Chapter 30 Tim
Brielle's POV
I ended up crossing the street. I walked all the way into the building, it was as if something was pulling me. I went to the receptionist's desk in the foyer. She was typing away and seemed to be my age. She looked up at me with a smile and was taken aback a bit due to my partially bruised face since it was healing.
"How may I help you?" she asked.
"I'm looking for Timothy Marcus, I'm his sister," I said.
"He is in a meeting at the moment, but you can wait for him on his floor." she smiled.
"What floor is that?" I asked.
"Twenty-one."
"Thank you," I smiled politely before making my way to the elevators. The building inside was gorgeous. I wonder how all this happened. It cannot be from his studies alone. Yet, I was intrigued by all this. I should be afraid and walk out of this building, to protect myself, but I'm going to him.
I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the twenty-first floor. The elevator would stop along the way as people got in and stepped out. And then finally the elevator reached the twenty-first floor and I stepped out. There was a long hallway with offices, glass walls and I put one foot in front of the other as I walked. There was a huge sitting area, with sofas and recliners, as well as a coffee table. The colors were gray and red. I loved the theme. But then I looked to my left, there were men and a few women seated at the long table, the screen light shone and then there he was, seated at the end of the boardroom table, talking as if he had this charisma about him, drawing people in. He seemed handsome sitting there in this black suit. His hair sleeked to the back, but if only these people knew what man he truly was to his stepsister...what he had done.
As I lingered in the hallway, staring, he looked at me and stumbled with his words. I couldn't hear anything, but I could see. His eyes were huge, and then he looked at those people again, continuing further. I sucked in a breath, bracing myself for the aftermath of why I'm here. I took in my surroundings. I still felt like I had the confidence to take him on. I had never seen him this way before, and it was far from the person who showed the evil side. Did he have a good side too?
The glass door to the boardroom opened, and the people exited. Some were still talking to Tim. His eyes found mine again, they lingered on me as he spoke to a man, and then he excused himself and walked all the way towards me. His brows furrowed, "What the hell are you doing here?" he hissed softly at me, checking to see if anyone could hear him. He stood up straight and adjusted his suit jacket that was buttoned.
"I am here to talk. I don't want you anywhere near me. You have seen the aftermath that you left me with. I don't understand why you hate me this much. I am old enough to take care of myself and live my life the way I see fit. I will not allow a man to beat me and push me around the way that you used to do when I was young. What is it that you cannot let go of me? You had to find me in order to inflict that pain on me again," I held his gaze. I was determined this time to be heard and stand my ground.
"I don't owe you an explanation because you and your mother ruined things. I wanted it to be my father and I. You took that away. He was never the same person after my mother died, and I was the one who was supposed to save him. But you both came along," he said.
"Well, I am here to say that we are not at fault. I don't even know where my mother is because, as you know, she left. She left me with your father. You stayed away because of college, and I was so happy that I didn't get to see you anymore. I ran away because I didn't deserve that treatment from your father and not from you," I hissed.
There was a hint of sadness in his eyes, but they quickly changed to a glare, his eyes darkened, his jaw clenching. "When he heard that you ran away, I went back home and helped my father look for you. I wondered about you for years and I worried." he hissed as he backed away, realizing what he said. "Look... I cared in that moment about you, I was angry with you because you made us worry." his eyes softened. "Now, that I found you... All that anger at what you did, made me lash out."
"That is still not an excuse to show up at my apartment and hit me. Did your anger flare all this up that you took me for a punching bag?" I asked.
"Now is not the right time to be talking about these things. I have work to do or shall I ask security to escort you out?" he asked as he glared at me.
"So, you can confidently come to my apartment but here I am, and you want to throw me out of this building. Why? Is it because you're afraid I will make a scene, especially since everyone has been staring at my bruised face? I hope you admire this face because it won't be the last that you see of me."
"I certainly hope not," the sides of his lips curled up slightly before disappearing.
"Is everything okay?" the blonde that I saw in the articles now stood beside Tim, her hand protective on his arm as she smiled at me, and then concern etched on her face as she looked at me. Tim just stared at me.
"Yes, everything is okay," he answered as he looked over at her.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "I'm Sophia," she extended her hand to me. I took her hand and shook it.
"I'm fine," I smiled politely, as I removed my hand, "Brie."
"Nice to meet you. Are you here for a job?" she asked. "I'm recruiting an assistant for myself and if you apply, you can come to my office for an interview," she said. Was she pitying me because of my bruises and my attire? I was comfortable in a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers.
"She has a job, and she was leaving...we have things to do," Tim chimed in. He wanted to get rid of me, and it was actually funny how the tables had turned. He was afraid that I would say anything.
"I'm his stepsister," I smiled.
Tim clenched his jaw, scowling at me, "Is she the one you spoke about?" Her eyes lit up, "He spoke so highly about you but was worried when you ran away from home, that something had happened to you. I am not going to take no for an answer, we need to hang out," she said. I was taken aback by what she said, she reached out to me, grabbed my wrist and pulled me as she led me down the hallway. "Its so great to finally meet you. There was not a day that Tim didn't think about you. He even has a picture of you on his desk," she giggled.
"He does?" I was stunned. Am I in the right building?
"Yes, that is how much he loves you. I guess being away from him for so long made you forget who he truly was," she glanced over at me.
"I suppose?" I didn't know what was going on. Am I being pranked? I looked around, taking in the view of the cafeteria, it had a nice wooden structure to it.
She led me to a table, and I sat across from her. "So, what would you like to order?" she asked, as she took the menu that was on the table.
"No thanks, I have something to eat already," I said.
"Maybe some coffee?"
"No, thank you. So, how is he? I haven't seen him in such a long time. I don't really know him as I used to," I said. I wanted to find out what he was like now, if she knew what type of man he was.
"Well, he always spoke about you. He would go for an hour every night and look for you. Hoping that he would find you. He said you always wrote, and it was annoying for him, but that’s what siblings are for. I'm just happy that you are okay and alive because now that makes him happy. As for the person that he is, he genuinely cares not only for family but for people and good causes out there. We met each other when he started this business. He bought it and this business took off. I have been by his side ever since he asked me to be an executive director for him. He proposed to me last year and I accepted. I don't know if I would've ever found such an amazing man who is committed. I came from a home where there was abuse and Tim helped me get through some tough moments. Have you seen your father yet?" she asked.
That was interesting, he surely never told her the truth, "No, I haven't."
"Well, you can see him over dinner tomorrow night. I'm sure he will be thrilled to see you again," she smiled.
"I can't make it. I have things to do, and I have a fiancé that needs me. I'm sure he will be glad to see me. But I can't make it," I lied. Fear crept in with all those words he spat in my face when I was young. What would he say if he found out that I worked in a cafeteria? He would make things tough for me and say that he told me so.
"Oh, that is such a shame. I hope that you will come over next time," she said.
"I really must go." I said as I stood up, and then we said our goodbyes before I left.
I walked down the hallway as fast as I could. I thought I had the confidence with Tim, but I don't feel like I have that same confidence with my stepfather. He was the one that broke me the most with his words. But I had to find my mother. I won't know what happened to her if I don't search for her or find some leads on a case if there is. I just need to find her.