A Glimpse into Samuel’s Past pt.1

Samuel's POV [21 years ago] Samuel's Past Dilemma

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"Do you ever think about what Jeanette said to you?", Father asked as he sipped his wine.

"About what", I sighed.

"About Damien", he looked up at the ceiling, drunk.

I sighed once more "He sacrifices a lot for us, she said, he sacrificed a lot for me . That he does things that we can't do, and just for that we should repay him with our kindness and time, despite everything you say about not talking to Damien. Again, Father, those are her words not mine."

I was caught off guard when Father started to sob. "It's my fault, ever since he was a child I couldn't control my urges, and I knew… I just… I just knew… I would drive him to kill himself or hurt him… It was never intentional", he cried.

He dropped his wine on the floor as he couldn't catch his breath. I sat across from him on the couch, frozen, not sure what to do. I spoke with impulse "I'll take over any of his duties while he's gone In his catatonic state".

He sniffled, wiping his tears with the back of his hand "He's strong, he'll pull through eventually. Thank you for listening to my concerns, please get up at 5am tomorrow, Damien's notes from all previous business meetings are in a folder in his room, first drawer under the nightstand. I recommend you study throughout the night."

I stood up "Yes father, I won't let you down."

He nodded as he signaled a butler to clean the glass before heading to bed. I sat in the living room processing everything. I felt overwhelmed, I walked to Damien's room, I opened the first drawer picking up the business folder. I closed the door and made myself comfortable in Damien's room.

I opened the folder carefully laying the files down, I've disapointed my father enough. I studied, and studied, and studied. I even took a marketing class this year, but he wouldn't know that. It was time to prove I was valuable, just as valuable as Damien or even more so. I studied the invoices, ideas to boost stocks, non-disclosure agreements, contracts, and bylaws. I was amazed Damien could keep track of everything, even rival companies and their buisness tactics. He had photos of interns and CEO's of the rival company, photos of affairs, scandals, and bribes. I knew how chilidish I was when I saw a picture of a fat butt-naked guy with a strap on, I laughed a little too hard.

I gasped in surprise when I saw a picture of a naked black chick, she was ass up, asleep. I kept flipping the poloraid's, as the pictures turned into a ten second clip, she rolled over on her side, then she gave him a slight smile, then blocked the camera with her hand. I couldn't help but to chuckle, I muttered "Damien, you sly dog..", she was pretty looking, someone who I wouldn't think would go for Damien. He took pictures of her, damn good pictures as if she were a model. There was a picture of them on the beach, someone else clearly took it as he kissed her lips, holding her hips. I then flipped through another picture, I gasped once again as I saw him grab her pregnant belly, both of them smiling. I immediately tucked those pictures in my pocket., though I hated him, I respected him enough to save his ass at least once. After that, I didn't remember falling asleep.

I woke up just before 4:30am, I dressed in the best suite, I had.

I combed my hair, and I gelled it back. I stared at my dirty blonde hair, and green eyes. I smiled, as I looked sharp in my suit. I exited Damien's room, making sure I put my sweatpants in his closet, making sure his pictures were safe. Father walked past Damien's room then glanced over at me, he stopped in his tracks. "You sure clean up nicely."

I smirked "Thank you, father."

Father's hair was quite messy, he looked as if he weren't quite ready. He wore his suit as well, he stood there silent "Uh, would you like to comb my hair for me, I haven't been able to get much done without Damien."

"Sure, father."

I sat him down in the kitchen as I gave him a slight trim before combing his wavy hair down. I gelled it slightly, father caressed his chin, then stood up to look at his reflection as he stared into a glass cabinet.Father gave me a nod of approval. "Thank you", he stood up and signaled me to follow him outside.

"Don't forget the business folder", he reminded me .

I grabbed it from the counter and followed him outside as the body guards opened the door to father's limousine. I followed behind him and sat next to him in the limo as it took off. Father glanced over at me "Thank you for offering to come to the business meeting, it means a lot."

