Fault Line (Bellarke)

• 8 •

Bellamy

I pulled the tie up to my collar and straightened it. The mansion, which was being cleaned from head to toe today, buzzed with life. Living beings floated around gracefully, mopping the floors, cleaning the windows, fluffing away dust here and there. Which is necessary because O has a real problem with dust, it triggers her hay fever. We hired cleaners to clean the house once a month, otherwise we like to live simple and do our own housework. Cook our own food.

The sun basked the white walls and flooding into the house to give it an early morning glimmer. Octavia had already left for work that morning, and I was honestly dreading walking into that building today.

Because I knew what was coming, and I have to be careful. That deal that slipped out of my hands, had cost Blake Industries too much, and the pap want that. 'Bellamy Blake, business tycoon, lost the years most important trade deal'.

How was I going to face them? Face my employees who so willingly count on me for their paycheck? All the money I pay them, comes from these sorts of trade deals, which means Blake Industries will have less assets this year after loosing the biggest trade deal of the business year.

Covering my face with my hands, I glanced at the tired, unhappy man looking back at me. Is this who I really wanted to be? Do people actually think I'm a good manager? I need to be someone O could look up to. That would mean handling situations with a calm, cool, collected manner.

The reflective glass overlooked the seaside, where I could just sit and watch the waves rolling in and out, for hours. Usually I would go to my balcony and just relax and de-stress, but today there was no time. I was already running late, and I needed to get to the office.

Stress levels were through the roof. Gripping the steering wheel, I pushed the accelerator, sneakily going the extra speed that could probably kill me if I crashed into another car, like that bitch and her Mini Cooper. Thinking about her flowing blonde hair and blue eyes was infuriating, because all I could do was instantly relate it to the lost deal.

The hustle and bustle of the Seattle streets were defiantly something else. My eyes subconsciously drifted towards the dozens of homeless people dotting the walkways, being ignored by the hundreds of people passing by.

***

"Octavia! Sit here! I don't want you getting lost!" I yelled at my little sister, trying to merge with the city life. Obeying me for once, she held her favourite blanket up to her face and snuggled next to me.

The mist was rolling in, and we huddled close to each other for warmth. We can't sit here on the street, we will freeze. Survival was a constant struggle. People called me a thief, a liar.

But who we are, and who we have to be to survive are two very different things.

And I would do anything to ensure Octavia's wellbeing. I had to pick-pocket, I had to beg, I had to shoplift. Just to make sure we had food, that we survived.

Being left homeless was a horrible thing, and I had the extra responsibility to look after my sister as well. I wasn't going to let anything happen to her, even if it meant something happened to me. All we had left was each other.

Hand in hand, we walked through alleyways, and found a small warehouse with plenty of bins and boxes. I grabbed a box and flattened it, laying it on the floor. After repeating the process, I laid O on the boxes and then with the few boxes left, made my own 'mattress' next to hers. I just had to hope that whoever the boxes belonged to, didn't mind us using them.

My hand stroked my precious little sisters cheek, and I tucked her tight in her blanket like a caterpillar in a cocoon. She gave me a half-hearted smile. "I love you Bell."

"I love you too O."

Watching the angel fall asleep, I winced as she scrunched her face up at the regular nightmares se endured. She was shivering. The air was bitter and cold, even with the wind being blocked out by the creaking walls of the warehouse. Maybe one day, we could have a roof over our heads. Proper food and clothing. A nice bed for Octavia. A real mattress.

Taking my own jacket off and wrapping her in it, providing an extra layer, her shivering finally stopped and I could rest easy. Almost, because the air was biting at my skin like a million ants. I grit my teeth and shut my eyes tight.

Mother told us to slay our demons.

***

Blake Industries was hovering with familiar faces of employees. Another day at work, and I made it my life goal to make sure every day was worth it. Go to sleep every day, with the feeling that you accomplished something that day.

"Bellamy!" Octavia shouted, briskly walking out of the glass sliding doors. Only then did I realize that she was being absolutely bombarded with the media. Flashing lights and cameras, people trying to get a comment out of her.

"Excuse me," I yelled, making sure I projected my sound loud enough for most of them to stop what they were doing and divert their attention to me.

It was me they were really looking for, and like a pack of hounds they showed no mercy.

"Mr Blake, what made you loose such an important business deal? And what is your opinion on this matter?" One reporter said.

"Who have you got to blame for this?" Cut in another.

"How to you feel about Mr Robinson Clyde nipping the deal before you?"

"Is Blake Industries falling behind? Is there something we are not being told?"

"How does it feel to loose a deal at this value?"

I felt like the millions of voices were bouncing into my brain and shooting out my ear again, because I couldn't hear a single thing they were saying.

Blocking the hell hounds out, I wrapped my fingers around Octavia's wrist and pulled her inside. They followed us inside and we rushed into the lift, as they were not allowed past reception.

"They've made such a huge deal out of it," Octavia complained.

"Uh huh." I watched the numbers on the lift ascend at a steady pace,

"Bell, are you okay?" Octavia asked, concerned at my lost expression.

"Yeah," I lied. I hate lying to her.

***

A/N: Finally updated! I was gonna write heaps of chapters then update publishing one after the other slowly but decided to write, publish, write, publish etc.

I'm so sick and sitting in maths and wanna kms. Cos I can't miss any more school cos I'm gonna miss two weeks when I go to Europe and we learn something new everyday.

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Kitty xoxo