Are we still brothers?

Lisa sat fidgeting her fingers for half an hour before deciding to take a look. She pressed her ear against the door. The sound proofing in the CEO’s room was good.  She gently turned the knob and opened the door leaving a tiny space between the door and the wall, hardly enough for someone to notice that the door was open, but enough to hear the conversation.  She saw Shadow standing with his back to her while the other three were sitting as she peeped in; she then leaned against the space with her ears, but could not hear a sound. Lisa could not believe that four grown men could still in a room for an hour without saying a word. ‘What was all this about? Even the major general was here!’ She was too engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the movements in the room.

Ed opened the door and Lisa fell in due to inertia, having positioned herself with her ear against the wall. Ed side stepped with a look of disgust and he threw a ‘told you so’ look at Ben before walking out.

Frank and Shadow looked equally disgusted but they had their backs to Lisa.

“See you in the evening” Frank turned and walked out with Shadow tailing him.

“Lisa”

“Yes, Boss!”

“Come in”

Lisa came in swaying her hips and smiling seductively. She walked to the coffee machine in corner and looked at him in a provocative posture “coffee??”

“Come here, don’t make me more disgusted” Ben shook his head. This was all his fault, who told him to be frivolous? This was a good time to put an end to this ambiguous friendship farce.

Lisa was shocked by the look of displeasure on Ben’s face.

“Boss”

“Are you free today?”

“No”

“Then what are you doing with your ears plastered at my door”

“Boss…. I …. I … I was coming in to ask if you needed coffee” She was not going to die unless she saw the coffin.

“You and I, both know what you were doing. On account of our many years of friendship, I will ignore you this time. If there ever is a next time, head to HR and leave. You should know your limits.”

“Boss…I… we…”

“What? Do you think of yourself as anything more?” Ben raised his eyebrows sarcastically.

“Lisa, we are not mutually exclusive and I have told you clearly that this friendship is nothing more than a transaction.” Ben reminded patiently seeing the dejected look.

“We… I …” Lisa tried to make sense of this sudden change “Boss, you…” She wanted to ask if he found someone but the question stuck in her throat unable to verbalize it.

“You know better than anyone what sort of a farce this is.”  He felt more certain that this was a good time for a clean break! “No particular reason for now, but I have decided not to continue this farce.”

“Boss, I know my limits. I have never asked for more.” Lisa quickly tried to salvage their relationship. She has liked Ben for many years and was patiently waiting for him to see the light. She thought the reason he looked for her when he was in trouble was because he enjoyed her body and was happy to accompany him till she was irreplaceable in his life. What she didn’t realize was that all Ben felt was a normal reaction any man who was drugged with an aphrodisiac would have, she was never indispensable to him.

“Yes, that’s why you’ve lasted longer than others but I am no longer interested. You can continue to stay as my Chief Secretary since you are efficient in your work if you want. I won’t force you but that’s all our relationship will be from now on”.

Lisa looked at Ben with a sense of loss, she couldn’t believe the price of eavesdropping would be so high!

“Boss, I swear I didn’t hear anything”

“We didn’t say anything for you to hear” Ben replied indifferently as he turned his attention to the documents on his table.

Lisa looked over at the tea table and saw a folder on the spot where Ben was sitting. She thought it must be some stock share portfolio that the Bosses where looking at but made a mental note to check it once Boss went out. Ben did not miss her cursory glance or the calculatory glint within but pretended not to notice it.

After a few minutes of standing uncomfortably due to being ignored, Lisa made her decision “Boss, I will respect your decision and will stay as your Chief Secretary” She bite her lips and added looking pitiful “just let me know if you change your mind”

Ben looked up in annoyance “You should know better, I never change my mind. Get back to work”

Once Lisa walked out of the office, Ben sat back against his chair and closed his eyes. He didn’t know why he was agitated. This was not the first time Lisa eavesdropped on a conversation. ‘Why was his reaction so big? Was it because he wanted to clean the air? There were lots of occasions for that. Although Lisa said she knew her limits, he knew what she did behind his back but he never intervened because he was never serious about any of them; they were all a farce;  always felt that she was getting rid of his rubbish. Why now? The only reason he could think of was Dana, he had skimmed through the file that Shadow had given him, he had read in her file that she could not and would not tolerate sand in her eyes. That must be it! But was that compatible with him? He opened his eyes and looked at the file on the tea table. He remembered Lisa’s gaze towards the tea table and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

He walked to the door ensured that it was fully closed; he locked it before walking to the tea table and sat down next to the file. He took his phone and dialed “Ed, where did you get to? Are you heading to the base?

“Nope… I didn’t expect the meeting at your place to finish so quickly and had called the day off”

“What are you up to?”

“Enjoy the delights of civilian life” he paused before he asked “you need me?”

“Not exactly, but I need your help”

“Shoot”

“Do you have that ninhydrin reagent at your lab?”

“Maybe… not sure why?”

