Addicted To Greed

by Catherine Putsche

  “Bro ody, slow down darling, I am not even sure what an iPod is, if you go and get changed out of your uniform we will talk about it over dinner later, deal?”

  “Okay, I’ve invited Timothy over for dinner tonight is that okay? His mum says she can pick him up around nine.” “No problem, it will be nice to get the opportunity to meet with his mother.”

  Carter shouted out, “That’s not fair, I never get to invite anyone of my friends over for dinner, mum why him and not me?” Before Ella could answer Broody blurted out, “That s because, your friends have to be home before it gets dark because you are a little dweeb, you’re still a child, who pisses the bed, far from a teenager yet like me haha, that’s if you ever grow up to be as big and strong as me you little baby always moaning to mama!”

  “That’s enough Bro ody, stop teasing your brother, go and get changed out of your uniform, or we won’t be discussing any iPod, do you understand?”

  Ella saw Carter making faces at Broody, teasing him back. Broody reluctantly retreated towards the staircase, watching his mother’s stern expression. Ella wondered how important this iPod gadget was to her eldest son as he didn’t make any further attempts to taunt his brother. Was she blackmailing her own son? Things had become really strained between the boys since the money came, who gets what? Who gets the biggest bedroom? Ella noticed that they both seemed to bicker more than usual and this was something that struck her as strange.

  “As for you my little man, go and get changed and come straight back downstairs I have something to tell you!” She was so glad the boys had their own separate bedrooms, they were beginning to clash too much for her liking, maybe it was their ages she didn’t know, maybe the new school, or maybe how their little life’s had transformed in a short period of time. She knew she needed to get more hands on with the boys and thought the best time to do this is when Dylan came to stay, maybe they should all have a holiday away somewhere, have some family bonding time together.

  “I brought these Ella, hope you approve?”

  “Oh you a complete star, funny with all this moving, it’s the one thing I forgot to stock up on!” “I am not surprised with the boys, Anna, and this magnificent house you’ve managed to transform it in no time. I grabbed a couple more things from the store; I thought I could cook the boys a risotto for dinner.”

  “You’re the best do you know that? So have you given any more thought as to what you’re gonna do with your inheritance, you can’t sit on it forever, why don’t you buy a place like this?”

  “ No I haven’t, I am enjoying living off the interest for now, considering a new car and a new apartment in White Mann’s Dorf, but it’s really hard to believe the moneys there and daddy isn’t any longer, in a way I guess I feel guilty about spending it!”

  Ella noticed the tears in Destiny’s eyes and a huge lump came up to the back of her throat. “I miss him too, I just wished he could of confided in us and told us about his illness, things would have been so different between us all don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, definitely, I never thought I’d miss anybody this much. I’d give any one of my limbs away for him to walk through that door right now, to see his bright wide smile, minus Felicity of course, I always hated that plastic cow.”

  “Oh my god talking of Felicity I forgot to tell you after you and Chase left Wallace’s offices the day of the Will, she turned up just as I was leaving demanding to know what we all inherited, pointing and shouting at Wallace with such venom I couldn’t believe it, then she turned on me and I soon put her in her rightful place!”

  “Your joking right, how could you forget something like that? Why on earth would she do that? What Happened?” “I am not entirely sure to be honest, but as far as I know daddy had her belongings removed from their house in the states, I have no idea why? There must have been something going on we didn’t know about. You should have seen her, she looked like shit, if you’d stayed a few minutes longer, and you’d have witnessed it yourself.”

  “I would have given an arm and a leg, to se e her look like shit; I have never seen her looking anything but perfect and beautiful, so much so, I wondered how much daddy spent on her plastic surgery?”

  “Her platinum hair was matted with dark brown roots showing, hadn’t looked liked she had brushed it in days, her face was so consorted with rage she almost looked animal like to some extent, I couldn’t hold myself back, when started to insult us!”

