(completed)
When Evelyn Cruz, the youngest of the Cruz siblings, comes full circle back to an old family friend, she instantly is flooded with old memories. The Valor's have come back with business. That's all they truly cared for. The eldest son of...
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As I step out of my car and make my way into my parent's house I have this weird feeling. Like shits about to hit the fan. But I don't think Ive done anything wrong. Ive done my work and gone to pointless boring meetings.
That's not enough though because when I step into the meeting room and see my family sitting there, I can't help but notice the fuming expression of my dad. Great, he hates my guts more.
"Why am I here?" I tuck my hands into my blazer at the opposite end of the long meeting table from my dad. "Sit down." He commands sternly. I don't feel the need to piss him off more so I sit in my assigned spot. At the end of the table, the spots of the most powerful people in the company take the ends. So now I stare straight at my dad on the other end. His arms lay on the table as he pierces his gaze in my direction.
"Sometimes I question whether or not my parenting went through your skull, Grayson. I thought I had done a great job, had you walk away from relationships left and right because you were man enough to realize that the company was worth more than a woman. Now," He laughs and shakes his head. "Now I'm afraid I've leaned off a bit too much. I see that now as I see your care for pointless things seep back in." I stare at him.
"What are you saying?" I ask, leaning back in my chair. His jaw clenches, and his fists turn white. "Imagine my surprise when I asked Brody who was the girl he saw half naked at your apartment." My heart falls in my lap. The color fades from my face. Rose and my mom look at me worried. Adrien uses a hand to massage his forehead as he shakes his head in knowing.
My dad breathes out, "Imagine my," He slams a fist into the table causing my mom to jump a little. "goddamn surprise when he said the name Evelyn!" Hell breaks lose. Rose yells a 'what', and my mom yells a stern 'Grayson valor' at me. "I told you to keep your hands to yourself and focus on the business part of things Grayson!" My dad growls.
"What I do outside of work doesn't concern any of you!" I finally yell. "Im done acting like the way you and mom have raised us was the right thing. I mean fuck!" I scoff a laugh. "Living off the work addict title for the family line is going to kill us. How do you expect to continue this family line if you won't let any of us even think about the possibility of a happy ending!"
"That's the problem, Grayson! I would rather you all work your asses off than belief in some little girl fantasy. Happy endings aren't for this family. What's for this family is world recognition for our work! You've been tainting our names ever since we got back. I mean what is it about her?"
"That's none of your business."
"Humor me, Grayson!"
The chair I'm sitting in squeaks loudly against the floor as I jump up from my seat.
"She makes me happy!"
Everyone stares at me. "And god do I feel bad for the fact that you have your children beliveng that there's nothing outside of work. You've tainted our brains to believe that love is some word and not something real. But guess what? It fucking is!" My dad looks like he could explode from anger.
"Im sorry you hide everything you feel to make yourself look like a man. But you know what that makes you Dad?" His jaw ticks. "Fucking pathetic."
"Grayson!" My mom scolds me but I give my final words. "My relationship with Evelyn is none of your goddamn business. She would never hurt me. Im never going to hurt her. But if any of you ever decide to even pluck a single strand from her head I will tear every single limb off your body and use them as house decor. I fucking mean it. Don't ever touch my girlfriend or so god help me I will show you how good my emotions can switch off with a gun in my hand."
I leave the room in silence. Everyone stares at me angry. Accept Adrien. He follows me out.
In the short amount of time I was in there I gained a migraine. "Brother," Adrien catches me when I reach my car, I turn and face him. "Come to scold me?" I sigh, but he shakes his head and places a hand on my shoulder. "I wanted to text you to not come but Dad insisted that I don't touch my phone to try."
"God Adrien , I don't get why dad won't let us be. I've followed him my entire life. Left people behind that were ten times worth more than this shitty life. I thought maybe this one time he'd get it. Get that I don't want that life anymore. I want-" I scoff and Adrien watches me. "Damnit I want that stereotypical life. Want to marry my best friend, live in a cozy home, fill the silence of the halls with laughter from my children, and grow old and grey to see my grandchildren run around in my front yard. I want all of that as much as it sounds like I'm crazy." A heavy sigh leaves me.
"It's not crazy Grayson. It's human. Trust me, as weird as it sounds I want that too, it makes me sad that we've wasted so many years letting that man control us to his will. I want Rose to understand but she seems to have taken more to heart than we did." Adrien says putting his hands in his blazer. "I don't get how Dad can tell us we aren't allowed that life when he had us. Got a wife, and a house, had children, and loved them- well until he realized how much he was apparently babying us."
I laugh in agreement. "I know Dad has feelings. He just cages them in so well. I know that if something big enough happened his walls could crack." I reason which makes Adreind scoff. "Have a kid Grayson, test that theory. I mean you have the girl, you have an apartment, just take the condom off." I realize the baffoon in front of me and roll my eyes. "I don't plan on having kids until Im at twenty-eight. Adrien squints his eyes.
"My psychic abilities tell me that's bullshit. They tell me you'll have one this year." I give him an unamused look. "One, I'm not ready yet, two if it was with Evelyn I don't think she wants to give up that freedom at twenty-one." It goes in one of Adrien's ears and out the other in a matter of seconds. "Nah bro, I sense that I'll be an uncle soon. It's my calling." He's the dumbest person I've ever met.
"I'll have a kid after you stop fucking around a get a girl. Singular Adrien." He smirks. "I'm serious dude. Trust me, getting a girlfriend is better than fucking around." Adrien throws his head back. "Not that simple man. Every girl I meet only seems to like me for my looks. They don't even try to get to know me." I pat his shoulder. "You'll meet someone."
"My psychic abilities tell me you'll meet them soon." I play into his bullshit and he gives me a fake smile. "Yeah, fuck you too man." He whispers under his breath. A laugh escapes me causing it to make Adrien laugh. "hey, are we still going to that business party thing Saturday?"
"oh, yeah. I'm taking Evelyn but she's bringing a friend along. Something about business opportunities." Adrien nods his head and then gives me a final pat on the arm. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow, cool down, and don't let dads bull affect you." We hug and then I get in my car.
Sometimes it baffles me that my younger brother is the one comforting me most of the time. I love Adrien. I truly hope he gets that happy ending we both want.
