Authors Note: Thank you to everyone left comments or sent me feedback about the resumption of the story. I appreciate it all greatly. I am incredibly grateful to my new proof reader blunajana who offered to help me and has done an amazing job. I hope you enjoy this chapter. ~ellie
*****
Josh walked into the small Italian restaurant a week later and smiled seeing his family all seated at the large table usually reserved for them. He noted that Nik had not arrived as of yet, but it was not unusual for her to be late, particularly because he had refused to pick her up for the first time in their lives. She had raged when she realised he had cut her off financially but not to him. She had raged at Marco and at Ben, who had been shocked by the amount of money she had expected from Josh each month, but she had never said a word to him.
Where Josh was concerned, she had been nothing but sweetness and light. When Peri returned to work, Nik had sent her flowers with a small card congratulating her on a speedy recovery. In return, Josh treated her as he would Lucia or Maryanne, with the love of a sibling who lived their life separate and distinct from his own.
Jules looked up and waved him over to a seat next to him. Josh nodded and held up a finger as he greeted Maryanne with a playful dig about the new colour of her hair. He made his way around the table, he kissed Lucia cheek squeezing her shoulder and finally took a seat between Jules and Rommy.
“Look at you being all grown up and calling a family meeting,” Jules teased.
“What did you get in the pool?” Josh chuckled.
“He thinks you knocked Peri up,” Rommy said from beside him. “I’m going with the fact you have finally realised that you’re gay and need to go into the witness protection program before Papa finds out.”
“Well, Nik has been a bigger bitch than usual lately, and I am guessing that’s your doing,” Lucia chimed in. “So I am going with the knocked up version, she’d be in heaven if you were gay.”
“Why would you think that?” Rommy seemed disappointed that his theory did not bear weight with his sister.
“She wouldn’t have to compete with any other women for his attention. They could check out guys together. The fashion sense alone would have to improve if he was even slightly gay,” she said teasingly.
“True, if not for Nik the fashion police would have carted him off years ago,” Jules straightened his tie and grinned.
Their conversation ceased as Nik arrived looking stunning and apologising for being late then taking a seat beside Maryanne surprising Rommy who had begun to stand up and vacate the chair beside Josh.
“Told you something was going on,” Lucia whispered as Rommy sat back down.
“Quit my job,” Josh murmured to Jules, who spluttered the mouthful of wine he had just taken.
“Thought you loved that gig?” Jules looked at him.
“Yeah I wanted a break before starting something new next year,” Josh nodded. “I’ve been planning for a few years to start up my own business. Just a small boutique publishing house. The small press network works rate it well, and I think I can make it work.”
“Tough gig, but if you’ve got your eye on something already established, that’s is a plus,” Jules said as their quiet conversation continued. “We’re in if you need someone to sort out the legal stuff for you,” he said enthusiastically capturing the attention of Rommy as he offered both of their services.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Josh clapped his brother on the back and nodded toward Ben, “He’ll be happier knowing you’re on board.”
“Didn’t think you would ever want a family business,” Rommy murmured, “Moreover I didn’t think you were allowed to have one, or a life of your own” he glanced across the table at Nik, who had been watching their quiet chat uneasily.
“I had the plans in place for a while just had never taken the leap. I guess I am just not as happy in my current job as I was, so it was time to move on,” Josh said with a smile. “No risk no reward.”
Nik heard enough to feel sick inside. She was so sure that Josh would punish her for a few weeks, and then would come to his senses and realise everything she did was for him and the future they had planned together. A future where he would help her to build up her fashion label before starting his own business. It was a future where she wouldn’t need to marry because she would have Josh to support her until her business took off. They had been planning it for their whole lives. Escaping the family expectations and living the way she wanted.
She was torn between trying to make things right with him so her life could go back to normal and screaming at him that he couldn’t do this to her. What was she supposed to do now? Get married to a nice family man and become a baby making factory? Tears of rage and grief welled behind her eyes. She couldn’t work out how he could do this to her. He had always followed her lead. She had to talk to him and make him see what a mistake he was making. She needed her business to take off before he worked on his business plan. She couldn’t believe he was so selfish when she was always so good to him.
“Are you feeling okay Nik? You’ve gone very pale,” Maryanne asked in concern.
“No I’m not fucking okay!” she exploded turning her full fury on Josh, who looked back at her calmly. “You can’t do this! What about me? Did you even consider my feelings when you decided this without even talking to me first!”
“I didn’t think you would care, honestly,” Josh said calmly.
“Of course, I fucking care. Don’t do it, you will regret it,” she seethed.
“Do you want me to explain in front of everyone just how much you’ve considered my feelings recently and why I believed you wouldn’t care?” Josh said in a cold, calm voice. “I’d always planned to become a family man, maybe not as soon as this but my reputation is cactus at my current job now, thanks to you, so now is as good a time as any to start a business.”
“Well if you hadn’t started fucking that fat, ugly cow,” Nik’s eyes widened with the realisation of what she had just said in front of her family.
“That’s enough,” Ben raised his voice and banged his fist on the table. “Remember where we are for god’s sake.” Pete sat beside him saying nothing but looking furious as Nik immediately calmed down.
“I didn’t mean it,” Nik looked around at her siblings and shook her head, “I like her. I was just shocked and angry. I didn’t mean it.” She could see now just how hurt and upset with her Josh was as he sat in stony silence.
“What did you do?” Maryanne asked incredulously, “I’ve never seen Josh this mad before. He rants and raves he doesn’t do the calm voice and silent stare, like Papa.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Nik huffed.
“As usual, we don’t know what the fuck is going on,” Jules looked to the other end of the table to where Ben sat with Pete, Dante and Emilio.
Dante grinned enjoying Nik’s reaction to the news and lifted his glass in josh’s direction toasting his decisions. He had not understood when Josh had asked them to do and say nothing when Peri got hurt, but he could see now that what Josh was doing now was a far better lesson than anyone else could have given her.
“I believe,” he said with a smirk, “That our baby brother has decided to start living his life instead of letting Nik live it for him.” Dante looked at Nik daring her to contradict him. Ben had been seriously shocked by the amount of financial support Josh had given his sister and when Dante had asked why Josh had changed his mind about being a family man he had confided that Nik had made it impossible for Josh to do anything else. He was sure that even Josh had been upset by the amount she had helped herself to from his trust fund to keep her own failing business afloat. He wondered how she was managing since Josh had cut her off.
“Yeah well we’ve all gotta grow up sometime and face reality,” Josh shrugged. “So that’s my big news, I’m in the process of buying a small publishing house, and I’m taking the family name.” He had used his middle name for so long that the family name almost seemed foreign to him now.
