gumnut-logic:He was there.Always there.There had never been a time he didn’t expect it, yet he
gumnut-logic:He was there.Always there.There had never been a time he didn’t expect it, yet he had never taken it for granted. His brother was just there. Usually somewhere in the background.Quietly watching.Thinking.He didn’t have to say anything. Scott could tell by the cant of an eyebrow, the settling of a hip or the shift of his shoulders. It was subtle, but Virgil broadcast his thoughts on a frequency Scott was tuned to and indicated his opinion.Scott valued that. Ever so much. He lauded his brother’s capability and trusted him more than he did himself.So, when Virgil stiffened at the sight of the man who walked into the office, Scott definitely took notice.Virgil wasn’t even meant to be there. He had simply accompanied Scott into the office in London as a prelude to the main reason why they were in town. Gordon had already gone ahead to Penelope’s along with Alan and Grandma. John was due down in the afternoon. Virgil had come with Scott to the office just to keep him company.And now he was wired tighter than one of his piano strings.Scott eyed him a moment before standing up and walking around the desk. He held out his hand in greeting. “Mr Yost, it is a pleasure to meet you.”“Scott Tracy, well I never. May I call you Scott? Call me Hows. It is great to finally meet you.”Scott’s hand was gripped with both of the other man’s and far too tight.Exuberance abounded.Virgil stood up slowly and buttoned the jacket of his charcoal grey suit.There was nothing aggressive about the movement, but it set alarm bells ringing in Scott’s head. He straightened and gestured in Virgil’s direction. “This is my brother, Virgil.”Virgil had been sitting beside the desk, thumbing through his phone a moment ago, waiting for Scott to finish signing the pile of papers his secretary had dumped on him when he walked through the door. So there was no obstruction to walk around to meet the out thrust hand of their guest.But Virgil didn’t move and ignored the offered hand. He only dipped his head. “Mr Yost.”“Er, uh, yes, nice to meet you.” The man fumbled and wiped his hand against the white of his suit pants.Scott blinked and wracked his brain for a reason why Virgil was so hostile. What had he missed?Yost frowned up at him.Scott cleared his throat. “Well, Mr Y…Hows. What can we do for you?”“Oh! Yes, I heard you were in town and rushed over immediately. I would have sent my proposal electronically, but since you were here, I just knew you would want to see me in person.” The man was positively babbling.Scott was seriously reconsidering his decision to let the man in.Yost must have picked up on Scott’s thoughts because his expression changed to one more of panic. “Right, yes, my proposal. How would you like to be the owner of the tallest building in the world?”Something made Scott look at Virgil at that very moment. The sudden fire in his brother’s eyes was startling.Apparently, they didn’t want to be owners of the tallest building in the world.Back to their guest… “Uh, no, I don’t think we are interested, Mr Yost.”The man frowned. “But you haven’t seen my proposal yet. It’s called Tracy Tower, after your father and shaped perfectly like a rocket.”Virgil took a step forward and Scott stepped between the two men. “No, I’m sorry, Mr Yost. Thank you for thinking of us, but we are not interested in building anything right now.” He began to shoo the man out.“But, but, but, you were calling for proposals!”“Sorry, my mistake.” He held open the door and gestured to his assistant. “Carly, could you please show Mr Yost out. Thank you.” Scott smiled politely to the flabbergasted man as his EA ushered him out.Scott shut the door quietly behind him.Virgil grunted and sat back down. “Thank you.”“Speak to me, Virg.”“Two words. ‘Crystal Spire’.”Scott blinked. “You’re kidding.”“No. I’m not.” Virg was fiddling with his phone again.“I thought that guy had his…everything revoked.”“So did I.” Virgil put his phone to his ear. “Penny? Yes, we will be there shortly. I have a quick one for you.” A pause. “Yost just tried to sell Scott a development proposal.” There was a sharp sound from the phone. “Uh huh. Thank you, Penny.” Virgil smiled. “Tell Gordon he can wait. We will be there shortly.” A grin. “See you soon.” And he hung up. Virgil looked up at his brother. “Whatever he has, he will no longer have within the hour.”“You really don’t like this guy, do you?”“He burnt my ‘bird while Alan was in it.”Cold washed over Scott. “That one.”“Yes, that one.” Virgil grumbled and went back to playing with his phone, conversation obviously ended.Scott walked back behind the desk and took his own seat, determined to plough through the last of the reports he had to sign. It wouldn’t hurt to get over to Penny’s asap.To check on his littlest brother for no reason whatsoever.Virgil was a quiet presence beside him. It felt right.Because he was always there.Where Scott needed him to be.-o-o-o- -- source link