My Twin Billionaires

Chapter Two

Isla wakes up drowsily to the sound of her annoying alarm. She attempts to switch it off again until she sees the time. "Crap! I'm late for work." She screams and gets up from the bed. "Aww... My head hurts like hell." She makes coffee, dresses quickly in her corporate gown and flats, and hurries to work. She is an hour late when she goes inside, looking like she escaped an apocalypse. She meets her boss standing akimbo in her office.

"You're fired." Mrs. Kevin says without mincing words.

"I'm sorry ma. I lost track of time and..."

"Why won't you, after your night at the club?" Mrs. Kevin asked with a sneer and continued. "I expect your table to be cleared by noon, Mrs. Taylor." She says and walks out.

Isla dejectedly arranges her files and clears her table. She does it quickly, to avoid pitiful looks from her colleagues. Hours later, she returns home, crying herself to sleep.

After two days of idle sitting, she resolves to quit sulking and search for a job. She updates her LinkedIn account, updates her resume, and heads out, applying to different companies.

Isla picks her phone and called her best friend when she gets her fourth rejection email. "Hey babes, what's up?" Val's playful voice echoed from the phone. "I'm never going to get this job," Isla said tiredly. "Don't say that, girl. Give it time. You'll be fine. Now, speaking of jobs, did you see my text? It's something that might interest you."

"No, what is it? Hold up, I'm on it now." Isla says excitedly. "Don't get your hopes up. Just attempt. It's a big company." Val said sardonically.

"My God! Daniels' company? What makes you think I'll get the job?" Isla said hopelessly.

"Like I said, just submit your resume and hope for the best. I have to go now. Bye babes.",

"Bye babes," Isla said and disconnected the line.

She follows the steps in applying for the job and successfully submits her CV.

She is surprised to get an email the next week, requesting her to come for an interview.

She dresses in her best gown and steps inside the company, wary of its intimidating size. "Ms. Taylor?" A pretty woman in a maroon gown asked politely. Isla nods and walks towards her.

"I believe this is your first time here. Don't worry. We don't bite. I'm Sarah by the way." She says with a kind smile.

Isla smiles nervously in return and enters the waiting room.

"Good luck. I'll love to see you around." Sarah whispers and leaves. Isla sits with other interviewees, waiting for her name to be called.

She impresses her interviewers and exudes confidence in all her answers.

"How was it, babes?" Val asks immediately Isla calls her. "The interview was fine. I wish I had done more. I just hope they accept me." Isla replies.

"I trust you, love. Whatever happens, keep me updated." Val says and hangs up.

"She's always busy. I hope she doesn't do more than her capacity." Isla mutters and returns home.

She wakes up the next morning and sees an acceptance email on her phone screen. "Dear Isla Taylor, I hope this message finds you well. We, at Daniels' company, were impressed by your interview. As a result of your outstanding performance..." Isla reads aloud and almost screams down her house. She calls Val and at the second ring, she picks up. "You won't believe this Val! I got the job. I got it!" Isla screams to her phone.

"I knew you'll get it, babes. I'm super proud of you." Val answers excitedly.

"I'm starting tomorrow. I can't believe this. I'm so happy."

"This is why you should hang up now and prepare for your big day tomorrow. I'm sure you'll do just fine. My boss is calling. Byee."

Isla smiles at her phone and hangs up. She makes a çhaos of her wardrobe, until she picks a ‘perfect’ dress for work.

She makes friends with Sarah and Elvis, who introduced her to the rest of her colleagues.

During her work days, she is surprised to see Ryan and his twin, walking towards the elevator.

"Oh, crap. That jerk is working here too?" She asks rhetorically and hides, waiting for them to pass.

"Hey, Isla," Elvis calls out to her. She jolts in surprise and hits his chest. "You scared me."

"Why are you hiding out here?" He looks towards the elevator and sees Ryan. "Don't tell me you have a crush on the boss too."

"The boss? Who? That jerk?" Isla asks with mockery. Elvis closes her mouth with his hands. "Yes. I know he is cold, but he is still the boss. Unless you want to get fired, keep saying those crap."

Isla rolls her eyes at him. "How pathetic. How can that jerk be the boss? Doesn't he have a twin? Why can't his twin own the company instead?" Isla bombards Elvis with questions.

"That is because his twin has zero interest in the company or anything related to it. He is more interested in his painting." Elvis answers.

"Oh, I see," Isla says, half-believing Elvis.

"You should probably join us for a Friday night drink. Everyone is coming."

Isla remembers what happened to her the last time she drank and immediately recoils. "Uhmm... No, thank you."

