Chapter 8: Smile Lost
As Arthur entered Jerome Brunton’s office, the contrast made his eyes squint. The outer modern office completely turned to the warm, Victorian style waiting room with deep red coloured wallpaper and mahogany wooden panels and the hardwood floor. The lighting was also warm making the entire place glitter.
These kind of places gave him the creeps, like he’s in a horror film. His grandfather’s office and study were all modeled in the victorian design too.
His grandfather was the most brutal and heartless man Arthur has ever known. He still remember the blood-thirst in his eyes as he commanded to shoot down a five year old girl, just because her last name was Brunton and she stepped inside his territory.
Jerome Brunton... He is no Saint, he knew. Arthur knew how he treated his son-in-law Talia’s father and that day... his words were extremely hurtful towards Talia. And there are rumours floating around that Jerome killed his grandmother in the past. Credible rumours.
In short, both men were terrible and lived by their own rules with the intent of bringing the other down. But if there was a competition between who is the most ruthless, his grandfather will take the prize with a great margin. He could say Jerome softened up these days and wanted peace. This peace between the two families, wouldn’t be possible if his grandfather was still alive.
Arthur walked passed the waiting room and opened the heavy door to see the man in his early seventies, wearing a burgundy tailored suit, sitting on the brown leather chair in deep contemplation.
"Sir, you should be home resting," Arthur’s said with his tone a bit soft. Even though he addressed him as ’Sir’, there was a slight affection that one would give an elder in the family in it.
"Yes, yes..." he shrugged. He’s been hearing that a lot lately.
"But Artie, What did she say?" Jerome almost stood up and his gold rimmed spectacles slipped and Arthur went and helped him sit back.