Chapter 5 I knew I could count on you

SERA

This was my first morning as part of the "new Blackwood family". Since their arrival yesterday late afternoon, the atmosphere in the house is much different than usual. Especially in these transitional times, almost all the house staff were mobilized to take care of the Blackwood Brothers' move.

They occupied the rooms on the second floor. Ace and Beck's rooms were in the left wing, close to mine and Reggie's. Meanwhile, Cal and Damon had rooms in the right wing. I rarely set foot there other than to workout.

I walked out of my room, wearing a warm gray sweater. The sound of quiet conversations and things being moved caught my attention, coming from the room closest to mine. I looked into the room whose door was slightly open. There, Beck was busy giving directions to a staff member who was arranging books on a shelf. The room looked only half tidy, with other items scattered over the bed and floor.

"Morning, Beck. So busy this early in the morning?" I greeted with a smile, leaning my side against the doorway.

His attention was instantly drawn and a smile spread across his face. He proceeded to put a book on the shelf before replying, "Oh, morning too. Well, it should start to feel like home, right? There's a lot to take care of."

"Getting settled into your new room yet?" I asked, then gave a small nod to the staff member who greeted me. If I remember correctly, his name was Jonas.

"Well, it's still a mess, but it's gonna get neater slowly." Beck's smile could have illuminated all the darkness in this world.

"Oh, that's obvious. You brought more stuff than anyone else here," I joked, secretly looking around at his stuff: books, a guitar, some figure characters, a pile of vinyl, posters, two mugs that were probably his favorite mugs, and more. Oh, and there's a small restoration-like sofa sitting in the corner of the room.

Bet he's the kind of guy who listens to Lana del Rey.

Beck shrugged with a faint smile. "I just need my stuff to feel at home. How about you? It must be weird to suddenly have all of us invading this house."

I was still eyeing the surroundings as I made my tone as casual as possible. "This is a pretty big house, and it always feels lonely when it's just me and Reggie. So, don't worry. I'm kind of enjoying the change in atmosphere."

"Well, it's somewhat luxurious for my size. Blackwood Estate is like a castle. I guess I'll have to get used to it."

"Don't worry, you'll feel at home in a week." I took one step into his room. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Beck's shake stopped me from joining him. "No need, but thanks. The people here are like ninjas. They know what I need before I realize I need it."

I chuckled softly, glancing at Jonas who was also smiling at Beck's words. "They are indeed reliable."

The sound of a door slamming startled the three of us. Jonas and I met eyes for a moment, it was like a new experience in this usually quiet house.

A second later, Ace passed by with a tense face. His jaw hardened, his steps heavy and quick. Perhaps because he was so upset, he almost didn't notice me. I could hear him murmuring in an annoyed tone.

"Uh-oh, what's going on over there? Ace looks like he just lost a big bet." I looked at him from the door, the thing I saw was how his shoulders swayed as he walked like thunder in the middle of the day.

Beck put the last book on the shelf. "Maybe he just talked to Reggie. You know since dinner he's been a little tense."

I looked back at Ace who was disappearing at the end of the hallway. A sigh escaped my mouth when I realized something. My gaze was drawn to Reggie's study, the place where Ace's antics had started. "I'll figure out what's going on. Enjoy tidying up, Beck. Don't forget to rest."

"Have fun taking care of the drama this morning." Beck's joking voice accompanied my steps to Reggie's office.

I walked in without knocking, as I'd done for all the years I'd lived here (maybe I should change this habit now that there were a few more family members). Reggie sat behind the desk, a pile of papers scattered in front of him. He massaged his temples as if he was enduring a headache, his eyes focused on reading a document in his hand.

"Morning, Reggie, are you deliberately making Ace look like he's about to explode this early in the morning?" My steps brought me to sit on the chair in front of his desk.

"He came to negotiate. I just gave him a logical answer," he replied, without looking at me.

I raised an eyebrow, leaning back in the chair. "Logical for you or hurtful for him?"

Reggie sighed, then finally closed the folder and gave me his full attention. "He's stubborn. He won't give up his job at the law firm."

I frowned, looking at him as he took off his reading glasses. "But didn't you say he could focus here?"

Reggie nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Ace is pursuing a partner position at the firm. His ambitions are big. Bigger than I imagined."

I smiled slightly, trying to digest the situation. Hayes & Chan was a large and prestigious law firm. Becoming a partner there would be very lucrative. "So, did you tell him to choose?"

"No," he replied softly. "I'm just trying to give him some perspective, but Ace ... he's not easy to direct, especially when it comes to his career. This could get complicated."

I looked at Reggie with a thoughtful gaze. "Maybe he just needs time. I don't think Ace is the type to just ... give up?"

Reggie looked tired, but his face seemed to show that my words about Ace's persistence made him a little proud. "Right, and that's the problem. I just wish he could focus on what's really important."

Silent for a moment, I looked at Reggie with much judgment. He couldn't tell what is and isn't important in a person's life, even if it's his biological son-whom he had only met recently. I could even imagine how Reggie talked to Ace and said that the Blackwood Group was far more important than Ace's career at that law firm, or any law firm for that matter.

I let out a long breath. "I'll try to talk to him later. Maybe he's more willing to hear from someone else." And in a different way of speaking.

The man smiled slightly. "Thanks, Sera. I knew I could count on you."

I nodded, then walked out of the room, closing the door carefully.

My new life and challenges officially started today.

***

141224, Anne Joyce