Chapter Six:
(Edited by CarmenOX. Thank you so much :D)
Arran's POV:
It was 8 pm and the whole office was empty by now. I was still in my office reading files from the new project and every minute passing was frustrating me. There were many loopholes in one damn file. This shows lack of responsibility, which I can never accept. I wanted to give a piece of mind to the lawyer but I had stopped myself after thinking about his pregnant wife. Instead, I sent him an email, telling him to come and see me early in the morning. That will be enough to give him sleepless night. He had one job to do!
My thoughts drifted towards my new assistant and I chuckled as I thought about Emberly, my subconscious getting the better of me again. One thing I valued the most about her is when she accomplished her work, she would smile just like my niece after getting her favourite candy. Her icy blue eyes would sparkle in happiness.
However, out of all things, I never expected her to be so feisty yet she still managed to blush out of nowhere. It has been a long time since I felt those emotions. After her. Here we go again. It has been fucking years and I still can't get over her. Maybe a part of me doesn't want to forget her. It wouldn't be surprising, I loved her since the first day I saw her in school. I had to shake my head in order to not go down memory lane again.
Looking over to my left again I saw Emberly yawning constantly and trying to keep her eyes open. I don't blame her; after all I did give her the most boring file I had. I still remembered how my father made me solve that file on my first day and how I fell asleep half way through. I have to give her credits for not dozing off.
I didn't even realise how harsh I was being with her. A few hours ago I was almost about to let her have it but her frightened face stopped me. She looked so vulnerable that I had to think twice about it. Then when she returned her sarcasm and witty comebacks came with her made me look at her differently. How can she manage to look like a frightened lamb one minute and then like a tigress the next? Other than her lack of enthusiasm regarding work I almost found her likeable. Almost. She was having an effect on me like she once had on me. I scoffed, ridiculing myself. It was too early to say that.
Not wanting to work any more I switched my laptop and monitor off and locked all open files in the cabinet, keeping one with me to work on at home. Emberly stood up as soon as she saw me. I wanted to laugh at her horrified expression.
"Well, Emberly, I hope you enjoyed your first day." I smirked whilst she rolled her eyes, "unless you are planning to sleep here I assume you should end your day."
"Why thank you, Sir." She replied sarcastically.
I motioned for her to go before me. I might be arrogant but my mother did teach me manners, but I only chose few to follow.
The whole office was empty by now except for the security guards who were still working. My attention was drawn back to Emberly when I saw her gleaming. I guess I deserve that. I've never seen someone so happy to leave this building. People will do anything to get a job in my company. It reminds me again how she didn't have to work hard to get a job in here. She was just an opportunist. She winced slightly when I began to walk faster. I realised she was trying to catch up but her sore feet were giving up.
"You don't have to wear heels tomorrow if you don't want to." I said softly, pushing the ground floor button on the lift.
"Oh my god really? Thank you. I normally don't wear this much heel. Because I thought it was my first day...." She explained excitedly but when she saw my bored expressions she stopped and sighed, "Never mind." I heard her mummer.
As soon as we left the building, a cool breeze welcomed us. The temperature usually dropped in the evening. I was about to offer her a lift when she took long stride towards a blue car. Following her, I saw her unlocking the door.
"Is this your car?" I asked, checking the light blue VW beetle in front of me.
"Yeah, isn't she beautiful?" She said proudly.
"Very." I replied sarcastically and she just rolled her eyes.
"Okay bye then. See you tomorrow," she jumped inside the car and fled away leaving me standing there, stunned.
Unbelievable.
I got in my car and followed the usual signs to my house. I got my own house 6 years ago, when I turned 19. It was a gift from my grandmother. Normally I would've gotten my own house when I would've turned 21 but I needed to get out of that house.
Everyone knew this was meant to happen, not even my mother's 'tears' stopped me from leaving that house. It was also very awkward bringing your friends home when your parents are in the living room watching TV together and acting like two teenagers.
