6. Archer
Chapter six
Archer
S itting at my piano, I sighed as my hands went over the keys, playing the notes. In my spare time, I would sit at my desk and create different songs to play, most of them extraordinarily dark or bone-chilling. Whenever I was unoccupied, I found myself on the piano or violin. Not that I particularly enjoy the violin. When I was younger, Kimiko would take violin lessons, and Delilah would come along to either watch or simply to pick her up at the end.
For some reason, the second I heard of that, I asked my father for violin lessons. Did I mean to excel at the instrument? Of course not. I remember solely going for the pure reason of seeing her. Sterling believes I had a problem at the time, but I didn’t see it. All I wanted to do was get closer to her, and for some reason, to this day... it’s still my goal.
It was ridiculous how much she took a toll on my life. She was all I thought about morning and night and was the cause of my anger and happiness.
I turned the page of my self-made sheet music collection and stumbled on the page that read “Delilah.” Yes, I most certainly wrote a song about her… multiple actually. Many sounded sweet, others sounded dark, and a few with a bit of... sensuality. The one I saw in front of me had a captivating dark theme to it. I placed my hands on the keys, letting the music fill my ears and enter my “empty” soul.
Getting lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even notice when I finished or if someone else was in the room.
“It sounds beautiful,” came the voice of my stepmother, and I shrugged my shoulders.
“It’s old. I wrote it a while ago.”
“What did you write about?” she asked, but I didn’t say anything. She continued, “Or rather who did you write it about?”
I looked over to her to see a smile on her face. “Vivienne, don’t.”
She chuckled. “Whatever happened to ‘Mom?’”
Gazing back to the piano, I spoke. “You asked too many questions. That’s what happened.”
She raised her hands in surrender. “It’s not my fault you have the song title written in bold at the top.”
I snatched the papers from the stand and closed my eyes, slowly growing more aggravated. “Leave, Vivienne.”
She rolled her eyes. “I kid, I kid. No need to throw me out yet.”
I looked down at my sheets and sighed. Once I had started to grow somewhat close to Vivienne when I was younger, I began to call her Mom. The first time I did, I almost regretted the decision as she cried for a week straight. She was annoying, to say the least, wanting to know everything that was going on in my life, but I knew she meant well.
“How has the academy been? I know you’re going back full-time to focus on your studies.”
“It’s not the worst, but I wish I were back at the office and not listening to the constant nagging of a middle-aged man talking about how to run a business. As if I don’t already know.”
“You are just like your father, do you know that? Always thinking that you know everything.”
“As much as I don’t want to agree, you got me there. But is it not the truth?”
“Archer, you know that’s not the point—”
I cut her off. “Then what is the point?”
She sighed. “How about we switch the subject and move on to something different?” she suggested.
“Gladly.” I stood and walked over to my mirror as I began pulling off my shirt.
“Have you no modesty, Archer?” she asked, sitting at the edge of my bed, and I shrugged.
“You’re in my room, Mother. I can very much do whatever I please.”
I finished removing my shirt and grabbed the one I would wear for the rest of the day.
Her eyes went to another shirt tossed on my bed, and slowly, she began to fold it, a small smile coming across her face.
“Your brother is coming home today.”
I froze in front of the mirror, and I felt her eyes on me once again.
Gaining my composure, I shrugged as I pulled on my shirt. “His arrival was today? I had completely forgotten. Send him my regards, will you?”
She sighed. “Archer, I want you to make an effort—”
“You act like I haven’t been trying for the last seven years. I think that’s long overdue, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Stephan loves you, Archer. He’s just not in the right place to show he does. Give him time.”
“I think I’ve given him more than enough time,” I said harshly, but I knew she could see through my tough exterior.
A knock was heard at the door, and I spoke.
“Come in.”
Pierce, my father’s longtime butler, walked through. “Sir Lockwood has requested that you two come to his office to greet Stephan as he has just returned.”
Vivienne nodded. “Thank you, Pierce. We’ll be over in just a moment.”
