It's the end of the weekend and I'm not sure just how busy my week may turn out to be, so I wanted to make sure I posted a bit more in case I neglect this until Friday. Enjoy!
Phoebe was still chattering on about the events of the previous night when we stopped in front of the building. I was trying to remain attentive, but the details of what she was wearing, the restaurant, the waitstaff, it was all a little more than I cared to hear about. If anyone would have been interested in the specifics it would be Ava or our mother. The story telling came to an abrupt halt when she noticed the SUV had come to a stop.
"Show time Phebs," I gave her a smile as I climbed out of the vehicle. Her and Kyle slipped out and immediately grabbed ahold of each other's hands. Phoebe still had a smile on her face and she looked as if she was about to burst. Kyle on the other hand looked sickly. Phoebe noticed it as well and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"It's okay baby! Mommy loves you! This is going to be easy!" She giggled as we headed into the building. Walking behind them I smirked to myself and tried to figure out just how sick Kyle could become before the end of the day. I couldn't decide whether he would vomit or faint by the time it was all over. "Teddy!" Phoebe's impatient voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up and saw that her and Kyle had already grabbed an elevator and were waiting on me. I jogged over to join them, slipping into the elevator beside a trim blonde with skin that was a color you would only find in a bottle. Feeling her eyes on me I looked over at her and smiled. Even through the orange of her skin I could see the red as her cheeks blushed.
"Hello." I said softly.
"Hi!" Orange girl squeaked a reply. I felt Phoebe poke me from behind, but I just waved a hand to her behind my back.
"Do you work here?" I watched her blush turn deeper as I kept my eyes on her.
"Yes, this is my first day." Her voice held steadier as we spoke, but the color stayed in her cheeks. The elevator beeped and the doors slid open. A little awkwardly the girl made her way out the door.
"Well, have a wonderful first day, Miss…" I trailed off leaving it open for her to insert her own name.
"Heidi Lambert." She said. "Thank you, Mr…" She tried the same trick. I smiled.
"Theodore Grey." I said with a nod and saw the color hit her face full force as well as a shocked expression. There was no time for a response as the elevator door shut. As soon as it closed I felt a full on slap to the back on my head. "Ouch!" I spun around to see Phoebe scowling at me.
"Theodore Raymond Grey, that was mean!" She said with a huff. I shrugged my shoulders and gave her an innocent look.
"I don't have any idea what you're talking about Phoebe." I kept my tone calm. She huffed again.
"Toying with that girl's emotions like that!" She swatted my shoulder as I laughed and turned back around.
"P she was ORANGE!" I said it as seriously as I could manage, and heard a giggle from behind me. "See, now you aren't being very nice."
"She did look like Oompa Loompa Barbie…" Kyle's voice entered our conversation and both Phoebe and I couldn't help but laugh. We were still getting ourselves under control when the doors opened and we were outside of our mother's office. I saw her assistant, Lynsey, quickly get to her feet when she saw me.
"Good morning Mr. Grey, your mother's expecting you." She gave me a sly smile, which earned me a swat from Phoebe, this one with a little more force and little more necessary than the one in the elevator.
"Remember you tell me everything…" Phoebe hissed from behind me, and I remembered that I had in fact mentioned Lynsey to her over Christmas break. "Behave!" I don't think Phoebe's lips moved while she spoke to me.
"Oh! Miss Grey!" Lynsey took her eyes off me long enough to realize that I hadn't stepped off the elevator alone. "What a pleasant surprise! And this is?" She nodded in Kyle's direction.
"Kyle Simms." Phoebe replied with a syrupy sweet voice to match Lynsey's. Lynsey smiled and batted her extremely long lashes at me, her green eyes catching the overhead light enough to make them even brighter. I gnawed on the inside of my cheek momentarily as I shook memories of her naked in my bed out of my head.
"I'll let Mrs. Grey know you are here." Lynsey turned to walk into Mom's office, and my eyes remained glued to her behind. Phoebe's elbow to the ribs caused me to scowl at her, as she came to stand by my side, a tight grip still on Kyle's hand.
"Are you blushing, T?" She spoke quietly, but I could hear the laughter in her voice. I quickly cleared my throat and regained my composure.
"Certainly not, now why would I do a thing like that?" I looked back at her with a small smile playing on my lips and winked. She shook her head at me.
"How you can hide emotions that quick is scary Teddy. Must be something you inherited." She scowled and I knew she was thinking about our father's knack at perfecting the poker face. "It's still creepy!" I chuckled and shook my head, making a mental note to start keeping my personal life out of conversations with my sister for reasons just like this.
"My babies!" Mom's voice interrupted my thoughts and I turned to see her coming out of her office. If I weren't the proof of her age, I would never place her a day over 30. Her brown hair was in curls, similar to the style Phoebe kept, only pulled slightly away from her face. And the business attire she chose accented the fact that she still kept in shape to this day, doing what exactly I wasn't sure, as I had never seen her once go to the gym. Mom wrapped us both in a hug, and even gave one to Kyle, which from the look on his face put him a bit more at ease. "Now I expected Teddy, but Phoebe! My baby girl, I appreciate the surprise!"
"Oh Mommy! I told Teddy to promise not to tell you I was coming!" Phoebe gushed. "Me and Kyle have something to tell you!" I eyed my sister, who obviously could not keep the news to herself anymore. I looked over to where Lynsey was sitting at her desk, all but falling out of her chair to hear what Phoebe was saying. I tapped Phoebe's shoulder and she shot me an annoyed look. "Teddy! I have to tell Mommy!" After seeing my look she followed my eyes. "Ohhhhh. Mommy could we move this into your office?" Mom gave the both of us a quizzical look but nodded slowly and motioned for us to follow. I trailed behind the three of them, stopping briefly at Lynsey's desk.
