Page 237 of Damsel in Disguise

I point at the paper and shrug. “I presented documentation.”

Adrian sighs. “Of course, you did.”

“It was efficient.”

“It was terrifying.”

“I inherited that from you.”

“You absolutely did not.”

Asher looks between the two of us, darting a pen between us. “You both inherited it from your fathers.”

A brief silence follows.

Alistair says quietly. “Statistically, the likelihood of unrelated individuals sharing identical behavioral patterns—”

“Do not,” Adrian interrupts.

“—is actually quite fascinating,” he finishes anyway.

“As Chief Operating Officer, I’m ordering you to stop talking,” Asher says.

“Your authority doesn’t extend to the Chief Research Officer. Different department. Different chain of command.”

“I absolutely can.”

“You’ve employed me for less than five minutes.”

“And I already regret it,” he turns to Adrian, “Adrian, my dearest brother, just say the word to fire him, and I’ll kidnap Flora for you.”

Adrian glares at him. “Abso-fucking-lutely not.”

“What an unfortunate management style,” Alistair adds.

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. Sometimes I forget that Asher is one year older than Adrian.

Everyone turns. I immediately wish the floor would open beneath my feet.

Asher smiles first. It’s small but real. “I don’t think I’ve heard that in years.”

I sigh deeply. Neither of my brothers says another word.

They don’t have to.

They both know what we all went through.

I look down, fidgeting with my nails.

Alistair is already watching me. The sarcasm fades from his face almost imperceptibly.

He knows where my thoughts have gone.

“You’re overthinking.”

“No, I’m not.”

“I know you, Ariella.”