“Stop it. We’re not going there, Bran. Her and Breanne are friends and they’re the same kind of girl. That can’t happen so enjoy your memories and keep it in your pants.” I shot him a warning glance as an email came through from Logan. He said the he already heard the news and was happy that it worked out for us. I thanked him for the reference and got back to work as HR told me that everything was set with Jane before we left for the night.
We ate with Mom and told her about the new developments, making her instantly want to invite Jane and her mother over so they wouldn’t be alone. I smiled at her kindness and watched Ashley tell her to simmer down since we’d have a houseful already.
CHAPTER 18
Jane
I got up early the following day and pulled out my burgundy wrap around dress with some black Mary Jane shoes. I let my hair dry in its usual soft curls and put on a little make up to present myself well to my new coworkers. I thought I was plain compared to some of the girls there and thankful that I had Breanna to talk to.
My new brother bosses were hot, though. I looked them up and found out that they were my age, but we lived very different lives. They were rich and their Daddy built the company from the ground up, becoming one of the biggest shipping companies in the world. He died in a car accident and they must have taken over right after that. I couldn’t even imagine that. I only moved here four years ago, to work in the New York division of the company for a change and when they closed their doors, I was sure I’d be moving back home. Mama wouldn’t mind that but I liked city living. It was busy and there was always something to look at. I seemed to fade into the background as well, something that was quite different from growing up in a small town. I wasn’t from Nashville but I said that for reference purposes since most people didn’t need to know the details.
I made some coffee in my tiny kitchen and poured it into the Starbucks cup that Breanna gave me for my birthday. I was taking the bus to work and I grabbed my things and rushed out to the bus stop and found a seat as I sighed in relief. I left my car in Tennessee, since driving here didn’t interest me. I asked Breanna to show me the public transport in the area and got to know it well over the years.
I arrived at the building about fifteen minutes early and made my way inside with a lot of other people. There were four elevators and group after group poured into them, making me wonder if I shouldn’t get here earlier tomorrow. This was a madhouse.
I got to my desk outside of their office just at eight and swallowed nervously before tapping on the door. “Good morning,” one of them said as he opened it for me, welcoming me inside. I paid attention yesterday and I thought that it was Brent. They were exact twins but he had some dimples in his face when he smiled that Brandon was missing.
“Good morning,” I replied as I smiled. “I trust this is my desk?”
“The tour. You haven’t had it yet,” Brandon said from across the room as I shook my head.
“I’ll tend to that. Get started and I’ll be back in a bit.” Brent stepped out and assured me that this was my desk and that he’d show me the gadgets when he’d shown me around the floor. There was a large break room that offered a few coffee makers as well as some vending machines, with three refrigerators for employees to store food in. It was spacious and even with the people in here, I didn’t feel too overwhelmed. Okay, some of the girls were intimidating but I just told myself that I was not here to make friends. I was here to work.
He showed me the employee restrooms but tol
d me that there was one in their office as well. I’d be working in there so it was more convenient and I blushed at the idea of having to pee in there with them so close. These boys were so cute and charming and I noticed the way that some of the girls looked at him as we passed them. He explained that there were several places to eat nearby as well as coffee places, so I had a lot of options. Breanna already invited me to eat with her today. I nodded and we went back to the desk where he showed me a little about the computer and tablet, explaining their uses for the company as I tapped at the keyboard of the fancy Apple desktop. “There is also a laptop in our office for you to work on. If you want to do that today and kind of learn everything, that would be good. We can order in for lunch.”
“I am going out with Bre to celebrate the first day,” I explained with a small smile as he nodded.
“Of course,” Brent said as he looked at the open door. “Want to work in here?”
“Sure,” I agreed. I would likely be up and down asking them questions, so I grabbed my cup and walked inside. I got set up at the small but comfortable desk as Brent leaned over me to show me what to do, making me blush as his brother looked on. This was going to be hard but I was just a shy girl from Tennessee, nothing they would be interested in. Besides, they were my bosses and that was against the rules.
I did an order with him watching me, telling me that I seemed to get it so far. Brent told me to ask if I had any questions at all and I nodded as he made his way back to his space. I went through the next one slowly but successfully with a small smile as I hit send. The guys turned on some music at a low volume and I liked how it seemed to lighten the air in here, since I could sense that they were both stressed out.
I looked around here and there, noticing some pictures on the shelves. I wondered if they had girlfriends and then remembered what Google told me about them. They were players, well-known on the party scene. At least, they were before they took over the company. That had to be a shock for these guys after what I’d read. Brent looked to be the more responsible one while Brandon had an air of mischief about him.
“How long have you been in New York?” Brandon asked as I licked my lips and looked up at him.
“Four years. I started with Ames back home and decided to try something new when they expanded. It’s a shame they closed but I was lucky to hear about this.” Brent nodded and gave me a look across the office. I would be bringing home about eighteen dollars an hour and since my place was rent controlled, I’d make it just fine. I couldn’t go crazy or anything but I’d live just fine. I was used to simple, growing up in Franklin.
“It’s good that you stayed. A lot of people don’t find it to their liking and go back home.” Brent nodded as I shrugged.
“It’s so different here that I love it. Mama worries, but I am used to that.” I smiled at the mention of my sweet mother, excited to see her.
“If you don’t mind me asking, where is the rest of your family?” Brent asked, seeming to be the one that talked the most.
“Oh, Daddy died in a warehouse accident ten years ago, and their parents were both older and passed before that. I have an aunt and an uncle, but they left Tennessee to raise families. People get busy.” I said as I looked at the computer. “I’m sorry about your father. It’s sad what happened.”
“It was a shock,” Brandon said as I pressed my lips together.
“We are trying to figure this place out and take care of our mother and sister. It’s pretty crazy,” Brent offered as I smiled sympathetically at him. “Sometimes, I don’t know what he was thinking.”
“He trusted you boys. He was aware that you could handle it and from the looks of things, he left you a successful company. I understand it must be hard being so young and stepping into his shoes, though,” I told them as I sent another order after reading it. I didn’t mention that I’d done a search for them on Google and found out about their wild past. I wasn’t one to judge too much, though I knew that I was not their kind of girl. I’d seen pictures.
We worked through the morning, and soon Breanna was texting me about lunch. I told the twins that I’d see them in an hour and grabbed my purse to leave. Lord, they were hot. I needed some fresh air.
Breanna took me to a deli and asked me all about the job after buying me lunch. I told her what I could and looked at her. “The guys seem nice.”