My Twin Mates

Yuck

I finally got out and stifled through my closet before deciding on a knee-length black pencil skirt with a low-cut white blouse. I grabbed my keys and kissed Hades before scurrying to my car. It wasn’t long before I was at the office on my way up to my boss’s suite.

“Good Morning, Sandra,” I replied to the Auburn-haired young girl behind the desk. She smiled as I complimented her haircut, and I pushed open the big wooden double doors.

“There’s my little bird!” Mr. Stone sings as he turns around from the window. His sandy blonde hair was combed to the left as always.

“William.” I was the only one he allowed to call him that. Besides his wife, I was the only person he spent most of his time with. I didn’t mind, and he was like a father. My parents died when I was young.

I sat down in the leathered armchair across from his desk and stared at his light green eyes.

“So what song will you grace me with today?” He pulled out his chair, taking a seat with a huge grin on his face.

“I only sing with the device.” I pointed to the Alexa on the other table. “So why did I have to come here a whole hour before my shift?” I sat back raising my bushy black eyebrows, interlocking my fingers on my stomach.

“As if you don’t love spending every hour with your loving boss,” He scoffs while bringing his hand to his broad chest. I rolled my eyes and smiled.

“Well, remember the big fiasco with Arnold Miller six months ago?” He asked through gritted teeth.

Arnold Miller was William’s business partner and long-time friend, or so he thought. Arnold had lost his wife six years prior and was content with burying himself in work until a tall swanky blonde waltzed into the building looking for a job. She was his second mate, it’s rare to happen, but it happened and we were happy until one day, Mr. Stone noticed some money not adding up in the books. He was asking everyone except Arnold. A week later, he and the blonde took off with two million of business funds.

I nodded my head and I could start to see the anger pass in his eyes.

“I could wring his damn neck and pull out all his blonde hair” His face starts to squinch up and I lay my hand on his before he lets out a loud exhale. “Thanks, little bird.” He says getting up from his desk and heading back to the window.

“We have an investor coming in today, Believe me, it was a surprise to me too.” He continues feeling my need to ask why he didn’t tell me earlier. “But he is coming nonetheless and I need my little bird to put on her war paint and dazzle him.” He turned back around smiling. I nod and head out before he yells, “Bird put on some music for me will you?”

I smile and tell Alexa to play his favorite jazz music before exiting his office and finding my own. The day rolled on as I ate lunch and continued to prepare for the meeting.

“Ms. Carter, Mr. Stone says it’s time.” Bethany squeaked over the intercom.

As I enter the board meeting office, I place all my belongings and watch as Mr. Stone steps inside. He takes his seat at the head of the glass table and winks at me. Suddenly, I feel a pang I grab my chest as William makes his way to me.

“Little bird, are you alright?” He asked, grabbing my arm. “Are you…” He started but cut himself off studying my face, I watched his green eyes dart back and forth.

“The mate bond, your mate is here!” His face lights up as he kissed my cheek looking like a kid in the candy shop. He looks around the empty room before his eyes are fixed on the door.

The pang gets stronger, this must be it. I’ll finally meet him, my mate, my soulmate, the person destined to be mine. Then it starts to recede as if he was running away, no, I can’t keep doing this.

I start toward the door and follow the pain in my chest as it starts growing again. Yes, I will meet you.

I reach the lobby and see two very tall men hurry out of the building, I speed walk past the people coming in and push open the door as I manage to watch the two men speed off into the traffic in a black SUV.

My heart sinks in my chest and I manage to drag myself to the nearest bench and sit. Why is he running? I know he feels it too. Am I that bad? I mean I know I could be skinnier. I was on the chubbier side, with thick thighs, big hips, a big round ass, and a bit of a belly. Most men love my shape, or I would think of the whistles and smiles I get as I walk down the street. But maybe he didn’t. He took one look at me and thought he could do better.

I slowly pull myself together and head back inside, but I’m stopped by the front receptionist, Rhonda. Her mousy brown hair glides around as she whips her head up.

“Ms. Carter, there was a message. The investors had to leave. They said it was some emergency and would have to reschedule.” She says as she sits back in her chair answering another call.

“Did they leave a name?” I asked if maybe I could contact him myself, but she just shook her head, picking up another call.

I walked back upstairs and back into the board meeting room with Mr. Stone. He peers up and looks at me with horror. Well, I guess he knew. Great.

“I heard they had to reschedule.” He says as he raises himself from the chair and makes his way toward me.

“Who are the investors?” I asked, letting him embrace me in the much-needed hug. He was taller than me and always smelled like citrus. Mr. Stone was still very muscular for a man in his fifties he liked to brag about how he used to be a bodybuilder when he was younger. The effects are still showing even all this time later.

“I don’t know, little Bird, I only know the name of the company, and today I was going to learn the names of everyone.” He responds and he pulls away from the hug still bracing my arms. “I’m sorry Bird, but they had an emergency and they want to reschedule.”

I nod and wipe the tears from my face as I head to the other end of the table and grab my work, making my way out of the room and back to my office.

The day drudges on and I manage to push it out of my mind. Maybe there was an emergency. The day dwindles and I head out of the building and to my car. I make my way through the busy streets and pick up food before heading home. As I get out, I hear someone yell my name. I grab my bag of food from the car and close the door I land head first in a broad chest, and an arm snakes around my waist.

“Hey, there mateless.” Matthew taunts as he inches closer, his thin lips exhaling his alcohol-filled breath.

“What do you want Matt?” I asked as I shoved him off of me, making my way around him.

“I want you.” He retorts, grabbing my hand, but I manage to shake him loose and head for my door.

“I mean you’re mateless and I no longer have a mate, so, we can intertwine our bodies together and we can become mates.” He managed to walk in front of me backing up toward my door.

Matt’s mate, Holly, rejected him after a year together she wasn’t marked. He wasn’t the only mate to get rejected, but he was the only one I knew. I was there when it happened, and it was not a pretty sight. When she rejected him, he crashed to his knees and let out the most excruciating scream I have ever heard. He gripped his head and started pulling his sandy brown hair out, he was red as if someone was roasting him alive, he passed out and for the next few days, it was like he was coming off of drugs. He was puking, sweating profusely, unable to sleep, and he had been drinking ever since.

No one talked about it, or even why Holly rejected him, all Sarah would say was it wasn’t her news to tell.

“Matt, I have yet to meet my mate,” I exclaimed, finally rounding him, and reaching for my door. “I’m not doing anything with you,”

“Oh, you will, baby, and you’ll be begging me.” He finishes reaching for his phone that was ringing in his back jeans pocket and turns around heading back for his truck.

I finally got inside and locked the door behind me. Why does he want something with me? At least he wants me, My mate runs from me, but I quickly shake my head and walk over to my sofa before slumping down into its plushness.