Two Brothers: A Twin Stepbrother Ménage Romance

by Tia Wylder

  “Having you is all I could ever ask for,” she said earnestly. They drew away from each other, considering each other with tender smiles. Then, steeling themselves, they turned to face the door.

  It was now or never.

  Chapter Nine

  When Jackson emerged from his office, arm in arm with Svetlana, the pounding on the door had ceased some time ago. He could only wonder where Lina had wandered off too, but he knew she couldn’t be up to anything good. He tightened his grip on Svetlana, leading her through the upper floor of the building in hunt of the melodramatic latina. He could hear her in the distance, cursing frantically in a mixture of English and Spanish. He and Svetlana exchanged a look, and the blonde woman quirked a brow. Jackson was entirely prepared to face the other woman, had no qualms with telling her to hit the road. What stopped him in his tracks, however, was another familiar set of voices.

  “Lina, honey, you’ll have to calm down. Tell us what Jackson has done this time,” he heard his mother loudly intone, and he hit the brakes before Svetlana could pull him any further ahead. She took the hint, allowing herself to be tugged to a halt as Jackson tried to avoid going into full blown panic mode. She seemed relatively sympathetic to his plight, looking rather troubled by the thought of immediately being faced by his parents. He gripped her hand tightly, meeting his love’s gaze with pure and unadulterated fear shining in his gaze. She rubbed her thumb against the back of his hand in slow, soothing circles

  “You knew we would have to face them at some point,” she tried to reason, and he chuckled under his breath.

  “So, you can tell me you’re entirely prepared to face my parents at this point? I expected to at least have a little time to pull myself together, but it seems likely I won’t get that chance. They’ll lay into both of us,” he muttered. Svetlana hesitated, bringing his hand to her plush lips and pressing a tender kiss to the back of his knuckles.

  “I can handle your parents. You’ve laid into me for years, though that’s had a new meaning as of late,” she grinned toothily. Jackson bit back a laugh, rolling his eyes at the poorly placed joke.

  “Please don’t let them hear you say that,” he managed, drawing her in close and bracing himself for a moment. “I can’t imagine this will go well. My parents have always been very picky about the women I see. Granted, I’ve never cared about their opinion before,” he grumbled. Svetlana chuckled, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

  “What’s so different about this time?” She inquired softly. Jackson frowned, considering her for a long moment.

  “I actually want them to like you. I don’t want you to just be some fling. I want… I want…,” he trailed off, cutting himself short as the voices of his parents and Lina grew nearer. “Act natural,” he muttered, moving to draw away from Svetlana. She tightened her grip on him, winking up at him in response to his confused expression. Before he could say anything further, his parents and Lina stepped into the room. The trio looked equally surprised to see the two of them, and he tried to sputter out an excuse. However, that notion was cut short as Svetlana pressed her lips to his in a searing embrace. He moaned against her, and for a moment, the world seemed to slip away. At least, until Lina’s shrill shrieking brought him back to reality.

  “What the hell are you doing with my man?” Lina demanded, lurching towards them. Svetlana faced the woman fearlessly, narrowing her eyes upon Lina until the obnoxious latina took a well-placed step back. “What’s the big idea? You think you can just toss him out like garbage and come back whenever you want?” the bratty woman spat. Svetlana bared her teeth, nearly snarling at the implication.

  “I would never treat him like trash. That is why I’d see him freed from your gnarled grip,” the blonde woman bit back. Jackson found himself grinning at the furious expression Lina turned upon them, though upon seeing the expression on his parents’ faces, he was certainly less amused.

  “Jackson, what is the meaning of this? Lina told us that you were planning to marry her as we had arranged,” his father demanded, and Jackson hesitated, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “That’s his whore of an assistant! She’s nothing but a man stealing, home wrecking skank,” Lina shouted, drawing the attention of everyone else on the floor. She stomped her foot, looking much like a child who had been deprived of their favorite toy.

  “Hush now, girl. Don’t cause a scene,” Jackson’s mother hissed, looking between the obnoxious latina and her son. “She has a point, however. You and Svetlana do seem to be a bit… on again, off again. Deepest apologies, Miss Rhukov,” the older woman continued, and Svetlana obviously had to force a smile.

