Chapter 4
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
<▪▪Count Down▪▪>
I typed furiously on my laptop which was resting on my laps that were only covered by a thin blanket.
It had been two hours of hearing Audrey's soft breathing next to me and trying to look for anything about Sam Ricardo.
All I knew was that she was twenty. She studied Psychology at the Queen Mary University of London. There were absolutely no pictures of her except when she was a kid, which obviously infuriated me. I guessed she had dark brown eyes and fair skin. She had raven black hair and a round face. That still wouldn't make me able to identify her what-so-ever.
I rubbed my temples in frustration. I didn't know anything about her that can get me to her. Not how she looked like. Not even her full name. Only her university.
I groaned in frustration. What would I tell Father? I'd ask if he could send one of his men after her. Kidnap her to here and then I'd handle the rest.
I sighed. My father wasn't going to help me with this one. I knew it.
I slammed shut the laptop and tried to calm down. I've had anger issues ever since I was sixteen and even now at twenty- five, it didn't seem to get any better.
My father thought that my anger issues were a good thing. Well, I guessed it was.
I sighed thinking about the documents Ricardo stole from Father. Father never told me what they were about. He didn't tell me even who I was sent to kill and torture for information. All I knew was his name. He said he didn't trust me enough.
I wondered if it were some documents that'd sue Father. I'd be glad. It was probably related to Gorj. Maybe it was finally proof that almost everything we were doing was illegal. Maybe it'd be something that he finally can't 'cover'. Something that might've ended us all, for good.
I didn't know, but I was awfully curious.
As a matter of fact, this company was Mom's. Mom loved Father, but I didn't think it was also the other way round. I thought Father married her and stayed with her for her money. They then had me.
Julius Caesar was what Father named me. Yes, it is my first name with a space in between. He said it signified power.
Mom loved me and cared for me until I was sixteen. On one day she collapsed. We took her to the hospital. She apparently had adenocarcinoma- stomach cancer. She suffered little and died a few months after the diagnosis.
Then, they said my mom's will said that Father should get the company. Which he did. He definitely took care of it and made it grow. I was his right hand. All he needed to do was command and I stroke. I realized that I was no longer doing my 'job' -which included killing, fucking, threatening, etc.- to satisfy myself. I was doing it to prove to Father that I was something. That I was not a 'mistake'.
And no matter how much I would act like I didn't care. Deep down, Father's opinion about me mattered so much. So much to the extent that I could kill so heartlessly.
But I also realized that while I was constantly racing to satisfy Father, I was being dragged away by a darkness that magnified in the pit of my soul with every sin. It was overwhelming at times.
I mean, I could've fought back and run away when I learned who my father was. What he did to succeed and become a multimillionaire. I had relatives and I knew people who could've cared for me. But I stayed back. With Father.
And yes, I was too weak to resist Father's control. And I started to realize that I was his victim, not his right hand. I was not doing what I wanted. I was being controlled.
I learned to harden and man up against Father's cruelty which seemed to keep me more attached to him and what he does. He even gave me burns on my back every bloody birthday to signify how many years I have been a burden on him. But I still held on like a pathetic coward.
I shook the memory out of my head. I just had my ninth burn two weeks ago.
I got up naked and headed to the bathroom. I had a long bath. Audrey wasn't a morning bird so I always let her sleep.
I soon got out, wrapped a towel around my waist and looked in the mirror. I smirked at my reflection. My platinum- blond hair- like Father's, dark green eyes - Mom's eyes-and my angular jaws.
I headed down to the kitchen where I prepared something to eat for breakfast. I guessed pancakes would do the trick.
I got to it. I then took two plates, placed four pancakes on each with maple syrup and placed them on the dining table. I then got back up to the bedroom to get something to wear and wake Audrey up.
I gently climbed back on the bed and approached her. She breathed softly. I rested my hand on her bare shoulder blade and rubbed circles on her shoulder point with my thumb. I then brushed her dark hair with my hand and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Audrey, wake up. Come on, love. I made us breakfast."
She groaned and shifted so that she faced me. I planted my hand on the mattress so that I was caging her. I looked down at her, my hair falling over my face. She then fluttered her eyes open, rubbed them and smiled. She closed them again.
"What time is it?" She then said in a raspy voice and I smiled.
"It's already ten."
