"I paid for everything for eight years… until my younger brother threw my daughter's gift in his face."

Chapter 7: The Golden Child Begs

By Wednesday, the reality of the situation had finally pierced through Ryan’s thick skull.

I was sitting in my glass-walled corner office at the top floor of the Vance Logistics tower, reviewing the quarterly expansion reports, when my secretary buzzed in.

"Mr. Vance, your... brother is downstairs. Security intercepted him in the lobby. He doesn't have a badge, but he’s making quite a scene. Should I call the police?"

I looked at the handmade cardboard box sitting prominently on my desk next to my laptop.

"No," I said. "Send him up. But tell security to accompany him to my door."

Two minutes later, the heavy oak doors of my office opened. Ryan walked in, and if I hadn't been so numb, I might have felt sorry for him. The smug, arrogant man from the birthday party was gone. In his place was a man who looked like he hadn't slept in three days. His hair was messy, his clothes looked unwashed, and his eyes were bloodshot.

The two security guards stood firmly at the entrance. I waved them off, and they stepped out, closing the doors.

Ryan didn't storm in. He walked slowly, looking around the massive, luxurious office as if seeing it for the first time. Finally, he stopped in front of my desk.

"Julian," he croaked, his voice raw. "Please. You have to stop this."

"Sit down, Ryan," I said, not looking up from my tablet.

He sank into the leather chair, his hands shaking. "The repo guys took the M4. My landlord locked the doors this morning. I had to leave most of my clothes inside. I’m staying in my old childhood bedroom, Julian. It’s a nightmare. Mom is crying non-stop, and Dad is furious."

"Sounds like a full house," I commented dryly.

"I’m sorry, okay?!" Ryan suddenly burst out, leaning forward. "Is that what you want to hear? I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said that about Maya's gift. It was stupid. It was a bad joke. I was drunk!"

I finally raised my eyes, locking them onto his. "You weren't drunk, Ryan. You were comfortable. You felt so untouchable, so superior because you knew that no matter what you did, big brother Julian would always foot the bill. You looked at my daughter and saw an easy target to make yourself look big in front of your friends."

"I said I was sorry!" he yelled, tears of frustration spilling over his cheeks. "What else do you want from me? Do you want me to get down on my knees? I’ll do it! Just give me back the car. Just re-authorize the monthly transfer. I have debts, Julian. Real debts. Some guys are calling my phone..."

I leaned back in my chair. "What kind of debts, Ryan?"

He swallowed hard, looking away. "Just... investment stuff. I borrowed some money based on the corporate line of credit you gave me. If I don't pay them back by Friday, they're going to come to Mom and Dad's house."

I let out a soft, humorless laugh. "You used my company's name to secure a personal loan from loan sharks?"