Butterfly and Flame - Alina and Evan

Christian Jr.

The car came to a rolling stop just outside the entrance. A private gate rolled open for them. The attendant waved them through knowing that they were expected. Up ahead another car was parked and the driver was standing to the right of it, hands clasped in front of him. The scene had been played out many times before. Always the same, somber and quiet and still.

Christian and Evan got out of the car and stared at each other across the top of the Mercedes Christian drove. Christian gave Evan a smirk that conveyed everything Evan already knew. Don't make waves, this is just as much for us and it is for her, ignore anything she says about kids and let's get this done.
Evan pulled on the collar of his pressed shirt and adjusted his tailored jacket. It fit him like a glove. Of course his brother picked it out and it probably cost a small fortune. The shoes, the tie, the belt. All of it Italian. Evan appreciated all of it. He understood craftsmanship and all that went into design and the selection of fabrics and tanning of leathers but he hated suits. The fact Christian got him to where one every time they came here was a testament to the love he had for his brother.

Christian was everything Evan was not. Industrious and studious when it came to business and a natural at the markets. As for his social life. There wasn't a gala in town or a charity event that he wasn't invited to. He was on the board of numerous philanthropic organizations as well as that of two new start ups in the tech industry that he was very proud to support. His brother was everything a young socialite would want in a husband. Both handsome and wealthy. However as much as they were different in their professional life's they were very similar when it came to their personal view on marriage and children.

Walking toward the marbled edifice gave Evan a chill that ran from his spine down to his toes. He hated coming here. The mausoleum was stark, devoid of any ornamentation or warmth. The only adornment was the placard on the front.
It read:

Beloved son, husband and father
Christian Alexander Marroquin Malek.
1962-2002
and
Beloved daughter, sister, wife and mother
Serene Marie Fletcher Malek 
1964-2002

Both Evan and Christian approached the woman seated on the bench. She was quietly reading a prayer card. They had never seen her pray as they were not brought up with any religious affiliation. Evan and Christian both had attended services at a variety of religious and holy houses and temples for both marriages and funerals, but as far as having any type of formal religious education, there wasn't any. Evan looked over at Christian with a questioning look on his face and Christian just shrugged his shoulders in response. He was clueless at what their grandmother was doing. After a moment she looked up at the entrance to the mausoleum and gestured to Christian with her hand to assist her in rising from the bench. Evan hadn't seen his grandmother in three years and in that time she had acquired the use of a cane. That was a surprise to him as he regarded her as someone with immense strength and youthfulness. Christian came around and gave her his arm. As she stood up she looked at Evan and smiled at him with eyes full of tenderness and sorrow. "Evan, won't you give me a hug?" Evan returned her smile and then bent down to embrace his grandmother and kiss her cheek. "Gran, it's good to see you." She nodded and then proceeded to walk inside.

Once he had finally returned to the house. Evan immediately changed into jeans and a white linen collard shirt. His things were in their old room and he took the opportunity to sit and check his phone. He knew he needed to go downstairs and talk to his brother and gran. He was furious and although the walk did him good he was still on the brink of just leaving and never coming back. He needed to breath and take control of his emotions and figure things out. He looked around and a flood of memories threatened to take him over. Christian had moved out long ago and when he would stay over he would use the downstairs master as it was fitted with all the latest technology. Their old bedroom looked like it did when he went to college.  Not much had been changed except a fresh coat of paint and a big screen Tv had been installed. On the drive home Christian told Evan that their grandmother had been acting strangely. Evan raised an eyebrow to that comment but Christian continued by telling him that she had been meeting with her lawyers more frequently and that he was sure she had hired a private detective. "When was this?" Evan asked "When she came back from England. I'm not sure if you know, but she hasn't been here for more than a few months in the past three or four years". Christian parked the car in the garage and before they both got out he turned to his brother said to him "Evan, you and I both know gran is a pretty tough especially when it comes to business and anything related to us and our future. But I got to tell you bro, she is not the same. She asked me last month to get the house ready because she was coming to stay. You know, ever since you quit the business and school and went off on your own I've been at the head of everything. I know our business inside and out. She has increasingly given over all the reigns to me and now"....Evan wasn't sure where the conversation was leading so he interrupted "Christian, listen little brother, you know that I could give a rip about any of grans businesses. I know you have built them all up and because of you the companies are successful. I don't want any part of it. Don't worry about me". Christian looked as his older brother and smiled then looked down at his hands. "Remember when we tried zip lining from the third floor balcony over to the second floor balcony in the guest house. You rigged the contraption that almost got us both killed." Evan rolled his eyes and looked down at his hand as well. Raising his hand and showing his brother his palm he said "And we both have the scares to show for it.....Christian, what's this have to do with gran." Christian looked at his older brother and with a steady and calm voice told him "Evan she's signing over all her shares to you".

Evan closed his eyes, and fisted both his hands at his side. He got out of the car and slammed the door and walked off into the wooded area behind the mansion that was home. Christian just watched him and knew well enough that it was better to leave him alone to sort out his thoughts. They would talk later.

Christian walked into his room and threw the keys and his wallet on the desk. He turned on his computer and went to the bathroom to change out of his clothes and into some shorts and a T-shirt. Like his brother,  Christian was tall and well built. He enjoyed working out at the gym and loved playing tennis. He was equally adept at soccer; a sport both brothers enjoyed and participated in through out their youth. Christian had blue eyes like their mother and light brown hair. His chin and Evan's were the exact same except he had a cleft. Evan sported a beard and Christian a goatee. Where Evan wore his hair longer Christian had a clean cut look any Barney's catalog model would appreciate. Christian enjoyed quality in every form. From sports cars, to clothing to jewelry and watches. His collection of watches would put a jewelry store to shame. Their grandfather had been a third generation jeweler. When he died he had left their gran a very wealthy woman. She had continued their investments in the jewelry business and Christian had expanded it into countries like Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore. Today he was at the head of seven separate businesses and he loved every minute of it. When he had finished cleaning up he sat down at his computer to check the markets and emails. Standing up he went to the window to see if he could spot Evan. He knew his brother would be angry and would attempt any number of stunts to reject his grandmothers shares. But what he didn't know was that if he didn't take them she would put them up for sale. If she did that Christian would be minority shareholder in a company he helped build. It was one thing to have his brother hold majority shares and not lift a finger in the business. It was quite another to have a stranger walk in and buy those shares and run his company. He was not about to let that happen. He loved Evan more than any human being on the planet. More than his grandmother and even more than the memory, however distant; of his parents. That love they both had for each other would be tested because Evan couldn't and wouldn't do anything to hurt Christian. He knew it but he also knew that his brother would be miserable in the business world he hated with a passion. Evan  would be furious once he realized that their grandmother had backed him into a corner. Christian knew it and soon enough Evan would figure it out. He would need a drink or two before this night was over. He decided to get a head start on it.