Rejected and Insecure

Not a monster

CHRIS

I stood in the balcony watching the black jeep leave. 

"Finally freedom!" I grinned, I ran in the hall, smiling to myself, no dumbass and jerks anywhere, I'm no more scared to fall on my brothers cause they're gone! Gone for movie, grandfather gave them permission, they've been really good these past days after Zack got s***k actually. Just five more days to go and everything will be back to Normal! 

Running in the hall is breaking a rule, but who cares I can't hear any footstep like thirty feet away, I've gotten really good at hearing this past few days. 

I had to hide from my bullies to avoid trouble even stopped speaking, I'm done with half of the books in the huge library, I've learnt new stuffs. 

I plopped on the couch, reaching for my novel, I'm almost done with this, I quickly finish the last few pages.

"Aww too bad." I Mumble, "test of the twins" pretty interesting but s******c at the end. This is like the 200th book I'm ending this past week. 

I grabbed the remote and turn the TV on, I scroll through the channels till I found this movie about some muscular dude in water with scale, Aquaman! 

I loved the actions, it is so beautiful! The way the sea looked like and oh there's this Lady with red hair really pretty. 

"Rinnnng!" The home phone went off. 

I reach for it without taking my gaze from the addicting movie. 

"Hello?"

"My greetings minster, I'll like to speak to Mr Jackson." The person sounded old but firm. 

"My apologies Sir, Mr Jackson is away for a meeting." I replied. 

"Ah..." He sigh.

"I can deliver whatever message it is to Mr Jackson you can trust me." 

"Oh thank goodness, just tell him DT and give him this number, 09*******" 

"Yes sir, it was a pleasure speaking with you." I said.

"Wait! To who do I owe this respect?" He asked.

"Christopher Benjamin Jackson sir." I replied trying to sound polite. 

"Oh, the pleasure is mine. I really hope to see you in person some day." 

"Have a nice day Sir." I Hung up sighing in relief. I quickly jot down the number before I forgot. 

I couldn't continue the movie I was so nervous, I grabbed the sheet, pick up courage and walk to grandfather's office. 

The last time I entered here, I came out in pieces, the flashback was enough to send shivers down my spine. 

Come on Chris I know you can do it, I took a deep breath before knocking, I waited for a while before knocking again, but no response, I twisted the knob and push the door open. 

I took a quiet step forward, my eyes darted around the empty room. I sigh before walking in, I'll just drop the note and leave before I get caught. 

I grab a white sheet, pulling my pen out, I wrote a short note and what the man told me. I was about to leave when I saw this paper on the floor. 

I was just too curious to see what it was, I reach for the paper studying it carefully, it was a sort of calculation and profit of the month. 

The calculation was wrong that was not the right profit of the month. 

"Chris drop it and get out of here." I Mumble to myself. "If he comes you're dead." I almost drop it but I just couldn't, if grandfather invest in this project he might loss a huge amount of money, I don't know yet. 

"Urgh! I'll just correct the error quickly and get out of here," I grab the previous paper I wrote on, I walk to the little desk gulping as I sat down, the last time I sat here, I was in a hell lot of pain, never mind! 

I turn the other side of the paper quickly writing down the amounts and their discount. 

"So the profit is 25% of whatever amount he'll obtain not 75%, if he invest in whatever project it is he'll definitely loss a lot of money." I stood up walking back to the larger desk, I'll just leave it here, he'll see it and identity his error. 

I need to leave right now before he comes back. I turn around and froze, he was standing on the door way giving me the sternest look ever. 

"What are you doing here?" He said coldly.

"W-well you received a call from DT with this number," I gave him the paper before walking pass him but.

"What is this?" He said, my heart skipped, what is it again? I shouldn't have corrected that stupid error. I turn around staring at my calculations.

"Uh... Yeah... I saw this file on the floor, it had some errors so I corrected it on a different paper." I trail off, this guy scares the s**t out of me, this place scares me, I wanna get out of here, is freaking me out!

"Who gave you the permission to search in my files?" He said firmly. 

"I-i saw it on the floor, the calculations were wrong and-"

He raise a hand to hush me, "is none of your business Benjamin! You still don't have the right to touch my file now get out!" He half yelled. 

I frown stomping out, "I was just trying to help didn't mean to touch your stupid file." I mumbled under my breath before shutting the door, I heard footsteps behind me. 