She yawned bringing her hand to her mouth while scratching her head with the other.
"Okay. I'm coming. Go."
"So that you'll sleep again. Very smart, Audie."
"Don't you trust me, Caesar?" She drawled and I smiled. It was only her that called me by the second part of my first name.
"Haha. Not when it comes to sleeping."
I got up and pulled her out of the bed.
"Wait! I'm not wearing anythi-" She said frantically and laughed.
"Nothing I haven't seen before. Get up!"
She laughed and got up, her hair a beautiful mess. She looked amazing just like that. I smiled and led her to the bathroom. I closed the door at her complaining face and went to the kitchen.
After a few minutes, she was down with a rose robe hugging her body. Her wet hair swished above her shoulders while some stuck on her face. I smiled widely.
She sat across of me, yawned and picked her fork. We started eating.
"You're going to work today?" I asked her and she nodded. She worked as a secretary in some big office.
"I've had a three week-long vacation in London. I can't not go."
I smiled and nodded.
"What about you? Where will you head?"
"I'll see Father. I have to tell him that I cannot find any relevant, useful information about Sam. After all, it's his company's documents. Not mine. He should be willing to help me with it."
"I can't really imagine how difficult it must be for you. I mean instead of working as an architect, you do your dad's dirty jobs."
"I chose that." I breathed and she smiled sadly.
"I wouldn't say that," she said, her light brown eyes bright under the lights. "You didn't choose that, Caesar. You just chose your dad. You chose family. You wanted to be normal so bad- it just- it just turned to something else."
I looked down, poked a pancake with my fork and shrugged. My chest tightened a bit.
"I'm done eating." I said after a few minutes, got up with my dish and reached to the sink to wash it.
My future was sure messed up. I ran the water and placed my plate beneath it. I watched the grease and crumbs get washed away and took in a deep breath.
I then felt arms snake around my waist, hitching my breath, before I felt my uptight insides melt a little. I then felt Audrey implant her face in the middle of my back.
I turned to Audrey and she looked up at me. Her eyes twinkling and her chapped lips curled in a breathtaking smile. "It'll be okay, Julius Caesar. I promise you."
She then rested her palm on my chest, leaned in and pecked my lips. I smiled weakly.
I had to go.
---
A/N:""Psst...u got a bit of violence ahead of you.""
---
"I couldn't find anything useful about her." I said looking at him. Tall and clad in a crisp navy blue suit, but with a white shirt instead of a button-down shirt. I narrowed my eyes at America- the housekeeper- who was standing in the corner watching us in the living room.
She walked away.
Father looked at me with fire in his eyes. "And why is that?" He paced around, the right corner of his lip twitching. "You have the girl's na-"
"And you have your men to do that for you. I do not hunt down people. This isn't my 'job', Father, and you know that." I said infuriated. Was that a punishment for killing Ricardo? "I attend the delightful, gory ends. Not deal with their insipid beginnings.
"After all," I continued. "-it's your company. It's your fault you didn't keep those documents in a safe enough place. You find a solution to your problem. Or at the very least, help me find one, dammit." I said feeling anger course in my body.
Father chuckled, then laughed loudly as he walked toward the coffee table. I narrowed my eyes at him.
He then suddenly turned around, threw an ashtray in my direction, but I dodged just in time. I heard it shatter against the wall as glass bits flew in every direction.
"What the-"
"You utter waste of space and air. You unworthy of the oxygen you breathe. You dare challenge me?!" He thundered, his hands shaking and I dared smirk. "I'll harm you son." His voice was suddenly calm. "I'll cause you so much pain. You know that. But you know what? I'll teach you a lesson today. A new lesson in the booklet of lessons I gave you." He said as his angry grimace turned into a nasty smile.
I felt uneasy for a moment but shook it off with a smirk. What could he possibly do?
He then approached me until our faces were a few inches away. He smirked, his countenance fierce and hard.
"Where were you son?" He said in an eerily placid voice. "Where on Earth were you? Why weren't you home yesterday?" He growled as his spit flew in my face's direction.
"It's none of your damned business." I said calmly pressing on each word. The next thing I knew was that I was slapped hard by the back of his left hand with all of his rings.
I looked back at him again with even more anger. I could hurt him. I really could've.
