The Love of My Bully

When she got closer to the clearing, she saw Drake’s car and started to run. He sat on the porch steps of the house in question, which looked like it was falling apart. The moment he saw her, he got up and rushed toward her.

She threw her arms around him and smiled.

“Not that I don’t appreciate your call, but I didn’t think we were going to do this,” he said.

“I have so much to tell you.” She caught him up to speed on his father’s visit including the payment he’d given her, which she handed him back to him. “You’re going to need this.”

“Why?”

“You need to have someone check out your father’s will. If your father wanted the company to remain in the Connor name, and he was willing to sleep with your mother to achieve it, don’t you think he would have taken all the extra measures to keep it secure?” she asked. “Like, giving half of the company to you?”

“But wouldn’t I have been … told about this?”

“Drake, you only knew a little while ago that you were his brother. He could have it worded that it could be divided equally between his son or sons.”

“But, why wouldn’t anyone tell me?”

“Because no one knew. It’s why your parents are so determined to keep you in their own little world. To control you.”

“You think it could be as simple as getting the will read again?”

“I honestly don’t know. I could be wrong, but why else would they be trying to buy me off? It makes no sense. I’m not important. I lost count of the number of times they told me that. Remember? I mean nothing to them.” She shrugged. “What do you have to lose?”

She shoved her hands into her jeans, waiting. Glancing behind him, she looked at the house. It really needed a lot of work.

“What is this place?” she asked when he still hadn’t said anything.

“It belonged to my uncle.”

“Your uncle?”

“On my mother’s side. She had a brother. One she tried to disown. He was a great guy. He didn’t want the money or the prestige, the title that came with his wealth. Before he was cut out of the inheritance, he got this place. There was a time it was amazing. Everything in pristine condition.”

“What happened to it?” she asked. The house looked like it needed to be condemned.

“Age. My uncle got sick and rather than reach out and ask for help, he was stubborn. Tried to deal with cancer and fix this damn house.”

“I’m so sorry. You never said anything about this before.”

“Not a lot to say, to be honest.” He looked behind him.

“Is it yours?”

“Yeah. He gave all of his money to me and this place.”

“Why don’t you use the money to invest back into this place?” she asked. She walked up the steps, being careful not to step on any of the damaged ones. “I mean, this is your life as well, and if you love it, why give it up?”

“I guess I haven’t really thought about this place. My uncle loved it and from what I remember of him, he was really proud of it. He’d take the time to fix everything and he always said the best kind of things in life, the ones you treasure, are always worth fighting for or taking the time to hold close to you. You know, sentimental stuff like that.”

“He sounds nice.”

“He was. As you know, my mother is nothing like him. She’s always been about material things and getting more. Greed runs heavily in my family.”

She stood at the door. The glass in one piece of the window had been broken.

Drake got the key out of his pocket, slid it into the lock, and flicked the door open. The heavy scent of mold and dust was in the air. There were also lots of cobwebs.

“There’s so much work that needs to be done. I doubt I’ll ever get it finished.”

“Not with that kind of attitude. I’m a great believer of if you want something and are willing to work hard to get it, you will. Isn’t there a part of you in there somewhere who believes in seeing the true potential, even out of a dump? Look at us. We were enemies and now look at us.”

“Is this the same woman who told me not too long ago that we should give up?”

“I wasn’t the first person to feel that way. You were, remember? I guess we’ve both made a lot of mistakes,” she said.

They stepped into the main room. Some of the walls were missing and the ceiling had a hole. She could look straight up into the roof.

“Were you tempted?” Drake asked.

“Was I tempted with what?”

“The money.”

“You’re really asking me this?”

“I … I don’t know what I’m asking. I just, I’m curious.”