Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 111775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
His last words caused a rush of emotion because I had a brother, an adult one who didn’t need me to look out for him. I’d never experienced having family like that, but it didn’t change the fact his method of getting to know me was highly questionable. It was sneaky and downright infuriating to be honest. “Maybe you’re not the sort of brother I want in my life. When exactly were you going to tell me the truth anyway?”
Jonathan blew out a breath, his eyebrows drawing together in consternation. “Honestly, Maggie, I don’t know. I kept putting off coming clean, and then it just got to the point where I’d left it far too long. I didn’t know how to break the news. I thought if I offered you a better job, then maybe you’d be more amenable—”
“For someone who was so worried about me being after your money, you seem to use it as a solution a whole lot,” I stated.
“Yes, you’re right. I do use money to solve problems. It’s an issue of mine, but I’m working on it. I just hope you can forgive me. I’ve never had a sibling, and I’ve lived a life focused solely on work. As I said, it would be nice to have a sister.”
“Well, I already have two sisters and two brothers.”
Jonathan’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, are you saying our father had more children than just you?”
I shook my head, amused. “Don’t look so worried. They came along a lot later and have a different father. They’re still kids, actually.”
“Ah, I see.”
A moment of silence fell. I was still working through my shock. I didn’t know what to think. It was all so much to get my head around. “We have a lot to talk about,” I said and folded my arms.
“Yes, we do,” Jonathan agreed. “What about the job, though? It’s still yours if you want it, but I completely understand if you don’t.”
I chewed my lip, conflicted. I desperately didn’t want to go back to my clients with my tail between my legs and withdraw my resignation. But I was also wary of taking the job now that I knew I’d been offered it under false pretences. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“I’ll accept the job, for now,” I said. “Therese is outside waiting to start my training and it would be rude to waste any more of her time. But I reserve the right to change my mind. I need to think everything through.”
A faint smile curved Jonathan’s lips. My half-brother. It was for sure the most surreal thing to ever happen to me. I was reeling, my thoughts racing a mile a minute. If my dad’s name was on my birth certificate, then that meant Mam had lied about him. No big surprise there. She’d said he was gone before she found out she was pregnant, but that couldn’t have been the case. He was at least around when I was born. And now, he’d passed away. I felt strangely bereft at the thought. Because he’d been out there all those years, and I could’ve known him, but I was never given the chance. Just another thing to resent her for. It was a long list.
I was still a little disoriented when Therese returned and began my training after Jonathan had a quick word with her. Thankfully, she didn’t seem too put out after being told she would have to take things a little bit slower with me.
“How long have you worked for Mr Oaks?” I asked her after she’d shown me the folder where a list of independent contractors could be found to carry out repairs.
“Oh, going on about eight years now,” she replied as she clicked the mouse, moving between folders on the computer screen. I’d managed to take in everything well enough so far. It seemed very straight forward, and whenever I was confused about something, Therese was patient in pausing and explaining.
“And do you like it here?”
“Mr Oaks is a strict boss,” she said. “A lot of people who come to work here find it hard to keep up to his standards, but I’ve always appreciated a fast-paced, busy environment, so yes, I do like it.”
“But you can’t say the same for others?”
She pursed her lips. “No, I suppose I can’t.”
“Has he told you I’m his half-sister and that’s the only reason he’s hired me?” I blurted.
My head was still in a scramble, still trying to make sense of everything. It was only after I asked the question I realised maybe I shouldn’t have. Therese might be Jonathan’s assistant, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t go spreading gossip about the office.
“Yes, he has confided that to me, though you can rest assured I won’t be telling others of your family connection. Jonathan … I mean, Mr Oaks, he’s not been very close with his mother in recent years. She married a man he didn’t approve of, and it drove a wedge between them. A sense of family has been sorely missing for him, which is why he’s wanted to get to know you, I think. He’s not a man who lets new people into his life very often,” she continued, and I frowned. Cleaning Jonathan’s apartment led me to believe his life was rather lonely, and it seemed I’d been correct on that front.