Mine After Office Hours

Chapter six

Julian sat in his brother's massive wine cellar. Like his father, Damien spent half his time in London and the other half in Nigeria. And so, he had recently gotten the opportunity to partner with a winery in London and it came with an advantage which was in fact, evident in this cellar. His brother had always had a thing for good wine.

     "Can you get me two glasses from the shelf by your left?" his brother demanded.

     Julian located the glasses and set them on the table. Damien was currently prying open, a bottle of wine. According to him, this was their latest bottle and he couldn't wait to have a taste. After a resounding "pop" was heard around the room, Damien poured a generous glass each for the both of them.

     Julian had to admit, the wine was great. And he told his brother that.

     "I knew it was going to be the best yet. I literally tended to a few grapes myself. Should be the sweetness from my touch ehh?" they shared a laugh.

    "I guess it is." Julian agreed.

    "Where is my angel, vivien?" He hadn't seen his sister-in-law since he arrived.

    Damien shrugged. "She went out with her sister. Apparently, they have a baby shower to prepare for."

    "That's great." He spared his brother a glance. "Why are you looking at me in that manner?"

    "She is carrying our child! I don't want her stressing herself." He said like it was the most obvious thing.

    "It's her first child. Surely you do not expect her to miss a baby shower." Julian wished he had someone he could make a fuss over. Evelyn?

    His brother swore under his breath. He looked up and waved his hand. "It's good to have you here, in Nigeria." Damien said.

    "I guess it's a good thing, considering.......you know." He hadn't been to Nigeria ever since he got married. His mother had not been so happy about the whole rushed wedding with Gwen. He could literally recall her asking if he had been sure about what he was doing.

    Maybe she had seen the future?

     Julian's mind began to drift as they drank their wine in silence. He brought down his glass to see his brother watching him intently. His gaze questioning.

     "Tell me little brother, what's got your panties in a twist? Or should I say, who?" he asked, setting his glass down.

     Julian knew he couldn't lie to his brother. "The other day, when you called, I said something about my personal assistant just before I hung up." Damien was about to say something. "Don't say anything yet. Let me finish." He put his hands in his pockets and walked to a far corner of the cellar. "I can't think when I'm around her, all I can think of his ravishing her. And not only that, I want to be with her, I always want be around her all the time. She's just stuck in my head."

     "But?" his brother simply asked. His expression knowing.

     "But, Gwen, I don't know but I haven't completely forgotten about her."

     "What are you saying little brother? That woman left you, cheated on you! And you are still thinking about her?" He could tell his brother was angry on his behalf. Julian couldn't blame him. He was also angry at himself for sparing Gwen a thought.

     "I don't know, okay?" he pulled his hands out of his pocket and spread them out wide. "On one hand my mind is all about Evelyn, and on the other hand, I still feel a little tug when I think about Gwen. Besides, Evelyn isn't even making it easy for me at all. She is so stubborn. She is willing one instant and the next, she is reminding me I'm her boss and she's my employee."Ahh hell.