James adjusted the throw pillows on his couch for the third time, glancing at his watch. Liana had texted twenty minutes ago that her rideshare was approaching the city. His normally immaculate apartment already gleamed with weekend cleaning, but nervous energy kept him tidying nonetheless. It had been a month since he'd last seen his sister.
His phone buzzed with another text: 5 minutes away! Can't wait to see your fancy new office digs big bro!
He smiled at her enthusiasm. News of his promotion had traveled quickly through the Mitchell family, with his parents calling immediately after he'd shared the update. Their pride had been evident, though his father had predictably asked about the salary increase before anything else.
A quick survey of his apartment confirmed everything was ready for Liana's weekend stay. The guest room was prepared, the refrigerator stocked with her favorite snacks, and he'd even remembered to buy the particular brand of lavender tea she'd become obsessed with during her last year of college.
The doorbell rang precisely four minutes later. James opened it to find his sister beaming up at him, weekend bag slung over one shoulder, her dark curls framing a face that looked startlingly like their mother's.
"There's my corporate hotshot!" Liana exclaimed, dropping her bag to throw her arms around him. "Chief Strategic Officer? Mom hasn't stopped bragging to literally everyone in her gardening club."
James laughed, returning the hug before stepping back to let her in. "It's good to see you too, Liana."
"Wow," she said, taking in his apartment as she entered. "Still looks like something out of a magazine. Do you actually live here, or is this just for show?" Her teasing tone was familiar, a comfortable rhythm between siblings who had always been close despite their two-year age gap.
"Some of us prefer not to live in chaos," he replied, picking up her discarded bag. "Unlike your apartment, which last time I checked, was one pizza box away from being condemned."
Liana laughed, dropping onto his couch with the easy familiarity of someone who knew she was always welcome. "I'm in my twenties, I'm supposed to live like that. You've been an obsessive neat freak since you were ten." She kicked off her shoes, tucking her feet under her. "So, tell me everything about this promotion! Is your terrifying boss finally acknowledging your brilliance?"
James smiled slightly as he set her bag in the guest room. "Victoria is... complicated. But yes, the promotion came with substantial recognition. New office, increased responsibilities."
"And a fat raise, I hope," Liana added, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Dad couldn't stop talking about that part."
"Enough about work," James deflected, heading to the kitchen. "Are you hungry? I thought we could order from that Breakfast place you liked last time."
"Changing the subject won't work, but I am starving," Liana admitted. "And don't think I didn't notice that you called her 'Victoria' instead of 'Ms. Sharp.' Things getting less formal between you two?"
James busied himself getting glasses of water, grateful his back was turned so his sister couldn't see his expression. "Professional boundaries are adjusted at the executive level," he said carefully. "How are Mom and Dad really doing? They always downplay everything when I call."
Liana accepted the glass he offered, studying his face. "They're good. Dad's as healthy as ever, still doing his morning runs and bragging about his cholesterol numbers. Mom's garden is taking over half the backyard. They miss you though. Last month's Easter visit was too short."
"I know," James sighed, settling into the armchair across from her. "Work has been..."
"All-consuming?" Liana supplied. "Like always?"
"It's different now," he insisted. "With the promotion—"
"More responsibility means more hours," Liana finished for him. "I know, I know. Just don't forget there's life outside those glass walls." Her tone softened. "They're really proud of you, though. We all are."
James felt a familiar pang of guilt. His sister was right—he'd been allowing work to consume even more of his life since the promotion. Victoria's restructuring had placed several departments under his direct supervision, which meant longer hours and more complex problems to solve.
"Enough about me," he said. "How are your classes going? Still on track to finish your Master's next spring?"
Liana launched into an animated discussion of her graduate program in environmental science, her hands moving expressively as she described her latest research project. James listened with genuine interest, appreciative of how his sister's passion for her work rivaled his own, though in a completely different field.
"Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly, interrupting her own explanation of soil contamination studies. "I almost forgot—it's my birthday weekend! Twenty-five on Sunday. Quarter of a century. You promised we'd do something fun!"
James smiled. "I haven't forgotten. I made dinner reservations for tomorrow night at Altura."
Liana's eyes widened. "That place with the impossible waiting list? How did you manage that?"
"I have my ways," James replied mysteriously, though in truth, it had been Victoria who'd secured the reservation with a single phone call when he'd mentioned his sister's visit during a meeting. Another unexpected gesture from his enigmatic boss that he was still trying to understand.
"Before dinner tomorrow, I want to see this fancy new office of yours," Liana insisted. "And maybe meet the infamous Victoria Sharp?"
James shook his head. "The office, yes. Victoria is rarely there on weekends, which is probably for the best."
"Afraid I'll embarrass you?" Liana teased.
"Afraid you'll analyze her and give me your unsolicited psychological assessment afterward," James countered, having experienced his sister's amateur psychoanalysis of his colleagues before.
Liana grinned unrepentantly. "That's exactly what little sisters are for."
"How about we head out for a while?" Liana suggested, stretching as she stood up. "I've been sitting in transit all morning. We could walk around your neighborhood, maybe grab lunch at that bistro you mentioned last time I visited."
James considered the proposal. The afternoon was free, and the weather forecast had promised sunshine. "That sounds perfect, actually. Let me grab my wallet."
As they exited the elevator into the lobby, James nodded politely at the concierge before pushing through the building's glass doors. They had barely stepped onto the sidewalk when a voice called out.
"James! Fancy running into you today."
James turned to see Sophia approaching from the direction of the nearby coffee shop, a to-go cup in one hand and a small canvas bag slung over her shoulder. Her dark curly hair was loosely pinned up, and she wore a paint-splattered smock over jeans.
"Sophia," he acknowledged with a polite nod. "This is my sister, Liana. She's visiting for the weekend."
Something flickered across Sophia's expression—confusion, followed by what looked distinctly like jealousy—before realization dawned and relief visibly washed over her features.