Chapter 68 Bronson
To say my father was disappointed would be an understatement.
My older brother and sister, Anderson and Clara, had found their passion. Neither was what my father wanted, but in his mind, neither had stabbed him in the back either. Anderson was a police officer, and Clara was doing well as an artist. My father hated that they didn’t follow in his footsteps, but he still had one more child, one more person to get his claws into and to bring him aboard.
He still had me.
“So, when I broke his heart and told him I wanted to not only get to know my grandfather, but to one day take over his business, he refused to speak to me. That was over four years ago.”
Nikki’s eyes water as I finish my story. The bottle of bourbon half empty in front of the two of us on the coffee table. I had never told anyone my story before, and when my grandfather retired a few years ago, passing the torch down to me, I was well and truly alone.
“And none of your family has spoken to you either?”
“Not exactly.” I state then take another swing. Nikki grabs the bottle and mimics me, cringing when she’s done with it. We’ve been sitting here for hours, talking about my past and every minute I speak, more and more weight is lifted off my chest. I feel different, more powerful than before, and it’s all thanks to her.
“What do you mean?”
“My parents were angry that I was interning with my grandfather. I had changed, I was arrogant and vindictive, I loved the side of me that didn’t care about those I stepped on. It took a few months, but my mother and father finally came around, as well as my brother and sister, but I later found out it wasn’t because they missed me.”
“What was it because of?”
“My sister had Leukemia. She had brought us all together so that we could help her through it. Just like that, my sins were forgiven.”
“The charity.” I nod my head and take another swing.
“Yes. That’s why I do the charity every year. Clara beat cancer, but so many others do not. I wanted to do something in her honor, something to make my family proud, something to help others. I remember waiting in that room with her for hours while she puked and moaned from the pain of chemotherapy. I remember sitting by her side and watching as she endured it all. I wanted to help those who couldn’t help themselves.”
“I didn’t know Bronson.”
“No one did.” I stand and walk over to the fireplace, leaning my arm against the mantel and staring into the deep orange and red flames as the flicker. “And I wanted it that way.”
“So, if they accepted your choice of being the business mogul, then why have you not spoken to your family in four years?”
“Because Nikki, they believe I destroyed my father’s business. They blame me for taking away everything he worked hard for.” I face her, the anger burning in me from earlier when Clara spoke of my so-called deceit. “Clara believed me for some time, she knew I could never do something like that. But the more she favored my side, the more our family pulled away from her as well. I couldn’t let her be thrown to wolves too. So, one day, I sent everything over to her home, everything my mother and father threw out of the house that I once owned, and never spoke to her again. She had no choice but to assume they were right about me.”
Nikki thinks long and hard as the silence nearly deafens us. I’m sure I have freaked her out and wouldn’t blame her if she ran far away from me. I’m destructive, that much was proven true, but I won’t bring Nikki down with me. I don’t want her in this life with me if she is truly unhappy. No matter how much it would kill me.
But, true to Nikki’s spirit, she stands up and comes closer to me, pulling my hand into her own. “You have to make this right Bronson. Your sister came to you for a reason, I think it’s time you found out why.”
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