Love's Wild Card

"Perfect, now I have money! I'll keep this—no need for her to ransom me. I'm quite happy living here!" Emma Carter beamed.

Watching her gleefully admiring the cash, Alex had a sudden thought. She clearly hadn't noticed her sister on the floor—perhaps he could use this opportunity... A mischievous plan formed in his mind.

"What was that performance earlier? All that 'darling' and 'husband' business—you nearly got me killed!" Alex put on his best wounded expression.

"Hehe, sorry about that!" Emma giggled sheepishly. "I'm a year older than her, and we grew up together as sisters, but for some reason, she always wants to compete with me for everything. If she can't win fairly, she takes by force, taking advantage of my more delicate nature. But being physically weaker doesn't mean I lack spirit—I won't lose to her! If she wants competition, bring it on! We've been like this since childhood. Even our father says we're like fire and water. She ran away from home first, but who knew she'd come to Manhattan too, and end up living right across from us?"

"What do you mean 'us'? This is my apartment!" Alex protested.

"Same thing!" Emma waved off his objection. "We once made a bet to settle things once and for all. We're twenty-five and twenty-four, both single, and we swore that whoever got a boyfriend first would be the winner. That's why I called you husband earlier—get it? I won!" She looked absolutely delighted.

*Oh no.* Alex hadn't expected a simple question to reveal so much about the sisters' relationship. Worse, Emma Winter was right there on the floor, hearing everything.

He glanced surreptitiously at the floor. Sure enough, Emma Winter had heard every word, and her cold smile combined with the warning look she shot him was crystal clear: *Stay quiet, or else.*

"You should have seen how angry she looked—it felt amazing! For the first time in my life, I won completely. I'm so happy!" Poor Emma Carter remained oblivious to Alex's discomfort, continuing her gleeful monologue.

"Though I was surprised she actually cared enough to bring the ransom money. I overheard everything from my room. But really, Alex, you should have asked for more. Am I only worth $130,000?" Emma stacked the bills while giving him a playful look.

"How much do you think I should have asked for?" Alex inquired carefully.

"At least $300,000!" Emma declared after some consideration.

"I should be thankful she didn't call the police," Alex muttered.

"Don't worry! I'm on your side. Even if the police came, they couldn't do anything. I'd play innocent, and they'd probably lecture her instead!" Emma laughed.

"Here, this is your fee for playing along—for your trouble and emotional distress. Remember to help me out next time my sister shows up!" Emma placed a bundle of cash on his chest.

Alex stared at the money feeling like it was a boulder crushing him rather than simple currency.

"Do you two really hate each other that much?" he asked.

"Of course! When we were little, I tried to be the good big sister and let her have things, but she always opposed me. As children, she'd take my toys. In school, we competed for grades. When we joined Father's company, we competed for positions. Even at dinner, we'd fight—or rather, we'd both start fights! How could I, the elder sister, accept losing? She might win slightly more often, but this time I've won completely. Those matching outfits were perfect timing! Though I don't understand why she called you a bad person?"

"How would I know?" Alex replied. He'd expected some deep-rooted grudge, but this sounded more like children's squabbles.

"I think you're wonderful, and you've been so good to me. She must be jealous and trying to slander you. Yes, that must be it!" Emma nodded decisively. "You know, I've never been in love before. How about we date for real? Do you know what love feels like?" She suddenly leaned over him with her usual adorable expression, eyes sparkling.

"Miss, please don't joke about such things!" Alex quickly pushed her back. Did this girl understand what she was saying?

"What? Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No!"

"Then why can't I be your girlfriend?"

"Do you even know what being boyfriend and girlfriend means?"

"It's when a man and woman who really like each other stay together, being good to each other. I know I've caused you trouble, but you've been so nice to me, and I really enjoy being with you. Besides, we're sharing a bed now—doesn't that make me your woman?" Emma declared with perfect conviction.

"Who... who told you sharing a bed makes you someone's woman?" Alex sputtered.

"I read it online! When a man and woman share a bed, they're officially together!"

"What idiot wrote that? That's the most simplistic relationship advice ever—must be from Mars!" Alex protested vehemently.

"So you have to take responsibility!"

"You... it's broad daylight! Stop talking nonsense!" Alex backed away, pointing at her accusingly. *I'm going insane!*

"But it's clearly nighttime. So you agree to be my boyfriend?" Emma pounced forward again.

"Stop playing around. Be good and go to sleep!" Alex patted her head like he was dealing with a child.

"No! If you won't accept me as your girlfriend, then I'll just make you my boyfriend! How's that?"

"That's the same thing!" Alex replied wearily. "And there's a limit to playing cute. If she keeps talking like this, then Emma Winter on the floor..."

"Whoosh!"

"Ah!"

"Ow!"

Alex was so distracted by his thoughts that he completely failed to defend against Emma Carter suddenly launching herself at him. Already perched on the edge of the bed, they tumbled to the floor—right on top of Emma Winter. The result was inevitable: all three ended up stacked like a sandwich, with Alex as the filling between the Carter sisters. Emma Carter on top, Emma Winter on the bottom, and their unexpected face-to-face encounter creating a moment of perfect chaos.

The architectural disaster left Alex in what could only be described as the world's most awkward position, sandwiched between the Carter sisters in a way that would have made even romance novelists blush. Emma Carter's momentum had driven him straight down onto her unsuspecting sister, creating a three-layer human parfait that no one had ordered.

The situation had moved beyond embarrassing into some new territory that probably needed its own classification. Between Emma Winter's fury and Emma Carter's shock at discovering her sister's presence, Alex found himself wishing he could simply evaporate on the spot.

*Someone,* Alex thought desperately, *please explain how my peaceful Manhattan life turned into this soap opera?*

The ensuing silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of three people trying very hard to pretend this wasn't happening. The late-night traffic outside his window suddenly seemed fascinating, if only someone could get up to look at it.

The universe, apparently having decided Alex hadn't suffered enough, chose that moment to freeze everyone in place, as if some cosmic photographer wanted to capture this moment for posterity. Or blackmail.

*When I wished for more excitement in my life,* Alex reflected grimly, *this wasn't quite what I had in mind.*

The sisters' mutual discovery promised the kind of fireworks display that would make the Fourth of July look like a sparkler. All Alex could do was pray his insurance covered sister-related catastrophes.

This was definitely not covered in any employee handbook he'd ever read.