  “What do you mean insult us, what the hell did she say?” “She called us filthy brats, because daddy left us some inheritance, as far as I am aware, she got eighteen million and wasn’t happy, she wanted what was ours, she kept on saying I am still Wilhelm’s wife, I am entitled to half of his money. Anyway me and Wallace put the cow in her place, when she insulted us, I flew for her, Wallace at first held me back, but I managed to crack her face with such force, she fell down to her knees. I can’t tell you just how much satisfaction this gave me, to see her face, looking down towards the floor. All of a sudden Wallace went to her aid, picking her up, demanding she vacate the premises immediately. He even called for security a few moments later, the security guys arrived within seconds and escorted her out of the building kicking and screaming and her last words were that she would see me in court.”

  “Oh my god , how could all this slip your mind? I’d have given an arm and a leg to have been there. Who the hell does she think she is calling us filthy brats? I am so glad you slapped her; I wouldn’t have been able to stop and would have probably got arrested for attempted murder. My god what a cow, the only reason we tolerated her in the first place was for daddy sake!”

  “ Yeah I know, anyway after she was escorted out of the building, I asked Wallace if her threats would stand up in court and he assured me there wasn’t and what came as a further shock apparently when daddy married her, he had her sign a pre nuptial agreement before hand stating that upon his death she would only get two percent of his wealth and the eighteen million she was left was more than ample.”

  “ A pre nuptial agreement and she wants more of daddy’s wealth? Is she crazy? she doesn’t have a leg to stand on. What on earth does she want? There must be so much that we don’t know about Ella, I dread to think and what about our half sister? It was strange that we never really got to see her don’t you think?”

  “I agree, there’s obviously a lot more going on than we know about and I am not sure where this all leads, there’s just too many questions and not enough answers, not yet anyway. I was also given three large envelopes addressed to you, myself, and Chase, Wallace told me that daddy wanted me to distribute the envelopes when I felt the time was right with me been the eldest and all that crap, I haven even had the time to look at them, but here’s yours, I’m sorry, I should’ve got round to giving you and Chase them sooner.”

  Destiny looked at the large envelope in confusion and wondered what they all contained, “Daddy left us these? What could be inside?”

  “I couldn’t bring myself to open mine, I wish you more luck, I know you are the bravest, go ahead see what it is.”

  Ella could see Destiny was reluctant at first but then after a few moments curiosity got the better of her. Ella mulled it over for sometime in silence, was she doing the right thing? Instinct told her so; she hoped she was right this time.

  Destiny opened the envelope carefully avoiding looking in to it. “So is this my surprise?”

  “Yeah, but I also have you a little something else.”

  Ella handed her a small sealed white envelope.

  Destiny opened the envelope and gasped, “Oh my God, there’s no way I can possible accept this, it was meant for you and the boys!”

  “ Please Destiny, I insist, I just wanna make things a little fairer, I´ll never understand why daddy left you significantly less than Chase and I and I know Chase wants to offer you some of his aswel.”

  Destiny found the nearest chair as she could feel her feet trembling. “ Daddy was punishing me for not carr
ying on at university I reckon, that’s why he left me considerably less money, not only that we also fell out and didn’t speak to each other since and now it’s all too late, it’s just one big mess I can never resolve because he’s gone, without any warning. I wanna thank you Ella for offering me this generous amount, but I can’t possibly accept, I have more than enough money than I could of ever imagined and I know I won’t be able to spend it all, not in this lifetime anyway, I hope you understand?”

  Ella took a few moments to reply, “Okay I understand, I see your point, with your stubbornness I know there’s no point pursuing this, but the moneys there if you change your mind.”

  Ella knew it would be pointless to persist as she knew her sister well enough to know that when she made her mind up on something, she generally stuck with it and she was far too stubborn to convince her to change her mind.

