The Car, The Call and The Lunatic

“Come on, Damon! It's been a month! A whole, entire, glorious month!" Jordan's whine cut through Damon's office, grating on the older brother's nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Damon shut his eyes, it was supposed to be a good morning, a calm and peaceful morning of checking reports and attending meetings until Jordan stormed into his office.

Jordan was slouching across the plush leather visitor chairs, throwing his long legs around like a kid.

He was a younger, wilder version of Damon, a mirror image of him but where Damon's face was cold and stern, Jordan's face danced with mischief.

“ I did what you asked! I did way too good if you ask me!! Come on Damon!" Jordan whines again, his pitch higher this time.

Damon merely grunted, his gaze fixed on the financial projections displayed on his monitor.

"A month of staying out of the tabloids, Jordan, not a month of perfect behavior. I still saw that piece about you trying to surf a fountain in Trafalgar Square."

"That was before the month started! And it was a misunderstanding!" Jordan protested, sitting up, his dark hair falling boyishly across his forehead. "I told you, I was testing the water pressure for a… an art project. Environmental art!"

"Right," Damon deadpanned, without looking away from his screen. "And the paparazzi just happened to be there for your environmental art."

"They're always there!" Jordan threw his hands up in exasperation. "It's not my fault I'm so devastatingly handsome and naturally newsworthy. But I did it, Damon. No scandalous headlines. No late-night brawls. No impromptu concerts on the roofs of five-star hotels. Nothing! For thirty whole days!" He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. "I even turned down a reality show!"

Damon rolled his eyes, here we go again.

“I could have become a sensation overnight but out of respect for you and our deal, I stayed clean! “

Damon finally tore his gaze from the screen, turning slowly to face his younger brother. There's no way he would be able to concentrate with Jordan breathing down his neck and he wanted more than anything, to get some work done!

"You're lucky I'm a man of my word, Jordan. Even if your interpretation of 'staying off the radar' still felt like you were out there causing trouble still.."

Jordan beamed. "So, the car? The sleek, black, limited-edition beast? The one with the personalized plates that say 'J SIN'?"

"Don't push it," Damon warned, a faint scowl returning. "You'll get the car. Patrick will handle the details."

Jordan shot up from the chair, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Yes! You're the best, Damon! The absolute best brother a guy could ask for! A true pillar of integrity, a man of his promises!" He circled the desk, narrowly avoiding knocking over a neatly stack of folders.

"Don't get carried away," Damon muttered, already returning his attention to his work.

"Never!" Jordan declared, then paused, his expression softening slightly. "So, how's Naomi? She is doing okay after… you know." He gestured vaguely, clearly referring to Rosie’s unannounced visit.

He had tried to stop Rosie from going over to Damon’s house but he failed. He knew her visit was unnecessary, she only wanted to see the son that managed to slip out of her control.

The son she was proud of.

And judging by how irritated Rosie was about Noami’s presence and Damon’s six whole years of marriage, Jordan knew Naomi took some hits for sure.

Damon glanced up. “ Her office is on the second floor."

“She works here? Damn! Having you as her boss must really suck!”

Damon paused, glancing up at Jordan. “Are you suggesting I am difficult to work with?”

Jordan offers a nervous smile, his brand new car was on stake for this one. “You know that's not what I meant! I'm just saying it's a lot you know? When your husband is your boss.”

Damon exhaled and shook his head before returning to the screen.

"Speaking of Rosie," Jordan said, perched on the edge of Damon’s desk, an act that would usually earn him a sharp reprimand, but Damon merely tolerated it. "She mentioned something about you two, you and Naomi, coming over for dinner. At the family house."

Damon tensed. "Did she?"

It's been over a week since her visit and things have been fairly neutral between him and Naomi.

The sheer irony. They just ended a fight only to dive head first into a new one.

"Yeah. Look, Damon," Jordan continued, his usual playful demeanor replaced by seriousness.

"Seriously, don't. Just… don't. Fake an emergency. Say you're both on a last-minute business trip to Mars. Tell her the house is infested with rabid ferrets. Anything." He leaned in, his voice hushed. "It's a bad idea. For Naomi, especially. You know how Rosie gets when she… focuses her attention."

Damon’s jaw tightened. He knew exactly how Rosie got. Her 'attention' was relentless, intrusive and often humiliating. He didn't need Jordan to tell him. He had seen the disdain in his mother's eyes when she looked at Naomi, the judgment in her voice. He had already dealt with enough family drama this week.

"I can handle her," Damon said, his voice flat.

"Yeah, you can," Jordan countered. "But can Naomi? Look, I actually like her, Damon. She's… decent. Don't let Rosie put her through the wringer. It'll be a disaster. Rosie sees her as… an outcast."

He didn't elaborate on why Rosie disliked Naomi, didn't voice his fear that Rosie would verbally tear Naomi apart for being a 'mere employee' and for marrying Damon in secret.

Damon's phone on his desk beeped. He picked it up, his gaze falling on the incoming message. His features, already taut, hardened. He read the text, his eyes narrowing.

"What is it?" Jordan asked, noting the change in his brother's demeanor.

Damon put the phone down, his lips pressed into a thin line. "It's Naomi. The dinner. It's tonight. Six PM. Rosie just confirmed it with her directly."

Jordan's eyes widened. "Tonight? Oh, no. Damon, you have to cancel! Seriously, call her back right now. Tell her you have… a sudden, highly infectious, but non-fatal disease."

"It's too late," Damon said. "It's fixed already. Naomi accepted the invitation."

There was a hint of frustration in his tone, directed partly at Naomi for accepting.

Jordan groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Poor Naomi. She has no idea what she's walking into. Rosie's going to… it's going to be brutal." He looked genuinely concerned for his sister-in-law, he was starting to get a little fond of her.

Just then, the office door opened, and Patrick entered, a polite smile on his face.

"Mr. Damon, Jordan. I've just finalized the details for the vehicle purchase. If you're ready, Jordan, I can take you to the dealership now."

Jordan's face lit up. "Now?! Seriously? Oh, yes! Let's go, Patrick! The beast awaits!" He practically bounced towards the door. "Thanks, Damon! You're the best!"

He clapped Patrick on the shoulder, a wide, excited grin on his face. “Lead the way bossman!”

Patrick managed a small smile of his own as he led Jordan out of the office.

Damon watched them go, the door clicking shut behind them. The silence returned to his office, but it was no longer peaceful. It was filled with all the things that could go wrong at the said dinner.

He leaned back in his chair, a muscle twitching in his jaw. Tonight would not be easy.