"Mr. Grey…" She looked up from her chair with those green eyes.
"Lynsey," I spoke quietly. "Whatever you may or may not hear in the next few moments is a family secret as of right now, and I would appreciate it staying that way." Gossip ran rampid through offices and this one was no exception. "At least for the rest of the day." All we needed was time enough for Phoebe and Kyle to drop the bomb on my father and then the tabloids could go to town. I saw that sly smile grace her plump lips again, and she slowly crossed her legs. I pressed my lips together into a firm line.
"And what exactly would this be worth to you, sir?" She spoke in a tone barely above a whisper, her hands slowly pulling her skirt a little higher on her thighs, the top of her stockings coming into view. I felt my teeth grinding into the inside of my cheek.
"One night." I said it gruffly. "I'll text you the details later." I turned quickly and entered my mother's office, being sure the door was shut behind me. I let out the breath I was holding and mentally shivered. After the last night I spent with her I swore it was over, but if one more night could keep this a secret a few hours longer it was the least I could do for my sister. And truth be told Lynsey wasn't bad, it was just the lingering remains of my conscience that were trying to get the best of me.
"Nice of you to join us Teddy." My mother cut her eyes at me and I shrugged.
"My apologies." I motioned to Phoebe. "Go ahead kiddo, tell her before you burst." Phoebe flashed me a smile and then looked at Kyle as she started to speak.
"Mommy…me and Kyle…" She took a deep breath. I watched as Mom hung on every word Phoebe said. "We're getting MARRIED!" At that moment she thrust her hand out at Mom, that's when I noticed the ring I hadn't seen before. Mental note: make sure that wasn't there when she walked in to talk to our father. Mom hadn't noticed it, but Dad was keen at reading people and catching every last little detail. He'd see that rock when she stepped off the elevator and there would be nothing but…anger, fire, brimstone…or maybe joy, happiness, and hugs? With him there was absolutely no telling, I just hoped for the latter.
"Oh my God! Congratulations you two!" Tears formed on Mom's eyes as she wrapped the couple in a hug. "I'm so happy for both of you. Such a lovely couple!" Mom sniffled and I slipped to her side and handed her the handkerchief I kept tucked in my back pocket. "Thank you," Mom squeezed my shoulder and gave me a big smile. "I can't believe it. My little girl!" She took a deep breath and smoothed the front of her dress, a smile still plastered on her face. Phoebe had that kid on Christmas Day look about her. And Kyle looked the most relaxed I'd seen him all day, a big smile on his face and his arm wrapped around Phoebe.
"It's great to see you so happy about it Mrs. Grey. It really means the world to me." Kyle spoke, that smile not faltering. "I know Phoebe was nervous about telling her parents the news." With that statement the mood in the room changed. Mom still managed to keep a smile on her face, but her body posturing became a tad bit more rigid, she attempted to laugh, but even that sounded tight.
"Kyle, please call me Ana. We're about to become family, no need for the formalities." Mom reached out to hold Phoebe's hand. "Baby," She waited until Phoebe was looking at her. "Perhaps we should wait until dinner this evening to break the news to your father." I stood watching their interaction, commending my mother for the good idea. If you were going to drop life altering news on someone known for being controlling, overly protective, and short tempered, doing it in the privacy of your own home was probably the best bet. I saw Phoebe's face fall and her lip begin to stick out ever so slightly. "Oh Phoebe, please don't pout. I know you're excited to share this news with him, but you and I both know how he can get."
"I told you so…" I couldn't help the words as they slipped out of my mouth. Both my mother and sister glared at me.
"How they BOTH can get." Mother continued to speak. "I want the moment to work out perfectly for you. So let me call Mrs. Taylor and we'll have a wonderful dinner planned for this evening. Your father will be so happy to see you that he won't be able to say anything negative about your good news!" After she said that she cut her eyes at me right as I began to open my mouth. "We need no comments from you Theodore." Her tone was her motherly no nonsense one she used on rare occasions, more so with me than Phoebe. "And…" She continued to glare at me. "This shall remain a secret for the rest of the day." I sighed and nodded, acknowledging that I did in fact understand what that meant.
"I won't mention a word of this to him." I said and gave her a salute. Phoebe rolled her eyes at me and then looked back at Mom.
"It's not Teddy that I'm worried about…" She motioned her head back to the door, in the direction of Lynsey's desk. Mother's face drew up slightly with concern.
"That, my favorite women in the world…" I smiled as they looked at me. "Has already been taken care of courtesy of yours truly." My mother didn't look happy, but she let it go. Phoebe however glared at me with a look that would cut right through you. I shrugged and looked over to Mom who was talking with Kyle. "You owe me." I mouthed to Phoebe, my eyebrows raised. Her glare softened and she sighed.
"Thank you, T." She said with a smile. "I appreciate it."
"Anything for my favorite little sister." I walked over and gave her arm a squeeze. She laughed.
"Your ONLY little sister." I shrugged and narrowed my eyes at her.
"After dinner tonight, I might be an only child again." The end of my sentence was met with a swat from my mother, landing directly on my upper arm. "Ow! Why does everyone keep hitting me?"
"Tonight will go off without a hitch!" That motherly tone returned. "And for added insurance I'll be sure to invite the whole family." I eyed Mom carefully.
"You just want everyone there for added witnesses if he does in fact kill Phebs!" I said with a laugh, followed by scowls from both of the females in the room. Kyle stood to the side, his face turning a nasty shade of green.