Chapter Four
Behind the closed door, Owen stopped close to his desk and turned to his brother, holding up his cup with an unspoken remark.
“Well,” Oliver replied, “You did get right in her face yesterday, I’m not surprised that she noticed. And we got pretty close when I got her into the computer.”
“That’s another thing, she changed the password,” Owen said.
Oliver rolled his eyes. “It’s easy to override if we have to.”
Owen shook his head and looked down at his beverage.
Oliver smirked. “You expected her to give up by now, didn’t you?”
“It’s only been a day,” Owen said. “She could still quit.”
“Yeah, but I think we both know better.” He considered his older twin and saw that underlying debate in his face again. “She cleans up nicely, doesn’t she?”
“Mm,” Owen mumbled. “You have a knack for seeing people’s potential.”
“Just like I have a knack for reading your mind before you open your mouth,” Oliver said. “She stands out to you.”
Owen hesitated before nodding.
“You can see how that would be a problem, right?”
“She’s a grown woman,” Owen answered. “She doesn’t need her daddy’s permission.”
Oliver gave him a look. “I think this is a bit of an exception.”
“Marty’s known us for a long time -”
“Exactly,” Oliver said, coming closer. “He knows us better than almost anyone, yet he still suggested his daughter come work for us. Don’t you think that’s a gesture of how much trust he’s putting in us both?”
“Unless they don’t get along very well,” Owen offered.
“I doubt that’s the case,” Oliver said. “She seems well brought-up, and she’s handled everything we’ve thrown at her so far. I see that as his doing, which means they’ve got to be on good terms. Good enough anyway. If we did anything to hurt her, Marty would most likely bring out his big guns.”
“Hmm,” Owen hummed again. Marty had been one of their grandmother’s attorneys for several years. And once the twins were old enough to go into business for themselves, she had suggested he work specifically with them on account of his determination and strong will. Unlike others she knew, he wouldn’t be knocked down very easily by the young duo’s gimmicks, and tireless sense of humor. They had certainly tried. And Marty had won against them time and time again. He still got a bit impatient with them when they were acting particularly intolerable, but he’d worked with them for the better part of a decade now and they could all sense a mutual fondness and respect there.
Now it seemed that his daughter was someone not as easily turned away either, and this was something Owen was very interested in. It was a challenge, one that she had accepted the day before when she got to her feet and tried to stare him down. Keeping her firm stance while still showing he could call the shots –as long as she said so.
Something small but prominent fluttered inside of him at the thought. He felt very eager to play that game with her.
“But,” Oliver said pointedly, breaking the trance, “I don’t think I need to tell you how catastrophic that would be. Marty’s gotten us out of some pretty sticky situations before. If he were to turn that same arsenal against us, propelled by the instinct to protect his daughter – I think it’s safe to say we’d be ruined for good, don’t you?”
Owen took a drink from his cup. “So, what do you suggest?”
“Clear the temptation,” Oliver said. “Sever the ties now before they get any thicker. You said yourself, it’s only been one day.”
“You want to fire her?” Owen asked. “After we gave her the new outfit and she managed to get the upper hand in twenty-four hours?”
“The risk is a little too great to ignore for the sake of a power play, Owen. There are plenty of other people you can amuse yourself with.”
Owen thought for a moment. “And what happens if Marty tries to sue us for wrongful termination?”
“I think we could plead our case well enough before it got to court,” Oliver said. “Just tell him the truth. She’s too much of a distraction and rather than let ourselves be tempted, we respect him enough to let her go with good recommendations before anyone got hurt – why are you looking at me like that?”
Owen’s eyes were locked onto his now. “Ourselves?”
Oliver rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh.
“So, you like her too,” Owen asked. “Is that why you’re so eager to get rid of her? Think you’re going to fall prey quicker than me?”
“It doesn’t really matter, does it?” Oliver said a bit dismissively. “She’s still Marty’s daughter and I don’t want to deal with the consequences of that.”
Owen put his drink down and came closer to his brother. His eyes shown with a new interest.
Oliver shook his head, knowing he wasn’t going to like this.
“Tell me what you like about her,” Owen said in a hushed tone.
“It’s not important.”
“Come on, now,” Owen pushed, getting very close. “I’ve told you what I like. It’s only fair.”
“I don’t think I need to point it out,” Oliver said. “It’s plain enough for anyone to see.”
Owen shook his head with amusement. “No, I want to hear you say it. You like to play as much as I do, Oliver. But I haven’t heard you suggest dismissal for someone you actually like before. Just how bad is it?”
“Not as bad as yours, I can assure you.”
Owen circled around behind him. “Have you been picturing her in your head? You thought of that new outfit to compliment her features, you must have gotten a good look at her shape.”
Oliver stared blankly ahead as though bored.
“And you would have had to undress her in your mind to get rid of all that beige.”
“Are you trying to get me to change my mind?” Oliver asked flatly. He raised his drink to his lips, but Owen’s hand closed around his, stilling it just in front of his mouth.
“She drinks Classic Roast, she says. Wouldn’t that be something, to coax her out for a hot drink on a chilly evening? To keep the contrast of the fresh heat on her lips with yours against the cold?”
Oliver’s jaw tightened with agitation. Owen lowered his voice to a whisper and spoke into his brother’s ear. “I’ve run my fingers through her hair, Oliver. It feels as marvelous as it looks. Wouldn’t you like to feel it too? Pressed against your body as you held her tight?”
“Owen…”
“Don’t you want to see that strong resolve crumble? That determined arrogance to give way to surrendered bliss? Oh, the resilient ones are always the most fun to break, aren’t they?”
Oliver’s breath shuddered a bit before he could stop himself.
“When professional ‘Mr. Jones’ turns into breathless pleas of ‘Oliver. Oliver!’”
“Stop!” Oliver pulled away from his twin, “This isn’t right, we shouldn’t be doing this. And you know it.”
Owen’s smile grew bigger. “That makes it even more thrilling.”
“Owen, we can’t. Not to Marty.”
“He doesn’t need to know.”
“How do you expect to keep something like that secret?”
“I doubt they’re still living together, Oliver. She’s in her twenties.”
“And what about her?” Oliver asked. “What if she’s not open to the idea?”
“Oh, one can only hope.”
Oliver glared at him. “Owen, stop that.”
The elder brother rolled his eyes. “Relax. I wouldn’t force myself on a woman, you know that. But I would make it near impossible for her to resist.”
Oliver shook his head again.
“Relax,” Owen said, coming closer again, more sincerely. “It’s not like we’d bag her by tonight. That wouldn’t be any fun. We’ll have time to feel this out.”
“We?” Oliver looked up at him. “You want to share her?”
“Of course,” Owen said. He laughed a little at the look he was getting. “Did you think I would just keep her all to myself?”
Oliver’s expression fell and Owen’s humor disappeared. “Oliver,” he stepped right up to his counterpart. “I would never steal something you wanted from you. You know I wouldn’t.”
“I know,” Oliver said very quietly.
“Look at me,” Owen turned his head to meet his eyes. “Never.”
His eyes searched his brother’s, and his gaze became much softer. “There is nothing more important -”
“I know,” Oliver cut him off.
“And you know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do -”
“I know, Owen,” Oliver said, giving his brother a weak smile. “It’s alright. I understand.”
Both Owen’s hands found the sides of his head. “You believe me, don’t you?”
“Of course, I do,” He turned his head to face the other directly. His eyes turned sympathetic and he placed his hands over his brother’s. “You have nothing to worry about.”