  “I’ll never change my mind Ella, I guess you know me well enough by now and I will tell Chase the same, it’s a kind gesture from you both but I couldn’t possibly accept. Anyway, on a lighter note have you thought anymore about this holiday we were all supposed to be going on, you know the one we planned before the money even came into our lives, you me the boys and Anna, or have you forgotten already, it really wouldn’t surprise me in the least with all that’s happened recently?”

  “ No I haven’t forgotten, just a little preoccupied, why don’t we all sit down and plan it over dinner tonight, I think we are all in need of a holiday, a long one at that.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more .”

  Ella could see Destiny peeking in to the large yellow envelope, unable to hide her curiosity she asked, “C’mon Destiny don’t leave me in suspense any longer, what’s inside?”

  “It looks like a journal of some kind, in fact there appears to be two, one with my name on it, and one with daddy’s name on it, Jesus, I don’t think I can bring myself to read them right now!”

  “I am sure you’ll find the right time. C’mon let’s go downstairs and open the champagne and get cracking with this risotto of yours, before we all die from starvation.”

  At that moment Carter ran in to the room and asked, “Mum, I have changed out of my uniform, what is you wanted to tell me?”

  “Oh sweetheart, I have been in touch with Dylan’s grandma and I have arranged for him to come over this weekend.” “Oh mum you’re the best; I can’t wait to see him, what times he coming? And how long can he stay? “We pick him up on Friday tea time and he can stay with us until Sunday evening as long as it’s not too late as he has school just like you the next day.”

  “That’s wicked; I can’t wait to show him my new bedroom. Can he sleep on my bunk bed?

  “I don’t see why not, so long as you’re a good boy all week and do all your home work on time.”

  “Okay, cool, I’ll even tidy my bedroom!” “Good boy , but just remember he maybe a little quiet at first as he’s been through a lot and he’s now living back with his grandma.”

  “I understand, I won’t mention anything unless he does ok.” “Hey Carter, aunty Destiny’s cooking a risotto tonight, I want you down by six at the latest, can you let Brody know sweetie?” Destiny and Ella made their way down to the kitchen, to start the preparations for dinner, over a few glasses of wine. Ella thought she may even find the courage to open her yellow envelope, but she couldn’t fight the fear that she would break down and weep again.

  Destiny stood in awe of the giant sized open kitchen and dining area that faced the west of the building, she noticed it boasted five large french doors led out onto the masses of land beyond.

  “What you gonna do with all your acres of land, you could fit ten football pitches on it at least?” “I am not sure yet, I thought about transfo rming some of it in to a patio area, with a grill, the rest can remain natural and wild for now, the boys love it as they can play hide and seek in the long grass.”

  “Well it’s not like you’ve a mad rush on to change the superstructure is it. I´d defiantly keep it the way it is if it were mine, it’s beautiful to be at one with nature?”

  Destiny turned her head towards the kitchen area and asked curiously.

  “And what about all these wonderful work counters and cabinets were they already in the house when you bought it?” “Yes, Lord Rickety had it moderni sed several years before, I bought the cooker and fridges new though, didn’t like the thought of cooking with someone else’s appliances.”

  “You snob you, well it’s not like you couldn’t afford it now is it? With this they both broke down in to fits of giggles forgetting the money and their daddy momentarily. Before they started cooking they enjoyed a few glasses of red, it was simply delicious. Ella thought it was nice to see Destiny relax a little and it was also good for her to have her little sis here, how she missed adult conversation sometimes, raising three children made you focus on them and forget about yourself, get lost in their lives not really having one of your own.

  “We should do this more often, h ow I have missed your company Destiny, the boys really love having you around, now you’re finally here I don’t want you to leave, promise you’ll stay at least for a week?”

  “Well if you put it like that, how could I resist, since the money came I gave up my job at the consultancy, I was so fed up of the nine to five bullshit, it gave me great pleasure to hand my notice in, you should of seen old Stanley’s face, I thought he was going to have a fit or some kind of attack! I’d have loved to have captured that moment on camera, as much as I was tempted to get my mobile out and take a snap shot I thought better of it, I didn’t want to rub it in too much, rumors were already flying round about my inheritance and you never know if I need a reference again in the future, I know old Stanley would give me a glowing one.”