“I will send Shadow to your lab, if you have some can you send it with him?”

“No need. I will go and bring it in if there is. Can you send your Hydra out for something when I come? I feel disgusted every time I see her!” Ed made a nauseous face at the phone.

“Ha… ha… she’s not that bad… I remember her telling me once that she had a thing for you”

“Stop! Are we still brothers?” Ed was extremely disgusted. He remembered Ben telling him this a few years ago. Perhaps his disgust towards Lisa started from then on… he couldn’t tell for sure.

“Alright, I won’t ever mention this. Do you need Shadow to follow?”

“What? I don’t know the way to my lab? Or your office?” Ed retorted in an annoyed tone before hanging up.

Ben looked at his phone with an amused smile before ringing Shadow “Where?”

“I came with Frank… just a few minutes away from your building”

“I’ve asked Ed for some things, he’ll be on his way back soon. Can you get some gloves, iron and some lunch and be back?”

“Boss what are we doing?” Shadow’s eyes lit up. Frank watched him from the sidelines, his curiosity peeking as well.

“Hurry up” Ben cut the phone. He never liked talking more than was necessary.

He sat back reading through her file. He was impressed at her background. She did a double degree in Psychology and training. Was very bubbly, a social butterfly until her marriage, after which she shrank into a shell. He looked at the photographs and transcripts collected from her friends at university and high school. Every single person who knew her had a deep impression of her. During due her straightforward and upright personality, not everyone liked her but those who did, loved her to bits and were shocked at her change. They couldn’t understand why she cut all ties with them. Photographs and transcripts from her colleagues in U country were totally different. She had only few friends, even they had described her as a dull character. The only comment or reference that was consistent across all the transcripts both before and after marriage was her loyalty and single mindedness. She refused to accept any proposals of love before her marriage as she could only marry the one her parents chose. She would often joke with her close friends that the chambers of her heart was too small and could only hold one person and couldn’t afford to have the wrong person placed in there.

Looking through the transcript of how popular she was in college, he felt uncomfortable ‘Where was everyone’s aesthetic sense? Why were they after an average looking female? Was this place short on good looking females?’ he scoffed in his head. However, the next picture that entered his eyes took away his misconception. It was a picture of Dana with her best mates at Uni. If one was honest, the most average looking person in the picture was Dana, but she still held her own in the picture. Ben looked at the innocent smile in the picture and found himself smile. Her short stint as a psychologist at a university hospital was also not without pursuers. The ones that were highlighted in the report was the performances of a Prof. at the orthopedic department, Dr Matthew Burns and a cardiac surgeon, Dr Ericson Mayfair who was the heart throb of all the interns and nurses at the hospital. Shadow had underlined the updates noting the cardiac surgeon was still single; he had taken a month leave of absence when she got married. ‘Heh! Luckily she moved to here after divorce and didn’t go back to I country. She was his destiny’

The next part was not as pleasant to read, neighbors transcripts of screaming that was overheard, reports from her mentors of how her personality changed in the first six months from outgoing to introvert. A friend's report on how she was shocked when she pulled Dana’s hand to pull her along for shopping and saw the bruises on her hand due to the cardigan being pulled up. Even when she encouraged her to walk away, Dana’s one liner would be “My parents wouldn’t understand, where I come from marriages are for a lifetime.” The veins on his forehead bulged as he read through the physical and mental abuse she suffered. He didn’t know why, but his heart hurt! He read how the later years of her life in U country revolved around her son. He closed the file not wanting to read anymore. He leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes.

“Knock…. Knock”

“Come in”

The phone rang a few seconds later.

“Yes”

“CEO, your door is locked Shadow and Frank are here to see you again” Lisa was annoyed that he locked the door. She wasn’t sure if that irritation was reflected in her tone so she hastily added in a concerned tone “CEO are you busy?”

“No ...no… Let them in” He had forgotten that he closed the door.

He opened the door to find Shadow and Frank smirking at him with raised eyebrows.

“Just lying down… had a headache” He didn’t know why, but he explained. Did they buy it? The cynical smile on their faces explained it. However, Lisa rushed forward “CEO, are you alright?”

“Um…” Ben nodded before closing the door behind Shadow and Frank.

“Why are you here?” Ben looked at Frank with a questioning gaze.

“How can I miss out on the fun?” Frank remarked unceremoniously and sat on his customary sofa.

Remembering Ed’s request, he dialed his number “How far?”

“Parking at your place”

Ben hung up and pressed the intercom “Lisa get me four coffees from the café downstairs.”

“Sure CEO”.

Ben turned the monitor to the camera in front of his office and viewed as Lisa hurried downstairs.

“What was that all about?” Frank asked curiously as he had seen Ben’s actions which was unusual for him.

“Just complying with a brother’s request” Ben replied with an indifferent expression.

A few minutes later Ed entered with a small bottle.

