I am the boss - English version

Chapter 14: They are brothers

We arrived and stopped outside Richard's office, James tapped with the knuckle of his index finger the glass door that right now is closed, the noise caused Richard to take his fixed gaze off his computer monitor, he turned to see us, standing there, holding hands, he opened his eyes widely and his mouth in total amazement.

OH MY GOSH!!! 

What have I done? 

Is this extremely fast? 

- Come in - Richard says as soon as he regains his composure.

James opens the door and leads me into the office.

He does not let go of my hand at any time.

- Wow, Wow, Woooooow, Jimmy!

- What is going on Ricky? What with that face?

- Nothing here, but there, woooow! You tell me!

- Shut up and act like the human resources manager you are supposed to be.

They both laugh and then they turn to see me, I feel how the colors begin to rise to my face, I must be so red at this precise moment.

- Isn't she the cutest thing in the whole world? - James says to Richard, quite naturally.

- Seriously Jimmy, wow.

- I know, what can I tell you, I just love her

F uck, what did he just say to Richard?

- Woooow, wait cowboy, are you sure -

- Ricky, Layla is sitting here in front of you, do you see her right?

- Yes of course, I am sorry Layla, I am just totally amazed and little in shock

- Oh gosh, I am sorry Mr. Richard.

- Hahahaha, yes, she is totally cute Jimmy, I see what you mean.

They make me redder if that is even humanly possible.

- Ok Ricky, let's get to what we came for, we are here to fill out a couple of relationship forms

- OH MY! Jimmy, do you know that -

- Yes, I know Ricky, I know it perfectly, and that is why I am here

- Ok, give me a second.

Richard turns on his executive chair, I watched his as he opened a drawer in the piece of office furniture behind him, pulled out a red folder, opened it, took two copies, closed it, put it back inside the drawer, closed it and turned again to face us again.

He extends his arms, handing each of us one of the papers he took out an instant ago.

- Each one of you, must fill out the form, it must be completely filled, and in case the relationship ends, both must come with me to end the relationship, was I clear?

- I mean, yes, but -

- What's wrong baby? – James asks me with worried eyes.

- Jim, this is all weird and new to me, I mean, look, what do I answer there?

I tell him as I point down a section of the form titled ‘s****l preferences’.

This form is totally invasive and without respect for my privacy, it is crazy, I thought it would be like just saying, we are boyfriend and girlfriend, and that’s it.

- Ok honey, don't worry, let me fill mine, and I will help you with yours, ok?

- Mmh -

- Ricky, come on, she does not know what to answer, even if it is a personal form, it is her first time experiencing something like this, so let me do what I should do to help my girlfriend.

Oh wow, he is the most beautiful and loving thing in the world, I am so lucky that from this day on, he is all mine, I will no longer be alone in this world.

- Ok, ok, I understand what you say, but it must be filled with her handwriting, even if you help her, and don't even think about saying that you helped her, to no one - Richard says as he looks at Jim with menacing eyes.

- Yes, we do understand, relax, it will give you a heart attack, as you are so old

- Well, any day you want I give you another beating on the basketball court – they both laugh, and I cannot hold the curiosity anymore

- Why do you speak like this to each other? You are the only ones in the entire company, who I have heard call yourselves by your nicknames and tell each other that sort of things, like joking or mocking at each other

- Hahahaha, I know my love, it must be so bizarre all this to you, this guy -

- Hey, which guy? More respect

- Ricky is my older brother, baby

- Whaaaaaat? - I cannot believe this, they are brothers.

- Yes, that is true, Layla, can I call you Layla, right? Now that you are my sister-in-law

- Wow, I didn't expect that, not in a million years, wow

- I know, he took out all the traits of my father, I am handsome thanks to my beautiful mother – James says as he laughs

- Ay ay, calm down Adonis.

- No Adonis, Apollo please - wow, he remembered, how cute.

- Are you now also an expert in Greek mythology?

- Noooo, my baby here, explained to me, the difference between those two, google it and then tell me all about it later.

