Chapter 12: BURNING IN SILENCE.

The next day(Early in the morning)

————

   Blake was at his desk, fingers moving swiftly across his laptop keyboard, the glow from the screen casting sharp shadows across his face. His office was silent except for the quiet hum of the air conditioning and the occasional rustle of paper. He was focused—until the door swung open without a knock.

Blake didn’t bother looking up, already bracing himself for whatever nonsense his brother was about to stir up. “Ever heard of knocking?”

Alan strolled in without a care, acting like he owned the place. “Didn’t realize I needed permission to visit my own twin. You tend to forget this is my house too.”

Blake let out a tired sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Hard to remember when you never actually stay. I’m shocked you’ve lasted two days. What do you want?”

Alan smirked, taking his time before settling into the chair across from Blake’s desk. "Relax. Maybe I just missed you."

Blake shot him an unimpressed look. "You don’t miss people, you miss entertainment. And you’re a little too smug for someone who just came to chat."

Alan shrugged, stretching his legs out like he had all the time in the world. "Fine. Business, then. How’s everything running?"

Blake leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. "You have access to the reports. You’d know if you bothered checking them."

"I do check them. But I like hearing it from you," Alan said, watching him closely. "Anything new?"

"Nothing that concerns you," Blake muttered.

Alan smirked. "Ouch. And here I thought we were partners."

Blake gave him a dry look. "Partners don’t vanish for months at a time and show up acting like they’ve been involved the whole time."

"Fair point, but you know I too work." Alan admitted, tapping his fingers against the armrest. "I was just wondering if work is what’s got you so tense lately… or if it’s something else."

Blake’s jaw tensed. "Alan."

Alan grinned. "Just making conversation, brother."

Blake sighed, pushing back from his desk. "If that’s all, you can go."

"Actually, no." Alan tilted his head slightly, and slowly stood up. "There is one thing I’m curious about."

Blake gave him a tired look. "Of course there is."

Alan took his time, circling the office as if inspecting it for the first time. "Samantha," he finally said.

"What about her?"

Alan stopped by the bookshelf, idly tracing a finger along the spines of a few old business manuals before turning back to Blake. "I just find her interesting, that’s all."

Blake exhaled sharply. "Alan, get to the point."

Alan smirked. "You swore you weren’t hiring caretakers any more. I remember it very clearly. Something about being tired of people who couldn't do the job right, or maybe just tired of people in general." He tilted his head. "And yet, here she is. So, what changed?"

Blake held Alan’s gaze, his expression illegible. "I didn’t hire her. Nadia did. I thought the listing was closed, but apparently, it wasn’t. She needed the job, and Nadia assured me she was more than capable. So here we are."

Alan arched a brow. "And just like that, you let her stay?"

Blake’s jaw tensed. "Drop it, Alan."

But Alan wasn’t done. He crossed his arms, leaning against the bookshelf with that signature smirk. "I’m just curious, brother. She’s different from the others, isn’t she? Softer. Innocent. A little naive. And let’s not forget—absolutely beautiful." He let the words hang.

Blake’s grip on the desk tightened slightly, but he didn’t take the bait. 

Alan chuckled “Not exactly your usual pick. And she’s lasted longer than most. That says a lot."

Blake didn’t respond immediately, his grip tightening around his pen. There was a flicker of something—something Alan recognized.

Jealousy.

Possessiveness.

Alan chuckled. "You don’t like this conversation, do you?"

Blake closed the laptop with a controlled but firm motion. "I don’t like you meddling."

Alan took a step forward. "Just curious, brother. And before you tell me to back off, let’s clear one thing up—I don’t chase after innocent girls. But that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy getting under your skin." He grinned. "And from where I’m standing, it’s working."

Blake’s silence spoke louder than words.

But Alan still wasn't done. "Come on, brother. We used to share everything. Women included." He smirked. "But this one? You’re acting like she’s off-limits, like you want her all to yourself."

Blake’s eyes flashed, but his voice remained controlled. "She is—off limits Alan. And the women we shared weren't my employee or yours, but Samantha she is my employee and that's why she is different.”

Alan raised a brow. "Interesting. But from what I saw in the kitchen earlier, she’s not exactly immune to me."

Blake’s jaw tightened. "I said, drop it."

Alan let out a low whistle. "Well, well. This is very interesting." He turned as if to leave, but then paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "If she’s just an employee, why do you look ready to throw a punch every time I mention her? It shouldn't be bothering you if she's just an employee"

Blake inhaled slowly, steadying himself. "Don’t test me, Alan."

Alan studied him for a moment, then grinned. "You’re jealous."

Blake scoffed. "I’m protecting my employee from your nonsense."

Alan smirked. "Sure you are."

Blake exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "She’s not like the others. And I don’t want you messing with her."

Alan tilted his head. "Not like the others… or not like the ones we used to share?"

Blake’s eyes burned into his brother’s, and for a moment, the air between them was thick with unspoken tension

Alan chuckled, stepping out the door. "I don’t need to test you. You’re already struggling all on your own."

With that, he left, leaving Blake sitting there, jaw tight, hands clenched, the weight of his own emotions pressing down on him harder than he wanted to admit....

————

The morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I stirred, stretching lazily before my mind caught up with my body. And just like that, last night came rushing back.

Alan.

His words, his teasing, the way his gaze had burned into mine in the dimly lit kitchen.

“There’s tension between us, and we both know it. You can pretend all you want, but your body? Well, it’s not exactly helping your case.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks at the memory.

The way he had closed the space between us so effortlessly, like he knew exactly what he was doing. The way he had watched me—like he was waiting for me to crack, to admit something I wasn’t even sure I understood myself.

My stomach twisted.

I had never felt that kind of tension before. The air between us had been thick, charged with something I couldn’t quite name. And it wasn’t just his words—it was the way he looked at me, the way his voice dropped when he spoke, the way my body reacted even when my mind screamed at me to ignore it.

"You assumed. You saw what you wanted to see.”

I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. Why did his voice keep replaying in my head like some kind of taunt? Why was I even thinking about it this much?

This wasn’t like me.

With a deep breath, I forced myself to sit up. I had a job to do—whatever that… thing was with Alan last night, I wasn’t about to let it consume my thoughts all day, plus it couldn't ever happen—he is the brother to my boss—my identical boss.

I got up, moving through my morning routine, washing up and dressing in something simple but comfortable. As I pulled my hair into a loose ponytail, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. My lips were slightly swollen from biting down on them too much. And my cheeks? Still warm.

I exhaled sharply. “Get it together.”

Just as I turned away, there was a knock at the door.

I froze.

For a split second, irrational panic shot through me. But Alan wouldn’t—he wouldn’t just show up at my door first thing in the morning, right?

Shaking off the ridiculous thought, I crossed the room and opened the door.

Nadia stood there, arms folded. “Good morning dearest how are you”

“i am good Nadia, I was just finishing up here and about to step out”

"Well that's good because Mr. Blake wants to see you in his office.”

I blinked. “Mr Blake?”

Nadia gave a tight nod. “Yeah, seems like it's urgent”

Urgent?

My stomach tightened. Blake rarely ever called for me this early. And he never made anything sound urgent.

Pushing aside my nerves, I nodded. “Okay. I’ll be there in a minute.”

As Nadia walked away, I took a steadying breath. Whatever this was, I just had to handle it like I always did.

It was just work.

Just work.

Then why did it feel like I was walking straight into something I wasn’t ready for?.......

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