Victor's door cracked open, snapping him from a deep slumber. His curtains were drawn, and the rays of sunlight penetrating through the windows were blinding his eyes. He had no idea how he managed to sleep for such a long time. He usually woke up around 2 am.
Someone jumped on his bed, making him groan with frustration. His head hurt like a bitch. He went hard on the bottle the previous night after he left Tariro's place.
"Wake up you sleepy head. How the hell did you sleep until this late?"
That voice. He knew it so well. It was his little sister, Mercy, the one that came after him, the last born. The apple of Elijah's eye and daddy's little princess. She was four years younger than him. Mercy was the only one brave enough to budge in his room as she pleased.
"What the fuck are you doing in my room?" Fuck! His head throbbed painfully, reminding him of how much he drank the night before. He felt nauseated, his mouth dry and sticky. He massaged his temples, trying to ease the pain.
"Daddy told me that you are getting married. Why wasn't I told? I never took you as the marriage type bro. I feel for the woman who will tie her life down to you. Anyway, who is the lucky girl?"
She was making noise and he wanted her to just shut the fuck up but he knew it would be a waste of time. Mercy talked for days, not caring if you were listening or not. She was also the only person who tried to have a sibling bond with him after...he shook his head, pushing back the taunting memory. The rest of his sister's viewed him as a cold hearted and selfish bastard. Not that the first part wasn't true but Mercy saw beyond that.
"Why would your father discuss my business with you?" It didn't bother him as much as it did before that his father loved his sister's more than him. To them, he was father of the year, treated them like princesses. Elijah would gladly lay down his life for either of them, something he can't say about him. It was like he was the black sheep of the family which had him wonder all his teenage hood if Elijah was really his father. He only stopped caring in his early twenties.
"Come on. I'm your sister. I'm supposed to know these things." And she always makes it her mission to know everything in his life, even the dark side but she never questioned him and he was grateful for the that. She respected him as her big brother. Maybe that's why he had a soft spot for her. He couldn't say he loved her but he definitely cared deeply for her and she knew that.
"Not that it's any of your business but your father saw it fit to find a wife for me. Apparently I need to produce an heir before taking over the business." He chuckled bitterly. Just the thought of it was making him angry all over again.
Mercy's face fell. "I'm so sorry." She said. She knew how their father was towards Victor.
He shrugged it off. He didn't want those two damned words. He need a fucking solution but he knew that there was non. Sometimes he blamed himself for giving Elijah so much power over him. The old man had been living his life through him(Vic) ever since he was 10. He didn't mind then because he was trying so hard to get his approval that he would do anything, including all his dirty word when he was just a teenager. Elijah used him as a fucking weapon to take out all his business rivals.
"Who is the bride?" She pressed, despite Victor's clenched jaws.
He blinked as memories of the past tormented his mind. He hated thinking of his childhood. It wasn't normal, like other children. He was trained to use different kind of weapons before he was even a teenager. "A Dube man should be strong and feared." Elijah would say.
"Get out of my room. I need a shower." The small talk was over. He wanted to be alone before he lost it on her. Sometimes it was hard to control his anger that he took it out on the nearest person. Mercy knew when her brother was done talking so she stood up.
"I'm here you know, if you want to talk." She desperately wanted to be there for her brother but she didn't know how to reach him. All her efforts had been futile. She exhaled deeply when she didn't get a response and scurried out of his room. Maybe one day.
**
Tariro grunted softly as she sat up straight. Her whole body was on fire and her coochie felt like it was about to fall off. Sex with that stranger was always mind blowing. Was he even still a stranger? They had fucked twice now but she didn't even know his name. One thing she knew for sure was that he was so damn fine. That fine body on hers... Her cheeks burned as she thought of the time they had spent together.