He then reached in his suit's jacket pocket and my eyes widened. His gun was out. I looked at his screwed face and still smiled. I knew my smile burnt him on the inside. A lesson Father taught me once.
"I want you to scream like a coward, son." He said simply, swinging his gun before finally pulling the trigger, surprising me. My eyes widened and time seemed to stop to seize the pain before unleashing it. I let out a groan as my eyes watered.
He shot me in my shoulder.
I clenched my fists trying to contain the pain by digging my fingernails in my palm as I reached for my shoulder. I looked up at my father and still smiled through the searing pain.
I panted and let my eyes wander around the room, my vision blurry.
"BRING HER IN!" Father thundered as two men clad in crisp suits came in handling a fighting woman.
I looked up and my smile fell immediately. Dread filled me and my eyes widened. I really wanted to cry now.
Audrey.
She was shut up by a piece of cloth. Her face was red and her veins bulged from her forehead and neck as if she was screaming. Tears streamed down her cheeks and stained her shirt. Her pencil skirt was ripped exposing almost all of her right thigh while her hair stood out everywhere. Her knees were scratched and her feet bare.
"What the hell?!" I said between clenched teeth. "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" I shouted in plain, pounding pain but he pointed his gun towards her and I started whimpering.
"OKAY FATHER PLEASE DON'T- I'LL DO ANYTH-"
"So that's the girl who stole my son's heart and distracted him from his life's purpose." He said as she shook her head looking at me with fresh tears pouring out of her eyes. She was begging me to do something. "That's the girl who invoked emotion in you, my son? Emotion that I taught you to get rid off? I thought you knew better than mess with our rules."
"PLEASE, FATHER. SHE HAS NO-NOTHING TO DO WITH- NOTHI-" I was begging. My ego a nothing now.
"But you really do have a good taste, son. I'm impressed. Finally, something you're good at besides music." His calm voice was nails drilled in my skull.
"Father-" I felt the tears falling freely and shamelessly now. "Dad, please. Dad-"
"And she got you to beg me!" He said as if surprised. "You know?" He was directing the words at Audrey now
"My son never asked me for anything. Never mind beg me." My breathing was haphazard as I watched Audrey's unblinking eyes swim with tears. "You changed him and I do not like it. You are a major weakness. A distraction. Who distracts my son doesn't deserve to live-"
"FATHER I LOVE HER! I LOVE-" I tried getting up, but Father's left hand found my wound and pressed hard. I screamed in pain and collapsed on my knees.
"I. Want. To. See. You. Burn. Julius. I want you to watch me do this. Now be very attentive-" he pointed his gun at her and grinned.
"NO-no-no-" I said getting up again to reach for Father's gun, but I felt his finger go through my injury. The pain was blinding me.
"Now. One," he tilted his head. "Two." Audrey was shaking her head hysterically. "And-" My eyes widened in utter horror.
BAM!
"Pretty three." My father let go of me and walked away.
I closed my eyes.
***
A/N: And it begins...
Hope you enjoyed it! If you did, vote and comment! It's really appreciated.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
<▪▪Count Down▪▪>
I typed furiously on my laptop which was resting on my laps that were only covered by a thin blanket.
It had been two hours of hearing Audrey's soft breathing next to me and trying to look for anything about Sam Ricardo.
All I knew was that she was twenty. She studied Psychology at the Queen Mary University of London. There were absolutely no pictures of her except when she was a kid, which obviously infuriated me. I guessed she had dark brown eyes and fair skin. She had raven black hair and a round face. That still wouldn't make me able to identify her what-so-ever.
I rubbed my temples in frustration. I didn't know anything about her that can get me to her. Not how she looked like. Not even her full name. Only her university.
I groaned in frustration. What would I tell Father? I'd ask if he could send one of his men after her. Kidnap her to here and then I'd handle the rest.
I sighed. My father wasn't going to help me with this one. I knew it.
I slammed shut the laptop and tried to calm down. I've had anger issues ever since I was sixteen and even now at twenty- five, it didn't seem to get any better.
My father thought that my anger issues were a good thing. Well, I guessed it was.
I sighed thinking about the documents Ricardo stole from Father. Father never told me what they were about. He didn't tell me even who I was sent to kill and torture for information. All I knew was his name. He said he didn't trust me enough.