“It’s an anticlimax now,” Lucia said disappointedly. “Ben, get us some champagne, and he can tell us again. I promise to be super surprised and excited next time you say it.” She laughed easily.
“I’ll get it,” Emilio offered before Ben could comment on the amount Lucia had drunk already.
“What about me?” Nik asked in shock. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“Grow up and run your business properly,” Josh said without emotion “You have a business. Now I will too.”
“I met this great personal shopper that my wife swears by,” Jules interrupted to try and stop another argument breaking out. “She could help you out, apparently she has a great eye for fashion, and I have to admit I am quietly impressed with what she has done for Bianca.”
“Oh yeah, Carmen loves her. What’s her name again?” Rommy asked.
“Andie,” Josh answered them. “I introduced them to her when she was just starting up her business. Nik won’t want to work with her.” He shook his head without explaining.
“I might, I mean Bianca certainly doesn’t need any help to look beautiful if she likes the woman why wouldn’t I?” Nik said indignantly. “You’ve lost the right to tell me who I can and can’t work with. I’d been planning on checking her out on Bianca’s say so anyway.” She lied easily. Bianca was one of the few women in the family that Nik socialised with of her own free will. A former model she was tall and stunningly beautiful.
“Fine, give her a call. I am sure Peri’s mother would love to help you out,” Josh said acidly.
“I didn’t do anything to your precious Peri,” Nik’s voice rose again.
“I saw the video Nik,” Josh sighed disappointedly moving from his seat directly across from his sister to sit beside to Lucia.
“What video?” Jules and Rommy asked in unison. Emilio moved into the chair vacated by Josh and smiled at Nik handing her a glass of champagne.
“It’s still not too late to admit you fucked up and apologise to him,” He said quietly. “You can screw up with the rest of us, and we can shrug it off because we expect that from you, but he was blindsided. Just apologise, admit what you did was wrong even if you had reasons you thought were right and he will forgive you. He always has in the past. This time, however, I don’t think he will come around without some spectacular grovelling.”
“Always the peacemaker, Lio,” Dante said pulling up a chair beside Nik. “She’s a smart, beautiful and independent woman. She doesn’t need anyone’s approval. She does what she wants and gets rid of anything and anyone standing in her way. Don’t you Nik?”
“You’re such an asshole,” Nik spat.
“I know. I have to make up for Mr Goody-two-shoes over there. If it were up to me, that video would be viral by now.” Dante said with an evil grin.
“Let it go, D.” Josh said in a pained voice and turned back to his conversation with Lucia. “Say yes to letting me edit and publish that short story you’ve written and I will tell you the whole story,” he winked appealing to her resentment of Nik, who had been cruel and uncaring during the last few years.
“Deal, you can drive me home and pick it up today if you like,” Lucia lifted her glass in acknowledgement of their deal and took a long sip. “I don’t think I could handle another of Ben’s lectures.”
*****
Peri sat at the large kitchen table with her research notes spread out around her as the three women who comprised Josh’s sisters-in-law who lived in the city, worked in the large kitchen making traditional Italian Christmas cookies for their children to take to school on the last day for their teachers and friends.
“Okay I’ve got it,” Carmen said suddenly. “Rich people hire live-in nannies and cooks right?” She waited for Peri to nod. “Well imagine that those cooks and nannies were paid one lump sum into a bank account and never had to touch it because all of their day to day living expenses had been taken care of. They still work seven days a week or, at least, are on call seven days even if they are given a day off now and then.” She paused letting that sink in. “Now tell me how that is different to a cook or a nanny choosing to sign a contract that gave her the same thing except that she wore a collar. They do the same job, they see to their owner’s needs, they can quit and walk away at any time, no one forces them to do anything they don’t want to do.”
“Okay, so how do the families find people who want to live like that?” Peri was still trying to wrap her head around the caste system that seemed to be at the root of family life for these women.
“They advertise, of course, it’s a job like any other job,” Bianca chimed in. “You’re obsessing over the word slave. They are just employees at the lowest level of the pay grade. Maids, gardeners, labours, cooks, nannies though they weren’t always considered slaves, most nannies were plebs. They have a higher pay rate, better conditions and more responsibility than the slaves.”
“So Plebs are freemen who come and go as they like and the family didn’t like the nannies having that freedom?” Peri asked.
“Exactly, now you’re getting it,” Carmen smiled. “See there is nothing sinister or illegal about it. The older generation just takes the traditional line about it all. We don’t enforce the old style collars in favour of using a sturdy but pretty chain that could pass for jewellery. On the farm, though, it’s very traditional.”
“You have slaves?” Peri was shocked.
“Well I have a maid and a cook,” Carmen admitted. “That’s why I come here and help Emily bake, I can’t boil water on my own, and I like the kids to think I made the biscotti. We all do, Emily has a maid, Bianca has a maid, a cook and a nanny.”
“No gardeners?” Peri teased.
“No need in the city, one of my cousins has a landscaping business, they come once a week and maintain it,” Emily said not realising Peri was teasing them. “What has all this got to do with the family history?”
“Well as I was going through it all I found all these cousins that don’t seem to sit at any of the twelve tables. I thought,” she paused and blushed, “That maybe the slaves were you know,” her voice faltered as she tried to explain what she thought, “Sex slaves and the cousins were maybe illegitimate children to the men who sit at the table.”
“The family does not run a brothel, Peri,” Emily said defensively.
“Oh, I didn’t mean that at all,” Peri said aghast. “I’m sorry, I was thinking more about courtesans, you know the ones who were trained in giving pleasure specifically for high-ranking officials.”
“It happens,” Carmen came and sat with Peri. “We call them kept women. They get paid a lot more than the house or labouring slaves, and they live very separately from the rest of the staff and family. Most of those cousins you speak of are the Patricians, the skilled workers and friends from good families who immigrated with the twelve sons to help build communities here. Pete’s father and grandfather immigrated with Papa and his father. He’s a cousin not by blood but because of who he is in relation to the table.”
So how do I discern a cousin by blood as your children are, and a cousin by proximity?” Peri asked becoming more confused by the multiple layers of the family. “It’s no wonder no one has been adequately able to make sense of this history despite it being only three generations old.”
“Two generations,” Emily corrected her. “Papa has not named his successor. It could be any of the younger sons. My father was the youngest of his family and had four older brothers, yet he was named the head of the table when the time came.”
“The truth is that the cousins and uncles and aunts don’t matter,” Carmen said, “Only the family that sits at that table and their direct descendants matter in that book. Once the successor is named he and his family will fill the next pages and the rest of us will fade out,” she smiled.
“I doubt Uncle Charles or Andreas considers themselves as faded out,” Bianca laughed.
