You Look Just Like Your Sister

by Rachel Burns

  Today had been Elise’s graduation day, and Ashton had been extremely embarrassed to admit Elise wouldn’t be going to college like the other girls.

  The looks people gave her when she told them Elise wanted to work at the company for a year and then go to college. She figured everyone thought the company was in trouble, which wasn’t possible with that jerk Derrick Davis watching over everything.

  The party at the house was only for the closest family members. They didn’t have many, only an aunt who traveled instead of working, and a Grandpa who was deaf in the meantime. That was probably a good thing. Hearing that Elise didn’t want to continue her education would have given him a heart attack.

  Ashton tried to corner her sister one last time and knock some sense into her. “Elise, could I have a word in private with you?” She grabbed onto Elise’s forearm and dragged her into the kitchen.

  “Enough of this nonsense. You’re going to college if I have to drive you there personally every morning.”

  “Ashton, I’ve already explained why I want to do this my way. Sitting in school and learning about this stuff will be easier if I have practical experience beforehand.” Elise had said this so often she believed it herself in the meantime.

  “You wanted to become a journalist,” Ashton protested.

  “I changed my mind, and I see this year as a opportunity that others would kill for.”

  “Then, by all means work over the summer, but come September your backside will be sitting in college. Have I made myself clear?”

  The servants were pretending not to hear the conversation going on right in front of their noses.

  Ashton didn’t care about things like that, but Elise did. Her blushing proved that fact.

  “Ashton, it’s my life, and I will make the decisions that pertain to me.” Elise stormed out of the kitchen and went off to find her grandpa.

  This was a trick that she had been using the last couple of months. If she pretended she were Ashton, then she could think of something to say that made the others leave her alone.

  That night she cried into her pillow again.

  She told herself that she was only putting her life on hold, but all of her friends were going off on vacations this summer. While they soaked up rays in the sun, she would be in the office, doing whatever her father found for her to do.

  It wasn’t fair. But that didn’t change things. Fairness never did.

  Chapter 4 – Invasion of the Body Snatchers

  On Monday morning, Elise stood ready to go to work with her father. She insisted on driving with him to save the environment, as she put it.

  Her father had gotten her a new car as a graduation present. She had tried to talk him out of it, but he had insisted. She had only been able to talk him down. Instead of the sporty BMW she was now driving a tiny, economical two-seater that Ashton didn’t approve of.

  Marshall had to admit, Elise looked all grown up in her business suit. She was simply so different from Ashton. Lots of other people said that the two looked very much alike, but he couldn’t see that. He always knew who was who.

  On the drive into the city he decided to have another talk with her. “Today is a big day, your first day of work. And still so young,” he mumbled to himself. He hadn’t had to start work until after college and a year of traveling.

  Marshall had been twenty-five and still wet behind the ears when he stepped into his father’s company to start his first day of work. That had been thirty years ago.

  Lots of people asked him when he would retire, but Ashton wasn’t ready to take over yet. She was only twenty-five. Little Elise was eighteen, and he figured she may be better qualified to take over one day.

  Marshall had clearly told Ashton that she was responsible for Elise’s financial well being for the rest of both of their lives. That hadn’t bothered Ashton in the least. He knew she loved Elise.

  Their love went deeper than sisterly love because Ashton had also played mother to little Elise when they were younger.

  Yes, Ashton was capable of stepping up to a challenge when need be.

  However, Elise still needed to gain some experience in life. “If you hate it, let me know. I will pull some strings and still find you a spot at a good college. Maybe Yale needs a new gymnasium?”

  Elise smiled at him, pretending to play along.

  He told her, in several different ways, that he wouldn’t think less of her if she changed her mind.

  She told him they had an appointment in February to evaluate everything.

  She smiled as best as she could, telling herself that her mother could see her from heaven, and that she was probably very proud of her.

  Marshall took her to his office and had her sit and watch him all morning.

  At eleven Elise had enough with playing ‘take your daughter to work day.’ “Daddy, what am I supposed to be doing?”

  The truth was about to come out. He had figured she would back out by now. He hadn’t laid any paperwork for her arrival. “Hold your horses. You will have plenty to do to earn your paycheck yet today. It’s just the person who was going to show you around called in sick today. We’ll find someone else.”

  “Paycheck? Daddy, you don’t need to pay me. In fact, I should be paying you rent. And I should have to pay for the food I eat. I owe you not the other way around. I refused to be paid. And that’s final.” Her fists clenched to her sides, and she stomped her foot.

  Derrick had entered the room just in time to hear her say ‘And that’s final’ and to see her pouting. It was all he could do not to roll his eyes.

  “Miss Montfort, good morning. Mr. Montfort, here are the papers you wanted.” Derrick laid them on Mr. Montfort’s desk and glanced at the stubborn young woman standing in front of her father having a temper tantrum like a two year old. He gave her a mean look before he left.

  Elise felt her shoulders slump. Was she still costing her father too much?