I wondered if it were some documents that'd sue Father. I'd be glad. It was probably related to Gorj. Maybe it was finally proof that almost everything we were doing was illegal. Maybe it'd be something that he finally can't 'cover'. Something that might've ended us all, for good.
I didn't know, but I was awfully curious.
As a matter of fact, this company was Mom's. Mom loved Father, but I didn't think it was also the other way round. I thought Father married her and stayed with her for her money. They then had me.
Julius Caesar was what Father named me. Yes, it is my first name with a space in between. He said it signified power.
Mom loved me and cared for me until I was sixteen. On one day she collapsed. We took her to the hospital. She apparently had adenocarcinoma- stomach cancer. She suffered little and died a few months after the diagnosis.
Then, they said my mom's will said that Father should get the company. Which he did. He definitely took care of it and made it grow. I was his right hand. All he needed to do was command and I stroke. I realized that I was no longer doing my 'job' -which included killing, fucking, threatening, etc.- to satisfy myself. I was doing it to prove to Father that I was something. That I was not a 'mistake'.
And no matter how much I would act like I didn't care. Deep down, Father's opinion about me mattered so much. So much to the extent that I could kill so heartlessly.
But I also realized that while I was constantly racing to satisfy Father, I was being dragged away by a darkness that magnified in the pit of my soul with every sin. It was overwhelming at times.
I mean, I could've fought back and run away when I learned who my father was. What he did to succeed and become a multimillionaire. I had relatives and I knew people who could've cared for me. But I stayed back. With Father.
And yes, I was too weak to resist Father's control. And I started to realize that I was his victim, not his right hand. I was not doing what I wanted. I was being controlled.
I learned to harden and man up against Father's cruelty which seemed to keep me more attached to him and what he does. He even gave me burns on my back every bloody birthday to signify how many years I have been a burden on him. But I still held on like a pathetic coward.
I shook the memory out of my head. I just had my ninth burn two weeks ago.
I got up naked and headed to the bathroom. I had a long bath. Audrey wasn't a morning bird so I always let her sleep.
I soon got out, wrapped a towel around my waist and looked in the mirror. I smirked at my reflection. My platinum- blond hair- like Father's, dark green eyes - Mom's eyes-and my angular jaws.
I headed down to the kitchen where I prepared something to eat for breakfast. I guessed pancakes would do the trick.
I got to it. I then took two plates, placed four pancakes on each with maple syrup and placed them on the dining table. I then got back up to the bedroom to get something to wear and wake Audrey up.
I gently climbed back on the bed and approached her. She breathed softly. I rested my hand on her bare shoulder blade and rubbed circles on her shoulder point with my thumb. I then brushed her dark hair with my hand and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Audrey, wake up. Come on, love. I made us breakfast."
She groaned and shifted so that she faced me. I planted my hand on the mattress so that I was caging her. I looked down at her, my hair falling over my face. She then fluttered her eyes open, rubbed them and smiled. She closed them again.
"What time is it?" She then said in a raspy voice and I smiled.
"It's already ten."
She yawned bringing her hand to her mouth while scratching her head with the other.
"Okay. I'm coming. Go."
"So that you'll sleep again. Very smart, Audie."
"Don't you trust me, Caesar?" She drawled and I smiled. It was only her that called me by the second part of my first name.
"Haha. Not when it comes to sleeping."
I got up and pulled her out of the bed.
"Wait! I'm not wearing anythi-" She said frantically and laughed.
"Nothing I haven't seen before. Get up!"
She laughed and got up, her hair a beautiful mess. She looked amazing just like that. I smiled and led her to the bathroom. I closed the door at her complaining face and went to the kitchen.
After a few minutes, she was down with a rose robe hugging her body. Her wet hair swished above her shoulders while some stuck on her face. I smiled widely.
She sat across of me, yawned and picked her fork. We started eating.
"You're going to work today?" I asked her and she nodded. She worked as a secretary in some big office.
"I've had a three week-long vacation in London. I can't not go."
I smiled and nodded.
"What about you? Where will you head?"
"I'll see Father. I have to tell him that I cannot find any relevant, useful information about Sam. After all, it's his company's documents. Not mine. He should be willing to help me with it."
"I can't really imagine how difficult it must be for you. I mean instead of working as an architect, you do your dad's dirty jobs."
"I chose that." I breathed and she smiled sadly.
