CHAPTER 2
1132 Words
Dante's POV
I re-enter my office after another meeting with our IT department. I had not been able to concentrate.
The amount of things that could go wrong from the little charade I had started was getting
more by the minute.
And my mind was dissecting every one of them.
“I am going to f*****g lose my mind,” I shout as I throw my suit jacket across my office and
slam my door.
“Care to share what's going on.” I am startled out of my private conversation by a voice.
Only then do I notice my brother lounging in a corner of my office.
“Zion, don't you have better things to do?” I ask trying to look like my normal put-together self
again. But, I know Zion would not pass on an opportunity to take a jab at me.
“When I could be here watching you lose your s**t?” He asks as he pulls out my chair and
settles in it. “Of course not.”
“What do you want?” I ask, trying to change the topic of conversation.
“Dad wanted me to personally invite you over for dinner this Friday,” he says with a knowing
smile on his face.
Everyone in the family knew I certainly did not like our “family” dinners but they kept inviting
me anyway.
“What is up with everyone and dinners today?” I groan loudly.
“You see, now I have to hear this.” Zion looks entirely too amused at my predicament.
Somehow I had brought the topic back to myself. Great.
The realization that I want to confide in him does not come as a shock.
Our relationship was…strange. Sometimes I wanted to be more like an older brother to him,
other times I wanted him to get the f**k out of my face.
“I may have done something foolish.” I start.
Let me guess. You caused a problem at work?” Zion suggests probably because he knows the only thing that can get me this riled up has to have something to do with work.
I don't respond, instead I keep staring at him.
“Oh my God, Dante messed up at work!” Zion exclaims. “How big of a f**k up was it?”
“Show some respect to your older brother,” I say but Zion scoffs in response.
At least I tried. “I lied to Simon King that I have a girlfriend and I don't.”
Zion arches his brow. “Why will you do that?”
“He said he was concerned about my sexuality.” Zion's brows stay up, understanding
refusing to dawn on him.
“He thought I was gay,” I add.
“And you're not?” Zion asks a hint of curiosity underlying his voice.
“What on earth are you talking about?” I gasped wondering just exactly how many people had
doubts about my sexuality.
“Well, you've never attended any parties with a significant other.” he holds up a finger to start
counting his reasons.
“I go with my assistant.”
“She doesn't count.” he retorts, dismissing my counterattack.
“You have never been involved with any female for even a short while outside of work.” He
adds.
“There was that scandal where you turned down Bianca. Not to be a jerk but I don't see why
you'd turn her down if you were straight.”
“I had important things to do that night,” I state.
He raises another finger to continue his list of reasons but I shut him up instead.
“That's enough, I have seen your point.”
There's a brief pause between us and I wonder what it will be like to always be able to talk to my brother like this.
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“Ashley is looking for a candidate for the position of my girlfriend.”
Zion lets out a loud laugh. “Words I never thought I'd hear. But you are the only person that
can make being a girlfriend a job though well done.”
“Get out of my office. You have overstayed your welcome.”
Zion raises his hands in defense but stands to leave. “It is going to have to be believable you
know.”
“What?”
“Your girlfriend. She's going to have to be someone you have been around for a long time.
There are very few women that fit that category.”
“Goodbye, Zion.”.
“Plus, if you have been dating for years, you should, at the very least, look in love.” He adds.
Ignoring him, I settle back into my seat. Zion opens the door only to pause and look back at
me.
“I do have one question though?”
“What is it?”
“Is it true? Are you gay?” Zion's eyes glisten with amusement and I am tempted to throw a
rock at him.
Since rocks were out of reach, I settled on the nearest folder and tossed it at him instead. It hits the door instead.
Zion is already outside but I hear his laughter ringing in my ears.
I rang for Ashley because talking to Zion had somehow managed to make me more anxious
than I already was.
“Please come to my office.”
The door of my office swings open and I watch her walk in. The way she walks with calls
my attention to her waist.
It doesn't take a lot to figure out that Ashley is a very attractive woman. The only problem
was that she constantly hid behind pale colors and baggy clothing.
If she could change her wardrobe a little she might even be able to…
I shake my head, cutting off my train of thought.
Do you have any suggestions about our little predicament?”
“There are hardly any women that are around you often enough. But I will see what I can
do.”
“Try to have an answer this Thursday. I am having dinner with my family on Friday night and I want to use that as our first outing, to ease her into it.”
Her eyes widen but she doesn't say anything besides, “Okay, sir.”
“Thank you,” I say and dismiss her with a wave of my hand.
She turns around to leave and I raise my eyes to watch her leave. Zion's words repeating in
my ears.
It will not be hard to pretend to be in lust with her and surely being in love couldn't be that
much different?
- Writer
