The Deal

I hear the purr of an engine coming up the driveway as I'm washing Duke; my two-year-old black lab. Actually, he's not all mine. I have to share him with my three older brothers. It's easy to restrain Duke from running over to the person in the Land Rover. Duke loves his bath more than he loves people. I watch as Paxton West exits his expensive vehicle and turns towards me. What the hell is he doing here? He looks so out of place in his grey Italian suit standing in front of our modest ranch-style home. I wait for him to turn around to go towards the house, but he stares at me until my father comes out of the barn and walks purposefully towards him. Weird. I started rubbing the shampoo into Duke's fur. Why would my father have to meet with that man? Paxton West is known to be ruthless in business at the young age of 29, which's six years older than me, which is impressive. Paxton West's name keeps the gossip of this town's tongues wagging. From what has been said, I've gathered he takes what he wants and doesn't have much regard for anyone or anything. Handsome and rich; he's the most sought after man in the country. He, probably the state. I know most of the women in town swoon over him. I get it, he's good-looking and wealthy-but his steel-grey eyes are ice-cold. I don't get how women find that attractive. He looks very calculating. As if he's always plotting or planning to destroy something or someone likely both. I finished washing Duke and towel drying him. I got on to him until we got into the house; I knew if I let him go he'd roll in the dirt, just to get another bath. I released his collar and walked to the back of the house to the kitchen. I smell my mother's chilli shimmering on the stove and my stomach growls. "Need help?" I asked, going to the refrigerator and pulling out a coke. "No, it's all set now. Just waiting for the cornbread." She replies, tiredly. "Where are the boys?" "Trevor and Brent are with your father and Mr. West in the study." She stated, annoyed, at my questions. Trevor, Brent and I still live at home and help with the farm. Liam lives with his wife Ashley in a house on the property, but a few miles down the lane. Liam never had any interest in farming. He got his degree in accounting and went to work at a law firm just outside of town. Trevor will be the next to move out. He started building his house on the property my father owns as well. It's almost complete, but Trevor is a perfectionist. The woodwork alone had taken him months. After the floors are strained and walls painted, he'll be gone. "You need to change, Addie. You're as wet as Duke and you smell like him too." I heard him complain and rolled my eyes. My mother and I couldn't be further apart in looks and personality. My brothers were lucky enough to look like her; auburn hair that shines, deep brown eyes and an olive complexion that I'd kill for. She's really is gorgeous. I, of course, would get all my traits from my father; golden hair, blue eyes, and skin so light I burn to a crisp if I'm not careful. Everyone makes fun of the fact that all my brothers look like my beautiful mother, but me, the last born, looks like a dead ringer for my manly father. I don't mind too much though, I'm used to it. I walked out of the kitchen and headed to my room. Passing my father's studies, I hear arguing and something slamming on the desk. I was about to go in when I heard Trevor yell, "You have to give us more time! We can get you the money. We can't lose the farm, it's all we have!" I back away from the door in shock. Lose the farm. Where would we go? Why didn't they tell me about this? I'm a part of this family too; this farm is as much my life as it is theirs! Pissed off, I enter the room without knocking and everyone turns to me. "What the hell is going on in here?" I asked the four men in the room. I don't care who answers me. I glance at my father, who looks down at his desk. I look at Trevor and Brent and they are both studying their boots. I chose to ignore the man about to make me homeless and glare at my father. "Well?" I asked again. Finally, Pa looked up and I saw the stress around his eyes that mirrored mine. "Relax, Honey. Everything is fine." he states, trying to smile. I saw the tension around his mouth and rolled my eyes. I scoff at his attempt to sound normal. "Don't you dare lie to me." I demand, my hands automatically going to my hips. With a deep sigh and shoulders slumped, he explains. "We're losing the farm. We haven't made the payments and the bank is foreclosing by the end of next week if we can't get the money to pay it off." I turned to Paxton West. I know he's rich. I know he owns most of our town and many neighboring ones as well. However, I had no idea he owned a bank as well. "You're the bank, I take it?" He seemed shocked that I asked, but quickly recovered. "Yes," he replied.