean up your mess" Heath knew what his brother was thinking. He had seen the way Brax behaved around Leila.
"I don't know what your talking about" Brax said as he stood up and looked at his brother.
"All I'm saying is, don't mess with another mans wife. Especially not that wife" Heath warned his brother.
Brax didn't really know what Heath meant but he was sure there was a warning in there somewhere.
-X-
Geoffrey pulled up slowly outside the King house, Leila was looking for her mobile phone in her handbag "Honey have you seen my phone?" she asked her husband who was watching her with a knowing smile.
"It's at Angelo's" he replied, Leila looked at Geoffrey.
"Why, didn't you pick it up?" Leila wondered.
"Because I left it on purpose. The perfect reason for you to go back alone" Geoffrey explained deviously.
"Right, what are you planning Geoffrey King?" Leila too shared Geoffrey's devious smile.
-X-
Ruby had finally returned from the city. She had been away to try and clear her head.
Ruby still blamed the Braxton's for Charlie's death; she was furious with Brax and hadn't so much as spoke on the phone to Casey since she left two months ago. Ruby still had a bee in her bonnet when she came back to the bay. She decided she needed to go and see Brax.
Brax was clearing tables when he came across a white blackberry, he then remembered he had seen Leila King using earlier. Brax slipped it into his pocket, before continuing to clear up. He looked up as he heard footsteps near the door. Brax swallowed hard when he saw Ruby approach, she still looked as angry as she was when she left two months ago.
"What do you want Ruby?" he asked dryly, Ruby stomped towards him.
"How dare you involve Leah in your mess?" Ruby spat furiously
"She involved herself" Brax replied defensively "I didn't ask her to pay Geoffrey King that money"
"Oh and I suppose you didn't beg my mother to be your girlfriend either" Ruby had said these words to Brax over and over again, and still they couldn't make him feel any worse that he already did.
"I never meant for this to happen" Brax said as he walked closer to Ruby.
"Well whether you meant for it to happen or not it still boils down to the same thing, my mother would still be here if it wasn't for you, you killed her Brax. It's your fault she's dead" Ruby yelled before turning to leave. Brax retaliated by throwing a glass at his menu board.
-X-
Leila was shocked to be almost knocked off her feet by a fluffy haired brunette.
"Oh excuse me" Leila snapped sarcastically to the girl.
As Leila got closer to Angelo's she could hear a lot of crashing coming from inside, she quickly rushed inside and somehow only just managed to avoid being hit in the head by a glass. "Whoa" she exclaimed as she ducked the glass. She was horrified by what she saw; Brax was trashing the restaurant completely. She rushed over to try and stop him.
"Darryl stop" she said as she hooked her arms around his chest from behind. She tried to pull him away but he was too strong so she walked round the front of him and tried a different approach "Stop it" she yelled as she grabbed his arms. That didn't work either Brax had started to throw bottles of spirits at the walls. So Leila resorted to extreme measures she slapped Brax straight across the face.
It all happened in a split second. Leila was half expecting a slap back, what she wasn't expecting however was for Brax to collapse into her arms. It was impossible to hold him upright so she slid to the floor with him. For some reason Brax let all his emotions out, Leila had never seen a man cry like this before. She hugged Brax tightly "Shh" she whispered "Its ok".
I enjoyed writing that chapter I hope it was ok for you guys! Please let me know what you think!
R & R I want at least 5 more reviews before I update again
Big thanks to Machecea95, Chip Nuts and Claudiasmith for your reviews.
Spoilers for next chapter-
Brax and Leila make a connection!
Geoffrey takes drastic action to get his hands on Angelo's, who gets caught in the crossfire?
Ruby wants revenge for Charlie's death, who will she turn to for help?