CHAPTER 35: UNTITLED I

CHAPTER 35: UNTITLED I

A shrill beep broke the silence of James' office as he entered. Pulling out his phone, he saw a notification from their friend group chat, a smirk curled his lip.

His brother, ever the shameless one, had posted a picture on their group chat. Jared, sprawled on a plush sofa, beamed with a forkful of food dangling near his mouth. The caption, directed at his wife, oozed a theatrical gratitude: "Sister-in-law's cooking is divine! Feeling like a pampered prince. #BabyBoyTreatment." He added a half smiling single tear emoji to emphasize his point.

The comments that followed were what truly startled James. It was a minefield

"Wait, I don't get it," Harry wrote. "James is your wife married to Jared or you?"

Another, more cynical friend, chimed in:

"Wouldn't mind the other way around, either,"

"Jared's not that bad. But James would probably kill him before it got that far." Another one added

James scrolled through the teasing comments, his expression darkening and jaw tightening with each comment until he got to the last part of Harry telling him, "dear little bro, please just introduce your wife to us so we will stop misunderstanding. You know how shameless your brother is, i will personally Punish him on your behalf".

Finally, he typed a brief reply. "Introducing you guys to my wife this weekend, get ready then. Don't scare her away, or it'll be the last either of you see of her. Jared, see me in five." He finished and dropped his phone not waiting to see their response.

Jared's playful facade vanished as he read James' message. He swallowed hard and hurried to his brother's office. James on the phone, barely acknowledged him. So Jared waited patiently, his usual cheeky grin and playful swagger replaced by a serious demeanor.

"You wanted to see me, Chairman?" Jared asked once the call ended.

James scoffed at the formal tone. "When you finish those reports by today, pack your bags. You're heading to Rome to handle a mess at one of our businesses."

Jared, expecting a scolding, was surprised by the severity of the punishment. His face fell. "Rome? Why?" he choked out, feeling a pang of resentment. He wasn't hoping for much, anything but exile to their dusty European outpost.

Why did his brother hate him so much after all he did for him. Jared felt like crying but he kept forgetting he was always putting himself in this kind of situations. He was so shameless to the extent that he never thought he did anything wrong at all.

But he knew better than to argue. Shamelessness had its limits, and pushing his brother was one he wouldn't dare cross.

James, noticing his brother's crestfallen expression, continued without sympathy, a smirk playing on his lips. "Maybe you'll find a decent girl there and settle down."

This was the one that really got to Jared. Jared choked back a groan and gagged. Rome, girls, and a mountain of paperwork – it was a punishment alright, just not the kind he expected. "Thanks but I'll pass. Anything but that", he responded.

He twitched his nose and stared at his brother with full blown pity written on his face. He looked like a wounded animal that was about to be slaughtered. Just as he was about to open his mouth and beg seeing his brother was not responding to his pitiable face, James beat him to it.

"Get ready to leave next week and get the hell out of my office."

Jared sniffed, wiped his eyes, and left, muttering curses under his breath, bad bad bad brother, evil and wicked brother, i wish your wife will just kill you for me and marry me instead. While he kept muttering to himself and crying silently, he bumped into Angelo , his colleague and occasional accomplice in mischief on his way to his office.

Angelo, ever the opportunist, grinned. "So, about that favor you owe me..." he said, brandishing a teetering stack of files. "Consider it a housewarming gift for your new Roman digs."

Jared groaned. "Not you too, Angelo!"

Angelo winked. "Keep your promises, or I'll tell everyone you're not a man of your word. You know how that ends."

Jared nodded glumly. "Fine, fine. Just get out of my sight."

As Angelo left, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Jared. Despite his brother's cruelty, Jared was undeniably capable, which was why James kept him around despite his antics. And Jared, in turn, despite his resentment, couldn't seem to hate his brother no matter how much he tried.

* * * * * * * * * * *

A hush settled over the opulent house as James stepped through the door, an unexpected early return from his day.

He did not see his wife. No familiar bustle of maids or the discreet presence and starch-stiffed bow of Nicodemus, the chief butler, greeted him. Instead, a low murmur drifted from the kitchen.

He dropped his coat and briefcase onto a velvet-cushioned chair, the leather echoing in the silence. Curiosity gnawing at him with His steps, deliberate on the polished marble, stopped at the kitchen doorway.

Inside, the maids huddled in a nervous cluster around her, whispering amongst themselves. Nicodemus, the cook, standing ramrod straight before them. He hadn't expected a full domestic scene upon his return.

No one noticed James until a soft cough shattered the tension.

Heads snapped up. The maids, faces pale, curtsied in a flurry. Even Nicodemus, usually stoic, blinked in surprise. "Welcome, sir," they chorused, their voices shaky and laced with trepidation.

James nodded, his gaze lingering on the scene before him. His wife, usually impeccably attired, stood in a revealing singlet and shorts, her focus intent on the sizzling steak in the pan, a symphony of aromas filling the air.

"Excuse us," he said to the maids, his voice neutral. The maids were surprised that he did not shout or react to them just standing by and watching his wife prepare everything all by herself, Nicodemus was more surprised but they excused them nonetheless. They scurried out, leaving him and Diana alone in the kitchen.

Diana, oblivious to the drama, flipped the steak with a practiced flick of her wrist. "Hey, there," she greeted, without turning to him, her voice warm but unruffled, "Home early?"

James stared, mesmerized. He'd never seen anyone as effortlessly at home in their own skin, her confidence a stark contrast to the women he usually dealt with. She was free, unconstrained by societal expectations, and undeniably alluring. Unlike the other women in his circle, she embraced her freedom, her confidence radiating even from behind.