Twins

After Kiss

After Lili's brief kiss, it left an indelible mark on Harold's life - though at that time they were both unaware of it.

'Shall we go back downstairs at the party?' As Lily wondered if Henry was looking for her, he didn't even notice her leaving with Harold.

'Lili, I'm sleepy to return to the party.' He let out a big yawn.

'Really? Harold this doesn't like like you!' The atmosphere changed, as if nothing intimate happened between them.

'It's not really my kind of party. Besides I'm starting to outgrow parties,' he yawned again.

'I better go back to the party and pretend I'm enjoying.'

'Hey, given all possibilities, what is something that you really want to do right now?' He smiled at her, in a friendly manner. Especially in this new found attraction between Harold and Lili.

'A joint,' it was really Lili's fantasy. As an amateur athlete, she stayed away from nicotine, weed and binge alcohol drinking.

'You're not like most women,' he complimented her as she leaves his bedroom.

Lili left Harold's room, and entered Henry's empty and quiet room. She laid down on his bed staring at the ceiling, and felt her iPhone vibrating.

Inside Henry's room there is a gramophone and vinyl discs - that they buy in Portobello market and Spitalfields. Thus Lili knew exactly that there are the Beatles, Dave Clark Five, The Cure and the Kinks (to name a few) vinyl records in Henry's room. She helped herself with some music of the Kinks in that remainder of the evening.

Her iPhone 3 persistently rang, and she was forced to take Henry's call.

'Hey,' Lili said.

'Babe where are you?'

'I'm actually in your bedroom. As you can hear I'm listening to 'Waterloo Sunset,'' Lili found herself smiling as she mentioned the title of one of her favourite songs.

'Oh, I was looking for you. I thought you took off without saying goodbye. Would you mind coming downstairs?'

Lili sighed, 'sure. See you in a few.'

Lili isn't just a girlfriend of Henry, she is the girlfriend of an heir who is preparing himself to one day being a managing director of an equity company worth twenty billion pounds in assets and bonds, excluding commercial properties.

As she went downstairs, Lili spotted Emilie, Henry's mother.

'Hi dear, I haven't seen you so much this evening.' Emilie is fond of her, for her, Lili is the woman a mother would ask her son to marry. For Frederick, the twins' father, she'd make a good daughter-in-law as a way to expand business.

'I'm sorry,' she said softly. As she caught glimpse of Rosie and her floral dress, and Cartier watch. Her fake blonde hair as she's originally brunette. Lili felt her heart beat again, she felt a tiny bit insecure not because she thinks lesser of herself but because she really has her own ways of getting the message across that she likes Henry. What really made Lili insecure is that Rosie only had half her wits, and she'd make a good housewife. She noticed that if her relationship with Henry will continue, she might need to tone herself down.

'Where have you been all evening,' she cannot blame Emilie's enquiry, as she was busy entertaining guests.

'I was at the bar with Harold. And I hope you don't mind, I hung out for a bit in Henry's room. I needed a breathing space.'

Emilie smiled at her and understood the demands of Lili's life - an Oxford law degree and she had just recently finished her internships that summer.

'Don't worry,' she smiled at her.

Henry who was standing beside the sliding garden door saw Lili talking to Emilie, and enjoyed watching at them and gave it few minutes to sink in. He was happy seeing his serious girlfriend and his mother getting on well, that he had forgotten the existence of the three other women throwing themselves at him all through the night.

'Hey you two,' in his deep commanding yet approachable voice. He slid his hands on Lili's hips.

Rosie saw that gesture and has envy and jealousy written all over it.

Harold came downstairs also for the sake of being civil, and noticed Rosie's face. At least Violet can accept the fact that Henry is taken. 'Isn't she hot Rosie? Lili is so beautiful and well toned, you can't stop staring at her legs and bum. She reads law in Oxford too. Where do you go again? Royal Holloway... where is it again?' He meant to insult her, in order to protect his friend and his twin brother's relationship - despite developing repressed feelings for Lili.

'Shut up Harold,' Rosie felt embarrassed.

'Very polite words to your guests says a lot about you,' Harold uttered as he couldn't care less and walked passed her to get some snacks and sit with his much younger brother.

'How's being married for twenty five years like?' Lili smiled at Emilie, and listened intently to her answer as Frederick joined the three of them.

'I'm not going to lie, it is hard work.' Emilie is very beautiful at late fifties, she is the reason why the twins and their younger brother are handsome. As she concisely answered Lili's question, Henry firmed his hold on Lili's hips, like he won't let her go.

'I'm very sure, and thank you for your honest answer. Very sure it is backed by wisdom and resilience, evidently speaking.'

Lili's articulation is what makes Frederick feel drawn to her, and why he roots for her for his heir named Henry. Her delivery is graceful yet confident and assured, as she bowed slightly to her and Fredrick to show respect and gave them brief eye contacts.

'Are you sure about your legal direction?' It was Frederick's turn to friendly scrutinise Lili.

'In my first year I had done advertising internship, after two weeks in criminal defence. I enjoyed advertising. I just finished my stint at Thacher and Cravath law firms, though my father still insists the bar. I asked my father which bar in the city because my favourite one is the Underwriter. He apparently meant the Bar - the chambers.' she informed him whilst cracking a joke that they laughed at. It is as if she was already though unofficially part of the family.

'Well done,' Frederick raised his champagne flute to her. Confident that she is with her son, whilst friends with Harold in a sincere fashion. Never for the money. Never for the ride along. Only for love. Only for friendship.

'So do you know which specialisation?' He further asked.

'Chancery if it is the bar. Banking, insurance, equity or real estate if it is a law firm. It is still early to tell. However I'm strongly considering advertising also,' she smiled gracefully and finally at this point reciprocating Henry's touch as Lili placed her hand on his waist.

Henry looked at her with pride, a twenty first century female trophy - highly educated and successful with a corporate career ahead of her.

'I can understand why you're a woman of ambition and aspiration,' Emilie sounded rather concerned. 'You're an only child.' The traditional Donna put her in her place.

'Yes, but my father also reminds me the importance of having my own family not just a law firm or an advertising firm.'

Frederick and Emilie were ever more impressed whilst Henry feels proud to having her.