CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: A BROTHERS LOVE.
Exiting the bedroom I'm greeted by the pale man sat at the breakfast table. Unlike his sister's fair complexion from her mother, he was pale in comparison.
"August." I greet him and he hesitates briefly before replying.
"Hello." Giving me a warm smile, he beckons for me to sit. Setting a plate for myself, I sit opposite him and we eat in silence. I must say, in the silent department, they truly are siblings. The silence drifts over us for the entire duration of our meal until a throat clears and I look up to find him staring at me.
"Yes?"
"What happened?"
"Huh?"
"I saw her interview. Then all of a sudden you show up here at damn near midnight?" He says raising a quizzical brow at me and I sigh. Definitely related. Putting down my fork, I lean back in my chair, meeting his eyes.
"She's decided to take on your father head-on. Hence her withdrawal from The Academy as a student."
"She's actually..."
"Yes."
"And you got mad." It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
"You're not a petty or unreasonable man so I'm guessing she made that decision on her own, right."
"Yes."
"I see." He studies me briefly, a sly smile creeping along his lips.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Yeah right." I roll my eyes and he chuckles.
"You really love her don't you."
"I do. You know and... now, so does she." His eyes widened at my statement.
"You told her!"
"Yes."
"Didn't you say you'd wait till she..."
"It's complicated now."
"What...? How exactly?" I search his eyes looking for a reason. If anyone could be by her side in my place and protect her, it's him. He loves her too.
"As it so happens, our families are not so isolated from each other as one would think." His brow arch in question and he leans in, his elbows resting on the table.
"What are you talking about?"
"Your grandmother and my mother seemed to have known each other."
"What?!" Sitting up further in his seat he stares at me; hard.
"Before Ms. Winters left your group, she sold her shares... to my mother." I reply, his eyes widening in shock at my statement.
"Are you serious?! That means you hold the last piece that..." A small gasp escapes him.
"That's where it gets complicated, I'm afraid. I don't. It's in a name I gave up years ago." I sigh and pour myself another cup of coffee, too frustrated to even care about the amount of sugar I put in. I then go on to explain about my mother and father's relationship. During, and...
"After I got kicked out, my last name was changed to that of the man who looked after me. This hotel and a couple others were left in that name..."
"But...?"
"The shares... remain under my birth name… with my birth father." I meet his eyes and he stares at me knowingly.
"And."
"And, in order to hold the last piece she needs, I have to take on that name again."
"The catch?"
"I have to return to Japan." He chokes on his tea, drops running down his jaw, his t-shirt; staining the white fabric.
"Return? Return as in...?!"
"Go there."
"What? Why?!"
"That's the condition I get. My younger brother is going to inherit after the old man but the elders and other family members are being difficult - no surprises there if I'm honest - but he is quite the softie you see. Leaving everything to him would be..."
"Ah." He looks at me, pity deep in his eyes. Hmm. Different. He's easier to read.
"Don't look at me like that. I've already accepted the facts. I know the old man's just using me to secure his son's position."
"Then wh..."
"Because it's the only way I can actually help. She's already proven she can do so much without me, but I just want to do this one thing that can actually end this." His eyes mask and his expression becomes unreadable for a short moment before his emotions become readable again.
"Please don't leave her like this." He frowns, his tone pleading.
"Huh?" Getting up he moves around the table, perching himself on the table next to me.
"Come back with me. Say these things to her. Face to face. I'm sure she'll understand you leaving..."
"She doesn't know."
"What..."
"I didn't… couldn't tell her about my family or about why I left to begin with. I just left."
"So she's just going to think you ran off..."
"You underestimate your sister. She'll know that I'll be back."
"I get that, but she won't know how long she'll have to wait! She'll think you hate her! I know she must've done something to disappoint you but..." His face morphs into a scowl and his hand finds the collar of my shirt drawing me closer. Anger raging through his eyes, smirking playfully, I return his galre.
"Easy."
"She's my sister! I get that she'll eventually understand but I won't allow you to leave like this. I won't be able to live with myself seeing her sad every..."
"Is this about her feelings or you feeling guilty having put her in this position?" He stares back at me blankly, his grip loosening.
"Do you blame yourself for having not tried hard enough to fight back? Just going with the flow? Do you hate what you see?" His grip fully falls to his side and his glaresoftens.
"I-I..."
"You'll have to answer these questions sooner or later. Both of you siblings keep blowing up and disappointing me, August." His mouth opens as he's about to speak but the knock from the door interrupts him. Getting up I head to the door, opening in it and walking back to the table.
