He Is Your Brother
"Yes, but I want him to start coming with you to work moving forward, and learn about the company so you two can manage it together," Mrs Haward said, and Jason just stared at her.
"Look, Jason, your father gave James some business to manage, but you know he is a bit clumsy. I need you to teach him to manage those businesses, so they don't collapse," Mrs Haward explained further when Jason was silent.
"Mum, you know James. He doesn't like the office kind of work. I would rather suggest you allow him to follow his dreams. I have checked, and the businesses entrusted to his care are already doing well. Father, put everything in place so that, with or without any management, the business would not collapse. He can remain the CEO and pursue his dreams," Jason responded.
"So, he honestly thinks my son is a failure in the business world," Mrs Haward thought and was furious, but didn't show it. "I am not asking you to educate me on James. He is your brother and all I am asking is for you to help him," she asked.
Jason didn't want to disrespect her, so he agreed. "Okay, mum, but have you already spoken to him about it?" he inquired.
"Leave him to me. I will get him to focus," Mrs Haward said. "Thank you, Jason," she said and got up to leave. "Jason, you just signed your death warrant," she thought as she exited the office.
When Mrs Haward left Jason's study, she quickly sent a message to someone informing the person, that Jason had agreed to let James come with him to work, and she received a reply which asked her to now give herself time and execute the next part of the plan.
Jason sat down in frustration, thinking about how to get James to focus on a world so alien to him. He returned to the bedroom and Julia was not inside. He looked around and settled on the bathroom door, which was soon opened and Julia entered the bedroom. Seeing her, Jason felt a lot more relaxed inside, but Julia jumped in fright upon seeing Jason, and she turned white like a sheet. Jason frowned at Julia's reaction and walked towards her. Julia took a step back and was stopped from going any further by the closed door. Jason held her by her arms and stared into her eyes as she trembled in fear.
"Why are you like this?" Jason questioned.
"I am sorry," Julia replied honestly, sounding terrified.
Julia has still not gotten over her first and subsequent encounter with Jason and the fact that he always looks like he will hit her if she says the wrong thing or angers him makes her feel terrified. Jason moved her to the bed and made her sit. He stood a distance away from her looking at her still trembling.
"We are married. You are my wife, and you should behave like one. You don't have to behave like this when you see me," Jason said. "You understand? Act like you are my wife," he added, and Julia nodded.
"I am going to the office. Stay home for today," Jason said, and left for the bathroom.
Jason returned to the bedroom to find Julia still sitting on the bed where he had left her. He took a pair of trousers from the closet and put them on before removing the bathrobe. His broad, well-formed chest comes into clear view. Julia's eyes feasted on his exposed upper torso. Jason saw her looking at him but ignored her. He put on his shirt, took his coat and exited the room.
While Jason was away, Julia used the time, locked up in his room, to redesign the 7th-floor apartment as he requested. The day went by and Julia spent it in Jason's room not bothering to go down for breakfast, lunch or supper. Later that evening, when Jason returned home, he went up to his room and found Julia lying on a piece of paper with a sketch. He frowned, looking at what she had sketched. He realized it was the design he had requested. It made him smile and it warmed his heart. He left for the bathroom and took a shower without waking her up. The noise woke Julia up, and she quickly folded the paper and hid it not wanting Jason to see it.
"If he is already in, maybe he has seen it," Julia thought, but still hid the paper.
Jason stepped out of the bathroom and found Julia looking nervous.
"Have you eaten?" Jason asked her.
"Yes, no, er," Julia fumbled with her words.
Jason stepped out of the room and returned after a few minutes.
"You have not eaten the whole day?" Jason said.
Julia opened her mouth but no words came out.
"Why?" Jason asked.
Julia wanted to tell him it was because Mrs Haward had never liked it when she sat with them at the table, but she was also scared of how Jason would react to that since they were his family.
"I am sorry, I just didn't feel hungry," Julia replied.
Jason knew that was not the reason, but he decided not to push her. He used the phone in his room, dialled the kitchen's extension and asked them to bring some food over to his room. A knock was heard at the door after half an hour, and Jason asked Julia to get it. She opened it, and it was one of the servants carrying a tray of food which he brought inside and placed on the table.
"Now eat?" Jason said once the servant left.
Jason was just concerned about her health when he asked the servant to bring the food, but when he asked her to eat, he sounded authoritative rather than caring. Julia quickly ate the food, taking one bite after another like Jason would do something to her if she didn't.
"Stop it?" Jason said in frustration watching her eat like that.
Jason felt bad inside, as he had never had to care for any woman before and hence felt he was terrible, showing he cared. He was already stressed about James coming to work with him, and now he didn't know how to handle Julia without creating the wrong impression. He left the room and went to the study.
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