"I don't care. I can make her happy. Just as happy as you ever could, I know I can."
"I'm sure you could little bro, I don't doubt it."
"Stop being so damn patronizing and get to the big idea will you? So I can tell you where to shove it."
Alex sighed. His little brother; seven minutes younger than him but it might as well have been seven years, or even seventeen.
"Okay, so we give her the choice--"
"And she takes me."
"Whatever. Yes, she takes you."
"I knew it." He grinned.
"Good for you. You got her, now listen to this. I'll make sure that you guys are taken care of and when the old man finally, you know, gives up control of the corporation, I'll make sure that you are back in again, equal partner to the Drummond Corporation."
Sebastian looked at his brother, mystified. He waited for the rest of his great idea.
"I don't get it." He said. "What's in it for you?"
"I get to see Melanie be happy and I don't lose my crazy little brother."
Sebastian waited a moment and then exploded into laughter.
"Oh shit, Alex, my totally crazy big brother. Just stop right there. You're telling me that you will give her to me--"
"If she wants you."
"--which you already know she does, and you won't even freeze me out of Drummond because you love her so… so goddamn perfectly?"
"That's it."
"No, it isn't. Not at all. You know if the old man figures it out then you'll be cut out too, right?"
"You know how good I am with financials. He'll never know."
Sebastian mulled it over a moment. Maybe things could work out after all. He could have Melanie, he had already taken her first anyway, and he could keep all his Drummond Corporation perks and be back at the helm once his father relinquished control. It sounded too good to be true. However, he trusted is big brother. If any man in the world was true to his word, it was Alex Drummond, Junior; he could absolutely be counted upon.
"You know you could never see her again. Never speak to her again, not until the old man was out of the way anyway. Right?"
Alex looked pained. He took a deep breath and then sighed.
"I know." He said.
"And you would do that for me?"
"I'd do it for her. And for you, too. Even though I hate you right now and will make you pay for what you did one day."
Sebastian laughed again. Maybe his brother had really gone crazy.