He closed the door, and I grabbed my suit jacket and phone.
“You’ll come to see him with me, won’t you?” Vivienne whispered softly. I could see the pleading look in her eyes as she asked, and it saddened me. It breaks her every day that her sons aren’t getting along. Blood or not, she treats me the same as him and only wants the best for us. It was Stephan who made things different, who let money and power go to his head.
Did I want to inherit my father’s business? I surely did, but if I could do it with him by my side, it would be even better. I wouldn’t even mind working lower than him. That was to be determined by my father, but Stephan didn’t see it that way. It was a constant battle in his mind that could only have two outcomes, neither of which had to do with us working together as brothers.
I nodded at her. “I’ll go see him, but I have a few things scheduled with Sterling, so I won’t be here long.”
She smiled brightly and walked to the door. “I’ll see you downstairs then.”
I nodded my head, and she walked out, leaving me in silence. I sighed heavily as I grabbed the rest of my belongings before leaving my room.
I went down the stairs and entered my father’s office, only to see him sitting at his desk. He was conversing with Stephan, sitting on the couch with Vivienne beside him. I cleared my throat, and Stephan’s eyes made their way over to me.
“Stephan… I see you’ve returned home.”
“It does appear that way, yes, but I’m unsure for how long. Father needs me to go on another trip soon. I heard you’re back in school. How is it?”
“‘Tedious’ and ‘dull’ are the words that come to mind.”
He nodded, and my mother had an ear-to-ear smile as she watched our interaction, but I knew better than to believe his “caring brother” fa?ade.
“Calvin, why don’t you and I leave the room for a moment and let the boys catch up? It has been a while since they’ve seen each other.”
“But this is my office. Can’t they go somewhere—” He silenced himself when he received a glare from her and reluctantly stood up. Making his way to the door, he sighed. “Don’t take too long. I have a meeting in fifteen minutes.” He walked out of the room, and Vivienne smiled.
“Don’t mind him. You boys take as much time as you need to catch up.”
Stephan returned the gesture. “We sure will. Thank you, Mother.”
She beamed widely and closed the door.
The room was silent, and I watched as he turned his head to look at me. He was the first to speak, and the look in his eyes suddenly changed.
“So, little brother , how have you been?”
“Cut the crap, Stephan. It’s just us now.”
He shrugged and leaned back in the chair leisurely. “I was being nice in case Mom was listening on the other side of the door, but since we’re over the formalities, I’m sure you’re aware I don’t care how you’ve been.”
“Why agree to be trapped in this room with me then?”
“So I don’t look like the troubled brother who doesn’t want to mend things with his sibling, of course. Pretty simple, really.”
“What the fuck did I ever do to you?” I muttered, and his jaw clenched slightly.
“You were born, and because you spent the beginning of your life with the man who is my father, too, I won’t be getting shit from the business.”
“I already told you this! He may not even want me to be the CEO. You can do all that shit yourself if it will make you at least appreciate me trying to have a relationship with you.”
He didn’t even attempt to consider my words as he rolled his eyes. “You can keep your brotherly love. I’ll be fine without it.”
“Fuck you, Stephan. Go ahead, leave again. See if I care enough.”
He didn’t say anything, and I grabbed my things and walked out of the office, slamming the door behind me. As I walked down the hall, I paused as I saw my parents standing there. Only then did I realize we hadn’t even been in the room alone for five minutes before one of us stormed out.
My mother was the first to notice me, and from the upset look on her face, I knew she heard everything. In the end, she put up a smile and tried to be strong as she spoke. “He’ll come around.”
My father scoffed. “No, he won’t,” he said as a matter of fact, and Vivienne resisted the urge to strike him.
I didn’t say anything as I walked towards the door and left.
As expected, I saw Sterling leaning against his car, waiting for me. He looked over, hearing the sound of me walking out, and he immediately changed his attitude.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, and I sighed.
“Stephan.”
