by Sarah Clay
Arching my brow as I scoff at her, “don’t be silly, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
She laughs a humorless laugh while wiping her tears on the sleeve of my jacket that’s still wrapped around her.
“Pretty sure your coffee table would disagree.”
I let her hands go, standing and righting the coffee table in its original place before taking a seat on top of it. Looking back over at her. “Good as new.”
I smile as she catches the last of her tears on the sleeve. I don’t like seeing her cry, and it’s a weird concept for me; considering I barely know her.
“Cooper isn’t angry with you Olivia, he’s angry with himself. Let him cool down, he’ll be back.” I try to assure her.
I know Cooper well enough to know he is definitely angry with himself, blaming himself even. But he will come back once he's got a grip on his emotions.
“What if he wants me to go back? I can’t. I mean I’m nineteen now, obviously, I don’t have to, but…” I cut her off when I take her hands in mine.
“Olivia, you’re not going back to your fathers, or anywhere near Alec Hunt, I promise you that.”
Not that Cooper would, but there is no way I would allow it either.
She looks a little unsure.
Hell, this stunning girl has no clue who I am, so of course, she doesn’t know that when I make a promise I keep it. No excuses.
But it’s like she can read my mind. “You promise?”
A shy smile slowly appears on her face and all I can do is nod back as I grin down at her.
“Pinkie promise.”
She relaxes enough to laugh at my attempt of a joke, god not only do I feel like a hormonal teenager tonight, but I’m also saying shit like one too. But the second Olivia sticks her pinkie out to me, all I can do is loop my own around it.
I hadn’t made a pinkie promise since I was a little kid, but it was one I had no intention of not keeping.
Chapter Four
Olivia
Last night had been pretty rough. Coop ended up joining us an hour or so after he’d stormed off.
I say us because while he was away, Anthony had come back into Jackson's office and they had both spent that time filling me in on who they both were and how all three of them had met their first year at school.
Coop had taken one look at us, shook his head and then wrapped me up in his embrace and apologized and assured me I was not going anywhere.
Jackson had smirked over at me at that promise. And I couldn’t help smiling back at him. They had finished telling me about their business more, probably to distract me from my own drama.
The business was called Anperson. An- for Anthony, Per- for the Cooper and Son- for Jackson. It was clever.
Jackson did most of the talking, but Anthony added his two cents in every now and then. Now that I wasn’t so emotional and had had a couple of hours of sleep, their names did sound familiar.
I’m pretty sure they may have appeared a time or two in emails Coop had sent me. Our emails had become few and far between, I’d hated lying to him about how home life was, opting instead to only update him on school or special occasions.
Phone calls and texts weren’t an option when you had a father like ours.
He had cut Cooper off and expected me to do the same in return.
∞
Tiptoeing down the stairs, not wanting to disturb Coop.
It was Saturday morning and he’d used the drive to his apartment to fill me in on how chaotic work had been and all the flights and trips he’d been on in the last few weeks. He deserved the sleep in.
I’d already been up for hours, opting to shower in the adjacent bathroom to his spare room. I hadn’t bought any makeup with me so my face was clean and I’d pulled my long blonde hair up into a messy pile on top of my head. I was wearing a plain white tee with black leggings.
I’d tried hiding out in the room as long as possible, but I’d lied last night when I’d told my brother I had eaten, and now I was starving.
When I look around, I see the living room and kitchen are still dark in his apartment. I shift over to the floor to ceiling curtains and pull them wide open. Moving along the whole wall repeating the motion to let some light in.
The whole right-hand side to Coops apartment was windows, overlooking the city. It was a modern apartment, fitted with brand new appliances and technology. It was a loft style with the bedrooms upstairs and the living and entertaining areas downstairs, as well as a home office, tucked away in the corner.
It screamed of money. It wasn’t like I wasn’t used to money; my dad had a lot of it.
But this was different, I was so proud of my big brother for his earnings and worth.
When Coop walked away after high school, dad had cut him off completely. Dad refused to pay for college or his living expenses if he was going to “run off to college and continue wasting his time on stupid little hobbies, instead of getting serious.”
Coop hadn’t backed down that day, he’d left and he’d made something of himself despite what our father had said. From what the guys were telling me last night, they were exceeding everyone’s expectations and some.
I smile to myself as I take in the room.
Wandering over to the kitchen I pull open the fridge and note it’s fully stocked. I begin pulling everything out for a big breakfast, omelets, bacon, juice. My stomach grumbles just at the thought of it so I get to work. Cutting, combining and cooking away, all while singing along to myself quietly.
