Chapter 7

Jim's POV

“So how many times do I need to make you understand we can't run both businesses in this manner, one of us has to leave the country to be able to take care of the other company in New York, and I'm not ready to leave, so it has to be you” I yell at Jonathan, my elder brother, but he seems unbothered by my shouts.

“Just because you've been introduced into the Dan Business does not give you the entitlement to ever speak to me in that manner. If you want me to hear whatever you have to say, then you need to get rid of the attitude because you can't keep talking to me in that manner” Jonathan says calmly and walks away from the office.

“What does he mean that I should speak to him calmly? The business would literally fall down if he doesn't take charge and all he cares about is my attitude and tone. I should have been the elder son and maybe then would I have been in charge of the businesses” I yell across the empty room trying to pour out my frustration

I leave the office and head into the kitchen to have my breakfast. Not only that, but I see a plate of waffles and scrambled eggs and I sit to eat.

“We need to get going Jim, else you will be late for your meeting” Nicholas tells me casually

“The audacity you have to address me in such a manner, we are not business partners, you're my driver, I pay your salary so you better watch the way you speak to me” I yell at him.

“If you're going to bring this attitude to work today then you should seat your ass at home because nobody would be willing to tolerate such arrogance” Jonathan says to me and I walk away

“Don't worry about his attitude, he'll come around” I hear Jonathan tell Nicholas, the driver.

I go to my room and take deep breaths to calm myself down. I admit I did too much with the way I spoke to the driver, but I think it's safe to say he crossed his boundaries, I mean he did cross his boundaries by talking to me in that manner even though we grew up together and all of that.

After few minutes of pacing around my room to calm my temper, I decide it's best to go to the office and look at what my brother was doing.

On arriving at the office, I make a mental note to apologize to Nicholas. I see Nicholas standing by the car and I take it as my cue to apologize to him for my uncalled rudeness.

“Hey man” I say to Nicholas

“Good morning Mr. Jim” he replies formally, and I knew it was because of the way that I addressed him.

“I'm sorry about earlier, I shouldn't have crossed my boundaries. You're part of my family, and I'm sorry I made you feel like you are not a part of my family from the beginning” I apologize.

“Yeah it's all good man” he says and I smile

“I'm going to find Jonathan” I tell Nicholas and walk away.

I head into the office building and the elevator takes me to the third floor where my office and that of my brother's is located.

I walk into his office and see him seated casually on his chair facing the desk

“Jonathan” I say, and he looks up at me

“Yes Jim” he replies calmly like the whole incident at home did not happen and that's what pisses me off, his ability to always remain calm even when everything around him goes haywire and even when he is being disrespected.

“So what are we going to do about the business in New York” I ask

“I don't hear an apology for the way you addressed me earlier” he says, taking his eyes off his desks

“An apology, you must be joking” I laugh

“Then get ready to leave the Dan business and start one of your own because I won't tolerate rudeness and arrogance from any member of staff” he says bluntly

“I'm no staff, I'm family” I sigh

“Family at home, staff in the office”

“You can't be serious”

“That's still not an apology”

“Jonathan!” I yell.

“Leave my office this instant, I'll send you your sack letter” Jonathan stated. “Before you go, you'll be seeing less of Mr. Steve, I sent him to New York to look over our business, since he's one of our trusted men, and he has been working with us since” He concludes.

“That's great” I mutter before leaving his office.

I head outside the building when I spot a tired Nicholas munching on some French fries. I walk up to him and eat some fries with him.

“What happened in there man?” He asks me.

“Well I think Jonathan just fired me” I state

“Let me guess, you got there, started with the attitude, and you ended up fired?” He concludes.

“Well something like that”

“This is the third time this month you're getting fired, very soon Jonathan would stop hiring you back”

“I don't think he can”

“Well don't push him to the point of daring him, or you might just get shocked”

“He will get over it and hire me back”

“All you had to do was apologize, apologize like you did with me…. Say the words I'm sorry. Be a man and own up to your mistakes, no need to be a pussy”

“Yeah maybe some other day, perhaps you're nothing like Jonathan. Jonathan is him, and you're you, it's easier to apologize to you than to him. Nobody sees it, but my big brother got some pride”

“I am easier to apologize to cause I'm a driver?”

“Hell no man, the way you think at times makes me question your sanity” I giggle

“I question mine at times too" he utters, giggling.

“I'll catch you at home, I need to go rest and maybe down a bottle of wine or three”

“Keep some for me” he says, and I smile at him before walking over to my car.

I get home and head to the bar, I grab three bottles of whiskey and decide to go to my room.

I down the first bottle of whiskey and I don't feel tipsy, so I down the second and decide on carrying the third bottle with me as I take a drive down town to clear my head.

I stop by a store for reasons I know not.

With the bottle of whiskey in my hands, I get down from my car and walk into the store.