At the tender age of seven, I became a victim of a tragic incident that tore my world apart. Witnessing the brutal murder of my parents, I was thrust into a life governed by circumstances beyond my control. My uncle, driven by a sense of duty, took...
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The aroma of eggs and bacon rouses me from my sleep. I glance at my phone on the bedside table and see that it's 6:30 am. I sigh and fall back onto my pillow, realizing I won't be able to fall back asleep. It's unusual to smell breakfast being cooked because it hasn't happened in the last 10 years. Curiosity gets the better of me, so I decide to get out of bed, throw on my gown, and make my way to the bathroom across from my bedroom. Once I freshen up, I head downstairs.
I check to see if Franky is awake, but his bedroom door is still closed, indicating he's still asleep. I make my way to the kitchen and spot a shirtless Griffey wearing earphones, dancing while preparing eggs and toast on two plates set on the kitchen table. He seems to be in a good mood, which unsettles me a bit. He removes his earphones and looks at me, a huge, stupid, yet somehow sexy grin on his face. I'm more annoyed than anything, wondering what he's playing at.
"Morning, beautiful," he says, causing me to roll my eyes. Here we go again. "What's up?" I reply, giving him a cautionary look, not bothering to return the smile. I'm not a morning person, and his attempts at charm are wasted on me.
"You don't have to look at me like that. I thought I'd make you breakfast and apologize for yesterday," he says, taking my silence as a reason to continue. I start digging into the delicious breakfast he prepared, not bothering to look at him.
"There's nothing to apologize for because nothing happened," I respond matter-of-factly, focusing on my food. I don't need him rehashing yesterday's nonsense, especially since Franky could wake up at any moment and walk in on this awkward encounter.
"But I just wanted to clear the air so there are no awkward vibes between us, especially since we might be working more closely together," Griffey explains. His words catch my attention.
"Why? I think we're already working pretty closely right now," I probe, curious about his intentions. If Franky told him something, I want to know, even if it's just to gloat.
"Well, it's going to be different with you taking on more responsibilities. You'll finish school this year and then be available full-time. But I'll prep you during my handover," Griffey replies. So, I'll be taking on more of Griffey's responsibilities, which means more power and money. It's what I wanted, what I've been working towards, but for some reason, I feel disappointed. I dismiss the feeling as uncertainty about my new role, as it is still unknown to me.
"What will you be doing if I take your role?" I press, hoping he'll reveal something Franky told him. Maybe he wants to show off or share the information with me.
"Well, I'll be reassigned to a different business unit," he answers, looking uncomfortable and uneasy. "Oh, yeah? Which one?" I inquire further. He laughs awkwardly. "You'll find out tonight. Um... Franky specifically told me not to tell you anything. I've probably said too much already. It's a surprise," he says before taking his plate of food and retreating to his bedroom.
Now alone in the kitchen, I clean up my plate and the leftovers when Franky steps in. Shirtless, his tattoos on full display, he looks at me with a serious expression. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I'm in trouble. "Morning, Uncle," I greet him, but he just stares at me, pushing past to search the kitchen.