When I finish plating up two big servings, I hear a door open and feet shuffling down the stairs. As I turn around to face out over the space, Coop appears at the bottom of the stairs; frowning over at me.
“Damn Livvie, you should still be sleeping, you must be exhausted.” I shrug my shoulders at him and push a plate towards him on the bench.
His eyes instantly leap to it and he strides into the room, taking a seat right in front of it.
“This smells amazing, glad my housekeeper stocked the kitchen for me.” He’d already started inhaling half of his plate before I can even sit down in the stool beside him.
∞
“I’ve got some work to catch up on, but I’ll just be working from my home office if you need anything just come grab me.” Coop announces.
But he doesn’t make a move from his spot on the couch. We’d been sat here for the past few hours catching up on each other’s lives, laughing at silly memories from when we were kids.
He’s apologized profusely and repeatedly about leaving me behind with dad. But I just keep reminding him that he had nothing to be sorry for.
I was only thirteen when he left. Of course, I was upset that my big brother wouldn’t be around anymore, but no one could have guessed how things would change.
“I’m fine Coop, I don’t want to get in your way” I smile over at him from where I’m sitting cross-legged on the opposite sofa. I can see his stare riveted to the marks on my arms.
“You’re never in the way Livvie, my place is your place.”
Coop has always been this way, I remember as a kid while most of my friends’ older brothers couldn’t have cared less about their siblings, Coop was always hanging out with me.
He’d taught me how to ride my first bike, he’d helped me with homework and he’d always looked out for me.
“I know Coop, but I’m a big girl now, I know you’ve got work to be doing” I reassure him.
He stands up and walks over to me, messing my hair up even more with his hand.
“You’ll always be my baby sis” he laughs when I throw a pillow at him on his way out of the room.
A little while later I decide it’s probably time to check my phone, it was flat when I’d boarded the bus last night and I hadn’t turned it back on when I plugged it in to charge last night.
I dawdle back up the stairs and into the spare room.
I’d already made my bed and tidied up the little belongings I could fit into my bag.
I walk over to the nightstand, pick up my phone and switch it on. I wait patiently while it powers up.
Almost immediately it starts pinging away and vibrating in my hand. The notification numbers keep crawling up on the screen. Missed calls, voicemails, and texts from Dad. A couple from Alec and a few friends from back home. Ignoring the ones from Dad and Alec, I open a few from my friends.
Unfortunately, they are exactly what I expected, shocked that I wouldn’t want to be with Alec.
I sigh before turning and throwing my phone into my bag, instead of worrying about it, I grab out my sketchbook and pencils.
Carrying them back downstairs with me and sprawling out on the rug in front of the big windows. Deciding it was to pretty of a view not to try and capture in a sketch.
I’d been at it for a few hours before Coop had come out to check on me. He’d laughed when he saw how frustrated I was getting working on the shadings of the buildings.
So he grabbed us both a bottled water and sat down beside me. We stayed put, blocking out everything else in the world. And instead, he’d helped me with a few techniques to help make sure the light was angled across the page, just right.
Before calling it a night, we’d started talking about dad and his business. Coop had asked me a bit more about it, about his clients and investors, about Dads behavior and changes.
For as long as I could remember my father had been working in the shipping industry. He owns a huge dockyard along the coast of Merrick and had built his business up in significance. He took on huge undertakings and was buying out all of the local competition as well as raising the prices for the use of his services and equipment.
Over the past few months, he’d become busier and busier, always having late night meetings. He’d come home when I was asleep and be gone by the time I woke up.
At least, that was the case if he didn’t need something from me. It had always been the case, so long as I did what was asked and stayed out of the way things ran seemingly smoothly. So long as he knew where I was, who I was with and what I was doing… of course. Unfortunately, with our father's new undertakings his patience was non-existent and his needs were becoming more demanding.
Chapter Five
Jackson
It was too bloody early on a Tuesday morning to have already sat through seven god damn interviews, all with hopeful applicants trying to get a position within Anperson Enterprises.
The position was for an illustrator to draw up mocks and different pieces that we’d require for a range of different apps and marketing ploys.
None of the people who’d come in had even half the talent I’d wanted to see. There was one little prick, Dean, he was alright; nothing to brag about.
But he was a cocky little shit who spoke as if he’d already got the job; simply because I’m fucking his sister.
Brutal, I know. But it was the truth.
Victoria was one of the main receptionists, servicing the entire building; there are two other businesses running out of the building. She worked down on the main floor and was someone I had an arrangement with.
We’d fuck, eat together on occasion and she’d been my plus one a time or two for different events. She seemed to understand the demands of my job.
Of course, it was a bonus that she was easily accessible; being in the same building and all.
