“Because I do.” He winked.
I shook my head trying to hide my smile, and then he gave me a little tug. This was it. I walked beside him, my hand beginning to sweat, and my heart beginning to race. When we reached the door he knocked three times, and a woman in a cleaning uniform came to answer it. She greeted us with a warm smile before ushering us inside.
My eyes grew wide as I took in the space around us. White marble floors, and fifteen foot ceilings. Art pieces lined the walls, and there was even a sculpture at the bottom of the staircase. A staircase that sat in the center of the room, and went up before branching off in two separate directions. It was like something out of an old movie. I wondered if a butler would show up next to ask for our jackets.
“Don't let it intimidate you.” Owen whispered in my ear.
“Easy for you to say.” I whispered back.
“Just be yourself, Ronnie.” He assured me.
I nodded, and with his hand on the small of my back he led me around the large staircase to a room just behind it. The door was ajar, only a few inches but I could hear voices on the other side of it. Owen knocked twice, before slowly pressing it open to announce himself. I smiled, ready to greet his dad, but instead found myself staring directly into the eyes of my cheating ex fiance.
Owen looked from his dad, to Derek, and then to me. I had no explanations for what we were seeing right now. All I could do is convey that to him with a look of confusion. This made absolutely no sense to me, and I was just about to open my mouth to say so, when a frail man sitting behind a large oak desk caught my attention by clearing his throat.
“You're late.” Owen's father said, with gravel in his voice.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Owen snapped, pointing to Derek. “How the hell do the two of you even know each other?”
Derek stood from the chair that he'd been occupying, and extended his hand towards Owen.
“It's nice to finally meet you, brother.”
“Brother?” Owen asked, looking at Derek's out stretched hand in disgust. “Did you hit your head when you were in the elevator the other day?”
Derek laughed, and I just stood there stock still. Owen's hand was still on the small of my back, and I found myself sliding a little closer to him. He rubbed my back reassuringly, and then turned towards his dad.
“Care to explain, old man?” He asked, in the calmest voice he could muster.
“Everyone needs to sit down.” He said, motioning towards the chairs.
Derek reclaimed the seat he'd been in minutes ago, and Owen escorted me to one of the chairs directly in front of the desk. When I was comfortably seated, he took the chair beside mine.
“Aren't you going to introduce me son?” Mister Foster asked, with a warm smile.
“Dad, this is my girlfriend Ronnie. Ronnie... Edward Foster.”
“Girlfriend.” Derek scoffed.
“Have you got something to say?” Mister Foster asked, as he placed his focus on Derek now.
I closed my eyes, and said a silent prayer to whoever the hell was listening. Please don't let Derek make a scene. Just... let him be a normal, caring, human being for once in his life.
“Veronica's my fiance.” He said, with a smug tone.
“Ex fiance.” I corrected.
“I don't recall getting my ring back, baby girl.” He winked.
“That's because I flushed it down the toilet.” I said, with sass.
Mister Foster looked up at me, and then Owen, getting a wide grin on his face. Before I knew what was happening he started to laugh. Soon, he was laughing so hard that I was starting to take offense. What the hell was going on here? Why was Derek here? And why the fuck was this man laughing?
“Dad!” Owen said, as he stood with anger. “Enough. Why is he here?”
“He's here, because he's your half brother.”
Suddenly the sinking feeling in my stomach was back full force. For the last two days I'd been feeling out of sorts, but hearing this kind of news was enough to make anyone want to vomit. I covered my mouth, and tried to breathe through the wave of nausea that had rushed over me. I stood then, and made a beeline for the door. Thankfully the woman who let us in, pointed me in the direction of the bathroom just in the nick of time.
I ejected the contents of my stomach, and slumped down onto the bathroom floor. Brothers? How was that even possible? And how in the hell did I end up sleeping with both of them? What were the odds? Was the world really that small? What was going to happen with Owen, and I now? Would he want to stay with me knowing that Derek is his brother? My emotions were all over the place, and it was like I was back in my old apartment on the day that I found Derek cheating on me.
I didn't know how to feel. I could hear the three of them yelling, exchanging insults, but I couldn't make myself move. Instead I stayed in the bathroom, hiding like a coward and attempting to eavesdrop.
“When you didn't show any interest in the family business, I had to find a surrogate. I've known about Derek his entire life, but he's only just recently met me. He was all set to take the reigns, and leave you with nothing. Of course, now that you've shown up with the woman he told me he was marrying... we've reached a bit of a hiccup.” I heard Mister Foster say.
“I don't understand.” Derek said, his anger rising. “You said all we had to do was sign some paperwork.”
“What were you going to do? Hire someone to pretend to be your fiance? Our conditions were clear. No engagement, no business.”
“Ronnie will come back to me! She always does. Do