“Well that makes it easier at least,” Peri said. “Thank you, Josh has been preoccupied lately, and I didn’t want to bother him with all my questions. I think I have the history of this table back as far as the House of Lorraine will allow, but I have a few loose ends to follow up on to see if I can date it back further. Now that I don’t feel like I need to place all your extra cousins I think I can get it to a good place before we go to the farm.”
“It’s rare to have someone not connected with one of the families go out to the farm, it didn’t go so well last time,” Emily came from the kitchen to sit with the other women. “I have to be honest and say that Ben hasn’t told me much of what’s been preoccupying Josh,” she said not wanting to say too much in front of Bianca and Carmen. “Be careful at the farm, though, you know Nik will try and trip you up every chance she gets.”
“Oh yeah, Nik is more than a little possessive of Josh,” Bianca laughed. “If it wasn’t illegal to marry your brother I bet she would have had him down the aisle as soon as they turned eighteen.”
“That’s disgusting,” Carmen laughed despite her words. “I’ll get it,” she stood hearing the timer on the oven beep.
“Well, at least, you’ve done your research so you won’t be shocked by the step back in time that will greet you down there,” Bianca continued to laugh. “Papa rules like a king; the men all do as he commands and all the women know their place.”
“Are you okay, Emily,” Peri ask seeing the woman visibly sag in her chair.
“Just a little tired, we’ve been baking all morning,” Emily smiled and straightened in the chair.
“Oh Emily not again! How could Ben do this to you after last time,” Carmen looked at her in alarm willing her to deny that she was pregnant again..
“Ben didn’t do anything,” Emily shook her head.
“Then you won’t mind me calling Pete because you’re looking more than just a little tired,” she said sceptically.
“No don’t call Pete I will be right after a cup of tea and a lie down this afternoon,” She lifted her hand to smooth back her hair from her face and smile. “Don’t you worry Ben about it either. I didn’t sleep well last night, that’s all.”
“Then there is no reason not to call Pete,” Bianca fished her phone out of her pocket.
“They’re all at that family lunch including Pete, don’t call him now. Ben will just worry. I promise I will see him later today or tomorrow,” Emily’s voice took on a pleading tone.
“I can be discreet,” Bianca rolled her eyes and put her phone to her ear. “Hello my handsome husband, how goes the family lunch was it as fun as you thought it would be today?” She paused for him to answer. “I can’t wait to hear all the juicy tidbits,” she laughed. “Is Pete there?” she asked. “Oh, you know me I am a disaster in the kitchen I slipped on some butter or something and think I twisted my ankle, could you get him to come over to Ben’s place?” She paused again, “No I’ll be fine, and Carmen drove today, so I don’t have to worry about getting home. I just want him to check it out.” She laughed easily into the phone. “Yes the girls are fussing around me, even Peri, I’m in good hands, you enjoy yourself, and I will see you tonight.”
“See, no problem,” she turned back and smiled at Emily. “The only time I have ever seen you look this exhausted was when you were expecting BJ. Tell me you haven’t ignored all of the warnings and done it again.”
*****
Jules considered his phone as he hung up. He knew his wife well, and there was enough nonsense in that phone call to make him mildly concerned. He stood and walked around the table to where Pete sat and not wanting to concern Ben or Josh lured him away from the table on the pretext of getting more champagne because Lucia had stolen the bottle.
“I just got a call from Bianca saying she rolled her ankle and asking of you could go over to Ben’s house and check it out,” he said quietly. “The thing is I am pretty sure she is lying about it,” he looked at Pete. “Could you go over and let me know if I need to be worried?”
“You didn’t hear this from me,” Pete said quietly, but Peri got hurt recently, not badly but enough that she is still recovering. If she has over done it today, then she will be begging them not to tell Josh and if I know Emily she would be mothering the girl to death.”
“Makes sense, give me a call anyway, it’s not like Bianca to cover for anyone,” he rubbed his chin. “I guess this injury has something to do with the tension at the table?” Jules worked through the limited information he had.
“Don’t say anything unless it comes up, it could make things worse. I’ll come back to the table and make my excuses, then head over,” Pete clapped his shoulder, “I’m sure it’s nothing.” He said convinced that it was just that Peri’s hip was still sore, and she had over done it today. The other three women were all specimens of good health.
“I think I’ll have a chat with D. about this mysterious video,” Jules chuckled. “He seems to have all the important information.”
“I’d wait until Josh and Nik leave,” Pete said seriously.
The lunch broke up shortly after Pete left with Josh taking Lucia home and Maryanne claiming the need to pack for her trip to Melbourne. Realising she was about to be interrogated by Jules and Rommy, Nik also left ostensibly to go back to her boutique. She’d never felt so unwanted by her siblings. She’d always lived under the protection of Josh’s shining light. He’d always smoothed out any arguments she had with the others, cleaned up her messes and made everything alright with all of them. Now they all looked at her like she had committed a cardinal sin. She took a deep breath. She just had to survive through the holidays, there was no way that mousy girl was going to survive a visit to the farm. She would make sure of it.
“Nik wait,” Emilio came after her as she left.
“Please Lio, I don’t need a lecture right now,” Nik sighed.
“I know,” he wrapped her in a hug feeling her stiffness. Their relationship had been strained lately but he hated to see her so hurt by what Josh was doing. “I know Josh’s news was a bit of a shock for you. I just wanted to know you were okay.” He released her and stepped back.
“I’m not okay. What about me? He hasn’t even considered how this would affect me and my future,” she became angry again. “How could he be so selfish cutting me off like that?” she posed the question more to herself than to Lio.
“What do you mean cutting you off?” Lio asked genuinely confused. “You still get your family allowance don’t you? The shop’s doing well isn’t it?” he asked.
“You don’t think that pittance dad allows us is fair do you? God, it wouldn’t even cover my wardrobe costs,” Nik was seething again and letting her anger out on Emilio. “All of you boys have it so easy, you have no idea what it’s like for us girls. Yippee for Josh he’s getting his own business and taking the family name, but what about me? What I am supposed to do now marry some rich family man and have babies?”
“He was supporting you financially?” Emilio asked trying to make sense of what she was saying.
“It was only fair. It’s not like any of us girls got trust funds. Why wouldn’t he share with me?” Nik looked at the horror on Emilio’s face blankly. He couldn’t possibly understand how she felt.
“You know I thought you were upset with Josh because you cared about him in your own strange way. He doesn’t owe you anything Nik, he’s not your father or your husband, he’s your brother. He doesn’t have to support you any more than the rest of us do and the fact that all you seem worried about right now is money and not how upset Josh is makes me so sad for both of you.”
“What about me? Does anyone care how upset I am about all this? That stupid fat girl caused all this drama, not me. She won’t stay at the farm, and he will be hurt all over again. She will never fit into our world. She may have caught Mama on a good day, but Papa is a whole different story. She will run away, just like Cherie did, and I will be the first one to say I told you so,” Nik raged through gritted teeth. “Poor sensitive Lio, the truth hurts doesn’t it,” she patted his shoulder seeing his sad expression and turned and walked away.