I’d sent her brother out to our waiting rooms here on the 11th floor until I could discuss it with my business partners. The 12th floor, my floor, would be finished off this week and then I’d be able to start taking meetings up there.
Tony was on his way up from his office and Cooper should be here any second too.
He’d worked from home yesterday, not wanting to leave Olivia alone. But today he had back to back meetings with a few of our smaller investors and he’d brought her in with him.
I’d seen her smiling and laughing while being introduced to a few people around the office by one of Cooper’s lap dogs. She’d offered a little wave when she’d spotted me between interviews and I’d casually returned the gesture.
Acting as if she hadn’t crossed my mind a time or two over the weekend, I’d done my best not to let her tight little body invade my thoughts more than I could help.
But fuck, I was no saint. She was a sight to see.
Just thinking about her now was making my dick hard again, I shift a little in my chair; readjusting. Right as Cooper and Tony walk into the office grinning at me.
“You thinking about me or Vicky downstairs?” Coop asks, winking over at me; causing me to smirk back at them both.
Cooper has no idea my mind is actually picturing his sweet little sister spread out underneath me.
“This is why we’re talking about the little prick out in the waiting room right?”
See, I wasn’t the only one who had that impression of him.
I raise my brow towards him, waiting to see what else he had to say.
“Coop’s just annoyed, he left Olivia out there while we have this meeting, and the kids practically drooling over her.” Tony throws out while taking a seat.
I sit up a little straighter in my chair, not liking the thought of Olivia out there with Dean the douche.
“Well, yeah there’s that. She doesn’t need that shit. But I also saw some of his work and it’s good, but it’s not fucking great man, and you both know it too.”
I’m only half concentrating on what he’s saying. The other half of me is curious what’s being done and said out in the waiting room.
“The only reason you’re even considering hiring him is because you like to stick your dick in Vicky and it would be inconvenient for you and your penis to turn him away.”
Trust Coop to say what we all know to be true. Rolling my eyes at him while he snickers to himself.
“He is a little prick, but we need to get this role filled so I can get back to more important shit, he’s the only one that might have at least half the skillset needed.” Coop laughs at that.
“Fuck that Jack, it’s not all about skillset brother, we need someone with actual talent”
I drag my hands through my hair, “yeah well if you’ve got any other options, throw em’ at me.”
I can see Coop’s mind ticking over before he relents.
“If you want to hire him, then go ahead; but only if it’s on a temporary contract.”
I nod agreeing, at least that way we can continue to look for someone that’s a better fit and it will keep Victoria off my case.
“Tony?”
We always take a vote on business matters, it works for us.
“I think it’s a mistake, but I’m willing to give it a shot, he might prove us wrong.”
I clap my hands together; glad we’d gotten that over with. We cover a few other topics of discussion regarding business before I bring up what’s really on my mind.
“How’s Olivia?” I throw out as casually as I can while we’re finishing up.
“Did Jackson Turner, just ask about somebody else’s wellbeing?” Cooper laughs out in surprise.
I throw him the finger while pretending to busy myself, shuffling papers about.
Until Coop turns serious; rubbing his hands down his face.
“I don’t know man, she’s not sleeping well. She’s worried I guess. Our dad has always been a fucking prick. But we talked more over the weekend and now he seems like he’s off the fucking hinges. Her phone’s been blowing up; she doesn’t think I’ve noticed any of it.”
He rolls his eyes; I can tell how stressed out he is about her though.
“Is he still in the shipping business?” he’d mentioned it years ago when we’d first met, but he didn’t speak of him often.
“Yeah, Shipping mainly. He’s a pretty big deal back home. But from everything Livvie has been saying, I’m not so sure it’s clean shipping anymore.”
Wait, he actually thinks his father is doing dodgy business.
Tony cuts in “Illegal transporting, of what?” relieved I di
dn’t have to ask, I listen intently.
“Both of you can stop looking at me like that.” He glares at us both “I had no clue, I have no clue!” he huffs out.
“I wouldn’t have left her there if I’d known. But fuck I don’t know, some of the client names she mentioned; they’re not good people.” Ah shit, this isn’t good.
“If that’s the case, you need to keep a close eye on her, if your dad was using her to his advantage; to keep a clean family man image then he will be pissed that he’s lost his pawn.” Tony cuts in with an underlying sternness to his voice.
I nod along, not liking the sound of it at all. We all sit in silence for a few minutes, finalizing some paperwork and signing our names to some agreements.
“Right, let’s order in some lunch. Go let the prick know the news and bring Livvie back in here with you would you?” Cooper asks but he doesn’t wait for my answer.