Walking on Fire

Chapter 2

Chapter two

Aaron Briar

 “While money can't buy happiness, it certainly lets you choose your own form of misery.” – Groucho Marx

In many ways I find that I can agree with this.

That is all.

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Hoping to avoid the service that was looking for me, I swiftly turned the corner and entered my father’s study.

Taking a deep breath, I looked around the place.

It has been a while since anyone has been in here. The stench of old worn leather had been lingering in this room for a while.

I walked over to his desk, which had his old laptop on it.

As I placed my hand on his desk I quickly snapped it back, feeling this dust against my fingertips.

I looked up at the walls. They were covered with various photographs, most of which are of me and him at different sporting events. Those times were gone now.

There was a slight knock at the door.

I knew I couldn’t hide for very long, at least not in this house.

“Sir Aaron, your mother would like to speak with you. She is seated at the dining table.” The voice of a maid spoke.

I was never harsh or anything with the service of this house, but I never bothered to remember any of their names. There was just too many, and frankly, I didn’t have the time to care.

A house full of maids may sound just so damn wonderful, but all of the maids here are in their late 40’s or older. So there is nothing going on here, if you know what I mean.

I whipped my hand on the side of my shorts and walked over to open the door. 

I noticed the maid was going to escort me there.

“Don’t worry, I know the way to my own dining room…,” I grumbled.

“My apologies, sir,” and with that she went off to do her business.

I tried to “dilly dally” on the way to meet my mom, but I didn’t want to piss her off any more then she probably already is.

I walked in to the dining room, where my mom was seated at the head of the table, reading some paperwork.

“Mom, before you say anything, I just want you to know it wasn’t my fault! He was asking for it and I….” I was cut off.

“Aaron, what on earth are you talking about? I was just going to say that your friend Jared invited you out tonight to get some drinks with your buddies!” she removed her reading glasses.

“Oh right, that’s what I was talking about too!” I said while avoiding eye contact with her.

She looked at me, suspicious, “He told me to tell you to meet him at his house at 7pm.”

“Mom, thanks but no thanks. Don’t you know how annoying I find Jared? Plus his ‘buddies’ are like mini replicas of him. I’ll have to pass on this one.” I turned around ready to walk out.

“You don’t realize how important it is for you to become friends with him, do you? If you become friends with this boy, I assure you that he’ll put in a good word about our family to his parents. Maybe then they will sign the business contract. We have been waiting so long for this Aaron.”