Walking back to the table where four of his brothers still sat he shook his head. She had to be insane if she thought anything she was saying was reasonable. The girls got huge allowances. He couldn’t understand what she was doing with her money and why Josh had been giving her financial support.
“Okay I agree, I think it’s time we stepped in,” Emilio said taking a seat. “I actually think she needs medical or psychiatric help after that conversation.”
“Enough stalling, we want the whole story, not the censored version,” Jules said.
Each of the three older brothers told the saga from their own perspective ending with Emilio’s conversation with Nik after he followed her from the restaurant.
“So to recap, Nik’s been using Josh as a pseudo-husband socially until Peri came along. He paid the bills she racked up and escorted her to the cool parties he went to with the literary crowd and charities he works with while she gave him nothing in return. Then he stopped inviting her to the cool parties because he met Peri and she retaliated by making Peri’s life a misery and getting her fired. Bringing Mama to town to break them up and having her humiliated and assaulted in the street. Have I got it all?” Rommy said quietly.
“That’s when Josh finally had enough and cut her off, financially and socially except for family meetings like this,” Jules added scratching at his cheek.
“Pretty much,” Dante pulled out his phone. “Here’s the video, it’s quite enlightening.”
“I hate to say it,” Emilio shook his head sadly, “but I think it’s time for Nik to go home.”
“I can’t believe Josh hasn’t insisted on it,” Rommy said heatedly. Making them all look at the usually quiet man. “What? She’s treated Josh like her personal slave for his whole life and been a total bitch to the rest of us when we didn’t do what she wanted. If it weren’t for Josh, I would have stopped talking to her when I married Carmen.”
“She was cruel about Carmen not being pretty enough for one of her brothers,” Jules added putting it mildly after seeing the older brothers confused looks.
“She won’t go willingly,” Emilio murmured.
“We’re all going home for the holidays I doubt she will do anything else between now and then, it’s only a week or so away,” Ben said. “She’s been trying to get back into Josh’s good graces by being sweet to him and Peri.”
“She’s counting on life at the farm to scare Peri away,” Emilio nodded.
“I think the best thing we can do right now is acquiring this publishing house for Josh,” Ben said. “I’ll have the paperwork Josh has put together sent over to your office this afternoon. He wants to move on it as soon as possible.”
“Alright we’ll look at it tonight and meet with you and Josh tomorrow,” Jules said. “There’s nothing at the office we can’t put off for a few days.”
Ben answered his buzzing phone and after a hasty conversation stood, “I’ve gotta go, something has come up, I’ll send the documents through as soon as I get back to the office.”
*****
Pete arrived expecting to see Peri being fussed over by the three women but instead was let into the house by a worried looking Peri before he had even knocked. She showed him through to the living room where Emily reclined on the couch sleeping lightly. Confused he looked at the other two women, and Carmen motioned him from the room.
“She got really weak and tired suddenly. Then I noticed a few tell-tale signs. I think she is pregnant again,” Carmen said concern in her voice.
“Ben wouldn’t do that. The risks are too high after last time,” Pete said shaking his head.
“I don’t think he knows, and you know how desperate she was to give him that second son. Have you ever seen her sleep in the middle of the day?” Carmen asked.
“Alright let me examine her,” Pete agreed and went back into the living room placing his bag beside the couch.
“Hey Emily, it’s Pete,” he smiled placing a pressure cuff about her upper arm.
“They shouldn’t have bothered you. I just didn’t sleep well last night,” Emily went to sit up.
“Well I’m here now so we may as well check you out,” Pete helped her to sit before taking her blood pressure. “It’s a little high for someone who just woke up from a nap.”
“Honestly, I am perfectly healthy, now if you will excuse me, I need to use the bathroom to freshen up a little.
“Excellent, I’d love a sample,” he said fishing a small sterile jar out of his bag. “Before you argue,” he whispered seeing the look on her face. “If you don’t give me a sample I will stay until Ben gets home and you can explain why I am here to him.”
Taking the jar with a sigh of resignation she walked out of the room, with Pete following behind her.
“Use the ensuite it will be easier to examine you in your room,” Pete suggested. “Ladies if you will excuse us. Actually, why don’t you girls go home I can take it from here? ”
“I’ll stay if you can drive Bianca home, Peri,” Carmen said. “I’ll let you both know what happens.”
“Of course,” Peri agreed readily feeling like she didn’t quite belong in this family scene.
“I’ll get the nanny to pick up your kids with mine. They can come for dinner with us,” Bianca agreed, offering what she could to ease the worry on Carmen’s face.
“Thanks you’re the best,” She smiled and went into the kitchen. “I start bagging this lot up so it will be done for the kids by tomorrow.” It was less than an hour later when Ben burst through the front door and raced through the house finding Carmen in the kitchen. “Bedroom,” she squeaked in surprise and pointed upstairs.
Ben’s arrival was all the answer she needed. She would stay and take Ben and Emily’s children over to Bianca and Jules house as well. She picked up her phone to make the arrangements. They were going to need help tonight,
*****
Josh’s phone came to life and he looked at it smiling before picking it up.
“Hey you,” he answered.
“Hey there handsome, I just dropped Bianca home, and it’s too late to go all the way back to the city, and I was wondering how your lunch went and more importantly, if it was over,” she laughed lightly.
“I’m at Lucy’s right now, why don’t you meet me at my place in about thirty minutes and I’ll tell you all about it,” Josh said not having to force a smile to his face for the first time in hours. This phone call was exactly what he needed to make everything alright again.
“I was hoping you would say that,” Peri giggled softly.
“Drive safely,” Josh laughed.
“See you soon,” Peri said and ended the call and Josh put his phone away continuing to smile. He had been so concerned about her hip it seemed like forever since they had truly enjoyed each other but he could work around that now, she had had a few days to heal. He needed to lose himself in her and enjoy the love and devotion she showered him with.
“Look at you smiling like a goofy schoolboy,” Lucia pulled a face at him. “You love her a lot don’t you?”
“Yeah,” Josh admitted. “Which cheesy line would you like? She completes me?”
“That’s a great one, but you should throw in something heartfelt as well if you want to convince me, like ‘I never knew love could feel this good’.” Lucia Laughed.
“Well that’s true so can I just use that one and owe you a better version next time I see you?” Josh said standing up.
“I am so happy for you baby brother,” Lucia hugged him and turned to the table picking up her coffee that Josh had insisted she have. “I never thought I would say this, but you have to let Papa handle this now. It won’t be pretty, but it won’t be as awful as all this,” she spread her hands indicating her beautiful home. “She won’t stop until you become her lackey again and if you love this girl as much as I think you do, you don’t have any choice.”
