25. Ian
25
IAN
After an unsuccessful attempt to drown myself in alcohol, I drive myself to my aunt's estate. Well, now my estate, and this time, I am let in immediately at first glance.
I guess the news has traveled fast.
As I drive through the length of the property, I allow myself not to focus on how much my truck must stand out. It's old, beat up, and almost all the paint is chipped off, but it's mine, and I'll be damned if I feel ashamed about who I am.
More like who I was.
I've already received at least three messages from Christopher in the past hour. I have two emails from my aunt's bank and one email from the company's interim manager to officially welcome me.
I know the last email is more out of courtesy. Something done in a bid to not get on my bad side, but really, I don't care.
I have no plan to take over the company. I have no idea how to run a real estate company, so no way I am putting myself in a position that'll make me lose more money when I can just keep the guy in charge there and let him continue.
Maybe in the next couple of months, I can review his performance, and if it's not up to par, Christopher can help out.
It crosses my mind to invite him over for dinner tonight, but I'm not sure that's something he'd want.
If he used to be married to my aunt, then that means he lived here.
Is that why she wanted me to stay in her house? Because she can't bear someone who's not family staying there?
A sigh escapes me as I reach the front of the house and park the truck. I walk to the back of the house to find the flower pot where Christopher said I'd find the house key underneath. When I spot it, I lift it up and pick up the single key.
I walk back to the front of the house and insert the key and twist it to unlock the lock. When it clicks, I push it open and remain standing at the entrance as I investigate the house.
It's beautiful at first glance, that's all I can say.
The walls feature a mixture of rose and lilac wallpaper. It's a bit flowery, but it has an edge of appeal to it. An intriguing element.
My eyes go to the floor the moment my legs hit them. Mahogany.
Letting out a whistle, I go exploring the rest of the house.
The house has five bedrooms, one primary, one queen, both upstairs, and three guest rooms.
In each room is a well-equipped bathroom, seating sets, bed, wardrobe, and an exquisite choices of bed sheets and curtains.
By the time I'm done looking around, it's past noon, and there's a knock on the door.
I go to answer, wondering who's it could be. I'm not expecting anyone. No one knows I'm here. My heart is beating fast in my chest from curiosity by the time I open the door only to find three faces I've never seen before.
Who are they?
“Hello,” I say.
They all nod at me. Two females and a guy. One of the women is a bit older, and she's the one who speaks.
“Hello Mr. Peele, good afternoon. We are here to resume our duties at the house now that you're back.”
“I'm sorry?” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
What is she talking about?
“It would appear you're not aware we were coming.”
“No, I wasn't.”
She nods and steps back to rifle through her bag. She brings out her phone, types something, and puts it to her ear while I try to figure out what the hell she's doing. Soon she's speaking, and she comes forward to me with her phone outstretched.
“Mr. Craig would like to speak with you.”
Mr. who now?
Skeptically, I take the phone from her hand.
“Yeah?”
“Ian, it's me.”
Christopher?
Why the hell did he send these people here? It better not be for them to start living with me, because the answer is no.
“Did you send them here?” I ask him.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Well, they worked for Maya. They are still on the payroll because Maya didn't want them stranded, and I just thought that since you're at the house now, you'll be needing all the help you can get.”
That makes sense, but still, I would have appreciated a little heads-up.
“I'm sorry I didn't call before they got there. I did send a message, though.”
And I haven’t opened any of them.
“Yeah, sorry. Thanks… Um… If you're up for it, maybe you can join me for dinner?”
There's silence on his end, and that's all I need to know he's not up for it.
“It's fine, it was just a suggestion.”
“Maybe some other time?”
“Sure. It'll be my pleasure.”
“Alright.”
I pass the phone back to the woman, who later introduces herself to me as Elise. The other girl is Salem, and the guy is Dalton. He's the gardener. Elise is the housekeeper, and Salem is the chef.
A few minutes after I let them in, Salem comes to ask me what I would like for dinner. I tell her to prepare whatever she’d like and dismiss her.
I'm still trying to get used to being in a place of power and people coming to me for directions. It's sure not a position I'll get comfortable with for a while.