  “Jackson and I have been getting a feel for our relationship. We broke up because of a tragedy within my family, but I realized what I was losing by giving him up. Your son is a wonderful man,” the blonde woman murmured. Lina snorted, glancing towards the elder Wethers and speaking in a stage whisper.

  “If you ask me, I think they’re faking it just so Jackson can continue banging anyone he feels so inclined to. It’s not as if she’s someone worth writing home about. At the very least, you should have known your darling son held an interest in her, right?” Lina pressed, taking a brave step towards Svetlana. “Anyone could agree that she’s little more than a frumpy little cow. Jackson deserves someone at least on his level,” she whispered snidely. Svetlana smiled serenely for a moment, seeming nonplussed by the comment. However, in a split second she reared back and backhanded Lina as hard as she possibly could. Lina screamed as she stumbled back, clutching her cheek. Jackson had to swallow his desire to cheer, resting a hand on Svetlana’s shoulder and drawing her nearer to him once more.

  “Miss Rhukov, we must ask you to be professional!” The elder Wethers male insisted, looking between the two young women with trepidation.

  “Oh, Mark, you have to admit that Lina was crossing a line,” his wife muttered, looking at Lina with something akin to disdain. “I will ask both of you to behave professionally, and act like adults while we discuss this very serious matter. Now, Jackson, be honest with mommy. Did you start this whole affair with Svetlana as a means of getting us off your back?” She said seriously, though there were hints of compassion in her gaze. Jackson hesitated, looking between Svetlana and his parents. As much as he loved Svetlana, he couldn’t spend the rest of his life with such a heavy weight on his chest.

  “Yes, mother. It started out that way,” he began. Lina laughed victoriously, lunging forward to jab a finger against Jackson’s chest.

  “I knew it! I knew there was no way you could love her,” she grinned toothily. Svetlana took a step back, obviously unprepared for Jackson’s confession. Before he could continue, his father interrupted the scene.

  “That’s it, Jackson! You’ve been playing this eligible bachelor for too long. You used your assistant as an excuse to get out of it, and I for one won’t stand for it any longer. You have one of two choices. Get married, and settle down for the sake of our company’s reputation. Or, continue living as you are, with one condition. You lose all stock in our company,” His father said coldly. Jackson’s eyes widened, and despite suspecting his father might suggest as much, he hadn’t been convinced the older man would truly go that far. Now, however, he was presented with very few options. It was to marry Lina and live unhappily, but well off, for the rest of his life. He could sacrifice his love for Svetlana, and give up the only thing he had come to care about for the sake of keeping his parents happy. He could also sacrifice his stock in the company, just to be with the woman he loved so dearly. It should have been an easy choice. His father certainly expected it to be. His mother looked more troubled by the ultimatum, but said nothing. Feeling all their eyes upon him, stress washed over Jackson more than it ever had before. He drew his lip between his teeth, worrying it frantically as he considered his options. Svetlana drew near him, resting a hand on his cheek. He waited, eager for him to convince him that she was the right choice. However, there was a sad expression on her face
that seemed to indicate she had no intentions of doing as much.

  “Jackson… I love you. I really do. But… I can’t ask you to sacrifice your life for me. You’re not the sort to work a job like flipping burgers at the local fast food joint. You have your dignity. You have respect for yourself. Moreover, you have your family and your happiness,” she trailed off, drawing away from him. “I won’t ask you to sacrifice your wellbeing just to be with me. I won’t allow it. If your parents can’t see that we love each other, then… there’s little I can do to convince them. Just know that whatever you decide, I will always love and respect the man you’ve become,” she continued, smiling bitterly. His eyes widened, and he reached out to her. She seemed uncaring of his desire for her, continuing to step back, back and further away until she was out of reach.