"I'm just trying to prove myself to you", I replied.

He nodded, staying silent. After a fifteen minute drive, we arrived at a big corporate office.

Father walked in front of me, his bodyguards were on both sides of us. We walked into an elevator, as it became crowded with all the guards. The guard pressed one bottom to close the elevator as father glanced at me "I'm only going to say this once and once only", he paused.

He then spoke rather fast "Make sure you have our exact profit for the year, our growth, our retention rate, and offers on the table to boost our stock with our shareholders as well."

I became frightened, I wrote most of those things down but I was afraid I didn't have all of it written down. "Yes, father", I spoke. The elevator door open to a narrow hallway, as soon as I stepped out the elevator I saw a clear office filled with businesses executives, CEO's and their assistants. I felt a wave of panic over my body, unsure if I could handle such a responsibility.

We had finally entered the clear office, I wanted to stall as long as possible as I looked through paperwork as Father chatted away. "No, Damien today?", one businessman had asked.

My father glanced over at me briefly before glancing over at the business man that asked "Unfortunately not, he's not in good health as of now, he's in the hospital", father spoke.

"My condolences, I'll be sure to send a basket soon", said the businessman.

"Thank you", father replied.

Father glared at me as the man continued speaking "So this is your other son?"

"He is", father replied.

Another businessman sighed "Let's start, shall we?"

"Damien's replacement, could you read me the names of the shareholders and the amount of shares they put down to the company?"

I frantically looked through paperwork "Uh-Uh… "

I flipped and flipped through files for at least a minute and a half "Uh, the companies are Banes trading co., Lankim original company, Danem Danes trading co and -"

My father stopped me "Those are last years shareholders", he sighed.

My father took out a mini note book from his pocket "Dane industries, Ankem Corp, Banes trading Co, Soyvent Blue co, and Lolin Valley were the top shareholders for this year."

I looked down at my feet the entire time, I was mentally drained from embarrassment."

My father successfully took care of it, the men shook upon the end of the business meeting. One man in particular shook my hand. He whispered "Good job for trying your best", he then left. Father and I were among the last to leave, Father didn't dare look at me. The bodyguards quietly escorted us to the limo. Father was silent on the ride home. We finally arrived at the house, the bodyguards opened the door as I followed behind father.

"Follow me", his voice echoed.

I complied with his wishes as he closed the door to his bedroom. He glared at me "You embarrassed me! You humiliated me! You tarnished the Axworthy name! So now I'll teach you a lesson, I'll show you the true extent of what Damien has to go through when he screws up!"

Father immediately took of his belt, before I could react he zip tied my hands behind my back then pushed me onto his bed. I remained frozen in my thoughts, I couldn't move a muscle. He locked his door before he threw off his suit, fully naked.

"Father, please", I pleaded.

He walked behind me on the edge of the bed "It's your choice to go through with it, but just know if you don't I'll look down on you. This is your last chance to prove to me that you're worth something."

I lay with my face smushed into his pillow, my other half was on the edge of the bed.

"Yes, father, go ahead."

"That's what I thought", he responded.

He grabbed his belt, I felt an intense wave of fear when he put a gag into my mouth. The first hit was when I screamed at the top of my lungs. He continually hit my behind with his belt, no break, no pause.

I felt tears of pain leave my eyes. He finally pulled my pants all the way down. My hair was drenched in sweat. My muffled screams intensified when he put it in. It was the worst pain I've ever felt, I became nauseous.

Father pulled the gag off "You wanted this… tell me you do."

I looked at him "Yes father, I do. I want to please you."

I covered my mouth with one hand, my other hand clenched the bed sheets.

I questioned myself right then and there. Why do I want his approval so bad? Why did I even try to one up Damien? I regret it, criticizing Damien.

I couldn't take it anymore, I covered my mouth as I started to gag, breaking away from my father's grip. I ran into his bathroom, vomiting inside the toilet. My father stood by the bathroom door "You're pathetic. Damien does a thousand times better than you. But, I enjoyed your squirming and the pain in your voice because unfortunately Damien doesn't do that anymore."