Ben sat in his office chair ignoring the three curious face taking printout. He then wore a set of gloves that Shadow that bought and picked up the prints and unceremoniously walked to the sofas where the rest were seated. He placed the other pairs of gloves on the tea table and sat down.

“Cut it out Ben” Ed lost patience first.

Ben still ignored them, he took out the sheets containing Dana’s information and placed the prints he had just taken and placed them in the folder and placed the folder on top of the gloves.

“You’re laying a trap?” Ed asked curiously.

Ben nodded with a mysterious smile.

“Who”

“Why”

Shadow and Frank asked in unison. Before answering Ben walked up to his Laptop bag, took off his gloves and placed it along with the sheets of Dana’s information in there. He sat at his desk tapping his fingers. A few minutes later-

“Knock … knock”

“Come in”

Lisa walked in with a tray of 4 coffees.

“Boss” She paused courteously remembering the conversation in the morning. Her eyes still darted towards the folder on the tea table. Even if it was for a fraction of a second, Ben did not miss this action. Ed’s lips curled up as well as he spotted this- it was an occupational hazard for him.

“Just place it here and leave! They will get it themselves and don’t disturb unless the buildings on fire!” Ben gave her a warning glance. He did not want the previous actions repeated.

Lisa lowered her head in acquiescence before walking out. Ben waited for another minute, before walking towards the door and locking it.

“Why the secrecy?” Frank could not hold on any longer.

“Smoke the rat? I see you have become enlightened!” Ed teased.

“Eh?” Frank and Shadow looked from Ben to Ed.

“Yes! How did you know?” Ben looked at Ed.

“You forget, other than your friend, I am also the chief of intelligence operations, my observational skills are an occupational hazard”

“Heh!” Ben then turned towards Frank and Shadow “I want to see who has the nerve to touch my private property” He took out a marker and marked the folder as private and confidential. All the secretaries knew that folders with this mark were for the CEO’s and Shadow’s eyes only.

“What made you suspect your nooky?”

“I’ve had my doubts but was not bothered till now. Somehow her curiosity towards this folder has touched a nerve” Ben explained.

Everyone nodded.

“Actually, I have decided to cut off all casual interludes and farces” Ben announced and looked around to see the shocked expression on his friends faces, however their faces didn’t show the expected reaction.

“What? You don’t believe me?”

“No, we do” They replied in unison with a bored expression.

“And this is all the reaction I get?”

“We’ve all read Dana’s file” Frank clarified lightly

“Oh!” Ben felt his IQ had dropped since Dana effect began.

Ed picked up the folder

“Wear the gloves if you want to touch the sheets” Ben cautioned “I don’t want to complicate with other prints”

Ed picked up a pair and neatly put them on before flicking through the sheets and couldn’t help chuckle. Frank put on a pair and pulled the folder to view the contents and Shadow looked over his shoulder.

Inside the folder were portfolios of a few models and socialites detailing their hobbies, preferences in their partner, dislikes and so on.

“Wicked” Frank smiled.

“Are you sure she’ll go through these?” Shadow asked doubtfully. He had worked with Lisa for a long time and wanted to believe in her work ethics.

“Not only will she go through these, she will also get someone to tail these woman” Ed replied firmly

Ben was sure because he knew of other instances, he wanted to know why Ed was so sure. Ed rarely interacted with Lisa. Main reason being, he was repulsed by her.

“Profiling” Ed replied indifferently.

“So, what are we going to do?” Frank asked although he wasn’t comfortable laying a trap for someone he smiled at every day and would have to smile at in the future “More importantly, what will you do once you’ve confirmed your doubts?”

“Nothing” Ben chuckled and then explained “Nothing for now. I just want to collect strikes. I have a feeling this won’t stop here.”

“Collect strikes?” Ed wasn’t familiar with the commercial world; His family business was managed by his younger brother and he rarely interfered.

“Our company has a policy which all staff have signed. Misconduct of a certain severity would collect a strike and anyone who has 4 strikes against their employee file is punishable under the law as an offence of commercial theft and is non-bailable. Conduct that classifies for strike are detailed in the schedule B of the employment contract and there are no loopholes.” Shadow explained.

“Neat” Ed smiled and then affirmed in a heavy tone “You are serious about Dana, aren’t you?” It was more of a statement than a question.

Ben didn’t know how to respond. He wasn’t sure himself, how could he confirm? He looked at Ed with a complicated gaze.

“We’ll worry about it when we get there. You still have your wingmen… don’t you?” Ed winked at Ben lightheartedly. He felt uncomfortable seeing Ben muddleheaded which was contrary to the Ben he knew and grew up with.

Ben told the others that they would go out for a while and come back. He went to the bedroom attached to his office and placed the ninhydrin bottle and the gloves in a plastic bag and put it in one of his shoes in the shoe cabinet, placed the iron on the table there and came out.

They walked out of the office, Shadow and Ed in front, Ben and Frank behind them.

“I will be back in half an hour” Ben informed Lisa before walking off with the others.