Josh knew the truth of her words, but it killed him to think of betraying Nik like that. He wanted her to back off, and he was showing her he meant business by making the changes he had put off for so long because of her. He realised now that it would always be about her and her needs, and she had no intention of making her boutique work and becoming independent.
“I love you, Lucy,” Josh laughed, “You’ve never sugar-coated anything for me.” He grabbed the hard drive he had downloaded her manuscript onto and smiled, it was substantially more than the short story he had told her about. “I’m looking forward to reading this, you will be my first big author, so start thinking about your next book because the public will demand more.” He kissed her cheek as she scoffed at his words and shooed him out of her house.
Josh sped towards home, his mind on Lucia’s words. He hoped she was wrong, and now that he had cut Nik off financially she would have to start to think about how she had treated everyone. He decided as he turned into his street that if she did anything else between now and the holidays he would tell Papa what had been going on.
Josh saw Peri’s little white hatchback parked outside of his apartment complex, and all thoughts of Nik left his mind as he parked his car and took the stairs rather than waiting for the elevator. When he walked in he found her in the kitchen pouring herself a glass of iced water naked except for the necklace he had given her when they had stayed at the cabin. He grinned thinking a weekend like that, away from the family dramas, could be what they both needed.
“If I came home to this every day I would be a very happy man.” He swung the door shut behind him and moved swiftly to take her in his arms. He kissed her passionately and walked her back to the bench lifting her up onto it as she pushed his jacket off his shoulders.
Josh shrugged off his jacket enjoying her eagerness, but he needed control tonight, control of her and their passion. He picked up a nearby dish towel and pushing her arms behind her back secured them at the elbows with the towel immobilising her use of her arms. The position he knew would have the bonus of pulling her shoulders back and thrusting out her big beautiful breasts at him. He kissed her then feeling her arch up against him.
He stepped back slightly lifting her heavy breasts and weighing them in his hands squeezing them gently at first but adding more pressure until her breath caught and he let them go bouncing back against her ribcage. He slapped them each hard enough to leave a soft pink handprint but not enough to cause her real pain yet. He smiled slowly watching her arch toward him as if asking silently for more.
He took her nipples pinching them and pulling them forward, making her breasts stand out from her like rigid pyramids. She began to mewl with pleasure, as he let go and slapped them twice more as they bounced back and forth on her chest. Peri tilted her head back and gasped as he lowered his head to her nipples that then were sucked, bitten and chewed.
Josh fumbled with his remaining clothes as he played with her nipples and the globes of soft flesh they sat erect on. When he was naked he kissed her deeply stepping between her legs and pulling her ass further over the edge of the counter top, he entered her hard and fast smothering her squeal of pleasure with his mouth. He held onto her ass squeezing it as he fucked her, his arms holding her in position and her legs wrapping around his hips.
Reaching out to his side he pulled a large jar that held a collection of wooden spoons and plastic spatulas towards him. He pulled out a long-handled, flat-edged wooden spatula and struck the top edge of her ass and unbruised hip. Again he swallowed her cry of surprise and pleasurable pain with his passionate kisses.
Josh pulled Peri from the bench and turned her in his arms was to lean on the counter before he stepped behind her and spanked her roughly with the flexible spatula. He stepped closer feeling the heat from her rosy cheeks and entered her again pushing her further over the bench with a grunt at the force with which he entered her. Pulling her head back by the hair he could see the sides of her beautiful breasts bouncing with the force of his thrusts.
He could feel her body tremble beneath him, and he lost himself in the feelings and sounds of being with the woman who gave him so much pleasure. Pulling her hair to arch her back hard against him he groaned and came willing her to come with him. He felt her cunt clench around him, and she cried out in pain and pleasure shaking against him as he held her in place with his hips for long minutes before releasing her hair and collapsing over her breathing heavily. Moving away from her to lean his back against the bench beside where she lay panting he smiled as she melted to her knees and began to clean his cock of their mixed cum.
He ran his hands through her hair gently revelling in the power she made him feel while still maintaining her sense of self. Unlike the well-trained kept women at the farm, Peri looked at him with love and the passion she felt even when he was wielding a flogger or crop. He loved everything about her, and he felt himself harden again under her gentle touch.
*****
Nik walked into the restaurant bar and spotted Andie easily. The beautiful older woman sat perched at the bar twirling a straw in her drink and checking her phone. Bianca had described the woman when she had called her to get the number, saying that she needed new inspiration for the boutique. Andie had said that she couldn’t possibly fit her in before the holidays but was happy to meet her for a drink before she went out that night to get a feel for what she wanted Andie to do.
“Hello, you must be Andie,” Nik said easily taking the stool beside the woman.
“You must be Veronica,” Andie smiled and put her phone away. “I must say I am intrigued by your proposal. May I ask where you heard about my service?”
“My sister-in-law actually,” Nik said vaguely without lying and pulled a glossy catalogue out of her bag and placed it on the bar top in front of Andie and turned to order a drink. “So what do you think?”
“It’s hard to judge based just on a catalogue, but it looks like your aiming for a young demographic, but the couture designs are probably a little sophisticated for that age bracket and probably way out of their price range. You could probably double your business by either aiming the range at a slightly older and wealthier clientele or dropping the designers and going for a cheaper but younger look.” Andie said thoughtfully as she continued to study the catalogue.
“That’s your professional opinion is it?” Nik said haughtily.
“As I said it’s hard to judge from a catalogue but it seems like your aiming for a young nuevo rich demographic we don’t really have here. Young executives have money, but this isn’t the style they tend to go for. If you were opening this boutique on the coast, you could cash in on the tourists, but here in the heart of the city, I think you have missed the market.” Andie tried to explain. “Who did you say recommended me to you?”
“My sister-in-law Bianca Donati,” Nik said acidly. “I should have known better, but I was prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt because Bianca swears by your sense of style. But it seems you’re just as useless as your walking fashion faux pas of a daughter.”
“Wait what? How do you know Peri?” Andie was stunned by the verbal tirade.
“You and your fat brat better stay away from my family. Believe me I will be telling Bianca you’re a fraud. So full of shit that you can’t even see class when it’s right in front of you,” she jabbed her finger at the catalogue. “You can keep that maybe your next customer will believe your bullshit.”
“Ah, you’re Nik,” Andie said finally putting all the pieces together. “You have to play nice with Peri now, and you thought bringing me here just to insult me was an easy way to get at her and be able to deny it, like you did with Sabrina. You had no intention of taking anything I said seriously, did you, Veronica.”