  Marshall looked over the papers as he spoke, “That was Derrick Davis. He’s the head of Finance.” Marshall buzzed for Mrs. Linus. “Have you found someone to show Elise around before she starts working?”

  “Yes, sir. Someone is coming up from the mailroom. She will be working there today. Exactly like you wanted.”

  “Very good.” He was beaming from ear to ear, but when he looked up, he saw that his daughter hadn’t bought that trick.

  “Daddy, I really feel I could help out here. Give me a fair chance.”

  “You’re right, baby. We will.” Nothing was worth hurting her feelings.

  Derrick was surprised when he saw Ashton and hour later. She was heading out the door to her expensive car. That wasn’t odd. What was odd was that she had changed her clothes and her hair was done up differently. Had she spilt something on her suit? Or was she so rich she felt a need to change before lunch?

  Maybe she was going on a lunch date with some man that she was interested in.

  Why did that bother him? It shouldn’t, but he found himself thinking more and more about her.

  She could have blown the whistle on him, and she hadn’t. That had to mean something.

  At the end of the day, Derrick was in Mr. Montfort’s office again. He watched Ashton backing in the door with a serving tray. She gave them each a cup of coffee and asked if they needed anything else. Derrick stared at her opened mouthed.

  “We’re good. Thank you, honey,” Mr. Montfort answered.

  “No problem, Daddy,” she chirped.

  Derrick watched her leave. What had happened to her? Invasion of the body snatchers was the only thing that popped into his mind. She had changed back into her original outfit. Did that mean she had been on a date?

  Later, when he left, he saw her typing while Mrs. Linus told her what to do. He left thoroughly confused.

  That night he kept thinking about her. He had a funny feeling he was falling in love.

  Over the next couple of months he would see her again and again. Often wearing different outfits
on one day and changing back into the original outfit. He had to ask himself if he was seeing things.

  Sometimes he would see her, and she would greet him nicely and smile. Other times, she scowled at him.

  He preferred it when she smiled.

  Sometimes she would even touch him a little in passing. She would reach out and say ‘Good morning, Mr. Davis’ and then she would walk on.

  Those were the best days.

  Chapter 5 – Caught

  Derrick was looking through the things on his desk when he saw there was a file on it about a project he had never heard of before. He paged through it and found his signature on the document. He looked closer and saw that it was forged.

  That little monster, he would show her.

  He jumped to his feet and went off to find her. She was standing by one of those mail carts, chatting away.

  “Miss Montfort, I could have you arrested for this.” Derrick slammed the file down as loudly as he could.

  He noticed everyone was staring at him, so he turned away and went back to the elevators. He would talk to her father before she could reach him and tell him her lies.

  Derrick couldn’t let Mr. Montfort think he had approved of such a ridiculous idea.

  Elise looked around at everyone. Why had nice Mr. Davis yelled at her again? She was doing her best to save money and not to cost her father anything.

  Her hands were shaking as she reached for the file and opened it.

  She sighed relieved. “He thought I was Ashton. He’s mad at her, not me,” she called out to the others, who had been shocked by what had happened.

  Everyone nodded. Ashton wasn’t as popular as Elise was. Besides, everyone knew Mr. Davis and Miss Ashton Montfort couldn’t stand each other.

  Elise put the file by the rest of Ashton’s mail and pushed the cart along collecting the mail and delivering it.

  Once she got to Ashton’s office, she knocked on the door. Ashton wasn’t there. She grabbed a post-it and wrote –: from Mr. Davis. P.S. He’s mad at you. Then she stuck it on his file and lay in the middle of her desk with her mail, so Ashton would see it first thing when she came in.

  Mr. Montfort had called Ashton into his office as soon as he found out what she had been up to. He read her the riot act, and then she took the time to explain her investment. He gave in in the end, but only after she promised to never do it again.

  Ashton left her father’s office and went right down to give Mr. Davis a piece of her mind, and to gloat that she had won, of course.

  “Mr. Davis, how dare you run off and tattle to my father like that. If you have a problem with me, then come to me. As you know, I will be taking over this company shortly. If you hope to still be employed at that time, then you better start to be a little nicer to me.”

  “It isn’t my job to be nice to you. My job is to babysit you, so you can’t waste anymore of your father’s money. Your father won’t leave until he thinks you’re mature enough to handle the responsibility of this company as well as the people working here, who will be looking to you to secure their livelihoods. I, for one, am not worried about that day coming any time soon.”

  Ashton grinned. Now was the perfect time to mention that her father had sided with her. “That’s exactly right, Mr. Davis. And today I gained his trust. He thinks my project is a good idea, and it throws precisely the right light on our company. I need to go and freshen up. The press wants to interview me this afternoon.” She smiled at him like the Cheshire cat and left, slamming his door.

  He longed to spank the daylights out of her. If the project was any good, then she could have explained it to him. She should have given him a chance.

  He was so fascinated with her.

