Chapter Fifteen

Maddox

While we were gathering up a group of people to help us overthrow my father, we did small things that would go against him. My plan was to make small policy and law changes, starting with fertility appeals. My father doesn’t check them unless there is a complaint, so I’m going to approve all the appeals as they come to me.

“Why are some girls taking lunch instead of doing what I told them to?”

“I told them from now on they are to take a rotating lunch starting at eleven. This will make sure they’re not too tired to do the work we require of them.”

“You know the rules. They get to eat when they are done with their job.”

“You realize I can cancel their lunch and make them go back to work?”

“It works both ways, father. They’re afraid of us and will listen to whoever is in their presence at the moment to avoid punishment.”

“You’re spending too much time with your brother. You’re the one with the backbone. The one that will carry on my legacy. Don’t fuck this up.”

“They will forget your legacy under us. Maverick and I plan on creating something better. Isn’t that what you want? You want us to rule better than you do?”

“What are you planning?”

“Nothing. I’m making sure we are taking care of what we need to in order to keep things going. Treating them decently will go a long way with loyalty. Don’t underestimate them.”

“They only get ten minutes to eat.” My father yelled before walking off.

My goal was to get under his skin, and I accomplished that. The next step is to piss him off and I think I have the perfect plan.

***

Maverick

Today I wanted to spend some time with my mother. She hasn’t been doing well mentally. She had a breakdown a few months back and hasn’t really bounced back. She’ll interact but prefers to be in her tea room.

We weren’t here when she had her breakdown. My father sent word telling us our mother was sick. It wasn’t until we got home that we realized how bad it was.

“I’m glad you stopped by. I missed you.” She didn’t look at me when she greeted me.

Growing up, my mother always seemed so strong. She was the perfect role model. She made sure we were taken care of and she loved my father unconditionally. As I got older, I realized she loved my father, but hated what he did. When Maddox and I turned eighteen, she told us we were her biggest blessing and she thanks God every day for using being male. Back then, I thought it was because we were unique, but I now know it’s because of the way women are treated. I was ignorant before I left home. I thought all this was to make society better, and more equal, but it’s a way to suppress a gender we are afraid of having power.

“How are you feeling today?”

“Better. Thank you for asking.”

“You don’t have to be formal with me. Why don’t you put the paint down and we can talk? I have a lot to tell you.”

“I can paint and listen at the same time.”

“It’s about a girl.”

My mother’s body stiffened, and she put her paintbrush down.

“Please tell me you’re treating her nicely.”

“We are.”

“We?”

“Maddox and I. We found a girl we like.”

“Don’t be like your father. This poor girl doesn’t need two Ronan boys to rule over her.”

“We don’t rule over her mother. We want her to be our equal.”

“That’s what your father said when we got married and he turned out to be a horrible person, Maverick. I love you and your brother, but there are days I regret falling in love with him.”

“It’s not the same. We want to change the way things are.”

My mother threw her paintbrushes at me. “Don’t say things like that. You’ll get in trouble and I can’t have that. I can’t have that!” She yelled.

I walked over to her and gently took her hands in mine to calm her down.

“We’ll be ok. I promise. I’ll even bring Ivy to meet you. Ivy worked for us, but I’m sure you haven’t met her before.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

She was prone to these outbursts when she felt like she couldn’t control things. My mother is one of the many reasons I want to change what my father is doing. I want her to be herself again, or at least be in an environment that lets her live the way she wants to.

***

Ivy

Today was my first day alone in the new house and I was afraid to do anything. I didn’t know if I would get in trouble for touching things or even cleaning the house.

“Good morning, miss.” Gale greeted me.

Gale is our new housemaid. I told the boys I didn’t want a maid, but they said it was part of the deal. I actually feel bad having people wait on me.

“You can call me Ivy. I actually want you to call me Ivy.”

“Very well. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No, I think I got everything.”

“Breakfast is on the table. Maddox and Maverick told me to make sure you eat, so please do. If you need anything else, let me know.”

“Thank you, Gale.”

I made my way to the kitchen and found a variety of fresh foods lying across the table and in the middle of it was a note with my name on it that was sitting on a small box. I picked up the note and I couldn’t help smiling at the handwriting.

I wonder which one wrote it.

“Sorry for leaving you this morning, but we had things to take care of. Enjoy your alone time, make sure you eat and we hope you enjoy the gift.”

Maddox and Maverick

Inside the box was a necklace with our initials intertwined. The necklace is beautiful, but I feel offended. I feel like this is another way for them to claim me. I don’t want to wear this; they might as well brand me.

I placed the necklace back in the box and set it on the table. I’m going to tell them they can’t do things like this. I may have agreed to be with them, but it doesn’t mean they can claim me like property.

I can’t have nice things distract me from what I want.

This has been the most boring day ever. I can’t sit around all day and do nothing. I need to be in a place where I can help move things along.

“How was today?” Maverick asked as he walked into my room.

“You left me here with nothing to do and with a necklace that brands me as yours.”

“You didn’t like the necklace?”

“It was beautiful, but it felt like you were using it to brand me, to tell people I belong to you, and I don’t like that.”

“We had it made because we wanted to give you something nice.”

“I don’t need jewelry. I need you to let me out and to help with what you and Maddox are planning. The next time you go to your father’s, you need to bring me so I can talk to the other servants.”

“We assumed you didn’t want to go back.”

“If it means getting rid of your father, then I want to go back.”

“Ok.”

It wasn’t until he said ok in an exasperated tone, did I realize that he didn’t seem alright.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No. It was just a rough day. Nothing to be concerned about. We can go out to dinner. Give me a bit to relax and we’ll eat out so you can get out of the house.”

Now I feel guilty. Maverick had a bad day and I felt bad. Why should I care? No one cared about the kind of day I had, no one really cares about what happens to me, but the moment something happens to him my consciousness has to start working.

“Give him a few minutes and he’ll be better. He gets like this when he visits our mother.” Maddox said walking up behind me.

“Why?”

“Our mother isn’t well, and it takes a toll on us when we visit her because there isn’t much we can do for her. According to Maverick, today was a bad day for her.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. It’s something we are learning to deal with.”

“Is this why she isn’t around?”

“Yes and no. She prefers to be away from our father. This life has been hard on her. She used to be a strong independent woman until she finally broke.”

I’m assuming she isn’t mentally well based on Maddox’s last sentence. I wonder if getting rid of their father would help her.

“We don’t have to go out. If he wants to stay and relax, we can.”

“Getting out will do him some good. Be patient with him tonight and everything will be better.”

I let out a sigh before following Maddox upstairs. The more time I spend with them the more I like them and I need to keep my feelings out of this if I want any kind of a normal life.