She never thought she could be one of those women who got off by being hurt. She never knew she liked pain until she met him. She glanced over at the dressing table in her small room where a couple of notes were scattered. He had told her that it was for the door but part of her knew that it was more than that. He wanted their situationship to remain strictly business. He was just paying her for her services. Part of her was hurt and she didn't know why. Was she catching feelings for someone she didn't even know? That would be absurd. There was a reason why she didn't do relationships. They required a lot of work which always annoyed her. She always lost interest after a few weeks but there was just something about him. She felt drawn to him in ways she couldn't even explain. Maybe it was the good sex. She tried to convince herself.
She sighed and got out of bed and limped to the kitchen. She was starving.
"Bitch! What the hell happened to you? You look like shit." Anashe, her friend and flatmate said as a matter of fact. She looked and felt like shit.
"Hello to you too Ana." Tariro said, opening the fridge. She took out a bottle of water and downed it.
"Did someone hit you? Look at all how red your skin is. Who is the bastard? You should report him to the police before he does it again."
"I'm fine." She lowly said.
Anashe stared at her suspiciously. "Spit it out." She demanded. "Every single detail."
Tariro blushed. "I met someone, well not a boyfriend. It's complicated. I don't even know his name."
"Come on. I need details."
"Well, he is....different but he makes me feel good, sexually. He hurts me, ties me around but I like it." She more than liked it. She fucking enjoyed it when he slapped her or order her around like a master. She was getting addicted to the pain he inflicts on her body and that made her sick to the stomach. She stole a glance at Anashe. "I know it sounds crazy but I..." She sighed not finding the right words.
"I'm not going to judge you, Tariro."
Good! The last thing she needed was a lecture.
"I'm hungry. What's for breakfast." She said changing the topic. She didn't want to continue talking about her nameless stranger.
**
Victor sat cross-legged on the chair across his father with a glass of scotch in his hand. He could feel Elijah's icy stare boring into his skin.
He lifted his eyes. "What?"
Elijah let out an annoyed sigh. "Where were you last night?"
"I don't report all my movements to you, father. I'm 27 if you forgot."
"We had guests!" He snapped. "All you had to do was stick around until they were gone but you just had to embarrass me!"
"YOU had guests. I didn't invite anyone over for dinner. They were your guests not mine so I don't understand why you are so upset." He smirked then sipped his drink. Getting under Elijah's skin was one thing he enjoyed. It always made him feel like he had some kind of control.
Elijah breathed heavily, giving Vic a murderous eye. "You know what I'm talking about. They are going to be your in laws soon. What image are you setting up for yourself?"
"I couldn't care less about how they view me, you of people know that father. I simply don't care." He shrugged. "And if it were up to me I would have snapped their precious daughter's neck a long time ago so my problems would disappear once and for all. You should be grateful that her heart is still intact." His tone was deadly and Elijah knew that he was dead serious. The boy took after him through and through that it scared him sometimes.
He sighed. "you need to buy her a ring. Your engagement party is in a week. That's when we will announce to everyone about your union. This wedding needs to happen as soon as possible."
"Why don't you get one of your men to do it. I don't have time to go around looking for a fucking ring. You are the one who wants this wedding to happen. All I can give you is my presence." Victor quietly studied Elijah's face. He was infuriated but there was nothing he could do to change his mind. Elijah needed him not the other way around.
"And one more thing, I'm moving out to my penthouse."
Elijah banged the table with his fist. "That's not going to happen! I need you here!"
Vic raised a brow. "Why? Mercy is younger than me but you didn't say anything when she moved out. I hate it here. I feel suffocated by your presence. You are always breathing down my neck every fucking second and I'm tired of it."
Elijah shifted his gaze. "That's different. You are the Dube heir. My only heir-"
"Cut the bullshit, Elijah." Vic snapped. "You don't care about me. I know it and you know it so let's not pretend to each other. And besides, I wasn't asking for permission. I was telling you.... father."
Elijah's grip on the table tightened as he felt rage building up inside him. "You will address me with respect! I'm not your friend. You are not moving out and that's final. Do not force my hand boy, you will not like it."
"What's the worst you haven't done?" He stood up and buried his hands in his pockets. "Do your worst. You need me to help you with the Murau deal." He walked out, leaving Elijah fuming with anger.