The Heirs

Chapter 4

William briskly excused himself from the businessmen and walked over to Jeremih with a set jaw and rage in his eyes. When he reached the doorway he walked right past Jeremih barely acknowledging him except to signal for him to follow. Once the pair were far enough from the party to not be overheard, William shouted in anger, "What do you think you're doing here? It's not your place to come here!"

"Secretary Harvey told me to, apparently it was a special request from Dad. Look, I wouldn't have come if it weren't," Jeremih said with a strange expression on his face.

"Do you think I give a damn? I don't care if Barack Obama told you to be here this isn't your place so leave!" William spat through clenched teeth. He couldn't believe the gall his brother had to come here like this when he knew he wasn't wanted.

"But I haven't seen you in such a long time, look I've grown taller," Jeremih said with an expression of childlike innocence on his face.

"So that's all you've done since you came to California, grow taller?" William asked cynically. "You are such a disgrace to our family, this is why you don't deserve your inheritance," William said before stalking off and accidentally triggering the sprinkler system.

All Jeremih could do was stand frozen in his spot staring at where William had once stood choking back his tears. He didn't know what he had ever done to make his brother hate him so much and that only made his hatred grow more. By blood they were brothers but, according to William, in every other aspect they were enemies.

Alyssa had been standing behind a tree watching the whole exchange and she felt a huge burst of sympathy for Jeremih. She watched him as William left and the sprinklers turned on but he didn't even make any attempt to move. All he could do was stand there, unmoving as if time had halted.

Alyssa wanted to run to him and comfort him but she wasn't very sure that was a good idea. He might feel embarrassed that she had seen the encounter or react harshly to her and she didn't want that. But she did know that he needed somebody to help him or else she didn't know what God would do when he snapped out of his trance.

Slowly, Alyssa stepped out from behind the tree and into the clearing as droplets of cold water fell on her. She wanted to go back and hide but she knew she had to try and help Jeremih since he had been so kind to her. She resumed walking quietly towards him, trying not to make any noise.

Jeremih didn't even notice her until she was standing in the exact spot that his brother had stood in before. He was shocked to her there in front of him and then remembered where he was. Alyssa coming to him had snapped him out of his state of astonishment and caused him to realize how soaked he actually was.

Alyssa didn't make any sound, she just stood there staring at Jeremih whiles he stared back. At this point, they were both sopping wet but neither knew what to do next. Finally Alyssa broke the eerie silence by saying, "C'mon lets go back to the car." Jeremih conceded and they both walked back to the car dripping with water as people stared at them with their mouths ajar.

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The car ride back to Jeremih's house was as silent as the one from. Neither person spoke a word as they were so wrapped up in their own thoughts. Jeremih was wondering whether or not she had seen anything and if she had how much. He could barely concentrate on driving and kept on sneaking glances at her - which she noticed.

"Jeremih, just forget about it. I saw everything but I'm not going to ask you any questions," Alyssa said in an attempt to appease his unsettled mind.