Two of You

Chapter two: Different

"Come in!" A familiar voice said behind the door. Lydia walked in an saw a handsome, chocolate-eyed man. She opened her eyes in horror. It was Brent! Except that it wasn't Brent. It was his identical twin brother, Bryan. Brent hadn't told Lydia that he was a twin.

"You..."

"Miss Mokoka, I'm pleased to finally meet you" he chirped as he motioned her to sit down.

"meet me? Finally? You know me"

"I assure you I do not. I don't usually hire people I know to help me run my company" He said, sounding surprised at her words.

"Oh, I see... professional"

"yes, Miss Mokoka, professional."

"Was there anything else or was this just a welcoming wagon?"

"Call me for anything at all" he said, sounding almost flirtatious. He felt a wave of embarassment as she nodded reluctantly. She left without another word and he watched the door close. He felt his quickened pulse slow down. He had never felt that way about a woman before. And an employee at that? He made a quick phone call.

"Hey, let's meet at the family hotel. I have a huge problem"

He got to the hotel as quick as he could and met his brother in a VIP booth in their favourite bar.

"Brent," he said as he sat down.

"Bryan, what's the huge problem?" he asked his twin brother.

"I met a girl and now I think I'm about to have a heart attack" He cried. Brent laughed. His brother was a Casanova and had never loved a girl in his entire life.

"when did you meet her?"

"just before I called you. She's got a beautiful smile. And her deep brown eyes, they look like they're full of pain but I think I can make her happy"

"wow! who are you and what have you done with my twin?"

"Man, you gotta help me. You're the one who does these relationship things."

"You've never been afraid to ask a girl out"

"Exactly! She's a woman, and... an employee of mine"

"an employee? Ha! Was it love at first sight?"

"She's the woman of my dreams, man"

"I'll help you." Brent chuckled before he gave him a few tips.

"Thanks man. What happened to that lady you were raving on about last week?"

"She's amazing. An employee of yours too"

"Maybe we hire wife material at Teal Tomato," Bryan jokes, and they both chuckle happily.

It was an hour later when he arrived back at the office. He made a stop at Lydia's office.

"Mr Freeman? I'm surprised to see you in here. I completely embarassed myself earlier." Lydia lowered her head.

"No. I was the one who should've been embarassed. Allow me to buy you an apology dinner"

"that's not necessary."

"oh, but it is. I'll have Lisa send you the details after I've said it up. Tomorrow night" He insisted. As soon as he'd left, she noticed he'd left a bunch of roses on her desk, with a note inside.

"Sorry I had my foot in my mouth earlier, Your radiance dumbfounded me"

Lydia smiled. She had no idea it wasn't Brent. Nandi rushed in soon after Bryan had left.

"He's smiling and he brought you roses? You really are a ray of sunshine" she squealed. Lydia couldn't help but feel like it was something to be proud of.

"I've been known to have that effect on people"

"on me too" Nandi smiled gratefully before leaving.

Lydia stood in front of the mirror. There were clothes all over the floor and her bed.

"Are you sure you're going to a work dinner? You seem too anxious" Koala, her niece, giggled.

"it's actually complicated" Lydia sighed as she threw off the dress she was wearing.

"spill the tea, auntie!"

"Remember Mr Handsome who I've been going out with?"

"yes...?"

"It turns out he's my boss. He's quite different at work but I know he can be a sweetie"

"or he could be a doppelganger" she laughs, handing Lydia a flowy red polkadot dress and a cropped black faux leather jacket to match the fire engine red shoes she was already wearing. Lydia smiled, realising how much Koala reminded her of her late sister.

"doppelgangers are just twins seperated at birth. No one will admit it, but it's true"

"then maybe your boss is his twin. Why else would be be different?" Lydia almost considered what Koala was saying, but quickly banished the thought. Brent had mentioned a brother, but not a twin. What would the chances be that he was a twin? Just then she heard a car horn.

"You called a taxi even though you have a car?"

"Mr Freeman sent his chauffeur. He insisted"

"ooh! Fancy!" Koala teased as she grabbed her clutch and handed it to her.

A short drive later, she arrived at Sunset, a fancy restaurant in the middle of the central business district. She was in awe when she found the restaurant empty, except for the staff and Mr Freeman. It was decorated romantically, with roses and candles being the centrepiece of their table. Bryan stood up to welcome her and pulled out her chair.

"milady" He gently smiled as he guided her to sit by gently pressing the small of her back. She sat down and smiled gracefully.

"You didn't have to do all this for me. I'm just a simple girl"

"Nonsense! You're a beautiful woman and you deserve all this and more"

"about work..."

"We're not talking shop right now" And with a wave of his hand, the waiter came to pour some cabinet Sauvignon into the empty wine glasses that were infront of them.

"I hope you don't mind, but I ordered a ribeye steak, king prawns, gnocchi with a creamy mushroom sauce and roasted vegetables."

"I could kiss you right now" Lydia slipped before she could catch herself.

"I beg your pardon?!" a wide-eyed Bryan replied, shocked that his dream wife would say that so quickly.

"The food. I love food. I could eat it right now" she stammered, embarassed at the slip but trying to save it nonetheless. Bryan smiled at her awkwardness, appreciating that he wasn't the only nervous one.

"relax. You're having dinner with me, not the president" he said, breaking the five minute-long silence.

"You're right. So when was the last time you did fun stuff with normal people?" Lydia asked. She had gathered from the whole set up that he was ridiculously loaded and people like that weren't used to normal people fun.

"normal people?"

"Yes, hotshot. People like me who weren't breastfed with privilege but had normal breastmilk instead" Bryan was surprised. He had never met a girl who wasn't just interested in his wealth. In fact, she almost seemed bored at the whole idea. He felt increasingly attracted to her at that very moment and felt his breathe catch at the back of his throat as he gazed at her while she waited for an answer.

"My twenty first birthday almost nine years ago. My brother and I went to a club, Filthy, it was amazing"

"I used to go there all the time with my late sister. I almost can't believe it's been two months..."

"I'm truly sorry"

"No... I'm the one who should be sorry. We can't speak about such on dates. Wait, is this a date?"

"I'd like to think it's date. I think we should go there"

"Go where?"

"Filthy"

"Mr Freeman! I couldn't let you do that! Besides, you have that stuck up thing going for you"

"you think I'm stuck up?"

"Everyone thinks you're stuck up. I think most of your employees have never seen you smile"

"I'm smiling right now"

"you could be pretending"

"Or you are a ray of sunshine and your warm radiance is melting my cold heart" He said, lowering his voice seductively. He reached for her right hand with his left across the table and squeezed it. Lydia blushed, exposing the slight single dimple on her right cheek.