"Isla, everyone is coming except you. Do you know how that would look? Bills on me, no buts hun." Elvis says and goes back to work. Isla grunts in frustration and goes to her office.

...

"Can you leave my office? I'm working. Go and bury yourself in your paintings or toys or whatever. Just leave." Ryan tells his twin in an irritated voice. "I can help you with something in the office. Your emails? Files? We both have the same signature. I can assist you." Ryne pleads with his brother.

"I don't need your help, get lost" Ryan answers in a cold voice.

"The house is so boring and lonely. I came here to hang out with you and..." Ryne is cut short by the telephone call.

"Yes, send him in." Ryan orders on the call.

"Who's that?" Ryne asks expectantly.

"None of your God-damn..."

"Good afternoon, Miller." Ryan greets his late father's lawyer with surprise as he comes in. He eyes his brother to leave, but Ryne only surges.

"Good afternoon, Ryan and Ryne. I called earlier and your secretary said you went to a meeting. I've been meaning to see you." He answers.

"What happened? Is it about the company? I'm taking care of it just like I promise." Ryan says in a neutral voice.

"Yes and no, Ryan. Relax. I came to remind you about a part of the deal you have not fulfilled yet. I skipped it and just saw it when I went through your father's will last week.

"Okay old man, what's it about?"

"Well, your father insisted in the will that for you to have full ownership of the company, you will get married before your 25th birthday, which I suppose is in the next five months?"

"Can you believe it, Ryan? We're getting old." Ryne exclaims in a loud voice.

Ryan throws dagger eyes at him and answers the lawyer.

"This is ridiculous. I have done everything he wrote in his damn will. I can't get married now. I can't."

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Daniels. I'm afraid my hands are tied. It's either you get married in the next five months or Ryne here will take over." Mr. Miller adds, giving Ryan a compassionate look.

"I'm sure I'll hear from you in five months, Mr. Daniels." He says and walks out.

"f**k this Ryne. f**k this. How could he have left out something like this? And I have five months? Five f*****g months to get married to someone? This is ridiculously insane."

"Chill man, take it easy. I know there is some way to go about this. We'll do everything possible to get you married in five months. You need this company more than I do, not like I need it anyway. I might end up painting everyone at a meeting." Ryne says with a chuckle.

Ryan shoots him a dead eye. "Okay. I didn't mean it that way. But let's start somewhere. You know you have to get married to a "doll" right?"

"I know, you dummy. Ryne, I need your help."

"Wooh... What happened to Mr. I don't need your help, huh?" Ryne teased and became serious when he saw the pained look in his brother's eye.

"Okay man, what do you need?"

"I'll have to enter a contract marriage just to secure the company. She must be 5’4 feet, someone who won't droll the hell out of me and she must agree not to fall in love with me." Ryan says.

Ryne rolls his eyes at his brother. "You're insane. Why 5’4, and how do you expect me to find such a lady?"

"How about you try, since you're good with ladies? Your search commences now. Get out of my office." Ryan says with a lopsided grin.

"I saw that grin, Ryan. I won't let you down." Ryne shouts as he leaves the office.

...

At the club, Isla is careful not to drink too much and takes sips of water when no one is watching.

"Did you see how the CEO dressed to work today? I could practically see his abs. I wonder if he has a hairy chest." Nora speaks up.

"And his hair too Nora. He curled it backward. His full face and lips made me lose concentration during the meeting." Another chipped in.

"I bet he's not interested in women because I've never seen him with your gender. His face is always like this." Elvis says and makes a funny face.

Everyone at the table laughs and chippers in, except Isla.

"If only we lived in fairytales, I could have been his princess charming."

Isla rolls her eyes. "I can't see why everyone drolls at the CEO. Can't you see his cold and unattractive face? Are you guys under a spell or something?"

Everyone falls silent and looks at her with wide eyes.

"Excuse you, Isla Taylor!" Elvis says with a wide eye and embarrassed cheek. "He's still our boss, you know? He's handsome and if you can't see that, then that's your business."

"Why are you all obsessed with him? I can't stand it. Thanks for the drink, Elvis." Isla says with sarcasm and gets up.

"Wait up, Isla. Isla!" Elvis calls after her.

"Oh, let her be." Nora says. "Who does she think she is? I don't even fancy her presence."

"That's not a nice thing to say, Nora. Where were we, by the way?" They continue their drink and keep talking about Ryan.

At the corner of the club, Ryne smirks and takes a mouthful of his vodka. "Isla Taylor," he mutters.