Fiance Next Door

I try to calm myself down, but the tension in my shoulders has barely left when I hear a knock on the door.

Now what?

“Just give me a minute, Abe,” I say without looking at the door.

“I’m not Abe.”

I turn my chair around.

It’s not Abe, alright. It’s my brother.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Leander says. “But I showed myself right in.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask him. “I thought you were already out of the country.”

“Whoa.” He frowns as he approaches my desk. “What’s with that greeting? I thought we were buddies now. We had drinks, remember? I was at your wedding.”

I point a finger at him. “I’m still not going to hug you.”

He sighs. “And here I thought marriage would make you more agreeable.”

He occupies one of the chairs in front of my desk.

“How’s Aster?”

“Good,” I answer. “She’s getting used to DC.”

“That’s great. And you know who else is getting used to her new life? Our little sister.”

I know. I just spoke to her the other day and she said she got into the internship. She has a few people giving her a hard time – other interns, residents, fellows – but she seems to be enjoying her next crucial step to becoming a doctor. At the very least, she sounds like her old self – enthusiastic, confident, brave.

“I’m glad she was able to realize what she really wants to do,” I say. “And I’m sure she’ll make an excellent doctor.”

“No doubt about it,” Leander agrees. “I’ve got two amazing siblings, don’t I?”

True, but I don’t miss the underlying sadness in his compliment.

I lean forward. “Seriously, Leander, why are you here?”

Enough with the small talk. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t need anything from me, and judging from the expression he has right now, it’s important. I know that face. It’s the same face he makes before making a kick in a penalty shoot-out.

He draws a breath as he collects his thoughts. “I shouldn’t be here. I know I’m not supposed to – ”

“Just spit it out.”

Leander meets my gaze. “Do you know Oliver Owens?”

I sit up and narrow my eyes at him. “How do you know Owens? Did he send you?”

It can’t be a coincidence that he wants me to do something for him and now my brother is here talking about him.

“No, no.” He lifts his hands and shakes his head. “I don’t know him.”

I don’t believe him.

“You just said his name.”

“He’s a big football fan,” he answers. “I met him a few times when I was still playing. But we’re not friends or anything. It’s my former coach who knows him well.”

I take note of that bit of information.

“Well, I don’t know him, either,” I say. “He’s a fellow businessman, a CEO like me. That’s all. I run into him at social events every now and then. Why are you asking?”

Leander draws another deep breath. “I’ve heard he’s looking to forge a partnership with a strong IT company. Has he approached you?”

“Where exactly did you hear that?” I ask him.

“Like I said, my former coach knows him well.”

“What’s his name again?”

“Harry Duncan.”

I type the name on the notepad on my screen.

“So has he approached you?” Leander repeats his question.

“Yes,” I admit.

I wouldn’t say he was offering a partnership, though. Maybe Duncan was misinformed?

“And what did you tell him?”

I throw my brother a puzzled look. “No offense, Leander, but I’m not sure that’s any of your business.”

“And you may be right. Business is none of my business. But I’m not talking to you as a businessman. I’m talking to you as my brother.”

I shake my head. “Still not sure it’s any of your business.”

“Listen, Mason.” Leander leans forward on my desk. “I’m just worried about you, okay?”

My eyebrows furrow. “Why? I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can, but Owens… He’s…”

I arch an eyebrow as I wait for the rest.

“You can’t trust him and you don’t want to mess with him,” Leander says.

Now, I’m really curious about what he knows.

“What exactly did Duncan tell you?”

“Just that. Or something along those lines.”

“But I thought they were friends.”

“They’re more of acquaintances,” Leander says.

I have a feeling that’s not all. There’s something he’s not telling me. I know it.

“I need you to tell me everything you know about Oliver Owens,” I tell my brother. “Everything Duncan told you. Why does he think Owens is dangerous? What is he planning? Why does he need an IT firm?”

Leander stands up and lifts his hands. “Mason, I’ve told you all I know. All I’ve overheard. Now, please tell me you were nice to Owens.”

I still think Leander isn’t telling me everything. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be this scared of Owens. But I decide that pressing him for answers right now isn’t going to work.

“I was nice,” I answer. “He wasn’t.”

Leander’s eyebrows furrow. “What do you mean? What did he do?”