“Just remember what I said. You will never fit into my family. You will always be just an employee, there to serve your betters. Sabrina was wrong about one thing, though, you’re not white trash you’re something worse than white trash.” Nik was standing over Andie and talking with a raised voice.
“Veronica,” a deep male bass rumbled and both women turned and looked up into the stormy face of Charles Medici.
“It seems my timing is impeccable as always, sit down Veronica and don’t you dare move a muscle,” he scowled and turned to Andie. “I hadn’t expected you to be here early, I’d planned to get a drink with my son before our dinner reservation.” He kissed her cheek in greeting.
“I thought I was meeting a new client, but it seems that now that she can’t bully Peri anymore she is trying to bully me. How do you know Veronica?” Andie asked.
“Our families, I’m her Uncle in the honorary title sort of way,” Charles explained.
“I had no idea, why didn’t you tell me?” Andie asked.
“I didn’t know you knew Veronica,” he chuckled. “If I told you the name of every person I was spuriously related to we would be talking forever.”
“I told you to sit!” Charles growled in a deep threatening way as Nik attempted to stand and leave while he spoke to Andie.
“Uncle Charles this is a big misunderstanding. I was just upset about Josh, and I took it out on her. I’m sorry,” Nik smiled sweetly at Andie.
“I’m not Peri. I won’t let you get away with doing such horrid things for the sake of the man I love,” Andie hissed. “You can’t walk around threatening people you don’t even know and then just say sorry, or deny you had anything to do with it. One day you are going to cross the wrong person and have to pay the price.”
“Speak of the devil,” Charles answered his phone listening more than speaking. “Ben’s there with you? Yep, all good.” He put his phone away.
“I’m so sorry, dear, I’m going to have to cancel, there’s a family emergency, and I have to go. Why don’t you call Josh and Peri and have dinner on me,” he said regrettably.
“I’m sure they have plans and honestly after meeting with my last client, I am more than happy to head home and have a quiet evening,” Andie looked meaningfully at Nik.
“We’ll walk you out,” Charles said taking hold of Nik’s arm and following Andie to the entrance.
*****
“With privilege comes responsibility. You seem to have forgotten where you came from. The humble beginnings of your family and what they have done to become the powerful dynasty they are today,” Charles lectured Nik. As soon as Andie had disappeared into the night he had secured the unsuspecting Nik with handcuffs and bundled her into his car threatening that if she made a scene, he would drive her directly to the farm and her father.
They drove to his home in silence and with the help of one of his sons, they took Nik to the basement and locked her in a specially constructed cell.
“Tell me one person who will speak on your behalf, one person that you haven’t used or abused to the point where they would be glad to see you in this situation.
“Emilio,” Nik said remembering that he had reached out to her at lunch. “Or Jules,” she added thinking that her friendship with Bianca would count for something in addition to the fact that they didn’t know what she had done to break up Josh and Peri.
Charles put his phone on speaker and called Emilio. He picked up after only a few moments.
“Hey Charles, what’s happening?” Emilio was his usual upbeat self.
“I discovered Nik, going by the name of Veronica threatening my girlfriend and by association, her daughter this evening. You would know the daughter, Peri?” Charles asked.
“Fucking hell,” Emilio swore, but his voice held disappointment rather than anger.
“I’ve secured her in the slave quarters here at my home,” he paused as Nik began to shout.
“Lio you have to help me. Come and get me, please. He can’t do this to me I am a Donati,” she wailed loudly.
“You haven’t listened to any of us Nik, so you’re probably in the best place to think about why it is that I’m not coming to help you,” Emilio’s voice was hard as he spoke surprising Nik who felt as if she had been dealt a physical blow. “Charles, I’m not sure you know the whole story, D. and I will be over in half an hour or so to have a chat about it. I think we probably should have let you get involved before it got this out of hand.”
“I’ll be here,” Charles looked at Nik as he hung up the phone. “Would you like me to call Jules before or after I hear what your brothers have to say?”
“Call him now,” she ordered and at a look from him added a sugar coated “Please.”
“Hello,” Jules’ voice shouted into the phone over the background noise of children playing loudly.
“It’s Charles, I’ve secured Nik in the car and am taking her to the slave quarters at my home,” he paused as Nik began to shout again.
“Jules you have to help me. Come and get me, please. I didn’t do anything,” she wailed loudly.
“What’d she do this time?” Jules asked obviously walking away from the noisy children to take the call seriously.
“I discovered Nik, going by the name of Veronica threatening my girlfriend and by association, her daughter this evening. You would know the daughter, Peri?” Charles asked.
“Sorry Nik, you crossed the wrong person this time. It was bound to happen one day. Now you have to face the consequences. We all tried to warn you, I doubt even Lio will bail you out this time, and if Josh finds out you threatened Peri again, well sucks to be you right now.” Jules said unapologetically. “Call Dante, he knows the whole story, Ben’s out of action tonight you can catch up with him tomorrow.”
“Already on it, thanks,” Charles looked at Nik. “Want to go for strike three?” He shook his head as Nik glared at him. “Alright then, I will give you the opportunity to tell me your version of events before your brothers arrive and tell me theirs.”
Nik, of course, warmed to her subject after a tentative start. She explained how and why the little fat book nerd was not good enough for her brother and how she knew that breaking them up now while it was still early in their relationship would be far better for Josh than having her run away from the farm like Dante’s fiancé did. She explained that everything she did was justified but also that she had never done half of the things they accused her of.
Her temper rose as she spoke of Josh’s horrific and cruel treatment of her. The fact that he had been ignoring her in favour of spending time with Peri and every small incident right up until he had cut her off financially. At which point she was practically frothing at the mouth in her rage and indignation that he treat her so badly.
“You have spoken, and now it is my turn, and if you interrupt me I will gag you,” Charles said in an angry growl.
“The men in this family are given trust funds to provide their future families with a good home, good education and the best of everything as you were provided with and continue to be provided with. Josh did not owe you anything. In fact, he will now have to work twice as hard to provide for his family as anyone else because you took what wasn’t yours. You get a huge allowance, more than you could ever need each month, you would have married a rich man from a good family who has his own trust fund to provide you with a wonderful life and Josh will struggle to give his family what is expected because of your selfishness.
Yes, Nik, you are the one who is selfish and self-important and your brothers have let you treat them all very badly for long enough. You will wish that marriage and babies were in your future once you realise just how awful life can become for a woman that your father would be embarrassed to give to any family man or Patrician. You may be lucky and if you learn some lessons in humility a plebeian may come to your rescue but you will never again live the frivolous life you have been at the expense of your brother.” Charles was livid.
“Your store and it’s stock will be sold to pay back Josh some of what you took. I will discuss with your father whether you will stay here and learn your place in the world or if you will return to the farm in disgrace to live with the slaves there,” he was unrelenting as she stared at him with pure hatred in her eyes.