- Oh heavens, are you going to become that mellow and hateful thing again?

- Again? - I ask what Richard means by 'again', with a frown.

- Oops – Richard says, and that expression only makes me feel a twinge in the mouth of my stomach.

- It is nothing my love, we will talk about it later, I just need to tell you that you are everything I needed at this precise moment when my heart was in shreds

- Awwww how beautiful!!!

- Shut up Ricky, you didn't hear anything, you should just disappear

- Oh weeeeeell, I remind you that this is my office

- Ah wow, let me hurry.

I am feeling that everything was very fast and maybe a mistake, I do not know anything about him, maybe we are not compatible, maybe, oh gosh, I am always being impulsive and end up in thousands of entanglements for free.

- Done, this is mine, come here love, let me help you – James says and takes me out of my whirlwind of doubts.

I think he notices it, because he passes the back of his right hand, slowly over my right cheek as he rests his left hand on the back of my chair, I feel that just with that, my mind stops spinning and my heart begins to calm down.

- Ok my love, this section is not only about us, it is about you, but, 'cover your ears Ricky', if you decide not to reveal that information, which is very personal and private, you have every right not to do it, it is your life and legally they cannot force you to answer that, you just have to write in each of the lines,  'I exercise my right to privacy' and that’s it, do not worry my love, the purpose of this form is that there are no problems for the company, but that does not force us to tell them everything, ok?

- Oh, I see, thank you baby, I didn't know what I should say, I was scared

- I know, it is all very fast, new, unexpected, but remember, I will always be with you

- Awwww - I hear Richard say, he is such an impossible one, who would believe that from him, he is always looking so formal and serious, and it turns out that he is so foolish and simple.

We both turn to see him, and he lets out a laugh, which in a way sounds very similar to James' laughs.

With James' help, I finished filling out my form, and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

- Ok, now I declare you husband and -

- Shut up you dummy!

They both laugh with such enthusiasm that I only observe them with a smile, they fill me with tenderness, they get along so great, I love it, that must be good, right?, that he has this wonderful relationship with his older brother.

Three knocks on the glass door make us all turn to the door and out there, outside the office, with a face of wanting to kill someone, is Bennett.

Hell, I am almost sure this will definitely be a problem, he won't let it go.

James gets serious.

Richard stands up, closes his suit jacket and walks to the door, opens it and says

- Yes Mr. Jones?

- Are you busy Richard?

- No, sir, we just finished with some forms

- Yes, the relationship ones, I guess

- Yes, those forms sir

- I need to see with you -

- Oh well Ricky, we will go now, we have to get back to the lab

- Ok Jimmy.

- Come on my love, let’s go.

Those three words must have been like bullets in the center of Bennett's forehead, as I perfectly saw how a micro expression of disgust formed on his face as he heard those words coming from James, and just as it appeared, it quickly disappeared.

Bennett moves to the side of the door to allow James and I to leave Richard's office.

- Thank you - James and I said in unison when we went out of the office

Bennett enters the office and before Richard enters the office and closes the door, James speaks to him quickly.

- Ricky, come!

Richard says no with his head, but James keeps calling him with his hand movements.

Richard walks out of his office, closing the door and I hear James say to him in a somewhat annoying tone.

- That bastard has tried to harass Layla, I will break his whole face if he does not leave her alone

Wow, that's my man, yes baby!

- Jimmy, don't do any stupid things, I will evaluate the situation and talk to him if necessary

- Or you very well know that if not, I will do it, I am not afraid of him

- I know, you are the one who scares me, okay, just relax, with this he will stop, you will see

- He better do, or that son of -

- Goodbye Jimmy.

Richard tells him by cutting James’ rant.

He turns around and when he comes next to me, he passes his arm over my shoulders, this man is perfect, I do not deserve him.

I instantly feel as if someone is looking at me, and I think I know perfectly well who he is, I turn around my head and as guessed, Bennett is watching us hugging as we walk away, with a face of total annoyance and anger.

What have I done?