I was about to go my house when I remembered the dinner I had at my parent's place. I cursed myself for forgetting it but, luckily, I wasn't late. Making a U-turn I was heading towards their house. She was after me to have dinner with them from a long time. I avoided going back to that house as much as I could. I parked my car next to my sister's and went inside, only to be attacked my mother.
"Mother I met you last week." I spoke with a gruff.
"Don't you dare use that tone with me, young man. Did I or did I not tell you to come and meet me at least twice a week?" My mother scolded me.
She thinks I have distanced myself from them. I had to agree with her on that. Everything in the house reminded of my past, and not the pleasant one. I've seen Luke, my best friend, get more excited to be here than me, who lived half of my life in this house.
"You did mother." I replied not wanting to argue with her.
"Mother, leave him alone. Hey bro." My sister embraced me in a bear hug. For someone as petite as her she surely had energy of ten bulls.
"Hey Cassie, didn't know you were coming. I thought you were in Chicago with Mathew."
Cassie was the eldest of all the siblings. She was married to Mathew who happened to be a lawyer and together they had a 3 year old daughter. It was a strange combination, my sister was always creative and she strongly believed all law related people were dull, yet she married a lawyer. I had to give credit to Mathew to bear with her. She could be difficult sometimes.
"Yeah but you know your niece, also mother insisted to come. So how's work going?" She asked me as we made inside the house.
"Have you both forgotten the rules? No work related conversation in this house." Mother scolded us, again.
That was another reason why I moved out. I engulfed my niece in my arms and spun her around until she started squealing. I gently put her on the high chair and I sat down next to her. The maids were bringing the food and I chatted with Mathew for a bit. It was good to be home, with my father teasing my mother, Mathew and Cassie fighting over who is best at parenting and my niece sneakily getting rid of her vegetables.
"So, how's Emberly son?" He asked me, his voice layered mischievously as the others tuned out of their conversations and listen to us.
My father had to ruin the Kodak moment.
"You seriously couldn't find someone better?" I questioned him.
"What's wrong with her? She is a nice, sweet, and hard working girl." He told me as if she was born and raised by him.
"Everything father. I have to tell her everything twice before she gets it. "
"I think you should give her some time to adjust Arran. You are being unreasonable." My father simply scoffed.
"So who is this Emberly?" It was my mother's turn to ask.
I groaned, as I knew where this conversation is going. Every dinner she would ask if I was with someone- more likely if I was hooking up with someone. The conversation always ended with her giving me lectures about how important it is to have a wife.
"She is the new assistant father hired," I replied to no one in particular.
"Is she beautiful?" She asked. I could almost see the wedding bells on top of her head.
"Is she hot?" Cassie winked at me.
"Where is she from?" Mathew asked me.
"For god sake people she is just my assistant." I gritted, not wanting to shout at them.
"Relax, we are just asking. God, no need to be such a girl." Cassie muttered under her breath and I glared at her. We went back to eating.
"Honey we have something to tell you." My mother addressed me when the maids were serving the deserts.
Those words never sounded good. My mother never called me honey unless it's bad news. My grip on the fork tightened as I waited.
"What?" I asked her softly.
She looked at my father with a pained look in her eyes and then brought her eyes towards me. "Your brother is coming back."
Just when I thought everything was fine, it all turned upside down.
"Okay... why?" I pretended not to care and replied coldly.
"He wants to move back." She answered.
"Good for him. Meanwhile, I will stay away from this house as much as I can. Thank you mother for the dinner but I lost my appetite."
I softly kissed her on cheek and gave a hug to my sister. I could feel the pity in their eyes and I hated that. They knew how much I hated when people tried to pity me.
I walked outside as beads of sweat started forming from my haste to get out of the house. I unlocked my car with shaky hands and sat in driver's seat. Still not starting the engine, I leaned my head against the seat and remembered the time we spent together playing baseball in the backyard of the house.
He was my big brother, my idol. I always wanted to be like him. But what he did to me was unforgettable. It made me remember the anger, the sadness, and, worst, the betrayal I felt for him.
Looks like I am going down the memory lane again.
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