  “Wow , I had no idea, I am so sorry I have been wrapped up with signing paperwork and securing this house, I really didn’t give any thought to anything else. Hey well done for quitting I know how much you hated that job, lets drink on that.”

  “I presume you gave up your job at the boutique, how did Queen Elisabeth take that?” “She actually got me into her office and asked me again if I wanted her to accept my resignation, can you believe that? She said if I had wrote it in haste she would definitely reconsider and forget all about it.”

  “I guess it was hard for her to believe in all the years you worked for her as a dogs body you were actually leaving, did you explain to her, you no longer needed her pittance? Her minimum wage to survive and exist in this life any longer, that you had been left some money only she could ever dream about?”

  “I never put it as brutally as that, although I can tell you I was tempted, I told her that our father had left me a lot of money in his will and I no longer needed to work, although it had been a great honor to work for her over the last seventeen years. I even thanked her for been the greatest employer, I guess she wasn’t always the old dragon I made her out to be, after all, without that job I wouldn’t of been able to put food into the boys mouths for all those years, I felt I owed her some gratitude and she was extremely flexible about the children, I don’t know if I would of ever found another employer like her to be honest, I guess I will miss her in a way, even some of her old fashioned militant ways.”

  “Oh Ella, your such the forgiving type when it suits, a regular Floris Nightindale, I admire your style, that was a very honorable thing to do. Let’s raise our glasses to that!”

  “Chin Chin, lets drink on being rich and jobless for once in our lives, it feels good don’t you think? I never thought I’d be sitting here in my very own wonderful house toasting this rare occasion.”

  “ All Curtsey of daddy let’s not forget, otherwise we wouldn’t be sat here now, he made this all possible, lets drink on him and hope wherever he is he is, he’s at peace.”

  Ella wondered if this was a sign of Destiny finally growing up and putting the past behind her, forgiving Daddy once and for all. She really hoped so.

  Ella’s raised
her glass, “To daddy thanks for making all this possible, we miss you and I hope wherever you are you can hear us!”

  Ella finally plucked up enough courage to go upstairs and open her yellow envelope, while Destiny started preparing her risotto in solitude, the way she preferred.

  It took Ella a few moments and a few deep breaths and finally she opened it, it contained three journals, one with her name on it, one with her fathers and another name she had never heard of before, the name was Benjamin Pearson, could this be an ancestor she didn’t know about? Who was he? She opened this first, and saw a picture of a cute baby boy, upon further inspection she noticed the baby looked like he had some form of Down syndrome, poor little might, who was he? Without a second thought she opened her journal and in it there was a letter explaining who the boy was, she could hardly believe what she was reading.

  Dearest Ella, I hope you find three journals within the contents of this envelope, it was a hard decision for me to make at the height of my illness, I just hope it’s one you can understand.

  I have enclosed the journal of Benjamin Pearson, my son, who was born with Down syndrome, he is a beautiful boy and such an inspiration to me, I hope in time he will be to you. Welcome sweetheart to your new brother who was born a little different to you, Chase and Destiny. You may be wondering why I haven’t told you about him before now, I wasn’t hiding him away, I was simply protecting him from a cruel world, I doubt he would ever understand in which there is not much acceptance to people who are a little different. I couldn’t bear for him to be ridiculed and taunted, so he lives with people who have a similar condition, where there is acceptance, tolerance, and understanding. He likes fishing and the great outdoors, we go fishing every other weekend and his favorite spot is Ilkley Bay, down by the harbor. Another love of his is football although he professes he needs more practice; I can see I have a potential star on my hands. Felicity is his mother unfortunately and she hasn’t made any contact with him for over seven years, embarrassed of his condition, thinking it would cramp her style if she was to be seen with him, she has never accepted him and his condition.