“Papa won’t stand for this, I am a Donati,” Nik screeched at Charles as he stood to go upstairs and greet his nephews.
“No Nik you’re not. A Donati would never have acted this way, and I doubt your father will allow you to bear his name only when it suits you to do so,” Charles gave her a hard stare. “As far as I am concerned you are Veronica Maris, and it will stay that way until you can convince some poor fool to marry you.” He walked away then leaving her caged and alone in the dark room.
*****
Peri and Josh walked into the chaos that was Jules and Bianca’s house. There seemed to be children everywhere and within seconds, Josh had BJ scaling his legs to get up into his arms.
“We’re having a party Zio!” BJ announced, and Josh hugged him tightly.
“I can see that,” Josh laughed.
“You bought a girl with you,” the little boy whispered and wrinkled his nose.
“This is the girl that can write the best letters to Santa so we gotta be nice to her,” Josh said in a stage whisper.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” he said politely and stuck out a small hand in her direction.
“It’s lovely to meet you too,” she replied taking his hand and shaking it. “I need to find your,” she paused unsure of the right word.
“Let’s show Peri where Zia is,” Josh chuckled and took Peri’s hand giving his portfolio to BJ to hang onto. A soccer ball flew through the air past them and dropping Peri’s hand Josh moved quickly to stop it and kick it back in the direction it came.
“Go and play,” Peri laughed as Josh looked at her expectantly, “I can find my way I am sure.”
“It’s just through those doors,” he pointed in the direction they had been heading and handed her the leather portfolio he had picked up from Ben’s office. She was about to walk through the open bi-fold doors when she was stopped by twin girls.
“Who are you?” they asked in unison.
“I’m Peri,” she said brightly. “Can you tell me where you Mama is?” She asked assuming that these were either Bianca’s or Carmen’s children.
“At home, you’re probably looking for Zia. You’re not selling anything are you?” They continued to block her path.
“No I came to help, I am a friend of your Zio, Josh,” she answered deciding to be more specific than she had been when asking for Bianca or Carmen.
“Come on in, Peri,” Bianca called out, “Move girls and let her through.” Peri walked into what could only be described as a professional kitchen where Bianca stood watching Carmen supervise the staff in the creation of what seemed like a hundred calzones. “Come over here with me,” Bianca held out a glass of wine to her, “Carmen’s got it all under control.”
When it was ready dinner was held at two long tables under the pergola which comfortably seated the six adults and fourteen children present. It was loud and fun with lots of laughter and teasing between the adults and children. Peri was amazed at how much the men doted on the children and gave them their full attention.
“Alright, you dastardly dudes, hand over my children or suffer the consequences,” Ben boomed walking out of the house brandishing a nerf gun in each hand.
“Not so fast there partner,” Josh growled standing up on the bench seat he had been sitting on, “I’ve got a calzone full of hot melted cheese, and I’m not afraid to use it.” He waggled a soggy calzone at Ben. “You can take the girls, but the boy stays with me, mwahaha!” he looked down at BJ and winked.
“I don’t negotiate with terrorists,” Ben yelled back and opened fire on Josh, who fell back from the bench in a dramatic death scene. “Anyone else here got a problem?” he smirked as Rommy and Jules raised their hands in surrender and shot them anyway, he laughed evilly as the children all cheered and ran to greet him. Peri had never seen anything like it. Her parents had barely acknowledged her existence let alone played with her. She watched on happily as Josh sat back down beside her and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Alright movies and ice cream with Nanny,” Carmen announced herding all of the children from the table. “Better move fast if you want to finish it before we head home.” She sat back down pouring Ben a glass of wine and placing a platter with the remaining Calzones on it in front of him.
“I ate with Emily before I came over,” Ben waved away the food. “She wants the kids at home.” He seemed tired as he ran a hand through his hair and picked up the glass of wine to have a drink.”
“So number seven on the way huh?” Rommy clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Congrats, bro.”
“Yeah, you and Emily make beautiful babies that’s for sure,” Jules added.
“What do you mean by beautiful, BJ is ruggedly handsome like his Uncle Josh,” Josh grinned lightening the mood.
“That statement might work a bit better if he wasn’t the spitting image of his father,” Peri laughed. “I still think you’re ruggedly handsome, though.”
“Lucky you said that Wah-wah was about to start pouting,” Ben chuckled feeling better being with his family. He could see the worry lining Carmen’s face, and he reached out and took her hand. “I know you love her and now we know what we’re dealing with we can make sure she gets the best possible help. Pete’s gonna organise a live-in nurse, nanny and cook for us in the morning. She won’t like it but it is what it is,” he gave Carmen’s hand a squeeze. “Plus we’re going home for the holidays so Mama will look after her like no one else could.”
“We’ll keep her company, so she doesn’t get any grand ideas about decorating nurseries and other things,” Bianca said. “Peri can keep her in bed by smothering her with all that family history paperwork and then asking a gazillion questions,” she teased.
“I wasn’t that bad was I?” Peri blushed.
“At least, you did more work than Bianca,” Carmen laughed at Peri’s reaction and poked her tongue at Bianca.
“And we can all be grateful for that. The last time Bianca tried to bake even the dog wouldn’t eat it,” Jules doubled up as his wife poked him hard in the ribs. “You have other gifts, my love. I didn’t marry you for your cooking skills.” He winced.
“Why don’t you give her a call and let her know the kids are having dessert,” Ben suggested to Carmen.
“While you’re doing that Peri and I will check on the kids,” Bianca said standing, “The little ones will probably be ready for bed.”
“I’ll come help carry them if you need,” Josh offered, “I don’t get to hang out with them enough.”
“Keep your hands off my son,” Ben chuckled.
“Rommy will just replace him with one of his. He’s got too many anyway and you’ll hardly notice the difference,” Josh grinned and walked inside with the women.
“Look, I know you’ve got enough on you plate right now but you should know Charles has got Nik in a slave pen,” Jules said quietly. “D. and Lio are handling it.”
“How did Charles find out? Pete said he wouldn’t involve the old guard,” Ben asked quizzically.
“Wait, how do you know this?” Rommy asked.
“That call I got earlier, was her bail out call. She ordered me to go and get her,” Jules whispered sadly. “I said no when I found out why Charles had her,” Jules admitted feeling some guilt about his lack of action on his sister’s behalf. He looked toward the house to make sure Josh wasn’t close by before continuing. “Charles has been seeing Peri’s mother, Andie, and he had dinner plans with her tonight. Nik had organised to meet Andie as a potential new client called Veronica in the bar area of the restaurant before her dinner date. Charles walked in and heard Nik threaten Andie and Peri.”
“Fuck,” Ben growled.
