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His place had become 'their' place and for Marlo that was fine. It meant Elzo would have a safe haven and, a location where they could easily work and talk business outside of the office. Marlo had put up with Elzo's lovers and he'd put up with Marlo's habits.

Elzo starting to go vaguely steady was a change, but that too, had been fine. Ofelia was a kind girl and didn't pry too much in the business and respected Marlo's boundaries. That had been at the start of the pair's relationship. Now however, Marlo was growing more and more 'concerned' about his brother's seemingly deeper infatuation with the woman who was 'fine' with the Elder sibling's lack of loyalty.

No woman was so kind and understanding. Not in Marlo's experience anyway.

Coming out of his office to see said woman on his couch and knowing Elzo would be gone for several hours, (at work, thankfully. Marlo had made sure that the COO was going to those damn meetings because Marlo was tired of having to step in).
"Ofelia." He said, walking towards the kitchen.
"You do know Elzo will not be back for a while correct?" Another thing that mildly concerned Marlo was how much he trusted this woman. The closer someone ones, the higher chance that they'd discover his secret. And of all things, Marlo wasn't liking the close encounters Elzo had been risking as of late, not just with his beau Ofelia.

Marlo looked to his brother's lover and just shook his head. She was Ofelia, calling her a nickname when he was not even remotely close to her seemed disingenuous. "We're not close. Do you prefer Ofie to Ofelia?' He made it question, not wanting to upset her. His brother's lover, no matter how long she lasted, deserved some respect. She seemed nice, not to mention semi-serious about Elzo.

If only Elzo could see that. He was bound to break this woman's heart, but he did that with others before.

"I didn't mean to sound like I wanted you to leave, I was only curious as to why you stay. There are few things that can be offered to you here, and Elzo won't return for a time. I do not mind your presence," rather it perplexed him, "I just find your attachment to my brother, a man who rails against commitment, to be unusual." A polite way of saying he doubted they would last due to Elzo's own nature.

Once, Marlo could belive his older brother would be loyal, would be devoted, but that was before he'd given his heart and soul to someone only to have them eventually reject him in the most cruel of manners. No matter what Elzo felt or thought, Marlo wouldn't forgive the woman who'd left his brother, when Elzo had been willing to do anything to see their marriage last. Perception and bias Marlo knew clouded his vision, but the bitterness was there.
Elzo had broken and shattered, and that was a time when Marlo was left to pick of the fragmented remains.

Working at his espresso machine, he set down two cups rather than one. "You prefer whole or skim milk?" He assumed she'd drink a latte he'd made.
A small span of silence as he set everything up then.

"Things are not okay, relative to what they have been in the past, but there have been worse periods. Also, if you wish to learn Italian, I'm certain Elzo would be happy to teach you beyond bedroom phrases."

"Ofie it is then." He said nonchalantly. If she wanted the closeness of nicknames, he supposed he could afford her that given the situation between her and Elzo. It wasn't like she was a weekend fling after all.

Pouring a bit of whole milk into the coffee, he offered the cup to Ofelia, adding sugar to his own before stirring. "my humor borders along crass and obscene. I tend to utilize my wit only when suitable." He smirked at the coffee, taking a small sip before turning to lean on the counter and watch her. Light blue eyes ran down her form, appraising in a manner devoid of sexual desire. It was akin to how one would asses a garment of clothing or something they had to work with.

"In regards to learning Italian, I am being honest when I say he is a good resource. He speaks fluently, and his years at home have removed his accent when speaking. Knowing how to scream out daddy and various encouragements of salacious nature are all well and good, but you should really broaden your horizons."

He sipped the coffee once more.

"If you want to keep him that is. He won't stay if he loses interest or finds you-" Marlo shrugged, "-how to put it? He won't keep you, his eyes will wander, but if you want him to return to you, you best make yourself worth returning to. You understand?"

He smirked at her, a look non too different than one his brother sported far too frequently.
"If I wanted you to blush Ofie, I'd not be standing across from you or speaking in English to you." He purposely lit his voice with the Italian pitch, not caring that had Elzo heard him, he'd be scolded for 'flirting'. Though, Marlo was rather just interested in Ofie as a person than anything else.

She was far too... soft for his taste. He preferred his women more aggressive.

Humming, the half drunk cup off cofee set down he walked to her circling her, looking her up and down in detail.
"You are plain." He said, finally.
"Plain, nothing about you stands out, you don't own or possess anything that would benefit my brother and yet here you are. His fondness for you and the reason behind it eludes me. You're unlike those he normally brings home and lets stay for a short while."

He went back to his coffee.
"Elzo never cooks." It was curt, Marlo only shrugged to the inquiry. His brother never cooked aside from basic things, and his skills were fairly poor. They'd grown to understand the kitchen was Marlo's domain.
"As for what I mean? Elzo isn't loyal. He might care for you for a time, but his affections wane and he eventually cuts his lovers off when they have started to become comfortable. He refuses to commit, and at best, you could perhaps coax him to being an on again off again lover."

Marlo sighed. This was always the difficult part of Elzo's women.
"You and him won't last."
Love came easy and the b*****d never stopped it from happening.

Marlo snorted, shaking his head at her statement. If she had no idea of his blunt ruthlessness, she was in for a sharp awakening in that aspect.
"I only say what I know. You're plain, and easily replaced. Just as many women are. That is the nature of a man's lust." It was cold and a callous thing to say, but even Marlo had never seen his brother do much different from the narrative.

Marlo left the kitchen speaking as he expected Ofelia to follow him to the living room.
"You look at him like a woman in love Ofie. Even a man like me, who lacks a fair deal of experience in the matters of romance isn't blind to the obvious. You love him, which is just why I'd rather you understand that you will likely hurt yourself in time if you persist with a relationship with Elzo."

A deep sigh, the man went to the couch sitting down and pulling up his phone.
"He promised to try for you. That alone is a cause for concern. He's-" Marlo set the phone down, expression now visibly frustrated.
"Understand, I've saw what happened to him when he broke it off with his wife. Elzo, when he devotes himself to something or someone, does so to an unhealthy scale. The problem however, is that he lacks the capacity to maintain his emotional devotion in the face of termoil. He's self destructive."

Marlo groaned.
"It's a family curse. And no, you have not upset me, the situation upsets me."

Marlo looked at her, once more uncertain of where the woman stood. "Do not mention her to him. She's dead, and while he's had his years to grieve, he has not gotten over the loss."

That part of the conversation was over, his tone cold and sharp, it was clear. The subject of his ex-sister in law was not to be discussed further.

Another sigh, her question did bear a pause as he thought on an appropriate answer for her.
"I can't be happy for him." It was a bland answer and he attempted to elaborate. "Rather, I don't think I can be. Content with his choices and mental health, perhaps, but being happy for him in relation to his love life is difficult. It is less to do with his choice of partner but rather what I know of him. As the saying goes, I will believe it when I see it? If he is happy- I guess for a time I would be content with that."

He tapped his phone in his hand.
"Don't get pregnant should be obvious, but, do not push him to commit. If he will.. he will. For now he's attempting devotion towards you. That should say enough shouldn't it?"

Marlo looked up, a final critical gaze over her.

"You're excused." His eyes went back to his phone, opening another e-mail from his New York office. Seems he'd have to make a trip in a month or so.

"Oh and Ofelia?" Her full name.
"Do try to not break the headboard. It's annoying to replace."