"I can tell there's something bothering you, Genny," my mother stated as we walked through the mall.

"Oh, yeah?" I laughed lightly.

"Yeah, I'm your mother. I spent your whole life learning your emotional cues and I know you're upset about something."

I took a deep breath and decided it was time to tell her everything, "There's something I have to tell you. I lied..."

She looked over at me with an eyebrow arched but waited for me to continue.

"Preston is not my boss, he's my bosses brother," I bit my lip and watched as a few emotions crossed her face.

"So, you're actually sleeping with your boss's brother? Why would you lie about that?" Her brows were knit together and her lips were set in a frown.

"Not exactly. I was sleeping with my boss—"

"—And now you're sleeping with his brother?"

"Not exactly. Would you let me finish, ma? Christ," I chuckled as we walked into a clothing store.

"Fine, sorry. I won't interrupt again," she put her hands up in a sign of surrender.

I chuckled again but then my smile faded and I told her everything, minus the whole 'dominant/submissive' aspect of the relationships.

When she was all caught up, she looked so confused and that's honestly how I felt on the inside.

"So...he paid a million dollars to go on a date with you?"

I laughed, "He said it was for charity but that he was happy he also got a date out of it."

"And you've only known him since Friday night..."

"Yeah," I wanted her advice, not her judgment and I was waiting to see which one I would receive.

"Do you know for certain if this 'Jasmine' lady is actually pregnant? It could be a way to get you out of the picture..."

"She showed me the test, mom. And I'm pretty sure that's not the kind you can cheat on," I looked through a rack of clothes absentmindedly.

"Okay then... Are you sure it's his," she asked thoughtfully.

"I mean...no, but you should see the way she looks at him—she's in love and I don't see her cheating on him. Besides, who cheats on someone like him or Preston?"

She was quiet for a moment, "You love Dominic?"

"No, it was too early in our 'relationship' for love. I lusted for him and I care about his well being, but I really don't think it would hurt all that bad if I left the company and never saw him again."

The truth was harsh and unexpected as it tumbled out of my mouth and I felt my heart clench for a reason unknown to me. It was hard to think about leaving him when only just last week I would've done anything just to have him close.

"You love Preston?" She looked at me expectantly.

"No, ma. It's way too early for that."

"But you could?" The small smile on her face was my answer.

"Yeah. I could see myself loving him. He's different from Dominic in almost every way. He's gentle and kind and relaxed and patient and he's not afraid to show his emotions, whereas Dominic is hard and impassive and always poised and I never really know what he's thinking. I walk on eggshells around him and I feel I can be my self with Preston."

"I think you already know the answer," she said gently.

"Yeah, but they have, like, three things in common that make the decision difficult still: their genes, how dominant in the relationship they are, and how our...'relations' are never dull and boring. They both keep me on my toes."

"None of that matters. What does, is how they make you feel. Do you like walking on eggshells or do you like speaking your mind? Do you like having to stay prim and proper, or do you like being carefree? Do you like a gentle and kind exterior on a man or a hard and impenetrable one?

If you say they almost look the exact same, so much so that they could be twins then it all depends on how they treat you and how you feel you want to be treated."

I thought for a moment, "You're absolutely right, mom."

"Also,do you want a crazy ex-girlfriend following you around, possibly with a knife? Do you want that drama?"

The words were said in a joking manner but I knew she had already made up her mind on which brother she thought was the better one and who she thought I should pick.

***

"You get enough stuff," Preston teased as he met us outside to help carry in some of our bags.

I blushed, "Just a few more outfits and a few more pairs of shoes. Nothing major. How did things go with my dad?"

"Fine, we just watched the game," he hummed in content with a small smile and placed a light kiss to my lips like it was what we did all the time. It felt...domestic and I decided that I liked that feeling.

"Did you have fun with your mother?"

My mother emerged from behind the trunk and walked by us, "She did and we had a very lovely conversation. Things came to light and I think decisions were made."

She continued into the house and Preston arched an eyebrow, but I gave him a reassuring smile, then followed my mother.

***

"So, I haven't asked you since I heard it, but you are also the CEO of Blackstone Incorporated...but you just oversee a different branch?"

We were on the plane now on our way back to Dallas. I was sad to leave my family, but I was more anxious about what was to come tomorrow.

"Yeah, our father brought us up knowing that both Dominic and I would take over the company when he retired. Construction started on a new branch in Houston a while before that was set to happen so when he did retire, Dom moved into dad's old office as CEO of the Dallas branch and I moved to Houston and became CEO of the Houston branch."

"Dominic said something about your branch being more successful?"

He chuckled, "I keep track of how well our branches are doing, how successful we are, and how successful the company as a whole is and for the past two years my branch has been the more successful one—not by much, but enough to irritate my older brother. And, how, I do love to do that."

He was looking at me thoughtfully and his hand squeezed mine lightly before I asked, "Why?"

What made the brothers have such a rivalry?

"He feels more entitled, he's always made everything into a competition, and he's also thought that he was the more successful brother. We aren't twins, but we were essentially brought up as if we were and so I guess that made him think that he had to be better, be more than me."

Dominic did seem to think he was entitled to what he thought he deserved but wasn't that just what was instilled into him. Was that really his fault?

Preston didn't seem to be plagued with the same mindset though...