My Husband's Brother

Violet The driver opens the door for me and I get off fumbling with the present in my hands. “Thank you, “Evie smiles at the young man as he opens her door as well. The driver is tall and muscular, wearing the usual black suit. When I notice she doesn’t stop beaming at him, I pull her and smile at him, keeping my tone polite. “Thank you, Garreth, you are free to leave. ““Thank you, Madam.”He tips his head and gets back in the car. “Why don’t you ever let me talk to the hot staff? “ She complains, fixing her dress as we walk towards the manor. “Because it’s their job to be polite and you think they are hitting on you. ““And you think he doesn’t like me?”“Evie…”I roll my eyes and she giggles. “Come on, Violet, “ She says, pushing me very lightly. “Why are you so sour? ““Because I don’t want to be at the party. ““Oh, come on, “she says, “it will be full of celebrities, politicians and… and maybe the future king, even. “I scoff as we take the stairs and the butler opens

Violet I hear the footsteps and pause. I don’t dare turn around. What will I tell him after all this time?And here, of all places. Why did he choose to come back now? My hands close into fists and I turn around.But the man coming my way is not Dominic.It’s Conor.And he looks pissed. Very pissed, at that. “What the hell was that in there?” He growls, coming to stand before me. I take a small step away from him. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”I say. “I just needed some fresh air, it’s really suffocating in there. “I’m keeping my voice neutral but he is already irritated to no end for some reason.“Suffocating?”He snorts. “You know perfectly well what I am talking about,” Then he takes a threatening step in my direction. Conor grabs me. Now, that it’s just the two of us, he has no reason to try to be careful and no one would see him.He grabs me really forcefully and pulls me towards him, looming over me.“I saw how you look at him.” he snarls. “At who?” I ask

Dominic “Yes, that’s right. “ I tell Max. “Is this the same Violet Conor was in love with since high school?” “I... I have no idea. Maybe? Same name, I guess it’s the same woman.” I start glancing around the room for my cigarettes. I haven’t smoked for the entire evening, but I decide “fuck it,” “It must be her. But isn’t this the same one you dated?” Max goes on. “I mean, you went out with her a few times, but then Conor said he was in love with her so you dropped the whole thing. “ “We never dated. We just went out a few times. But yeah, maybe. “ “You don’t remember?” Max laughs, “Bro, you don’t just randomly date anyone. I am excluding the models like Anastasia you sleep with for a week or two. And you’re saying you don’t remember if that's the same, Violet?” “Maybe. “ I say and finally, spot my box of cigarettes. I pick up one and light it. I take a very deep inhale and Max argues. “What do you mean maybe?!” “All I am saying is this is in the past. She is married to

DominicShe is hesitating. I should not be doing this. I managed to spend the entire day not talking to her about anything that was not work-related. Violet should say no. “Okay, “She says, “I let the driver go for the night, and I don’t want to make him come all the way here. But only if I am not causing you trouble, or... “I get up and pick up my jacket. “Let’s go. “We are silent as we walk towards the elevator. I don't say anything, even though all I want is to press her towards the wall and kiss her. taste her. Feel her underneath me. I shake my head. Violet is married to my own brother. My hand closes in a fist in the pocket of my coat, instead of around her. We get in the car and I catch the faint scent of her perfume as she settles in the passenger seat. Violet is as pretty as I remember her, if not more. She has this natural, casual beauty that I’ve always liked. It was messy before. Untamed. She was more unaware of it. Now, she has learned how to carry herself, and

Violet Dominic’s and my eyes meet. Then they travel to Anastasia, who is a pretty jewel, standing on his right side. All the men are looking at her. You see, there’s a difference between having me there, and her. Despite how I look, they will always see me as a competition. As someone, they have to outwork or outsmart. They will feel obliged to show me who has the upper hand, who is the dominant sex in the words of politics and economics. While Anastasia… Well, she is a beautiful creature they want to look at. I am sure they don’t even attempt to talk to her. Not so much because they can’t think of what to tell her - those men are some of the smartest people in the world, I am sure they can strike up a simple conversation with anyone, but there’s something else. The reason why they don’t talk to her is because they see no point in it. Because they have one aim - to sleep with her. Sex doesn’t involve too much talking. It often doesn’t even require you to respect the intelli