His face contorted slightly, he hissed. “He’s back, isn’t he?” I nodded, and he rolled his eyes as he spoke again. “He’s always been a dick.”
I scoffed as he walked over to the driver’s seat, and I opened the passenger’s side.
“No fucking kidding.”
We entered his car and pulled out of the driveway. We had already made plans to go to his father’s office, stop by my office, and go to a fitting we had for our tuxedos for the upcoming event. Though I could’ve let Stephan succeed in spoiling my afternoon, I simply sighed as I leaned my head against the headrest, trying to think of the one person who could make this entire mess go away.
Omniscient
Stephan remained motionless in his father’s office before he heard the door open.
“How do you always manage to drive your brother away the moment you see him?” Calvin asked jokingly, and Vivienne stood at the door in complete anger, opposite of what her husband was feeling.
“Stephan! He tried! He came to see you after he said he wouldn’t, and you’ve disappointed me. He’s your little brother.”
“Half,” Stephan remarked, and his mother scoffed.
“Unbelievable.” She seethed as she stormed out of the room, causing Calvin to shake his head.
“You even drove your mother away. It’s a winning streak, my boy.” He chuckled, and Stephan didn’t say anything. He pondered for a minute before getting up and leaving the room as well.
Calvin sighed as he looked at his computer. “Well then.” A few moments later, he heard a knock at the door. “Come in.”
Pierce walked into the room and spoke. “Mr. Crawford is here for his afternoon meeting.”
Calvin nodded, and Andrew, his associate, walked into the room.
“Andrew, always good to see you,” Calvin greeted, causing Andrew to chuckle in response.
“Though it’s only been a few days, I couldn’t agree more.” He took the seat across from Calvin, and Pierce left to bring some refreshments.
“I hear your son is already creating a bit of a stir in the academy,” Calvin said, recalling being told the events that occurred only on the first day.
Andrew responded, “I guess you could say that. The boy has nothing better to do, so this can keep him occupied.”
Calvin nodded and continued on a different subject. “Russel is going to the auction for charity, so you know Porter and Masahiko will be there. Can’t have Killian in one place without Blaine following him like a puppy and dragging Shin along with him.”
“You seem to be getting a lot of information on the Russels... Would you mind sharing where you get your resources?”
Calvin chuckled. “Someone in their family owes me a favor, a large one at that. Does the name Eugene Newman ring a bell?”
“Brielle’s brother? How the hell did you get him to help you?”
“I know a few things that his sister may not want to hear after he went AWOL. Instead of telling her what they are, he’s been under my control for the last fifteen years or so. He’s batshit crazy, and other than the fact that he’s threatened to kill me in the past, he knows he owes me his life.”
“You don’t think Killian is going to catch on?”
“It’s been fifteen years. If he was going to catch on he would’ve done so by now. Even if he does, it’ll be too late. I will have already won… Sometimes, you have to lose in order to win; that’s the rule of the game.”
“Forgive me, but from an outside perspective, it looks like you’re losing quite frequently. Is this all still a part of the ‘game’?”
“It very much is. My plan has already been set into motion and is working like a charm, but...” Calvin paused.
“But what?”
“There will be a few... setbacks.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know what they are already, would you?” Andrew asked, causing Calvin to think.
“I already know two: your son, and Delilah’s birth parents .”
“My son?” Andrew asked curiously, and Calvin nodded.
“He’s after Delilah. Anything Archer has, he wants. That’s already been established. Even though this could be good for Archer to have a bit of competition, we can’t have your boy getting too close.”
“And what about Delilah’s parents?”
“Though it will be a minor setback, it will most likely lead to many problems.”
“But Marissa is dead, is she not?” Andrew asked, but Calvin didn’t say anything. Eugene had the pleasure of killing both his parents as well as his sister, Marissa. But he had shown some sick, twisted kind of mercy, leaving them to bleed out instead of ending their misery. Marissa was considered dead, but after so long, Calvin still felt a tinge of suspicion that she was still out there somewhere.