Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“I still can’t believe your family owns ITM,” Brad says. I can hear the awe in his voice. “They began envisioning and then building computers in the 40s. They finally got things right but it took them until the 60s to do it.” Brad gives me a little history lesson about my own family’s company. It’s terrible that I don’t know this information already. I really should know it but when I was with my grandparents they never talked about work. They wanted their time with me to be about family. It was always about being together and having fun. Sometimes I think they were trying to make up for what my father lacked.
When I lost them, I didn’t want to know anything about the company because it reminded me too much of them. I’d lost them both within a short period of time. You never think you’re going to lose the ones you love; you always think there’s plenty of time. Looking back on it now, I realize I should have asked my grandparents more about the business. That I should have made it a priority to know about my family’s company. Seeing my name on these papers makes me feel a little foolish. All this time, this was right under my nose and of course my father hid it from me.
“Yeah,” I manage to answer Brad even though my mind is racing in all different directions. I didn't get the technology bug like the rest of the family had on my father's side. I do remember doodling our company’s logo on a scratch pad when I was about thirteen. I would always see it around. My grandma found it and put it in a frame. That became a thing she did with most of my work. Whether it was something as simple as a logo or a larger picture that I’d drawn, she’d hang it around the house. Once she’d even used one at a launch for a new ITM laptop. She had it imprinted on all of the boxes. I’d been so excited. It made me feel as though I’d been a part of it.
“Are you reading this?” Brad asks, breaking me from my memories. “The shares are yours.” My eyes scan over the document again. They’d given me my father’s shares or what should have been my father’s shares.
“When I graduate high school.” I point out the stipulation to Brad.
“You could graduate tomorrow if you wanted. You have the credits.” I turn in his lap to look at him. I’m about to ask how he knows that little tidbit of information, but duh, he’s a hacker. He’s right, though. The classes I’m taking now are to make sure I can get into the best school possible. They’re not the ones I need to really follow my dreams to be an art major. That’s what I want more than anything.
“He’ll never let this happen.” I can’t see my father handing the shares over to me. I keep reading the documents. He only oversees the money that is put into my account quarterly. No wonder the man is nice to me and not my mom. I’m the cash cow.
“I’m rich.” It dawns on me.
“Mel, you’ve always been rich.”
“No, I’ve always been under my father’s thumb.” My mom is too, a little, but still I can’t find myself to be angry at her. “What happens if I die?” I gasp as I realize what I said. Brad’s arm that I hadn't realized had wrapped around my waist tightens.
“You think your father would kill you?”
“Maybe I watch too many True Crime shows.” I'm honestly not sure what my father is capable of.
“I notice you didn't say no.”
“This is a lot to take in. But do I think my father could kill me? I would hope not. Do I think my father loves me? No.” That’s a question that I can give a solid answer to. I click out of the folder because I don’t know what to do with it. I need time to process all of this information.
“Mel.” Brad says my name softly.
I turn to look at him. “I’m eighteen. I don’t know what to do with a company like this.”
“You don’t have to take it. I’m sure you could sell your shares to your aunts and uncles.”
“No!” He raises his eyebrows at my half shouted response. “They left it to me. I can’t just sell it. They wanted me to have it.” I drop my head down onto Brad’s chest, burying my face in his neck while secretly breathing him in. Something about being in his arms is comforting. “I could take it all away from him.”
“You could,” he agrees. His hands roam over my back. My eyes fall closed. “Hurt him like he’s hurt my mom.” I sit up to look at him. “Doesn't that make me as bad as him?”