AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s a heavy burden, but I was groomed to hold it my entire life.
“So what’s the plan? You know we have to celebrate. I’m thinking a trip to Bermuda, see us with a bunch of sexy ladies in barely anything. A drink in our hands, you know, really kick back.” Greg entwines his fingers behind his head while he stretches out in the butter leather office chair that’s placed strategically on the other side of my desk.
I shake my head at Greg and get up from my seat. Greg is the closest thing I have to a friend in this life. He doesn’t know very much about me, but we do socialize outside of work from time to time for a beer or to watch a baseball game.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself Greg. I don’t have the time to chase after women. Just because we have good numbers now doesn’t mean they won’t drop.”
Greg pushes himself out of the chair and walks over to the floor to ceiling windows. The one thing about being the CEO, the office is spectacular. “Percy, if all you’re focused on is the bad that could happen, what’s the point? I mean we just had a killer quarter, don’t you think a small little huzzah is in order?”
I lean back and stare out of my skylight.
Huzzah? I guess he’s right. I should celebrate even if it’s only a little bit.
“You’re right, let’s celebrate.” I say and get out of my chair.
‘Fuck yeah, finally.” Greg rubs his hands together in excitement.
I walk over to the full wall bookcase and open the oak case my father left in the office. It has some of the best cigars I’ve ever tasted and I’m not a smoker.
“You’ve got to be kidding me? This is your celebration?” Greg walks up behind me and watches me getting the cigar ready.
“It’s the little things in life that mean the most to me. You know that.” I shrug and pour myself a small tumbler of brandy to go along with the cigar.
“Ring the front desk and let Christina know to disable the smoke alarms up here for the time being.” I walk back over to my desk and relax into the butter leather chair.
“I can’t stand you sometimes, you know that.” Greg walks over to the door with a stupid grin on his face.
“You can’t stand me huh? Well I guess you don’t want the companywide bonus I’m about to issue.” I sigh as I puff out the sweet smooth smoke.
“Bonus?” He stops at the door, turning to look at me and giving me the most disingenuous smile I’ve ever seen. “You know I’ve never told you how much I look up to you—“
“Shut the hell up and get out of here.” I wave my hand and he laughs as he walks out the door.
I lean back and take a few minutes to let my mind quiet down. Running an empire made out of paper mache is hard. One bad storm and we could be washed away along with all the other newspapers that were dying out.
Peace is the only real celebration that I need or want. My family has been wealthy since my great-great grandfather so there’s not much that I don’t have except for peace of mind. There’s no vacation or new car that would give me the peace of mind that knowing my company is doing well.
I look up through my skylight and watch as the clouds pass by—quiet and peaceful.
A loud buzz rips me out of my place of zen. I sit up and lay the cigar on the edge of my desk. When I pull my phone out of my pocket and read who the text message is from I know the few minutes of peace I just had will be the last for a while.
“God dammit.” I groan and open up the message to see exactly what it says. It's from Ian, my brother. The one, no one but my mother and father know about. If anyone outside of us found out about him it would be just the scandal to light the fuse that could bring our empire down.
Ian: Bro, I’m sorry. I fucked up.
Me: What are you talking about? Be specific.
Ian: I’m in trouble. I made some bets. I need u.
As much as I know he’s sick, sometimes I wish I’d have never met Ian. It’s like taking care of a fucking kid. He’s an alcoholic and even though he’s gotten clean several times I can always count on him to find a way to get into trouble. Now it’s underground card games in order to get his fix.
Either way he’s my kid brother and I can’t let them hurt him.
Me: Where are you?
Ian: Meet me at Keg Gardens, bring cash.
I toss my phone on the desk and snuff out the cigar that I’d left smoking on the edge of my desk. I guess today is no time for celebrations. Instead I’m going to have to bail my brother out of whatever issues he’s gotten himself into this time.