"I wouldn't say that," she said, her light brown eyes bright under the lights. "You didn't choose that, Caesar. You just chose your dad. You chose family. You wanted to be normal so bad- it just- it just turned to something else."
I looked down, poked a pancake with my fork and shrugged. My chest tightened a bit.
"I'm done eating." I said after a few minutes, got up with my dish and reached to the sink to wash it.
My future was sure messed up. I ran the water and placed my plate beneath it. I watched the grease and crumbs get washed away and took in a deep breath.
I then felt arms snake around my waist, hitching my breath, before I felt my uptight insides melt a little. I then felt Audrey implant her face in the middle of my back.
I turned to Audrey and she looked up at me. Her eyes twinkling and her chapped lips curled in a breathtaking smile. "It'll be okay, Julius Caesar. I promise you."
She then rested her palm on my chest, leaned in and pecked my lips. I smiled weakly.
I had to go.
---
A/N:""Psst...u got a bit of violence ahead of you.""
---
"I couldn't find anything useful about her." I said looking at him. Tall and clad in a crisp navy blue suit, but with a white shirt instead of a button-down shirt. I narrowed my eyes at America- the housekeeper- who was standing in the corner watching us in the living room.
She walked away.
Father looked at me with fire in his eyes. "And why is that?" He paced around, the right corner of his lip twitching. "You have the girl's na-"
"And you have your men to do that for you. I do not hunt down people. This isn't my 'job', Father, and you know that." I said infuriated. Was that a punishment for killing Ricardo? "I attend the delightful, gory ends. Not deal with their insipid beginnings.
"After all," I continued. "-it's your company. It's your fault you didn't keep those documents in a safe enough place. You find a solution to your problem. Or at the very least, help me find one, dammit." I said feeling anger course in my body.
Father chuckled, then laughed loudly as he walked toward the coffee table. I narrowed my eyes at him.
He then suddenly turned around, threw an ashtray in my direction, but I dodged just in time. I heard it shatter against the wall as glass bits flew in every direction.
"What the-"
"You utter waste of space and air. You unworthy of the oxygen you breathe. You dare challenge me?!" He thundered, his hands shaking and I dared smirk. "I'll harm you son." His voice was suddenly calm. "I'll cause you so much pain. You know that. But you know what? I'll teach you a lesson today. A new lesson in the booklet of lessons I gave you." He said as his angry grimace turned into a nasty smile.
I felt uneasy for a moment but shook it off with a smirk. What could he possibly do?
He then approached me until our faces were a few inches away. He smirked, his countenance fierce and hard.
"Where were you son?" He said in an eerily placid voice. "Where on Earth were you? Why weren't you home yesterday?" He growled as his spit flew in my face's direction.
"It's none of your damned business." I said calmly pressing on each word. The next thing I knew was that I was slapped hard by the back of his left hand with all of his rings.
I looked back at him again with even more anger. I could hurt him. I really could've.
He then reached in his suit's jacket pocket and my eyes widened. His gun was out. I looked at his screwed face and still smiled. I knew my smile burnt him on the inside. A lesson Father taught me once.
"I want you to scream like a coward, son." He said simply, swinging his gun before finally pulling the trigger, surprising me. My eyes widened and time seemed to stop to seize the pain before unleashing it. I let out a groan as my eyes watered.
He shot me in my shoulder.
I clenched my fists trying to contain the pain by digging my fingernails in my palm as I reached for my shoulder. I looked up at my father and still smiled through the searing pain.
I panted and let my eyes wander around the room, my vision blurry.
"BRING HER IN!" Father thundered as two men clad in crisp suits came in handling a fighting woman.
I looked up and my smile fell immediately. Dread filled me and my eyes widened. I really wanted to cry now.
Audrey.
She was shut up by a piece of cloth. Her face was red and her veins bulged from her forehead and neck as if she was screaming. Tears streamed down her cheeks and stained her shirt. Her pencil skirt was ripped exposing almost all of her right thigh while her hair stood out everywhere. Her knees were scratched and her feet bare.
"What the hell?!" I said between clenched teeth. "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" I shouted in plain, pounding pain but he pointed his gun towards her and I started whimpering.
