Page 149 of Blue Gold

Not about to waste more time on her bad acting, I passed them and walked inside the house. Just as I predicted, they were hosting a big party full of stuck-up guests and waiters walking between them and serving champagne.

Charming.

“Huh? They invited you after all?” my brother spat out with the most idiotic expression glued to his face. One that was more suitable for a goat than for a medical student.

If he were still one, that is.

“Looks like you spilled some wine on your shirt, brother,” I said, tapping his shoulder before passing him on my way to the main room, where I could hear Father’s voice coming from. There, right at the center, he stood, blabbering his mouth about whatever bullshit made him feel self-important. But the moment he noticed me, he shut up, and his eyes shot daggers at me from across the room.

What a pitiful man.

Mother, Catherine, and Andrew were right behind me, their stares digging a hole in my back, yet it didn’t stop me from approaching Father with my head held high.

“Why are you here?” he hissed, voice low, as if not to hurt the family prestige.

“I can either do it here, in front of everyone—” I looked around the busy room before my eyes went back to him. “—or in private. It’s your choice.”

He gritted his teeth, his jaw tensing like he was holding in a nasty fart, before he cocked his head aside, telling me to follow him.

Inside his office, he didn’t waste a minute before pouring himself a full glass of scotch, as if he couldn’t stand the sight of me without booze to ease it.

“So? Came to beg for your job?” he snarled, an ugly smirk glued to his lips.

“Not at all.” I brushed a hand over my suit, keeping my posture straight. “I’m here to ask if you’ve had any contact with Elliot.”

His whole face twisted with displeasure at the mention of Elliot’s name.

“Why would I waste a moment of my time on that thing?” he barked, spit flying from his mouth, some of it left to hang on his chin.

Lovely.

Ignoring the spit dangling there like a monkey on a tree, I asked, “So you didn’t do anything?”

He looked at me with satisfaction. “Why?” He took a long sip of his drink. “Did that slut leave you?”

I stayed quiet when he huffed.

“Whatever that whore did, I had nothing to do with it.”

Not letting him get to me, I stayed focused.

“There’s no need to get obscene. I only came here to find out something. But since you confirmed you had nothing to do with Elliot, I’ll leave.”

“Aren’t you tired of acting this way?”

I scowled. “What way?”

“This.” He waved his hand at me. “This rebellious nonsense you’ve decided to stick to. What is it that you’re after, more money? A better job? Is that why you suddenly turned your back on me?”

I didn’t plan to get angry, and yet, just then, my body turned rigid as my eyes widened at his accusation.

“Turned my back on you?” I hissed, shocked by his audacity. “Throughout my life, I’ve done everything to make you proud. I excelled in every role you assigned to me and went above and beyond in every task, no matter how questionable it was. I bit my tongue whenever you humiliated me in front of others and laughed at my expense. I allowed you to control my life, to push and rule me, and in the end, I was the one who turned his back on you?”

His jaw twitched before he pointed his finger at my face. “You know very well what you did.”

“What did I do?” I asked, pushing his hand out of my way and getting closer. “Tell it to my face. What. Did. I. Do?”

“You turned into a homo,” he hissed, his words dripping with disgust.