Chapter 3 - The Brother Claire Remembered
Claire drove to Elliot’s office the following morning.
The reception area had marble floors, gold lettering, and a wall-sized photograph of Elliot standing beside a row of luxury homes.
His assistant asked whether she had an appointment.
“I’m his sister.”
The assistant’s expression suggested that being family was not enough.
Claire walked past her.
Elliot was inside his office, laughing with two managers. His smile vanished when he saw her.
“Can we talk privately?” Claire asked.
The managers left.
Elliot closed the glass door.
“You can’t walk in here like this.”
“Dad has cancer.”
“I know.”
“He sold his car.”
“That was unnecessary.”
“He needs surgery.”
“I already explained my position.”
Claire stared at the brother she had once admired.
When they were children, Elliot had carried her home after she fell from her bicycle. He had saved allowance money to buy her a birthday present. He had sat beside her during thunderstorms because she was afraid of the dark.
She searched his face for that person.
She could not find him.
“You could pay the bill without changing your life,” she said.
“You don’t understand how business works.”
“I understand that Dad gave you nearly everything he had.”
“And I turned it into a successful company.”
“You promised to repay him.”
Elliot’s eyes narrowed.
“That was a family arrangement.”
“It was a loan.”
“It was fifteen years ago.”
Claire walked toward the window. Elliot’s SUV was parked directly below.
“How much was the car?”
“That’s irrelevant.”
“How much?”
“Ninety-two thousand.”
Claire laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
“You told Dad you didn’t have money.”
“I said the business didn’t have money for his emergency.”
“He is your father.”
“And I’m not responsible for fixing every problem he has.”
Claire turned toward him.
“This isn’t every problem. This could be the last one.”
For a moment, Elliot’s face changed.
Fear appeared behind the arrogance.
Then he looked away.
May you like
Claire understood the truth.
Her brother was not heartless because he felt nothing. He was heartless because feeling something might require him to sacrifice.