"Oh how I've took him for granted-", my father continued as I felt worthless and used.

A knock had finally came on my father's door. Father's hair was drenched in sweat "Hello?", he cracked the door open as I sat in the bathroom.

I heard unintelligible noises before my father closed the door. He started to cry. I pulled my pants up, I approached him on impulse, putting my hand on my shoulder "Are you okay, father?"

He wiped his tears "I'm relieved. He's okay. He's eating, talking, walking… thank goodness."

He immediately put on his best suit and combed his hair. I put on my regular clothes, worn out by staying with my father.

Father rushed out the door and asked his bodyguards to escort him to the hospital where Damien resided.

Father looked out the car window with anticipation. I had never seen him so flustered and concerned, when it came to Damien, his whole persona changed.

As soon as his car parked he received a call on his work phone. "Decline it! They can wait", he told one of the body guards. I had never seen him deny a business call in my presence. He immediately rushed out the car heading for the tenth floor inside the hospital .

I followed behind him, as I wasn't his concern anymore.

Father took a deep breath before heading into Damien's room, he stopped in his tracks after he entered. As Damien pulled the cuffs to his suit as his back faced our father.

Father called his name almost in a whisper "Damien", he called.

Damien quickly glanced over his shoulder, he had a blank expression on his face.

Damien's left hand shook uncontrollably, it was like nothing I've ever seen before .

"Father", Damien spoke facing away from him.

My father immediately took his hand "Did I cause that, Damien?"

Damien finally faced him "Yes, father you did."

Father immediately pressed his lips onto Damien "It won't happen again, I promise."

It was sickening to see a father kiss his own son. My father was a very strange man. Father was only slightly taller than Damien. Damien gently pushed father away from him "Please give me some time to myself before I head to the car."

Father nodded "Of course, I'll meet you in the car."

Father completely ignored my existence as he left the room. Damien glared at me "What do you want?", he spoke calmly.

"I wanted to apologize. It's very hard tending to father's needs and I took your abilities for granted."

Damien's face lost all color, his face had turned pale "Please… please tell me he didn't lay a hand on you?!"

I scoffed "I wanted him to see that I could be the son he loved so much."

Damien sighed "Don't be. Be the son he hates, at least you'll have control over your own life."

Damien put his hands in his pockets "He didn't touch you, right?"

I stared at Damien , dead in the eyes and lied "No, no he didn't."

Damien kept his gaze on me for a little longer then looked away "I'm glad."

I immediately took the polaroid pictures Damien had hid and threw them on the hospital bed "Burn them before father sees."

Damien laughed "Oh. He already knows. How do you think this whole ordeal happened. He got angry after I came home after seeing her, he demanded to know who she was. I refused to tell him, I was in such a happy mood I forgot about all the troubles I had with him. He seemed to be okay with it but then I turn my back for a second trying to get something to eat…. and uh…"

I saw Damien tear up for a second

"Look.. you don't have to tell me okay?", I spoke.

Damien nodded "Good luck with your game tomorrow."

I nodded "Yeah, thanks", I left the room as I tried my best not to tear up.

I walked down the hall towards the elevator where father stopped me as he headed for Damien's room "Is Damien done?", father asked.

"Almost", I spoke.

"Okay", father continued walking the direction of Damien's room.

"Father!", I called him.

He stopped in his tracks, irritated, "Yes, Samuel."

"Are you coming to my game tomorrow?", I asked.

Father scoffed "I don't have time and you know it, is that all you wanted to ask?"

"Yes, father", I spoke with such hatred in my voice.

I couldn't bring myself to head down to the car, so I went around a vacant corner and broke down.

"fuck…. why Damien….", I quietly screamed.

…..

Present Day

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I woke up in a cold sweat, I've dreamt about the past often but it was never about Damien, in the form of a vivid flashback. My hand ached of pain and all I wanted were my cigarettes.