“Rowan, don’t come into my home and be disrespectful.” My father folded his paper and stood from his seat. Looking me over, he frowned as he approached. “Have you been drinking?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I threw my head back and rested my eyes. This week had drained me, and I needed a fucking vacation. So what if I had a few shots before I came over here? There was no way I could deal with the bullshit they called “family time” sober.
“Well, now that the family is all here, we might as well eat dinner.” Clarice stood from her seat and ran her hands down her yellow floral dress. She really thought of herself as the put-up housewife with the successful husband. “Come on. We don’t want it to get cold.”
Sitting there for a few minutes, I listened as their heels clacked against the floors, leading into the dining room. I didn’t smell anything when I walked into the home, so I knew immediately that Clarice didn’t cook. I wasn’t surprised, being as though the bitch couldn’t boil water.
“Um, Row…” I sighed as I pried my eyes open to look at my sister. Her freshly arched brows frowned at me in confusion. “What do you mean that I didn’tpayyou? Eighty thousand was the agreed payment, and I gave you one hundred, on top of the extra ten at my office. Why would you insinuate that I didn’t hold up my end of our arrangement?”
Slowly, I stood from the recliner, pushing off as I stepped to Blossom. She took small steps backward as I hovered over her.
“Let me explain something to you,Blossom.” I gritted my teeth as I glared at her. “What I do with my money doesn’t have anything to do with you. If I say you owe me more, you pay, or you find somebody else to deal with your bitching and do the job for you. Remember, you need me—not the other way around. No one else wants to deal with your attitude and bullshit-ass demands besides me.” Her eyes misted over, but I was used to the shit by now. She was an entitled bitch, and the tears didn’t move me at all. “Are we clear?”
She stared at me momentarily before turning to go into the kitchen. At times, I wondered what I did in life to be cursed with a bitch of a sister, but when I thought about the karma she would be getting behind her back, it made me feel a little better. I thought once I sobered up, I would feel bad about the deal Imade with Dame, but I hate her now just as much as I did two days ago.
“So, what’s for dinner?” I clapped as I stepped into the dining room. “This looks good as fuck.”
“Language, Rowan,” my father chastised me as I took a seat at the table. “Hold hands and let’s say grace before we eat.”
Reluctantly, I reached over and grabbed Blossom’s hand as my father led us in prayer. Looking at each of them, I couldn’t help but wonder where I fit in. My father was a handsome man to be in his mid-fifties. Although balding, he was in great shape. Clarice was beautiful, but she was a bitch. She’d hated me since the day she married my father. If my mother, his first wife, hadn’t died from suicide when I was younger, neither of them would be here.
Dragging my eyes to the side of me, my frown deepened as I eyed my baby sister. With her head bowed in prayer like an obedient child, I couldn’t help the hatred I felt for her. I’ve never felt close to her. From the moment she was born, she had been the perfect child. She was the apple of my father’s eye, while I was the mistake. I was the one who embarrassed them at every turn.
“Amen,” I heard them all speak in unison, causing Blossom to snatch her hand from me. If we weren’t in front of our father, I would have slapped the shit out of her.
“Rowan, how’s the business this week?” my father asked once our food was plated. I wasn’t sure who Clarice had gotten to make the seafood pasta, but it was delicious. “A friend of mine said he’s been waiting for you to come over and finish the add-on to his house, but you haven’t been answering his calls. I’ve told you time and time again, that is not how you handle business.”
Gulping the red wine, I burped loudly, causing my stepmother to gasp. Blossom said nothing as she picked at hersalad. I guess her feelings were hurt from what I said earlier. I didn’t care about that either.
“Why is it that every time I come over here, it’s a fuckin’ issue? You’re always on my back about how I run my life and my business.” My father placed his fork on his plate as he glared at me. “Do you ever try to give Blossom the same talks you give me? Oh, right, you don’t. She’s perfect.”
“Rowan—”
“No, Clarice, let me handle this.” My father sipped his wine before giving his attention back to me. “I don’t know what the hell has gotten into you, but you will treat me with respect in this house.” The housemaids scrambled in and out of the room at the tone of my father’s voice. “No one at this table has disrespected you, and we want the same courtesy.”
“Son, what’s wrong?” Clarice reached her hand across the table and patted mine. “Is there something you want to discuss?”
“I’m not your fuckin’ son!” I hissed, snatching my hand back. “You make that clear every time we’re out in public. It’s always ‘my daughter’ this and ‘my daughter’ that. I’m not your son, so don’t patronize me.”
“You must be on that shit again.” My father chuckled humorlessly as he pushed his seat back from the table. “That’s the only reason I can think of for you to be speaking to my wife like that. She’s raised you since you were a fuckin’ child, and if that doesn’t make her your mother, then I don’t know what does.”
“Carlton, it’s fine.” Clarice sniffled as she dabbed her eyes. “Let’s just finish dinner.”
“As soon as he apologizes.” My father glowered, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “To Blossom too.” Blossom snapped her head toward us. “Your sister does nothing but look out for you when I’ve been ready to wipe my hands clean. She is the last person you need to shit on. Apologize, or get the fuck out.”
Looking around the table, I scoffed at his audacious request. Father or not, I was a man at the end of the day. Instead of responding, I grabbed my shit to leave.
“I guess I’ll see you guys around when it’s time to be fake and smile for the cameras.” I stood and eyed them once more. My father was fuming, but I knew he wouldn’t act out too much in front of his staff. I’m sure I’d get a call later. “Enjoy your dinner.”
Walking back through the mansion, there wasn’t an ounce of remorse for what I said. They’d always treated me like the bad guy, and I had no issue being just that. Regardless of them trying to blame it on the drugs, my mind was as clear as ever.
Fuck them all, and I meant that.
“Row, you might need to lay off the gambling for a while, man. I’m not trying to count your pockets or anything, but you’ve been losing more than you win,” Chris chimed in as he bit into his burger. “Not to mention, it won’t be long before Dame sends niggas to collect. You wouldn’t catch me playing something as simple as Go Fish in that muthafucka.”
“That’s why I’m me, and you’re you.” I popped a fry into my mouth. I’d been gambling damn near all day and was just now sitting down to eat. “Besides, I always shake back. This time is no different.”
“You can always borrow the money to pay him from your sister.” I snapped my eyes up at Phil as he continued to talk. “I know her pretty ass will let you get the cash.”
