Older || 18+

30. Ares 🌶️

I've been up for hours, sitting in the kitchen, waiting for Archer to wake up. I have a meeting at nine and I want to have a conversation with my brother before the chaos begins.

Archer makes his way into the kitchen, a look of surprise crossing his face when he sees me. "Ares? What are you doing up so early?" he asks, his voice groggy from sleep.

"I wanted to talk to you," I say, motioning for him to sit.

Archer takes a seat at the table, his brow furrowed in concern. "Is everything okay?"

"Not really," I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"What's wrong?" Archer asks, his tone serious.

"Do you know a man named Robert Williams?" I say, getting straight to the point.

The fleeting look of panic on Archer's face is all the confirmation I need. My heart sinks as the pieces fall into place—the missing money, the fact that Robert was willing to talk to Mr. Bradshaw, but hung up on me, it's all coming together.

"I take it you do," I say, a cold anger beginning to bubble beneath the surface.

Archer shifts, visibly uncomfortable, his guilt written all over his face. "It's not what you think," he stammers, but his words do little to quell the rising tide of betrayal I feel.

"Really? Because it seems like you had something to do with the money missing from my company," I say, my voice tight with frustration. The thought of my own brother betraying me is a blow I never saw coming.

"I can explain," Archer insists, his tone pleading.

I lean back, arms crossed. "Please, enlighten me," I challenge, gesturing for him to continue.

"It's complicated," he starts, avoiding my gaze, the shame in his eyes almost enough to make me falter. Almost.

"Complicated or not, I'd like an explanation."

"Fine," Archer sighs, running a hand through his hair. "My company's been in the red for years. I tried everything to turn it around, but nothing worked. We were hemorrhaging money. So, I... I borrowed money from you. It's not like you would miss it. You have more money than you know what to do with."

The word 'borrowed' hangs between us, a flimsy guise for what is clearly theft. My blood boils at the thought. "Borrowed? By stealing from your own brother? From your family?"

He looks at me, eyes filled with a remorse that does little to stem my growing fury. "I was desperate, Ares. I didn't know what else to do."

"And you didn't think to ask me for help? You chose to go behind my back instead?" The betrayal cuts deeper than any knife could, the pain of his deceit raw and unyielding.

"I was embarrassed," he admits.

"Embarrassed? I don't give a fuck if you're embarrassed. You think your pride is worth more than our trust, our bond?" I can't hide the scorn in my voice, nor do I want to.

My stomach churns at the thought that he didn't think he could come to me. He knows I would have helped him.

"I know, I know. It was a mistake," he says, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

"A mistake? A fucking mistake?" I yell, my anger reaching a boiling point. "I trusted you, and you betrayed me! Not only did you betray me, but you stole from me! You fucking lied to my face!"

"I'm sorry," Archer pleads, his eyes filled with remorse. "I never meant for it to go this far. The company needed money, and then there was the wedding."