“She was pretty upset at lunch,” Rommy immediately made excuses for his sister. “She couldn’t have been thinking straight.”
“Jules did the right thing, she’s out of control and needs a wake-up call,” Ben rubbed his hands over his unshaven face. “I think it’s for the best, we can’t keep cleaning up her mess and Josh can’t keep giving up the things he wants so she can live the high life. “It’s probably best not to tell him until we find out what the verdict is.”
“It’s okay I know,” Josh said quietly coming from the corner of the pergola that was just out of their line of sight. “Andie called us and told us what happened at the bar, and I surmised the rest. So I called Charles. I may have pushed her over the edge but you’re right, she’s been out of control for a while now.”
“I’m sorry Josh,” Ben said softly.
“You have more important things to worry about,” Josh looked at his brother’s face, and the worry lines etched deeply into it. “Despite all Nik’s shit, I’m happy Ben, happier than I have ever been. I got the girl; these two suits are gonna get me my publishing house, and I have my first new author signed. Life is good! Go home and look after Emily and let those that can make a difference look after Nik, God knows you tried.” Josh was hurting more than he cared to admit but he was doing his best not to let it show.
“Nanny has taken the little ones home, and I am about to follow her with the others. Do you want to help Ben and meet me there?” Carmen asked Rommy.
“No I’m coming, Josh can help Ben. I’ve had about as much as I can handle today,” he stood stretching. “I think an early night sounds fabulous right about now.”
“I’ll take BJ,” Josh smirked, and Ben rolled his eyes.
After some arguments about the movie not being over yet, Rommy and Ben managed to herd their children into their respective cars and head home while Peri watched on amazed at how child-like the brothers were themselves.
“We understand you’re upset,” Jules said quietly as he and Josh walked back inside. “You don’t have to be so agreeable about what’s happening.”
“You know it’s not about Peri,” Josh said walking around the table to retrieve the portfolio he had left lying there. “I stopped being at her beck and call, and she was mad.”
“We’ve all been on the receiving end of that over the last few years,” Jules chuckled. “This went beyond her usual tantrums to get her way.”
“This is a copy of what I gave Ben to look over,” Josh said handing over the portfolio and changing the subject. “Most of it’s on the hard-drive except their business prospectus and advertising.”
“I’ll look it over tonight and talk to Rommy in the morning,” Jules took the case from him. “Come on in I think I still have some that brandy Andreas gave us left.”
“Charles is expecting me,” Josh said with a sigh.
“I thought Dan and Lio were handling it,” Jules said in confusion. “I’ll come with you,” he offered.
“I’m good,” Josh said. “It’s not about me anymore. She threatened Charles’ girlfriend Jules; the reason doesn’t matter. I doubt there is anything we can do to help her now, or if anything we did do would have mattered,” Josh said sadly, hearing Lucia’s words in his head. “You did the right thing Jules, coming with me now won’t change how you feel about saying no to her. I’ll call you tomorrow, but if you could start on that tonight, I’d appreciate it,” Josh pointed at the folio.
“Yeah, I’m on it,” Jules chuckled. Nik was bossy and spoilt, but Josh could be just as demanding if in a more agreeable way.
*****
Leaving Peri in the care of his brothers and Charles he walked downstairs to confront his sister. Nik blinked as the light came on and turned toward the stairwell.
“Josh, thank God,” Nik cried in relief. “Hurry up and open this thing,” she shook the door. “Charles is going to regret doing this to me. How dare he treat me like a naughty slave girl. When I tell Papa how he treated me,” she continued to rant as she shook the bars in frustration as Josh walked slowly into the dimly lit room.
“What will you tell Papa exactly?” Josh crossed his arms and made no move toward unlocking the cage. “Will you tell him that I gave you access to my account for emergencies only, and you abused that trust? Will you tell him how you disregarded my feelings because you didn’t want me to take anyone but you to the events I was invited to at work? Will you tell him that not one of your siblings, not even me, came to speak to Charles on your behalf?”
“Josh just let me out already,” Nik sounded slightly conciliatory. “I’ll be nice to Peri and her mother, even though they said some truly hideous things to me,” she huffed.
“I didn’t like what you did to Peri, and I won’t tell you it didn’t affect me but Nik your absolute disregard of my feelings, what I wanted and needed in my life hurt. Here I was supporting you to do what you needed and live your life the way you wanted, and you couldn’t do the same for me?” He shook his head. “Peri can look after herself. She begged me not to hold your actions against you. I cut you off, and I won’t be letting you out of here because now I know you wouldn’t lift a finger to help me. My whole life has been about what you wanted Nik, never what I wanted. If I let you out, you will keep trying to make me do things your way and right now I don’t care what you want.”
“Don’t be stupid I would never hurt you, everything I did was for you!” Nik screeched at him angrily. “She won’t handle life on the farm, and she will leave you just like Cherie left Dante. I was trying to save you!”
“Ten thousand dollars from my trust fund, as well as your family allowance and the credit card I paid for each month while I lived like a frigging pauper trying to save money for my own business? How is that all for me?” Josh raised his voice to equal hers.
“You said I could use it,” she accused.
“For emergencies Nik, what emergency did you have every month that I don’t know about?” he spat in reply. “Name even one that was a true emergency.”
“You don’t understand. I have an image and lifestyle to maintain. I can’t be the owner of a fashion boutique and look like a hick. You wouldn’t want me to live like that. I would look as bad as that cow you’refucking.”
Josh took a deep breath and bit his tongue studying his sister silently. How had he not seen just how self-absorbed she had become?
“Josh stop pouting and let me out. You can’t leave me here like this,” She hissed at him.
“I didn’t think I could either. I came down to let you apologise for hurting me so badly, and let you out,” Josh said slowly and deliberately. “You aren’t sorry, though, not for any of it, and I see that now. I couldn’t understand why you would treat people so badly, but that is probably my fault for always giving in and doing what you wanted. We all have,” he shrugged.
“As if! I’ve had to fight for everything I have. I worked hard to get where I am,” she yelled. “I owe you nothing, and if you think I am going to apologise for your mistakes, you can think again. Just fucking let me out before Papa finds out how you wasted your trust fund, and you end up in the cell next to mine.”
“It’s too late Nik, he knows. We’re going home tomorrow, congratulations you’ve fucked up both our lives,” Josh said sadly. “I am sure you don’t care about that either.”
“I didn’t do anything. This is all your fault. Wait ’til I tell Papa my side of the story,” her voice had become hysterical as she screamed at him.
“Yes,” he admitted, “I think it is my fault,” he turned then and went upstairs turning off the light and shutting the door. He leaned back against the door listening for some minutes to the obscenities she screamed at him. She was totally irrational and despite himself, he worried about her fate.