Damaged Beyond Repair by Kashmira Kamat (KittyKash) (best short books to read TXT) 📗

     After I'd cut the cake and everyone had had their piece of cake and champagne, they settled down surrounding the dining table for dinner. Mom took a seat beside me, and served me a large portion of shrimp lasagna which she had prepared especially because it was my favorite. Anything including shrimp was my favorite.

   I thought I was off their inquisition list as they continued to chatter about everything and nothing in particular, but that particular miracle never happened in the Masters' household, not with me at the table.

   "What are your future plans, Rowan, now that you're here?" Dad asked.

    I took my own sweet time to answer. "I haven't thought of it yet. I'm still under contract with my modeling agency, so I'm going to continue with that, as well as look for a teacher's job."

   My dad laughed like I was talking in Chinese and he hadn't understood a damn word. "Son, the position for the COO in our company is vacant."

   "What's your point?" I asked. I knew damn well what was coming next.

    "I want you to be the new Chief Operating Officer for the Masters Enterprise. What do you think about it?" He asked, "You could be useful to your old man. Dwight and I have discussed and we think you are suitable for the position."

    "It's too much of a responsibility and I have never had an interest in leading the company. I thought that was a known fact. I think I made myself clear years before that I have no interest in being part of the family business. I'm my own man, I do things that I like to do when I want to do."

  "Rowan, you should at least think about the offer..." Dwight began, in defense of my father.

   "I'm not interested. Why don't you guys understand? If I join the company, I wouldn't be able to do what I want to do. I wouldn't even be able to look after Minnie. I can't get so busy around life that I forget living, because it's not worth it."

   "You still owe me the money, son." Dad reminded me.

    "Honey, please." Mom protested.

   I knew this was his way of getting me into his business. The man had no shortage of money. He was just blackmailing me into working for him.

   I sighed. "So you want me to work for you and cover the rehabilitation bills?"

   "That's the only way."

    "Don't you worry about it. I'll pay you in installments soon." That said I continued to eat my meal in silence. Soon didn't have to be in the next six months.

   All of a sudden I heard the main door bang shut and the sound of footsteps. Everyone looked up from the meals, including me, but something told me they already knew who the intruder was going to be. I was the only one in the dark.

    "Yo, what's up, folks?" I heard a familiar voice boom into the room.

     Troy walked in with his easy swagger, people usually said Troy looked more like my brother than Dwight, I hated the resemblance. More so because he reminded me of when I used to be at his age. Carefree, stupid and fucking rebellious.

    But, why was Troy even here in this house? And why hadn't anyone said anything to me before?

    "Why the fuck wasn't I invited to this welcoming party?" He bellowed loudly shoving the guitar at a maid as he made his way towards the table.

   "You're not supposed to use foul language when we're in the same room, do you understand, Troy?" Dad said. He had zero tolerance for cussing with him in the room. He thought it was uncivilized behavior.

    "Yo, sorry, Uncle Gary." Troy leaned forward and reached for the garlic bread from the dinning. "This looks fucking good."

   Dad sighed. Claire rolled her eyes. It was going to take more than just an earful for it to sink in.

   Troy slapped me on the back. "Good to have you back, brother. Got lots to talk about."

    "How have you been?" I asked him. "How's Uncle Gordon and Aunt Judy?"

    Troy laughed, taking a seat opposite mine. "Jus' great,I guess. I mean, other than the whores dad brings home every now and then, and mom packing her stuff and moving to grandpa's, everything's normal. Life's good."

    Mom was acting like she had her ears plugged in and Dad seemed to be shaking his head.

   It was getting awkward. I knew things at Troy's weren't great because of my uncle's numerous love affairs and the upcoming divorce that was on the way, but I didn't think things had gotten so ugly that Troy had to move in here.

   "I called you almost ten times to tell you that the party was going to start. Where the hell were you?" Claire asked.

    "Oh, y'know, practicing with my band and then I was at my girlfriend's."

    "Your girlfriend?" Claire asked confused.

    "Wow, these pop cakes are so good, are these custom made, Claire? Or did you bake it at home?" Dwight asked, he was trying to change the subject for some reason. He always brought in food when he wanted to change the subject. Katelyn was trying to communicate with Dwight through her eyes.

    "Custom made, Dwight. I thought you were the one who ordered it. So, anyway, Troy, who is this unlucky girl we are talking about?"

    "She goes to my college, and she told me you know each other." Troy said with a mouthful of cake.

    "We do?"

    "Yeah. Her name is Alana." He said, "We met at a bar, and y'know we totally hit it off."

     When Troy said the name, I thought I heard him wrong. "Hold up. What's the name again?"

      "Alana Hayes." He repeated.

    I glanced at Dwight, who was looking everywhere but me, his eyes were closed and he was acting like Troy hadn't just spewed those words.

  "Is this some kind of a sick joke?" I asked, taking turns to glare at each one of them.

   "Troy, I heard someone call you upstairs." That was Claire, shaking like a Chihuahua for the drama that was about to unfold and obviously regretting her decision of digging deeper into Troy's personal life.