I now understood why Bryce had put him in charge. He’s brilliant and he had come up with some breakthroughs of his own with the structure and weight of the car. It made me think of the roller coaster I built back home when I was in high school. There were so many factors that had to be considered before we got it up and running. Luc finally headed back to his office and I buried myself in a computer programming site, trying to come up with solutions and researching different options. I hadn’t paid attention to the time until my phone rang that it was already three o’clock.
Bryce said he would come by for lunch but I didn’t know what time he considered lunchtime. Given who he was and how busy he was I didn’t want to hold it against him. He was kind enough to give me a place to stay and a job, even though I had no idea how much money I made and I was hoping to return his credit card to him.
My phone had been ringing off the hook when I finally checked it. “Hello,” I answered the phone hesitantly; I wasn’t sure who would be calling my office.
“Vicky,” a young male voice said through the phone. “My name is Brad Andrews, Bryce asked me to call you, he said he is running late. I’m his nephew.” The young man chuckled into the phone, probably because this was typical Bryce behavior ditching his long lost daughter for lunch. “If you don’t mind, I am right around the corner from Tyson, I ordered some lunch up to your office and I would like to come join you, what do you say cuz?” he asked with the same light hearted tone.
This guy, Brad, was my cousin, wow. Luc mentioned something briefly about him last night but I hadn’t given too much thought to the idea that I had extended family. Mama had a brother but they weren’t close and him and his wife had no children. My papa’s family was big but they lived back in Italy. With how expensive travel to Europe was we never really had an opportunity to engage our Italian roots.
“Sure Brad, that would be great,” I answered quietly.
“Okay, Vicky, be there in five,” he said and I could hear the phone disconnect. He hadn’t even said bye. I was beginning to understand that Bryce was really only dedicated to his job. He seemed regretful yesterday when he spoke of his other kids, but maybe he was too far gone to focus on anything else but his work and making Tyson successful, which it already was.
About ten minutes later, Luc’s secretary came knocking on my office door with a cart covered in food similar to the one Bryce had ordered yesterday. The truth was that I was famished after skipping breakfast. “The young Mr. Andrews will arrive shortly,” she said politely before closing the office door behind her. Brad was an Andrews but Bryce had mentioned that none of his children were working at Tyson. I wondered if Brad worked here. A few minutes later there was a light knock on the door, I got up to answer it but a young man, maybe about five years older than me, peeked his head in, “May I come in?” he asked with the manners of a gentleman.
“Yes, of course, you must be Brad,” I said, extending my hand.
“Come here and give me a hug, Vicky, I understand you are a long lost cousin,” he chuckled taking me in for a warm hug. Then he pulled himself back and held on to my hand. “Damn woman, you are lucky you are my cousin,” he smiled with a devilish grin.
Luc chose that exact moment to make his way into my office. “No harassing the interns,” Luc said, walking toward my desk. “I see you have a lunch date, Vicky, I just wanted to check in on your progress,” he stated matter of factly and I hoped I hid the blush that appeared on my cheeks by his mere presence. Luc turned his head and his eyes landed on the cart covered in food. “You haven’t eaten?” he said looking back at me and I shook my head. “Okay, go ahead and eat and stop by my office when you have a minute.” He turned around to leave and nodded his head saying, “Brad,” before he walked out the door. Geez, Luc is always so intense and serious.
Brad made himself comfortable, taking his sport jacket off and placing it on the back of the chair, before taking a seat with a wide smile on his face. The Andrews men clearly had a distinctive look. He was tall like Bryce with the same wide shoulders and strong physique; only his eyes are a lighter blue where Bryce’s are an interesting shade of grey. Their skin looks almost naturally tanned and they both have the same shade of dark brown hair, only Bryce has strings of grey running through his.
“So how are we cousins?” I asked, squinting my eyes and trying to make small talk with the complete stranger who had made himself feel at home in my office.
“My mother was Bryce’s sister, but he adopted me when I was a boy,” he explained and I couldn’t help but notice that he said the word ‘was.’ His mother must no longer be alive. My heart ached for this stranger.
“I’m sorry,” I replied.
“My parents died in an accident when I was seven, that’s life, Vicky. I am twenty-seven years old. I barely have any memories of them,” he explained to me, making me wonder why he was revealing so much to a stranger. “Bryce told me about your mom and your dad, I’m sorry that must be tough because she raised you,” he trailed off and for the first time since I met him his unabashed surety wavered.
“It’s been a hard time,” I admitted. “But that’s life, right, Brad.” I said, plastering on a fake smile. I really shouldn’t be putting up a front with this guy; he seemed genuinely nice.
“Don’t be offended by Bryce, Vicky, he means well but considering who he is and how much he has on his plate, he is constantly being pulled in different directions. I don’t envy my uncle.”
“So you are here to make excuses for him,” I said light heartedly, but a small part of me is hurt that he didn’t make our lunch date.
“No, I’m not, I’ve had my share of issues with Bryce. I am not going to lie to you, he was my guardian growing up and having no parents meant I fucked up a lot, excuse my French,” he grinned. I couldn’t help but eye the food on the cart. I was starving. “I’m sorry you are hungry and I am talking away,” he said, standing up and moving the cart closer to us. I stood up around my desk and took a plate off the cart filling it up once again with numerous salads and pasta.
“I am actually very interested in what you have to say Brad, I just haven’t eaten all day. Why don’t you take a plate and we can talk some more over food,” I suggested. Brad took a plate of food and we both sat munching away. He was easy to talk too, and I liked the idea of meeting another family member, although my curiosity about Bryce’s other children became heightened by the passing moments. Brad was funny, outgoing and extremely handsome I wondered if they were the same.
“How are Bryce’s other kids?” I asked.
“Honestly, Vicky, you aren’t missing out on anything. My other cousins are a bunch of spoiled rich kids,” he admitted through a large bite of lasagna.
“Oh, what makes you different then Brad?” I giggled. He was fun to talk to.
“Honestly, he may have adopted me, but I wasn’t his kid. I was left shit loads of money, but I have always felt the need to prove myself to him and at times our relationship was rocky, and I was very much on my own. I spent a good number of years feeling sorry for myself and rebelling,” he admitted while his cheeks flushed.
“What changed Brad?” I asked, knowing I may be pushing my limits with him.
“Honestly? One bad fuck up and the realization that I needed to grow up,” he admitted with all honesty. He definitely wasn’t a stuck up rich kid, despite his name.