  And they both knew she could look guilty too. He had seen it for the second time today. First back then in her father’s office and today when she was hanging out and talking.

  The only thing he didn’t understand was when did she have time to change. Had he scolded her so much that she had wet her panties a little?

  He had to smirk to himself. He was having an effect on her.

  Elise felt she was doing a good job at the company. She was learning so much, and her father was very proud of her.

  She hadn’t heard talk of a financial crisis, so maybe she could go to college next year. That would be great. Should she reapply now or wait for their talk in February?

  Her father had her working in all kinds of different departments.

  She was a little nervous when he told her she would be working in Accounting this month. Her father had worked out a plan where she worked in a different area each month. The plan was all worked out until September.

  That could only mean she would be able to pick up her life where it had left off in September.

  In the end this would show her how good it was to be at school.

  Elise reported to the right office punctually at eight in the morning. “Good morning, Mr. Davis. You’re stuck with me today.”

  She was hoping he would say he wasn’t stuck with her. Her heart started to beat faster every time she saw him.

  “What do you want?”

  “I – I don’t want anything.” She was a little confused. “And you don’t have to show me what to do personally. Your secretary could just point me in the right direction.”

  “Miss Montfort, either clearly state what you want from me or leave me alone.” Derrick sat down at his desk. Why did this woman always bring out the worst in him? He wanted to date her, and being a jerk wouldn’t woo her.

  “I’m supposed to work here this month. I promise I won’t be in the way.” Elise turned and left quickly.

  Why did he hate her so much? He had never said a nice word to her, and she tried so hard to be extra nice to him.

  She looked around to see if she could see him whenever she was in his area, and she checked to see if he was in her father’s office every time she walked in.

  She kind of hoped he would praise her for not costing the company any more money.

  He was the only one who knew that she knew the truth. That made them conspirators of some sort in her eyes.

  She went about the work she was given, but she felt like crying.

  It was almost time for lunch, and she wanted to sneak off to her sister’s office for her half hour break. She had to type some boring numbers into the computer.

  Elise had been given a task she couldn’t goof up. Accounting was the most boring of all the departments. She already felt that she had an excellent idea what her father’s company was about now. She was also learning how the different departments worked together and in some cases against each other.

  Elise had a meeting with her father every Friday evening before they went home. She told him what she had learned that week and then what she felt could be done better. She hoped she would help him save money one day.

  Elise honestly wanted to help.

  “Are you spying on me now?” Derrick was shocked to see that Ashton was on one of his computers, and she was looking at the wages of the PR staff, which had nothing to do with her department.

  “No, of course not. I was only doing what I was told to do.”

  “You’re a piece of work. What were you really doing here?” He wanted to choke her. It was none of her business what the others earned. Did she want to make cut backs to finance some stupid idea that she was having now?

  “Do you want me to leave?” The sides of Elise’s mouth were weighted down in a frown.

  Why did he hate her so much?

  “Yes. I can’t be any clearer about that. Go run off to your father and leave me alone.”

  Elise nodded and headed off. She didn’t go to her father’s office. Instead, she went to her sister’s office, pouring out her soul to Ashton.

  Ashton was enraged as she took off to Mr. Davis’ office. She was pulling her baby sister behind her the whole way. Ashton let go of Elise’s hand outside of his office.

  Elise stood still, not wanti
ng to see him again.

  “How dare you? I’ll see that you’re fired for this. You’ve no right to talk to anyone like that.”

  “As I told you before, I don’t want you on my computers. Use the one in your own office.” Derrick was surprised to see she had changed again. What was with her and clothes?

  “What?” Ashton was confused. This man was too annoying.

  “I don’t want you on my computers. What goes on here isn’t any of your business. Your dad is still here and as long as he’s here, I take my orders from him.”

  “What does that have to do with Elise?” Ashton asked, worried that Mr. Davis had gone insane.

  “Who the hell is Elise?”

  “Are you crazy?” Ashton whispered, not wanting the entire office to hear them.

  “Me? I think you’re the problem. You’re the one who couldn’t care less about your father’s company and his employees. Your job title has nothing to do with cutting pay for the PR staff.”

  “What are you talking about? I never did that. This is only about Elise.”

  “Again, who the hell is Elise?”

  Ashton reached out into the hall behind her and pulled a red-faced Elise into the room. “Apparently Mr. Davis doesn’t even know your name. Jackass, meet my little sister, Elise, who you kicked out of your office fifteen minutes ago. Darling,” Ashton tucked a bit of Elise’s hair behind her ear. “Darling, this is the biggest jackass we have in the company. He’s even stupid enough to yell at the boss’ daughters.”

  She looked back at him. “My father will hear about this.” Ashton turned her sister around and out of the room and marched her up to their father’s office.

  Derrick stood still with his mouth wide open. Everything was making sense now. There were two of them.

  Derrick wasn’t surprised when his secretary told him Mr. Montfort wanted to see him right away a few minutes later. He went quickly, straightening his tie as he went. He was being called to the woodshed.