"OKAY FATHER PLEASE DON'T- I'LL DO ANYTH-"
"So that's the girl who stole my son's heart and distracted him from his life's purpose." He said as she shook her head looking at me with fresh tears pouring out of her eyes. She was begging me to do something. "That's the girl who invoked emotion in you, my son? Emotion that I taught you to get rid off? I thought you knew better than mess with our rules."
"PLEASE, FATHER. SHE HAS NO-NOTHING TO DO WITH- NOTHI-" I was begging. My ego a nothing now.
"But you really do have a good taste, son. I'm impressed. Finally, something you're good at besides music." His calm voice was nails drilled in my skull.
"Father-" I felt the tears falling freely and shamelessly now. "Dad, please. Dad-"
"And she got you to beg me!" He said as if surprised. "You know?" He was directing the words at Audrey now
"My son never asked me for anything. Never mind beg me." My breathing was haphazard as I watched Audrey's unblinking eyes swim with tears. "You changed him and I do not like it. You are a major weakness. A distraction. Who distracts my son doesn't deserve to live-"
"FATHER I LOVE HER! I LOVE-" I tried getting up, but Father's left hand found my wound and pressed hard. I screamed in pain and collapsed on my knees.
"I. Want. To. See. You. Burn. Julius. I want you to watch me do this. Now be very attentive-" he pointed his gun at her and grinned.
"NO-no-no-" I said getting up again to reach for Father's gun, but I felt his finger go through my injury. The pain was blinding me.
"Now. One," he tilted his head. "Two." Audrey was shaking her head hysterically. "And-" My eyes widened in utter horror.
BAM!
"Pretty three." My father let go of me and walked away.
I closed my eyes.
***
A/N: And it begins...
Hope you enjoyed it! If you did, vote and comment! It's really appreciated.
Count DownI typed furiously on my laptop which was resting on my laps that were only covered by a thin blanket.It had been two hours of hearing Audrey's soft breathing next to me and trying to look for anything about Sam Ricardo.All I knew was that she was twenty. She studied Psychology at the Queen Mary University of London. There were absolutely no pictures of her except when she was a kid, which obviously infuriated me. I guessed she had dark brown eyes and fair skin. She had raven black hair and a round face. That still wouldn't make me able to identify her what-so-ever.I rubbed my temples in frustration. I didn't know anything about her that can get me to her. Not how she looked like. Not even her full name. Only her university.I groaned in frustration. What would I tell Father? I'd ask if he could send one of his men after her. Kidnap her to here and then I'd handle the rest.I sighed. My father wasn't going to help me with this one. I knew it.I slammed shut the laptop and tried to calm down. I've had anger issues ever since I was sixteen and even now at twenty- five, it didn't seem to get any better.My father thought that my anger issues were a good thing. Well, I guessed it was.I sighed thinking about the documents Ricardo stole from Father. Father never told me what they were about. He didn't tell me even who I was sent to kill and torture for information. All I knew was his name. He said he didn't trust me enough.I wondered if it were some documents that'd sue Father. I'd be glad. It was probably related to Gorj. Maybe it was finally proof that almost everything we were doing was illegal. Maybe it'd be something that he finally can't 'cover'. Something that might've ended us all, for good.I didn't know, but I was awfully curious.As a matter of fact, this company was Mom's. Mom loved Father, but I didn't think it was also the other way round. I thought Father married her and stayed with her for her money. They then had me.Julius Caesar was what Father named me. Yes, it is my first name with a space in between. He said it signified power.Mom loved me and cared for me until I was sixteen. On one day she collapsed. We took her to the hospital. She apparently had adenocarcinoma- stomach cancer. She suffered little and died a few months after the diagnosis.Then, they said my mom's will said that Father should get the company. Which he did. He definitely took care of it and made it grow. I was his right hand. All he needed to do was command and I stroke. I realized that I was no longer doing my 'job' -which included killing, fucking, threatening, etc.