2 years later
Alice knocked on the clear glass door. She could see Jonathan’s head bent down over a file. He knocked on the door. “Come in” Jonathan said in a distracted voice. “You didn’t even look up to see, who was it . What if it was one of those annoying people you don’t want to meet?” she asked. “First of all who said you were not annoying and secondly Dave wouldn’t have let you in if I didn’t want to meet you” he said, still looking at the file. “At least look at me when you are talking. I just came back from Paris and you can’t even spare few minutes to talk to meal you do is work. Why don’t you ever take a break?” Alice said pouting. Jonathan sighed as he kept the file aside and looked at her. “Are you happy now?” he asked. “Somewhat, but now I have to see your shitty face.” she said lightly, teasing him. “I don’t have time for jokes Alice, just say what you want to and go. I am busy” he said.
“You are always busy Jonathan. When will you get over it? Ever since Liza has left you have been like this. Just let it go. It was your choice not to go after- “Alice stopped. “I am sorry, I shouldn’t have said that “she said as she saw Jonathan breathing in heavily.” It’s fine Alice. I am fine. I just have a lot of work to do. The company is growing, soon it will be one of the top companies in the world and there’s lot of pressure on me. I just need to work hard, harder than I am working right now.” He said in calm voice but Alice could hear the undercurrent panic. He tried to appear calm, collected and fine but Alice could read him like a book, she was his twin after all. She could see that he was not fine at all, that he was wasting away, stuffing himself inside a shell.
Liza woke up to the soft sunlight peeking in through her purple curtains. She yawned and stood up, pulling the chocolate robe around her and knotting it tightly she went to the kitchen only to be greeted by a mind scarring sight. In front of her stood Carson who was pinning a flushed Melanie against the counter and was kissing her vigorously, with one hand on the counter and another under her shirt. “Uhm uhm…” Liza coughed loudly. It all happened within a second. Carson who was until now pinning Melanie suddenly found himself on the ground, while Melanie’s face flushed red as she adjusted her T-shirt. Liza burst out laughing as Carson glared at her.” why did you do that? I was having such a good time” he whined, while Melanie threw a spoon at him, as her already red cheeks, became even more red. “I had no interest in watching live Porn early in the morning, Thank You very much.” Liza said. “We were only kissing, It’s not like you haven’t kissed before” Carson argued. “You don’t see me kissing anybody in front of you” Liza said.
“Okay, guys. Now stop fighting. Liza come on I have got Pancakes for you” Melanie said before either of them could start a fight. Liza stuck out her tongue at her brother and sat down. “Thanks Mel, you are the best. I wonder how my idiot brother got a girlfriend like you.” she said. Melanie was Carson’s girlfriend of three years. Melanie was a beauty with blond hair and warm brown eye. She had helped Liza a lot. When Liza first came to California she was broken. She hated leaving Jonathan, she was so used to living a life with him in it that everything seemed pointless to her but slowly Carson and Melanie brought her back. They helped her have fun again, they showed her that she could have a life without Jonathan in it. It wasn’t that Liza didn’t love Jonathan anymore but she had learned to live with the ache and had made peace with the fact that she couldn’t go back to him, that she wouldn’t let herself go back to him.
“Don’t test my patience Liz, I swear I will kick you out of my penthouse” he said scowling at her. “Who wants to live with you any way’s you nincompoop” she said playfully glaring at him. Neither of that meant what they said. Carson was more than happy to have his little sister back in his life. She was the only person in the family who he truly loved and Liza loved living in California. She was working as an editor for a publishing company called ‘The Book Worm’, it was a great Job for her. She loved it. Carson had asked her to join his company but she had denied it, claiming that she wanted to get a Job on her own. She had depended on Jonathan for too long and now she wasn’t going to let herself depend on Carson like that. Jonathan had taken away a piece of her. It was like a Jonathan shaped piece of her heart had been taken away. Liza knew that she couldn’t be complete ever again but she could try be happy.
Jonathan opened the drawer in his table and took out the photo he cherished the most. It was photo of his and Liza’s wedding. He caressed Liza’s face wishing that he could go find her and hold her just once more but he had let Liza go. He had made the choice that made her happy, he had set her free. That was what love was about he realized, it was about putting someone else’s needs, someone else’s happiness above his. Alice still talked to Liza , he never asked where she was or if she had found someone else to love because he knew that if he heard the answer to either of the questions he would storm down to where ever she was and never let her go away from him. So he contended himself in Knowing that where ever she was, she was happy. “Sir, you have a meeting in next five minutes” called out Dave’s voice from the intercom. “Okay, Dave” he said as he put the picture back in the drawer. He stood up and straightened his grey suit. His face turned cold and expressionless, all the warmth leaving it as he went to seal yet another deal.