“He has a black eye.” The smugness didn’t fade.
The door to our office opened and Payton stood there. His twin. I wondered if I’d broken some unspoken rule of girl code by kissing her brother.
“Our mother is going to kill you.” Her hand cupped the neat bump that was becoming ever more prominent.
Seph preened.
“Seriously, Max sent her a photo. She’s on her way. That shiner you gave him, be prepared to have double that yourself. You’ve maimed her favourite son.” Payton shook her head. “And she’s on her way.”
“She was always coming in today to meet Brona Harris to get her to sign some documents. She told me at the weekend.” Seph’s eyes narrowed.
Payton shrugged. “And when she phoned me because you’ve been dodging her calls, all she said was that you were about to lose some of your prettiness. There may have been a few choice words and… don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Quick footsteps that definitely came from high heels echoed down the hallway outside.
“Payton. I’ve left a bottle of that tonic downstairs for you. Best to have a drink of water after as it’s effing vile and don’t let Owen drink it, else you’ll end up doubly pregnant.” The voice was tinged with a slight American twang.
“I’m not sure that’s possible, Mum.” Payton frowned.
“How do you think I ended up with twins?”
Marie Callaghan appeared through the doorway, bustling Payton out of the way. She was a neat woman, dressed in a suit, her hair tamed back into a pleat and her make-up immaculate. She looked every inch the professional businesswoman and had a glint in her eye that was somewhat scary.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Georgia. How’s your daughter? Seph told me she fell and banged her head.” The smile she gave me was Seph all over, the happy and kind one he’d shared with Rose so much yesterday.
“She’s much better, thanks.” I smiled back, feeling a combination of being at ease and wanting to check my lipstick in case it was smudged. “Seph was a big help.”
The look she gave Seph was not affectionate. Murderous would be a better description, and I wondered if I needed to leave the room so I didn’t witness a crime.
“He banged his own head a few times as a child. By the third time I realised his head was too hard for it to do any damage. Now I wonder whether I should hit it harder myself.” She turned to face him. Payton edged closer to me and looked as if she just needed a bowl of popcorn for this.
“Joseph Evan Callaghan, what have you done to your brother?”
“Oh shit, she’s middle-naming him. This isn’t going to be good.” Payton murmured as she moved even closer to my desk.
Seph looked unflummoxed. “He should’ve dodged. Not my fault if he’s distracted.”
I saw a neatly manicured finger poke at his chest from over his desk. “If you’re training, that’s fine. Train. Why you have to box I do not know, but you stay away from faces and heads, although like we already know, there’s nothing in there that can be damaged.”
The swipe to his head was swift and sharp, followed by fingers grabbing onto his hair and giving it a quick tug.
I suspected the hair pull hurt more than the slap, but what I knew would hurt even more was his twin sister absolutely wetting her sides laughing next to me.
“Now, you need to do something to make it up to him. A bottle of whisky or a meal. He looks a mess.”
Seph sat up a little straighter and was rewarded with another poke to the chest.
“Stop it. Else that face won’t look so pretty.”
He had the sense not to say anything.
Marie glared for a couple more seconds then turned around to look at me and Payton, her shoulders now relaxed and her demeanour calm. “I have to meet my client, but I’d love to grab a coffee with you after, if you have time, Georgia. It’d be nice to find out more about Rose.”
I was surprised she knew her name, realising it must’ve come from Seph or one of his siblings. Warmth seeped through me. At my previous firm, they’d acted as if Rose didn’t exist, preferring to gossip about the ‘scandal’ behind my back. This was different and it surprised me.
“Just find me when you’re done.”
She nodded. “I will do. See if you can knock some sense into my son before then. It’ll save me doing it.”