  “Svetlana…,” he called desperately, not knowing how to put his feelings properly into words; especially with such a large audience. Svetlana considered him for a moment longer, turning her back to walk away. “Svetlana, wait! I have something to ask you!” He blurted, fumbling in his pockets. She paused, turning to face him with a curious expression. Jackson darted away from his parents and Lina, managing to rip the velvet box out of his pocket just as he slid to his knees in front of the woman he loved. She watched him with wide eyed confusion, gasping in disbelief as he popped open the lid of the box. Jackson didn’t like to brag, but he was certain she had never seen such a large diamond in her life. At the very least, he had hoped not. He had spent a good chunk of his savings to ensure that the ring he chose was just right. Her mouth fell agape, stayed agape, and he smiled up at her with a tender expression.

  “Jackson, what are you--” she began, only to be cut off by Lina.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing!? Didn’t you hear your parents? They said you’ll lose your company share if you don’t marry me,” she screeched, but Jackson paid her little mind. He drew the ring out of the box, holding it delicately in his hand as he struggled to put the words together.

  “I know it seems really sudden. But I had been considering this for… a while. I know you don’t think I’m ready to be a husband, let alone a father for Klaus. I don’t expect you to have much confidence in me, in that regard. I wouldn’t ask you to lead me by the hand, and I certainly wouldn’t want to put further strain on yours and young Klaus’ lives, but…” he trailed off, taking her by the hand. “I may not be ready. You may be right about me. I know for one thing I’m in way over my head. I’ve been in over my head for the entirety of this relationship. But I know that there’s no one I would rather be with. Rich or poor, I’d love to spend the rest of eternity with you. I don’t know how to flip burgers. I don’t know how to be a father. But if you give me the chance, I’ll do my damnedest to try,” he announced.

  “Jackson, you can’t mean… you can’t possibly,” Svetlana stammered, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

  “I mean it. If it means losing my stock in the company, then so be it. I want to be with you. I love you, Svetlana, with my whole heart. Will you… God, I know this is sudden, but will you marry me?” He blurted. He felt his own eyes grow moist with tears, and though he could vaguely hear Lina’s shrill shrieks, she all but fell into the background. Svetlana extended her hand, nodding her head mutely as Jackson moved to slip the ring on her finger. It was the perfect fit, though no one should have expected any less.

  “Of course I’ll marry you. I love you, Klaus loves you, god, my sister was pushing me to pursue you every time I saw her, up until…,” she paused, choking up in sobs. “At least I know I had her blessing,” she managed. Jackson smiled, rising to his feet and pulling Svetlana into his arms. For a moment, the entire world seemed to stand still. Their lips pressed together, not just as friends, and not even just as lovers. They kissed as future man and wife, for the entire office to see. Claps echoed all around them, and Jackson drew back, surprised to see his employees on the floor eagerly clapping their hands together and cheering.

  “Stop clapping! Stop clapping! Don’t you see what a fool he’s being!?” Lina screamed, silencing everyone. “This isn’t some fairy tale ending. He won’t live happily ever after with the frog princess. He’s losing his share in the company, he’s losing his position as your boss, and you’re clapping like a bunch of idiots. I could have helped this company rise to the top, I could have made it so that all of your paychecks doubled within a week,” she continued, on a tirade. As she fell silent, gasping for air, everyone watched Jackson with baited breath. He hesitated, looking uncertain of what to say. Svetlana gripped his hand, and he steeled himself to face his parents. However, before he could face them and apologize for not being the son he wanted, he was interrupted by a softer clapping than before. He wheeled around to face his parents, surprised to see the two smiling joyfully at the scene that had taken place before them. Jackson’s mother rushed forward, drawing Svetlana into her arms and gingerly stroking the younger woman’s hair.

  “Oh thank heavens, I knew my son had better taste than that monster of a woman,” she murmured. Lina’s eyes widened at her words, though the vibrant latina certainly wasn’t the only one in shock. Svetlana drew away from Jackson’s mother, staring at her with blatant confusion in her gaze.

  “You… didn’t want him to marry Lina?” Svetlana managed, looking between the older woman and her husband. The elder man simply watched the scene with a look of amusement, drawing a pair of cigars out of his pocket and offering one to his son. Jackson accepted it reluctantly, allowing his father to light the tobacco before taking a puff off it.

