Clarise
“What the fuck are you on about?” Earl asks me, going up to his feet clumsily, the bottle of whisky in his hands. “Are you on drugs, Clarise? Because it sure as hell looks like it.”
“Stop pretending you have no idea what I’m talking about, asshole,” I threaten him, turning around and locking the door of his study. I take the key off the lock and curl my fingers around it, gripping it so hard that my knuckles turn white.
If you think I’m putting myself in danger, don’t worry; my brother is a class-A asshole, but he’s nothing more than a coward. And, judging by the expression that took over his face as I locked the door, that cowardice is getting the better of him right now. And that’s exactly what I want.
Feel afraid, brother, feel very afraid.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he tells me, almost as an insult. Sitting down on the leather chair behind his desk, he refills his glass of whisky and downs the whole thing at once. Running one hand through his hair, he then smacks his lips together and looks at me in complete silence, waiting for me to say something.
“Why’s Connor leaving?” I ask him, taking one step toward the desk and placing both my hands on top of it. “Tell me, and make it quick.”
“Connor’s leaving?” he asks me, widening his eyes in genuine surprise. Jesus, what if he isn’t the one pushing Connor out? What if I made a mistake? But no… He might not know that Connor’s leaving, but there’s something he isn’t telling me. And I want to know what it is.
“Yes, he’s leaving. And I want to know why,” I insist, staring him down.
“Oh, are you sad you’re going to lose your boyfriend, ‘sis?” he taunts me, refilling his glass once more. “You must be so heartbroken right now. Are you going to cry? You can cry if you want.”
“You’re the who’s going to be crying if you don’t spill the beans.” I lower my voice menacingly, making it clear that I might do good on my threats and give him a serious beating.
“It’s quite simple, ‘sis,” he leans over the desk, placing his elbows on it and looking at me with that mocking smile of his. “I outsmarted the both of you. You thought you could plot against me behind my back, didn’t you? Well, that’s over now, Clarise, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
“What are you saying?” I ask, growing more impatient by the second.
“You still haven’t got it, huh? I have proof that the two of you were fucking. That’s right… I’ve got footage of the two of you going at it in the church. And, hm, you guys really seemed into it. Tell me, Clarise, is he a good lay? Because you sure as hell screamed your heart out.”
“You fucking --” I start, gritting my teeth together and walking around the desk. Grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, I ball my hands into fists and I prepare to punch the living shit out of him.
“Calm the fuck down, Clarise. I’m the one holding the cards right now. Keep on acting like such a bitch and I’ll expose you to the whole city. Don’t think that I won’t do it; I’ll ruin Connor, I’ll ruin you, and I’ll ruin whoever gets in my way.”
“I’m your sister…” I tell him in disbelief, my grip on his shirt growing weak. I never really got along with Earl, but this is too much. To think that my own brother’s blackmailing me… how did this happen?
“What do I care if you’re my sister?” he spits back at me. “You’re nothing more than a common slut, Clarise, but your party ways have finally screwed you over. Now go back to whatever hole you crawled out of, and leave me the fuck alone.”
Everyone has their limits, and I’ve just reached mine.
This time I don’t even bother with slapping him; no, I cock my arm back and let my closed fist fly straight into his face. It connects so hard that Earl falls out from his chair, clutching his nose as bright blood starts dripping out of his nose.
“You fucking bitch!” he cries out in pain, trying to get up. Staring down at the pathetic excuse of a man that’s my brother, I place my high-heel on his chest and keep him down on the floor; reaching for his glass of whisky, I grab it and throw its contents all over him.
“Here, have a celebratory drink, asshole,” I tell him coldly, feeling ice running through my veins. Finally taking my foot off of his chest, I make for the door and unlock it. Before I leave, though, I turn around to look into his eyes one final time.
“If you think I’m giving up on everything I’ve ever wanted, you’re out of your mind. I won’t give up on the company, I won’t give up on our family, and I sure as hell won’t give up on Connor.”
“Yeah?” he asks me, that mocking tone still in his voice. I guess he still hasn’t learned his lesson. I almost go back just so I can punch him again, but this time I manage to restrain myself. Nothing good will come out of that. This is a war that won’t be won with fists. This is a war that’ll be won with brains… And, unfortunately for my brother, my brains are much bigger than his.
“What are you going to do about it, Clarise?” he taunts me, and I can see his teeth painted in bright red blood as he grins. Not really an improvement on his ugly mug, but I did my best.
“I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, Earl. I’m going to make sure you’ll never run the family business. You’re done.”
With that, I bolt out of his office, my brain working at full speed.
I might not have started this war, but I sure as hell am going to finish it.