Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
After we had eaten, Dad had ordered another bottle of wine to be taken through to the lounge. Effie said that she thought she might escape up to her room, with an apologetic look at me, but Ma insisted she join us in the lounge, adding how pleased she was that I had finally taken on an assistant, and winking at me with her usual endearing lack of subtlety. I acted like I hadn’t seen it. They disappeared to the ladies’ room, and I took the opportunity to ask Dad if he had looked properly at some proposals I had sent him some weeks previously.
“I really do feel like we could use the company to do something positive. You always tell me to use my experience, and I don’t see why I can’t do something good with some of the bad experiences. I know what it’s like for addicts, for the homeless, for the unemployed, even…” I could see he was surprised that I was speaking so frankly to him. My checkered past was usually off-limits as a topic of conversation, but I wanted to level with him before Effie and my mother got back.
“You know that I am all for social responsibility in business. Your mother and I are very much involved in charity work here and in the US…” he said as they reached the booth and Effie slid in beside me.
“Oh!” Mum gushed. “Did you tell him about the lifeguard benefit last month? It was glorious! They had an orchestra right down on the beach…”
“Ma, I’m not talking about charity,” I said softly. “I’m talking about giving people the tools they need to help themselves…”
“Yes, yes, teach a man to fish and all that…” Dad said impatiently. “But we simply don’t have the resources right now with so many commercial projects going on…”
“Of course we have the resources!” I interrupted. “We are uniquely placed to do this! And I have shown how it will even turn a profit. We can help connect businesses who need to prove their social responsibility and gain positive PR by connecting them with social enterprises and charities who need their help. That part will pay for the second part, connecting individuals with the help they need from the social enterprises and charities. It’s a win-win, and the figures prove it!”
“It’s not what we do, Keegan,” Dad sighed.
“But it could be,” I insisted, surprising myself with my own intensity.
“I talked this over with Sean…” he began.
That told me everything I needed to know, and I cut him off sharply. “Okay, understood.” I needed to change the topic, and turned to smile at Ma. “How is Aunt Lily?”
“Keegan,” she stammered. “Your dad is just…” She looked from one of us to the other and then sighed. “Lily is fine.”
“Keegan,” said Dad. “I don’t know what is going on between you and your brother, but as soon as it begins to affect the business…”
“It affects the business,” I said, as calmly as I could, “when you and Sean discuss my suggestions without me. You know he opposes everything I ever do or say!”
“What is the problem between you two? He wants things to work, he really does,” soothed Ma, reaching over to pat my hand condescendingly.
“He sabotages me every chance he gets!” I was trying my best to keep my cool, but this was too much.
“Sabotage?” smiled his father. “Don’t be so dramatic!”
“He undermines me, then,” I rephrased, my foot tapping involuntarily under the table. “He wants me to fail.”
“Why would he want you to fail?” Dad demanded, his tone slightly mocking.
“I spoke to him this morning, and he asked how you were getting on!” said Ma kindly, adding, “He said he hasn’t even heard from you since you left.”
“You ask him the next time you talk to him why he thinks that might be,” I snapped. “Ask him! In fact, ask him what he was wearing last time he saw me.”
“This is all very silly,” she replied, looking at Effie apologetically. “Effie doesn’t want to hear this! Ah, boys and their rivalries! One minute they are fighting over toys, and the next thing they are grown and still bickering! Do you have any siblings?”
Effie turned to me, ignoring my mother’s nervous chatter, a confused look on her face, answering, “A sister.”
My mum then swung back to me. “Hang on, dear. That was a funny thing to say – what was Sean wearing?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Forget about it.”
“I hardly think it matters,” said Dad, and he looked down guiltily.
“Da, I can’t believe it. You know! Sean told you,” I accused him, disbelievingly, hoping I was wrong.
“Know what?” Ma looked worried and turned to him warily. “Michael?”
He sighed crossly. “Nothing, Bridget! There was a bit of trouble with a girl, that’s all. It’s sorted now, nothing to get upset about.”