  “Oh, God, no. Lina was our last resort, really. Despite how much money we may have, and how much money she could have added to our company, we know money isn’t everything. We just thought Jackson needed a bit of a push to find someone to his actual tastes,” the eldest Wethers man said with a wry smile.

  “Exactly, darling, exactly. While we did frown upon his playboy lifestyle, we simply hoped Jackson could find someone he loved to settle down with. It was all a giant farce, I suppose you could say.” Jackson’s mother murmured. Jackson stared between the two, obviously in disbelief.

  “You… tricked me…?” He blurted, seeming on the verge of anger.

  “Oh, honey. Are you really going to try and be angry at us? You’re just upset that the tables were turned upon your little act,” his father said dismissively. Jackson looked imploringly at Svetlana, as if expecting some sort of backup. However, that backup never came. His assistant simply stared between the older couple before meeting Jackson’s gaze and erupting into laughter.

  Oh my god. Oh my god, your parents aren’t totally awful people,” she cackled, and the elder couple in the room chuckled along with her. “Aww, Jackson. They were just looking out for you. And the company, I suppose. But don’t you see? If this situation had never brought us together, we would have never fallen in love. You never would have asked me to marry you. You… you don’t regret it, do you?” She trailed off in an uncertain mutter, meeting the gaze of her future husband. He snorted, running a hand through his hair as he began to laugh as well.

  “I don’t regret it. I just can’t believe those two would do something so sneaky!” He blurted. He drew his mother into his arms, gesturing for his father to step forward as well. The older man seemed hesitant, but allowed himself to be pulled by Svetlana into the group hug. “So… you’re not taking my stock of the company?” Jackson grinned sheepishly as Svetlana quirked a brow at him.

  “Of course, we’re not cutting you off. We’re your parents, not monsters.” Jackson’s father quickly assured him.

  “You can’t be serious right now! You… all of you! This is some extravagant prank! There’s no way in hell I was the last resort choice,” Lina blurted with a shaking voice. Jackson blinked, as if just remembering she were still there. Truthfully, he had forgotten about her presence. He glanced over to her with a quirked brow, seeming to consider his words. Before he could come up with a polite way to ask her to leave,
his mother cut him short.

  “Oh heavens, would you take the hint and leave already? We’re trying to have a family moment here,” Jackson’s mother stared down at her icily. Lina sputtered, desperate to argue the point. “Right now, girl! Before I have security haul you out! Or better yet, have my future daughter in law rip you a new one, again,” the elder woman barked out. Seeming to take the hint, Lina scrambled away, cursing under her breath as she slinked out of sight. Jackson watched her go, smiling in amusement.

  “You know, I almost feel bad for her,” he murmured. Svetlana slapped his arm, looking at him through narrowed eyes.

  “You can’t be serious,” she deadpanned.

  “I just said I almost feel bad for her! Not that I do,” he stammered out. Svetlana rolled her eyes, giving his shoulder a light shove. “Oh, come on baby, you know you’re the only one for me. I was going to give up my company share for you; doesn’t that mean something?” He pressed teasingly, and Svetlana smirked in response.

  “I’m not sure it counts if it was never really at risk, lover boy,” she hummed. He feigned an offended look, and his parents looked at the two before roared with laughter.

  “Oh, I have a feeling I’m going to like this one, Jackie. Now, come along. Send your workers home for the day. We’ll grab dinner and discuss the future a bit,” Jackson’s mother announced with her eyes wide and shining.

  “The future?” Jackson repeated, quirking a brow as his parents led his bride to be and himself out of the office building. Svetlana drew out her tablet, presumably to scrawl out a message for everyone to take the rest of the day off. As they stepped out the door of the office building, uproarious cheers throughout the floor indicated that the message was well received.

  “Oh, well, of course honey. We have a wedding to plan. Then there’s also the matter of grandchildren,” the elder Wethers woman murmured, winking teasingly at Svetlana. The blonde met the older woman’s expression with a wry grin of her own, glancing at Jackson and winking.