Chapter 5 - Concrete and Foundations
There was a long, suffocating pause on the line. Franklin could hear the distant, frantic sounds of Amber screaming in the background, her high-society voice cracking as she argued with the security guards on the front porch.
"What do you mean... was?" Brandon stammered, the reality of the situation finally beginning to penetrate his thick armor of denial.
"I sold the house, Brandon. Cash sale. Closed and funded," Franklin said. "The new owners are taking immediate physical possession. They don't want tenants. Especially not tenants who can't control their hands."
"You can't do that!" Brandon roared, his voice cracking with sheer desperation. "I’ll sue you! I’ll tie you up in court for years! We have rights! We’ve been paying the utilities!"
"You can try to sue Redwood Capital, Brandon, but by the time you get a court date, the company will have been dissolved and the assets distributed into trust funds that you have absolutely no access to," Franklin explained, his voice sounding like a seasoned judge reading a final verdict. "And as for your utilities... I suggest you call the electric company and have them transferred, because the new owners are turning the main breakers off at noon."
"Dad... please," Brandon’s voice suddenly shifted, dropping the anger and adopting the whiny, manipulative tone he used to use when he was a teenager wanting a new car. "We had a fight. I drank too much. I was stressed about work. You know I didn't mean it. We can talk about this. Let’s have dinner tonight. Just you and me."
"No, Brandon," Franklin said. "We had thirty opportunities to talk about this last night. With every punch you threw, I gave you a chance to stop. You didn't. You wanted to prove you were stronger than the man who built you. Well, now you get to build your own foundation. Let's see how well you do without my concrete."
"Franklin, you can't leave us on the street!" Brandon begged, his voice cracking as the realization of his complete ruin settled in. "Amber's parents are coming into town next week! What are we supposed to tell them?"
"Tell them you're dramatic," Franklin said, his split lip stretching into a cold, triumphant smile as he repeated the words Amber had used to dismiss his pain. "Tell them you just wanted attention."
Franklin tapped the red button on his screen, ending the call. He turned his phone completely off, slid it into his pocket, and stood up from the conference table.
May you like
He looked out the window at the gray Houston skyline. The rain had finally started to fall, washing the dust off the streets below. He felt the light ache in his jaw, but for the first time in thirty years, the weight of being Brandon’s protector was gone. He was free.
"Come on, Marcus," Franklin said, gesturing toward the door. "Let's go get some lunch. I'm buying."
