BRANDONAthens, GreeceMy grandfather tossed the glass of wine. Deep inside, I was grieving. I promised him that I would protect the family because he knew I could be trusted. But right now, I might’ve failed him. What I was doing wasn’t enough.“How?” he howled as if someone had died again. “How could you not tell me such information? Since when have you known about it?”I wouldn’t have wanted to believe it myself.“I was wrong for not telling you.” I clenched my fist. “But I thought we agreed that you would let me do these things my way. You got into my private files, Grandfather. Did you think I’m doing nothing?”I know that it will hurt him, finding out a family was killed by his own flesh and blood.“Helen lost her life because her son murdered her. He made her transfer everything to his name then killed her. I didn’t mean to get into your files. I trust you, my boy, but you should’ve told me about this. Oh, Helen, my sister,” he whimpered. “What did they do to you? Oh! Why did you not tell me about this sooner?”I swallowed. “Even before, they already owned half your properties. When your brother Euricius died of a disease, he had already transferred everything to Helen. What are they going to do next? And what is this that I found out? There was a reason you wanted me to have the rest of your fortune. You want to invest it in my company so you can secure it. So you could have it back at the right time?”“You know that I decided to give my fortune to you since you were a child. Don’t say that, Brandon!” he bellowed.“I want to trust you, but how could you do this to us? At the end of the day, this is all about fucking money!”“Watch your language, Brandon! That was a long time ago! I regret all of it now, and I need your help. I already told you this, my boy.”I shook my head.“I’m going to present myself publicly at the party this weekend. Now that your properties are under my name, please don’t think that I’m doing this because of you. I’m doing this for my mother and Elga.”He nodded; his eyes filled with guilt.“After all these years, what this family is fighting for... worth nothing.” He looked at me with sincerity. “I do not wish for us to fight. You are all I have. I’m so sorry, Brandon.”“I don’t wish for us to fight either,” I mumbled, surrendering. “All I want from you is your trust.”“Of course, I trust you.” He forced a smile. “What is your plan now?”“To start with the root of it all. I can’t get rid of the root because it’s a foundation. But if I get rid of the stems, I might have a chance.”“Your father’s mistress,” my grandfather said.Annette. Your Uncle Alfio’s half-sister.” ***It’s the second day Alayna hasn’t come home.
Things have changed. The house. The people. And me. I can go outside, yes. I can finally face people, but the constant pain in my chest is still there. It didn’t go away, and I will probably have it until I die. I guess one year just isn’t enough.
A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. “Come in.”
“Master Brandon?” It’s Lennie. She pushes the trolley inside. It’s unusual. Normally, she will only leave the food at the door. Seeing her smile at me like this makes me realize that my decision might have been a good one after all.
“Lennie.” I walk toward her and embrace her small frame. This is the first in many years I’ve held her like this. Lennie is a mother to me, so being able to embrace her this way is pure joy.
“Look at how you grew up, my master,” she says kindly, holding my arm as she studies me.
“It’s Brandon“I always believed this day would come.” She touches my face fondly and smiles. “I never lost hope that you’d finally walk out into the world and look at you now. But what happened?” Her expression becomes concerned. “I heard Alayna collapsed. Did you get to meet her?”
I groan inwardly. “We didn’t have a chance. She was already away when I came home. It’s my fault.”
“My dear boy. You might have your reasons, but I saw how Alayna suffered,” she states with some severity. “Why wouldn’t you speak to her?”
I can’t look at her eyes because of it. I was ashamed, but everything I did in the past year, I did for everyone’s well-being. “I didn’t know what else to do, Lennie.”
“And whatever is bothering you, you can’t tell her?”
“Not at this time.”
She nods and smiles faintly at me. “Well, I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Brandon?” Oliver abruptly appears at the slightly open door.
“Yes, Oliver?”
“Is this a bad time?” he asks, looking from me to Lennie.
“We’re fine here, Oliver,” Lennie says. “I just brought our master his dinner.”
“Oh, thank you, Lennie.” He walks inside. “I’ve been looking for you, man.”
“It’s a pleasure to have you back, Master. I’ll come back to fetch the plates later.” Lennie excuses herself and exits the room. Oliver closes the door after her.
“Why? What’s going on?” I ask, moving behind my desk to sit.
“Same old. You’ve been drinking?” Oliver picks up the empty bottle of beer on my desk.
“Leave it,” I tell him. “That’s from last night.”
“What are you doing here?” he asks. “Alayna’s with Cassius, Brandon.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then why are you still here? You’re not going to see her, are you?”
“We’ll talk when she gets better.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Ollie demands. “She’s been waiting for you a whole damn year. You didn’t speak to her even once, Brandon. I’m tired of covering up for you or of giving her your paltry excuses. I thought when you returned, everything would go back to what you two had. Can you tell me the truth? Do you still want her or not?”
I sigh. I can’t believe I have to answer to everyone for this. “She can’t be with me.”
“Why not?” he demands.
“I have my reasons,” I say. “I will tell you everything, but please, Ollie, give me some time to fix this.”
“By pushing Alayna away?” He rakes his fingers through his hair. “Is this how you fix things?”
“I said I have my reasons, Ollie!” I snap.
“Whatever goddamned reason you have, Alayna still carries all the weight. Anyway, I’m going to see Cassius,” he says. “If you still have a spine, just see her once and tell the fucking truth about why you can’t be with her.”