When I'm left all alone to my thoughts, I go through the house again, aimlessly roaming through the rooms until I find myself back at my aunt's room again, which I have no plan to take. It's just too much. I'll be taking one of the guest rooms downstairs, for now.
As I look through the room, my eyes land on her picture with three other women. They all look alike, and I wonder which of them was my birth mother.
I never got to meet her because she gave me up at birth. I'd never allowed myself to think about her, but I wonder if she regretted leaving me or even if I look like her or what she looked like. Now that I'm in front of a picture she's possibly in and I am unable to recognize her, I feel like shit all over again.
I feel like a stranger in a home that's now mine.
Will this feeling ever change?
I go through every picture I can find in my aunt's closet, looking for a clue, anything to point me to what my birth mother looks like. I find nothing.
I think of calling Christopher, but I immediately push away the thought. I've disturbed the man enough as it is.
Soon, food is ready, and Salem is informing me about it with her eyes on the floor.
I go down to eat. She prepared chicken curry in a hurry with rice as a side. Although I'm self-conscious as I eat, it's one of the best meals I've had in a while, and that's saying a lot because I'm a good cook myself.
When I'm done eating, I take the plate to the kitchen, not caring how it'll make me look, and then I head to the guest room where I'll be sleeping to take a quick shower. But I decide against it the moment the door closes behind me.
I feel trapped. I need to get out.
Walking toward my truck like there's suddenly fire on my ass, I enter, but the will to start it just won't find me.
Sighing, I get out of the truck and decide it's best that I don't drive with how out of sorts I'm feeling.
I walk the whole length of the estate, and by the time I make it to the edge, I'm feeling a bit winded, and it's mostly because I didn't even allow my food to digest before I started walking. I don't let that deter me, though. I continue walking around the town, thoughts of Sarah sneaking into my head no matter how hard I try to ignore it.
Somehow, I feel responsible for her, and I know I'm not even supposed to. She asked me to leave.
If anyone should be feeling bad about how things went down with us, it should be her, but somehow I'm the one who can't stop thinking about her.
Deciding it's probably best if I find something to distract myself with, I go in search of a bar to get a drink. I'm far away from the bar I'm now acquainted with, but I see another one on the side of the town I've walked to.
It looks like more of a pub than a bar. Maybe I can get beer there. I'm not looking to get drunk, just something to distract me.
My intake of alcohol as of late is not something I am happy about, which is why I have to make a conscious effort to reduce it going forward. Especially now that I have billions in my care.
I start to cross the road so I can get to the bar. A car pulls up right before me when I start to cross, and I have to quickly step back so I don't get hit.
I'm immediately pissed at the idiot who almost ran me over, and I stomp toward him to rip his head off. He rolls his window down at my approach and smiles at me.
He looks familiar.
“What the fuck is funny? You almost hit me, asshole.”
“And I'm sorry about that. I was just trying to get your attention.”
By trying to kill me?
And why is he trying to get my attention?
He may look familiar, but I don't remember where the hell I know him from, and I've had way too stressful of a day to get involved in any bullshit conversation.
“I'm not interested,” I snap and start to walk away.
“Too bad, because I'm speaking to you anyway.”
The only way to do that will be to follow me inside the bar. Ignoring him, I cross the road and enter the bar. I get a seat in a discreet spot so I'm not easily found by anyone, but the discretion turns out to be of no use.
I've barely sat when the guy is sitting beside me with a shitty grin on his face.
He looks way too cocky for someone I don't know. And then I remember his face.
Shit.
He's Sarah's brother. I saw him at the hospital.
Why is he trying to speak to me?
You know why.
Damn. Can't I have a day to deal with my own problems without hers getting involved?
“Whatever you think you're here to do, it's not going to matter because I don't know where she is, and even if I did, I'm not taking you to her,” I inform him, my best no-nonsense face on.
He takes one look at me and shrugs.
“That's okay. I'm just here to share a drink with you.”
What does he think I am? A fool. Well he's about to find out that I'm smarter than he gives me credit for.