I don't know him very well but seeing his expression, I think he is not going to take it well, nor will he let it go.

- Jim -

-Tell me my love

- I am a little worried that Bennett would take this as disrespect or a challenge and would make you, make me or make our lives impossible

- Don’t worry, nothing will happen sweetheart, although he is a manic controller, in this case there is nothing he can do

- Manic controller?

- Hahaha excuse me, it came out, I shouldn't have said that

- Oh no, now you have to explain it to me, if not, it is going to cause me more panic than I already feel

- Baby, don't panic

He tells me and stops, stands in front of me and leans over a little to put both hands on my face.

His warmth comforts me.

- I will not allow him to do anything to you, first, mmh, I will not say that I will kill him, but a beating yes, if he tries to harm you my love

A tear escaped me without realizing it and James opens his eyes in amazement.

- What's wrong honey? What worries you so much?

- Jim, I don't know if it's too soon but, I just want to tell you that I worked and tried so hard to be here, and now that I finally made it, I feel like I am going to spoil everything

- For being with me?

- Nooooo, of course not, never say that

- Then explain yourself little one

- Oh gosh, don't call me like that

- Why?

- That's what Bennett called me yesterday

- That son of -

- It's okay Jim, really

- Layla, I don't want you to be afraid, I promise you that I will always protect you

- I feel that everything I did yesterday was a serious mistake, it was one mistake after another after another and now I am in this stupid situation

- What situation?

- Turn to look at Richard's office

James does it and his face gets totally serious.

I think Bennett continues to stare at us with his face in battle of the end of the century mode

- Do you see him?

- F uck Layla, I think that now, I understand what you are trying to tell me, that evil spawn has fixed his gaze on you

- What do you mean?

- I will explain it to you outside of here baby, here is not the right place to do it, let's go to the laboratory now

- Ok Jim.

Still with his serious face James turns, takes me by the shoulder and we start walking again to get to the elevator.

We stop there, James presses the button to go down, and in an instant the elevator arrives, and the doors open.

- Let's go my love

- Maybe it sounds bad, but when do we get out of here Jim?

Jim lets out such a cute and genuine laugh.

- Why would it sound bad? ‘cause you are walking embraced by your boss?

-Yes and no, I should already know but yesterday I left and did not return due to the fainting

- Oh I see, didn't they inform you when you came to sign the job offer?

- If I am completely honest with you, I was so excited that I don't remember almost anything they told me in that interview

- Hahahaha you are so adorable honey

- Oh gosh, I am such a dork, what is so adorable about it?

- Were you excited to go to work here?

- That's right, I still am, and I still can't believe I made it, you don't know all the effort I made to get here

- I don't think I can imagine everything, but I would love to know about it, when you feel comfortable enough with me, so you can tell me all about it, how does that sound?

- Of course love, I am not trying to hide anything from you, just -

- I know, do not worry, I know that all this was faster than the light itself with its incredible speed, but I understand, we must give ourselves the time to digest everything and you will see that everything will take its place, I do not think badly, nor do I think you think badly, this is a process that has just begun, although we skipped a good number of steps.

He tells me and makes his cute smile that drives me crazy.

I stand on tiptoe, raise both arms, put them on his neck and pull him towards me to give him a kiss, since the ding quickly sounded, we only went down one floor.

- Let's go baby

I tell him and I take him by the hand, but before I set foot outside the elevator I suddenly stop, the fear of what they will say invades me again.

- Let's go my love, nothing bad will happens, I am by your side, or you prefer that -

- No, it's okay baby, you are right, is the best they all know at once

- That 's my girl.

He tells me with a proud face, bends over and gives me a little kiss on the lips, he places his forehead on my head, we both take a deep breath, ha, he also seems to be nervous, and we get out of the elevator holding hands.

The instant we put our feet out of the elevator, everyone's gazes begin to be on us, and I feel like something heavy is on me, I feel terror running through my veins and I can’t believe what I am doing, I am walking in here holding James’ hand on my second day.