"Oh My God!" I ran away far from that goddamn office, to the garden, it was so beautiful so large so perfect. 

I walk on the grass, running my hand on the flowers, I took out my notepad writing down the names of the flowers and their similarities. 

"Sir?" 

I turn around to be met with the Butler I don't know, "excuse my interruption sir but Mr Jackson wants you in his office."

I drop my notepad with my eyes wide open, don't tell me he heard what I said! s**t I should have shut up! 

"I'll be right there," I lied. 

"Pardon my persistence sir but he wants you right now." 

"Oh...Kay." I dug my notepad on my back pocket before following the mysterious Butler. 

He knocked twice before grandfather invited us in, he was with a young lady holding that same file with the errors. 

"You can take your leave Ashton." He said, Ashton left leaving me alone with the two of them. 

"Benjamin show the lady her errors." He said. I was confused but did it anyway. 

"Oh mine goodness i-" 

"You just earn a demotion Sarah." He cut her off. 

"I'm sorry sir but-" 

"Enough Sarah, I do not tolerate this type of errors in my organization, I could have lost a huge amount of money investing in that project." He said calmly, I watch as she nodded before leaving the office. 

"Thank you Benjamin." He said, his voice sounded tired and frustrated. "I'll have to cross check all the documents." He Mumble to himself.

Don't do this Christopher, ugh! "Uh... If you want I can.. Um.. Help you." Damn it! I did it why can't I just shut up?

He stare at me for a good two minutes, before speaking up, "of cause, if you won't created more errors. They're under the left drawer over there." He pointed. 

I walk to the drawer pulling out the pile of documents. 

I went over the little desk setting them down.

Why did I offer my help, stupid me can't shut up on the right time, what if I just cause more errors? And piss him off, or I- 

Calm down. 

I took a deep breath before checking the files, to my greati surprise the were pretty easy to understand, I corrected the little errors here and there. I was so engross on my task that I didn't notice the hours I spent on the files. 

"Last one," I stood up groaning at the soreness of my back and shoulders. 

"I'm done." I drop the files on his desk politely.

"Thank you." He said. 

Ask him come on! No don't! I debated mentally if I should ask him why he was always listening to me when I play in the instruments room, is kinda creepy. But yeah each time I play the violin he is always on the door way listening, I always pretend I don't notice him. 

I sigh, it's a bad idea anyway, I was about to leave. 

"Benjamin, do you have something to say?" He asked, in his scary voice. 

I hesitated before speaking, "I wanted to know why you always listen to me when I play?" 

"Because you remind me of someone important." He said. 

"If I may ask who?" 

"Come with me." He stood up and made his way for the door, I follow closely. 

We push the secret door open revealing my hiding place the secret cupboard, but their was nothing, that was what I thought before he push the far end of the wall open. 

My jaw drop, perfect hiding. I should have notice the weird shape of the wall.

The place was dark, he touch a switch on the wall turning the lights on. 

I couldn't help the gasp, "woah." I muttered.

It was a room of souvenirs, we have a similar one at home but my brothers don't let me go close to that room. 

He pick up a picture, "here." He pointed at a woman holding a violin standing on the podium. 

"Who is she?" 

"Your grandmother, she was a skillful violinist, when you play I always recall how she use to play in the instrument room away from all her problems, she'd told me that it made her happy." He spoke with a lot of sadness in his voice. 

"How did she, uh.. Die?" I asked, he sat down on the wooden bench with another picture on his hand. 

"She died giving birth to Mary your aunt." 

I sat beside him staring at the picture he had of her, father, uncle Rafael and him, they looked very happy. 

"Sorry I shouldn't have asked." I said. 

"At times is good to ask questions you know." He said. "Why are you not with your brothers watching movies?"

"If I had gone I won't have find that wrong file, you would have loss a lot of money and I won't have known the real you." I said.

"The real me?" He asked confused. 

"Yeah you know you look very strict, heartless and cold but inside you're not like that." I said. 

"I'm like that." 

"No you're not, I know it," I smiled he did same. 

"You're smart and special Benjamin." He said out of blue. 

"Thanks grandpa. I hope you don't mind If I call you that." 

"No worries." He smiled. 

"You look less scary when you smile," we both chuckled. 

We stay in the room for a while, he showed me pictures and many other stuffs. 

After all my holiday is not as horrible as I thought.