The Pretty Sister

Upping the Ante

Chapter 15

“What was that?” asked Brick curiously as they made their way back to the car.

“I was talking with a director. Show business stuff.”

“It didn’t look like business to me.”

“Well, if I remember correctly, my business is my own,” she snapped back.  She whipped around to face Brick. She felt as if she could detect a bit of hurt in his dark brown eyes. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. That could not be true. Fiona turned her attention back to the window. 

“Fine. If that is how you conduct business, it is fine by me. As long as you inform me beforehand about your . . . dealings, then I can protect you better if one of your . . .business partners become upset enough to stalk you.” 

“I do not-“ Fiona stopped and refused to face him. He wanted to hurt her. Well, maybe she was wrong. Brick was like every other guy. He said he was not interested, but fussed with her when someone else showed interest. Just like Bradley and all of her ex-boyfriends. They wanted things the way they wanted it. Forget how she felt about things. They were the men.  She didn’t need that. 

Instead of turning to Brick, Fiona turned her focus to his brother. 

“Chris, how long will you be in town?” Chris jumped up in surprise and looked away from Alice who had scrunched herself in the corner of the car, probably hoping to disappear. 

“I don’t know. Umm, I have leave for a while.”

“What do you say to an actual job offer? Some simple protection,” Fiona said confidently. Chris looked nervously at Brick who glared furiously at Fiona. 

“I don’t think . . . I mean you already have Brick. He should be more than enough. I mean, who wouldn’t be afraid of such a big oaf.” He did a nervous chuckle as he ventured another glance at his brother who was staring unflinchingly ahead. 

“I think a little extra detail will help this case move along. I just want to offer you a real job because I feel just awful asking you to spend your break here with me. Might as well hire my own guard to boost this along.” 

“I don’t know.” Now, Chris tried to look everywhere but his brother and Fiona. So he stared out the windows, at the doors or at the placemats until his gaze landed on Alice. She still sat in the corner. She fiddled around with her tablet. Suddenly, she looked up as if she felt his stare and looked him straight in the face. A blush sprouted against her cheeks before she looked back down at the tablet. 

“Yeah. I’ll stay.” Fiona nodded. Brick gave his brother the stare that used to scare him as kids. If he was honest, it still scared him now. It meant retribution would come later. 

Man, his brother and Fiona had declared war somehow. And he already picked sides. The wrong one if his brother had any say. This is not how he was supposed to spend his resting time. He jumped from a physical battle into an emotional one. 

*&*&*&*&

The car ride was indeed quiet and filled with tension. Alice and Chris nearly pushed each other in order to get out of the car. Fiona and Brick waited until the two scrambled out. Neither looked at the other. Both stared straight ahead. 

“Excuse me, Miss Fiona? Are you getting out?”

“Of course.”  She slid to the door. She felt silly playing this game about who was more stubborn. 

“I have more things to do than stare ahead in a parked car.” She couldn’t resist it. She slipped out as she heard Brick follow behind. The foursome made it back up to the apartment in silence. Alice and Chris waited patiently in the hall, but Fiona and Brick barely spared a glance before heading straight into their apartment.