ESTHER

Chapter seven

     Working for Jack Rhodes was exactly how I had imagined. There was an extra table by the far end of Jack Rhodes office, which was like another office itself. That was my spot. There where so many files to go through and appointments to make and I had to start that same day. I was working my ass off and didn't even notice when Duke entered the office. Jack Rhodes doesn't have a problem with his relatives coming into his office.

     "Esther. How are you?" I looked up from the pile of contracts I was sorting out to look at duke. I gave him a huge smile as I replied.

     "I'm well. You?"

     "Oh, I'm okay. Was just wondering if you would like to go for a lunch break. It seems like you have been working non-stop." I looked at my watch, noticing that it was far passed mid afternoon. I didn't know that time had gone that fast. I looked towards Jack Rhodes, awaiting his permission, knowing full well that he could hear us, despite the files he was going through. As if understanding our silence, he looked up.

     "You can go. You don't have to ask for permission next time for that." He went back to studying his documents. I smiled and stood up from my seat, arranging my desk then escorting Duke out of the office.  On our way down to the cafeteria, he asked me how I was coping and whatnots. I answered with either a smile or a shake of my head.

     The cafeteria was huge. There were huge tables that could accommodate twelve people each and the aroma of the food smelled divine. We went to the buffet already spread out for us and selected what we wanted to eat. I took a bit of everything and prayed that I could finish it all. When we were done, we made our way to a table.

     "So, how long have you been working for Jack Rhodes?" I asked Duke.

     "Oh, my father and his father started the company, but his dad was the major shareholder. So when they both retired, we took their place." I nodded my head in agreement, facing my food with utmost attention though it didn't stop me from listening to him.

     "So tell me, Esther. Let's talk about you." I looked up briefly.

     "What about me?" I said, after swallowing my food.

     "Tell me about yourself. You said you didn't work for five years. Why is that? And according to your résumé, you have a very good record. So what happened?" I took another spoonful of food and swallowed, trying to earn myself enough time for me to answer.

     "I didn't like my last job. I took on duties meant for five to six people, and did about three of them per day, for three years. I deserved a break. Wanted to take a break for six months, but I enjoyed it so much, it lasted for a year, and before you knew it, five years had passed."

     "Wow. You had to be very good for them to give you all that work." He said, amused.

     "Yeah well, it's not easy to be competent. It's worse when they don't pay enough." I say smugly, taking another spoonful of food.

     "So how long do you want to work here?" He asked. I noticed that he hasn't touched his food.

     "Aren't you going to eat that?" I said, pointing at his food. He looked down at it as if searching for what I was pointing at. When he understood what I meant, he looked up and gave me a bright smile.

     "Of course I will eat. But it isn't table manners to eat and talk at the same time, and I want to talk to you." I scoffed.

     "You rich people and your manners. I have been talking since. You haven't seen me choking." I rolled my eyes at him.

     "Just be careful when you're next to Jack. He takes manners very seriously." I looked at him, mouth slightly agape.

     "So you're trying to tell me, that I may get fired for talking while eating?"

     "Its a possibility." He replied with a smirk.

     "Wow," I said, suddenly feeling like the job has become much hard.

     "Hey, Duke." Someone came to our table. I looked up and almost choked. Again. But luckily I held myself back in time, studying the specimen of a man before me. He was the exact copy of Duke. It was hard to tell who apart. But I could distinguish them because apart from the fact that Duke is sitting with me, his clone looked like he tended breaking hearts. He looks nowhere to the businessman I saw in Duke, and more like a rich, handsome and damn sexy playboy.

     He wore a plain office shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. I could tell from the way his hands moved that he was strong. I looked at him, then Duke, then at him again, as if trying to spot the differences between them. Duke noticed and introduced us.

     "Esther, this is my twin, Kingsley." Kingsley offered a smile and I returned it with one of my own.

     "So you're the famous Esther huh?" His voice a sexy purr, not like the dominance and comfort Duke's voice brings.

     "Famous? I just resumed today. How did I get famous?" I asked, seriously wanting to know the answer.

    "Of course you would be famous. Anyone working alongside Jack Rhodes automatically becomes famous."

     "How come you two aren't then?"

     "We like to stay on the sidelines. Fame is too stressful." I faced Duke who had answered.

     "What's makes you say that?"

     "Come on. Don't tell me you haven't noticed the stress celebrities go through. They can't come out for a normal walk at a normal place without paparazzi following them like swarms of flies. Not to talk of the controversies they face each day. Like, look at Jack and Vashti. I wouldn't want my private life out in the open like that." Kinsley answered.

     "Thinking of Vashti," I said as I dropped my spoon on my empty plate to lean forward. "...what happened between them that they finally broke up? I thought they were the nation's model couple?"  Kinsley faced his brother who was also facing him. Then both of them faced me and smiled.

     "Its a very long story." They both said.