"If you haven't had breakfast yet eat something." I say to William as he follows me into the room.
"Not even a good morning to your big brother?" He pouts and I rolled my eyes but smiled as his feigns injury.
"Morning Oni-San." I retort dryly and he stumbles slightly at my response.
"Wait...! You actually said it?!"
"There's a first and last time for everything." He laughs, taking a seat next to me.
"And I feel like I just got both." Smiling, I set him a small plate.
"Eat."
"Thanks." Looking up, I realise that August's eyes are basically bulging, his mouth slightly agape.
"Close your mouth kid or you'll give him a big head." I say annoyed at his googly eyes. Ugh, I swear if this was an anime or manga, Wil would definitely be covered in stars and flowers. Bloody Ikemen.
"I'm right here you know."
"You-You're William Fairchild..."
"The one and only. And you Mr. August Ingram, it's a pleasure to meet you again."
"Again?"
"Yes. We met years ago, but you were rather young then." I smile at the look of utter awe that crosses his face before he clears his throat covering it.
"Stop flirting. Anyways, Wil's going to take you with him tomorrow, so make sure you're ready by nine AM."
"Huh?"
"I have a meeting tomorrow with your sister and following that, there's a shareholders meeting. I assume what my brothers trying to say is that you'll be attending... at my side, of course, so don't look so scared. Your father won't be able to touch you." Wil says, giving him a reassuring smile causing August to stare at him in disbelief.
"I'm not the one I'm worried about." He sighs, downing the remainder of his tea.
"Don't worry about Atlas either. She'll be fine. She may not have all the shareholders in her corner yet, but she's got the funds to continue. Even without all the votes, she can proceed. It's simply about..." His brows frown briefly before his widen
"...Completion...? Wait...?!" His eyes shoot up, staring into mine.
"Yes. That's why your father hasn't acted yet. Granted he may not know yet that she bluffed, but he is a businessman nonetheless. She may dabble in stocks and have money to keep afloat for now but he knows it's not about the promise she publicly made but the delivery on that promise."
"That old snake."
"I wouldn't even give that man such a title, but yes. He hasn't done anything as yet because he's waiting for her to falter..." I look up and he's staring at me intently, and I return his gaze sighing as I continue. There's no need covering the facts. He may be older, but she certainly is more mature, "That being said, once he knows you've returned and that you'll be by her side he won't be too happy. He's going to go all out." He opened his mouth as though to protest again but closed it, realisation finally setting in. He knew his father better than anyone, so he knows the length he's willing to take. Getting up, I move to answer my cell. Looking at the number I knew who it was.
"Hai."
"Sakamoto-San, shorui wa masuta go shomei shite kurete, asunoasa, JST ga fakkusu de okurimasu." "Arigatō, Ryō-San." "Doitashimashite, yangumasuta. Ima kara shigoto ni modorimasu. Ashita wa anzen'na tabi o shite, mata o ai shimashou." "Wakatta. Sayōnara." "Let's go."
"Wait. Where are you going?" August asks, clearly worried.
"To see father." William replies for me as I head back into my room to change.
"I see..." His words trailing off as he settles back into his chair.
"What is it?" The look on his face made me stop and I focused my attention on him.
"Nothing." Moving to stand beside him, I bring my face close to his, my eyes staring into his own. Fear. Curiosity.
"Why are you scared?"
"I-I'm not." He stares back before quickly looking away, his cheeks blushing.
"Good." Straightening up, I leave to get changed.
"I'll see you later. Staff members will bring your lunch and dinner if I'm not back in time. If you need anything, call the number by the telephone and the manager will sort it out for you. I don't mean lock you in here but..."
"I know. Thank you." He retorts with a smile following us to the door, waving bye as we leave.
"He's just as cute as Atlas." Wil says chuckling softly and I roll my eyes at the mischievous tone in his voice.
"And you're married." He laughs as I jab his side and he retaliates by punching my arm.
"Shut up. Anyways are you ready?"
"Yes."
"He won't be too happy about you going back you know."
"I do. But he'll understand."
"You think?"
"He's loved someone more than himself. I know he will." A sad smile plays along his lips at the mention of his mother and I pat his shoulder comfortingly. Her death was the reason we moved from America. After her death, he no longer wanted to stay in the place where he'd lost her. I know he'll be mad, but he'll understand. Our age difference will definitely get me a head slap from the old man but it was worth it. Knowing that nosy old owl, he probably already knows everything there was to know about her. He wouldn't stop me. I know he wouldn't. That didn't mean I wouldn't ask his permission though. After all, he raised me as his own son. Gave me a home.