Gabriel
Soft orange lights splash on the interior decorations as I step foot into the living room filled with breathing souls. I hate when my father does this
Inviting me to a company gathering, when his favorite can't make it. It makes no sense for me to be here when they have their golden dog ready to wag his tail at their command.
This mansion is not small by any means which is why it's perfect for hosting gatherings like this
Walking past the myriad of bodies, my first option was to find my dad and tell him to put an end to this but a drink is needed first I can't seem to get my mind off a certain pair of jaded eyes
The bartender took my order and was already going through the preparations while I wait with my hands in my pockets. I didn't go fancy tonight because one: I'm not into that shit, two that's what my dad would want and I would rather fall of a cliff than do that
An oversized black coat that does it right for me paired up with sleeked black custom-tailored pants matches the dark gray turtleneck never failing to cling on to my toned muscles earning flirtatious glances. Okay maybe I did go a bit fancy
I'm big and I mean huge everywhere and in the right places. I would have said I and my older brother are exactly the same but the differences in our height gave us away. It isn't noticeable to those who don't give it a double look
I mean what's there to look at when he is my lookalike; I would have said twin but that has some sort of love attached to it and that's not what describes us. What I have for my brother is hatred
The only difference between us is that I'm just an inch taller than him asides that we look the same from the color of our eyes to deep down our bone marrow even.
I also hate that, I took the drink handed my way and down it all in one go, my phone rang all of a sudden. One glance at the caller id was enough for me to ignore
The first call went on ignored but it pressed forward, he really is a pain in the ass
I answered with a growl
"Woah there brother, careful we wouldn't want to let our mask slip" a light chuckle was heard on the background
"Careful I don't think dad would be happy to hear his golden dog went missing all of a sudden, where the hell are you"
"An urgent business came up in Chicago but I also needed to be there so I had dad call you in"
"Do I resemble some substitute to you? I have a personal life I am very much invested in"
"It's the price you have to paying for coming here brother, you could have just stayed in Lavidon and get a happy family there but no the little hotheaded ego in you had to show its wings"
We are not having this conversation again and over a phone. I have a face to keep now that I'm here, As Alvin Guerra
"I hope you die of exhaustion" I told him my heart wishes maybe as a big brother he can get it fulfilled "and be sure less people see you there" I went on
There is only one son of the Guerra the world is aware off and that's Alvin. I was the disappointment, the foolish son who didn't want to bend to my fathers will but I don't regret it. I've seen the look in Alvin eye from time to time, his eyes feel distant like as if he is carrying too much burden and I feel bad for him
Damn I even suggested we run away, my dad found out and tagged me as a "bad influence" He had to hide me by sending me to a far country saying its for the best that the world recognize one son but I came back here against his wishes
To prove he has no reign over my life but that has been his plan all along, I dance to his trap laid out, he is always two steps ahead of me.
"Well, brother it's nice hearing from you" he spoke in a tone I know so well. Our bond goes beyond what one can imagine even us can't put a name to it, its not love maybe hatred, its just there growing steadily even as we are rarely around each other
"Don't go too far, Gabe"
"Don't stay too close, Al"
With that the call ended, while the search for my dad began. I know him well enough that he won't be in his room in such gathering even planning on stepping down to hand everything to my brother he is one who always keep to appearances which means everything to him. He would most likely be in a populated area.
The living room
Standing at the opening I could feel the tensity swirling around each person seated and standing. The tight smile they give to themselves which makes me wonder, if they don't like this shit why come.
I mean the bane of this event is to show off to see who is richer the only thing meaningful here is forming allowances with the strong, even if I'm not into businesses my dad never failed to let me know a thing or two
Our living room screamed money. My dad having multimillionaire companies spread abroad weren't in vain. He replaced everything it is not surprising he always does this before hosting a party to set the lines clear
"To make the hierarchy visible to all who hath eyes"
He would say to me anytime I asked when I was little, I didn't understand before but now I do. The custom-made golden couches arranged in a ring like form giving the stage to the diamond glass table seated in its glory at the middle of it all
Fake laughter filled the air and my eyes narrowed in on a familiar face. His bodyguard approached him and whispered something into his ears, his eyes soon catching mine
"Alvin, welcome" His deary voice caught everyone attention and their eyes landed on me as I lean against the wall, sometimes I don't know if he can actually tell between the two of us
"Father its nice seeing you again" I spoke once I got close enough to him while he gave a curt nod and ushered me into the balcony a much quiet place with a cool atmosphere
"Have you quit your job?"
Always straight to the point
"I'm taking a break as a substitute in another school I never knew I would also be one here as well"
"Remember it was your decision to defy my wishes and come back to New York, of course there will be consequences" my jaw clenches as he made that statement, a mistake that I will make sure would never happen again
"What's worse is after coming to this country you decided to work in that shag of a school than to take the job opportunities that were offered to you"
Just because I bear the Guerra name and the opportunities he mentioned is at the deepest part of New York some in another country entirely he is hell bent on people not finding out he has two sons, the same goes for me
I'm hell bent on people not finding out how much of a shitty father I have, the pity is annoying
"The good side of this distressing issue is that Alvin would need his little brother by his side as support" A response died in my throat the moment a waiter approached us with drinks on a tray I picked one and handed another to my father
"His future wife can very much handle that role" I'm not going to play house wife to a grown ass man, ignoring my statement he down his drink and went on "And this business can be a lot to handle, there are always enemies"
I know very much where this conversation is going
"You never fail to make use of every resource you have even your sons, if one goes the other have to take over" my tone latched with menace, why people like this decided to become parents baffles me
"Well, you're being alive is part of my doing I see no reason as to why I can't use what I created" the smug uttered such "So we are just properties to you?" I felt the anger rising, flowing through my veins
"Resources is much fitting; I am a business man after all"
"I have made the needed appearance, I'm leaving"
"The dog never bites the hand that feeds him, you remember that son"
He always has the last words, bastard