- to satisfy myself. I was doing it to prove to Father that I was something. That I was not a 'mistake'.And no matter how much I would act like I didn't care. Deep down, Father's opinion about me mattered so much. So much to the extent that I could kill so heartlessly.But I also realized that while I was constantly racing to satisfy Father, I was being dragged away by a darkness that magnified in the pit of my soul with every sin. It was overwhelming at times.I mean, I could've fought back and run away when I learned who my father was. What he did to succeed and become a multimillionaire. I had relatives and I knew people who could've cared for me. But I stayed back. With Father.And yes, I was too weak to resist Father's control. And I started to realize that I was his victim, not his right hand. I was not doing what I wanted. I was being controlled.I learned to harden and man up against Father's cruelty which seemed to keep me more attached to him and what he does. He even gave me burns on my back every bloody birthday to signify how many years I have been a burden on him. But I still held on like a pathetic coward.I shook the memory out of my head. I just had my ninth burn two weeks ago.I got up naked and headed to the bathroom. I had a long bath. Audrey wasn't a morning bird so I always let her sleep.I soon got out, wrapped a towel around my waist and looked in the mirror. I smirked at my reflection. My platinum- blond hair- like Father's, dark green eyes - Mom's eyes-and my angular jaws.I headed down to the kitchen where I prepared something to eat for breakfast. I guessed pancakes would do the trick.I got to it. I then took two plates, placed four pancakes on each with maple syrup and placed them on the dining table. I then got back up to the bedroom to get something to wear and wake Audrey up.I gently climbed back on the bed and approached her. She breathed softly. I rested my hand on her bare shoulder blade and rubbed circles on her shoulder point with my thumb. I then brushed her dark hair with my hand and planted a kiss on her cheek."Audrey, wake up. Come on, love. I made us breakfast."She groaned and shifted so that she faced me. I planted my hand on the mattress so that I was caging her. I looked down at her, my hair falling over my face. She then fluttered her eyes open, rubbed them and smiled. She closed them again."What time is it?" She then said in a raspy voice and I smiled."It's already ten."She yawned bringing her hand to her mouth while scratching her head with the other."Okay. I'm coming. Go.""So that you'll sleep again. Very smart, Audie.""Don't you trust me, Caesar?" She drawled and I smiled. It was only her that called me by the second part of my first name."Haha. Not when it comes to sleeping."I got up and pulled her out of the bed."Wait! I'm not wearing anythi-" She said frantically and laughed."Nothing I haven't seen before. Get up!"She laughed and got up, her hair a beautiful mess. She looked amazing just like that. I smiled and led her to the bathroom. I closed the door at her complaining face and went to the kitchen.After a few minutes, she was down with a rose robe hugging her body. Her wet hair swished above her shoulders while some stuck on her face. I smiled widely.She sat across of me, yawned and picked her fork. We started eating."You're going to work today?" I asked her and she nodded. She worked as a secretary in some big office."I've had a three week-long vacation in London. I can't not go."I smiled and nodded."What about you? Where will you head?""I'll see Father. I have to tell him that I cannot find any relevant, useful information about Sam. After all, it's his company's documents. Not mine. He should be willing to help me with it.""I can't really imagine how difficult it must be for you. I mean instead of working as an architect, you do your dad's dirty jobs.""I chose that." I breathed and she smiled sadly."I wouldn't say that," she said, her light brown eyes bright under the lights. "You didn't choose that, Caesar. You just chose your dad. You chose family. You wanted to be normal so bad- it just- it just turned to something else."I looked down, poked a pancake with my fork and shrugged. My chest tightened a bit."I'm done eating." I said after a few minutes, got up with my dish and reached to the sink to wash it.My future was sure messed up. I ran the water and placed my plate beneath it. I watched the grease and crumbs get washed away and took in a deep breath.I then felt arms snake around my waist, hitching my breath, before I felt my uptight insides melt a little. I then felt Audrey implant her face in the middle of my back.I turned to Audrey and she looked up at me. Her eyes twinkling and her chapped lips curled in a breathtaking smile. "It'll be okay, Julius Caesar. I promise you."She then rested her palm on my chest, leaned in and pecked my lips. I smiled weakly.I had to go.---A/N:""Psst...u got a bit of violence ahead of you.""---"I couldn't find anything useful about her." I said looking at him. Tall and clad in a crisp navy blue suit, but with a white shirt instead of a button-down shirt. I narrowed my eyes at America- the housekeeper- who was standing in the corner watching us in the living room.She walked away.Father looked at me with fire in his eyes. "And why is that?" He paced around, the right corner of his lip twitching. "You have the girl's na-""And you have your men to do that for you. I do not hunt down people. This isn't my 'job', Father, and you know that." I said infuriated. Was that a punishment for killing Ricardo? "I attend the delightful, gory ends. Not deal with their insipid beginnings."After all," I continued. "-it's your company. It's your fault you didn't keep those documents in a safe enough place. You find a solution to your problem. Or at the very least, help me find one, dammit." I said feeling anger course in my body.Father chuckled, then laughed loudly as he walked toward the coffee table. I narrowed my eyes at him.He then suddenly turned around, threw an ashtray in my direction, but I dodged just in time. I heard it shatter against the wall as glass bits flew in every direction."What the-""You utter waste of space and air. You unworthy of the oxygen you breathe. You dare challenge me?!" He thundered, his hands shaking and I dared smirk. "I'll harm you son." His voice was suddenly calm. "I'll cause you so much pain. You know that. But you know what? I'll teach you a lesson today. A new lesson in the booklet of lessons I gave you." He said as his angry grimace turned into a nasty smile.I felt uneasy for a moment but shook it off with a smirk. What could he possibly do?He then approached me until our faces were a few inches away. He smirked, his countenance fierce and hard."Where were you son?" He said in an eerily placid voice. "Where on Earth were you? Why weren't you home yesterday?" He growled as his spit flew in my face's direction."It's none of your damned business." I said calmly pressing on each word. The next thing I knew was that I was slapped hard by the back of his left hand with all of his rings.I looked back at him again with even more anger. I could hurt him. I really could've.He then reached in his suit's jacket pocket and my eyes widened. His gun was out. I looked at his screwed face and still smiled. I knew my smile burnt him on the inside. A lesson Father taught me once."I want you to scream like a coward, son." He said simply, swinging his gun before finally pulling the trigger, surprising me. My eyes widened and time seemed to stop to seize the pain before unleashing it. I let out a groan as my eyes watered.He shot me in my shoulder.I clenched my fists trying to contain the pain by digging my fingernails in my palm as I reached for my shoulder. I looked up at my father and still smiled through the searing pain.I panted and let my eyes wander around the room, my vision blurry."BRING HER IN!" Father thundered as two men clad in crisp suits came in handling a fighting woman.I looked up and my smile fell immediately. Dread filled me and my eyes widened. I really wanted to cry now.Audrey.She was shut up by a piece of cloth. Her face was red and her veins bulged from her forehead and neck as if she was screaming. Tears streamed down her cheeks and stained her shirt. Her pencil skirt was ripped exposing almost all of her right thigh while her hair stood out everywhere. Her knees were scratched and her feet bare."What the hell?!" I said between clenched teeth. "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" I shouted in plain, pounding pain but he pointed his gun towards her and I started whimpering."OKAY FATHER PLEASE DON'T- I'LL DO ANYTH-""So that's the girl who stole my son's heart and distracted him from his life's purpose." He said as she shook her head looking at me with fresh tears pouring out of her eyes. She was begging me to do something. "That's the girl who invoked emotion in you, my son? Emotion that I taught you to get rid off? I thought you knew better than mess with our rules.""PLEASE, FATHER. SHE HAS NO-NOTHING TO DO WITH- NOTHI-" I was begging. My ego a nothing now."But you really do have a good taste, son. I'm impressed. Finally, something you're good at besides music." His calm voice was nails drilled in my skull."Father-" I felt the tears falling freely and shamelessly now. "Dad, please. Dad-""And she got you to beg me!" He said as if surprised. "You know?" He was directing the words at Audrey now"My son never asked me for anything. Never mind beg me." My breathing was haphazard as I watched Audrey's unblinking eyes swim with tears. "You changed him and I do not like it. You are a major weakness. A distraction. Who distracts my son doesn't deserve to live-""FATHER I LOVE HER! I LOVE-" I tried getting up, but Father's left hand found my wound and pressed hard. I screamed in pain and collapsed on my knees."I. Want. To. See. You. Burn. Julius. I want you to watch me do this. Now be very attentive-" he pointed his gun at her and grinned."NO-no-no-" I said getting up again to reach for Father's gun, but I felt his finger go through my injury. The pain was blinding me."Now. One," he tilted his head. "Two." Audrey was shaking her head hysterically. "And-" My eyes widened in utter horror.BAM!"Pretty three." My father let go of me and walked away.I closed my eyes.***A/N: And it begins...Hope you enjoyed it! If you did, vote and comment! It's really appreciated.
