Chapter 4: The Unknown Brother

                                    

                                          
When Teddy finished she couldn't wait for Andrew to leave. She had become annoyed at how he avoided her question. He never did ask her one. Andrew had become quiet and scared her by the way his face contorted when he was deep in thought. 
                          
She had finished his tattoo with time to spare and had quickly asked for payment and went into her office, leaving Andrew standing in the shop. Upon entering her office, her brother was waiting for her.
                          
"Teddy, when did you become such a slob?"
                          
"When you were too busy to organise your shit yourself." She quipped back, sitting down at her desk. "What do you want Mase?"
                          
After her awkward session with Andrew she wanted to just get back to doing the books, the thing that was supposed to be finished hours ago.
                          
"The gym needs to be refurbished."
                          
"Again? What's this the fourth time this month? Why?"
                          
"I just don't like it."
                          
"What don't you like it Mase? Is it the fact that it's the colours you picked out? And the equipment you wanted? No Mason we are not refurbishing the gym it will stay as it is unless I say so. Don't argue with me."
                          
"Fine." Mason was now frustrated. 
                          
Teddy wouldn't do this again.
                          
He was acting like a child and he is the older one.
                          
"Mason look, we cannot refurbish, at this rate we won't have any money left for you to refurbish if you keep this up. I know you are upset, but if you need money just ask."
                          
She could read him like a book.
                          
He was in debt.
                          
Again.
                          
She would always bail him out.
                          
She was his sister.
                          
Is his sister.
                          
The responsible one.
                          
The one with all the power.
                          
The one with the businesses.
                          
The one with the money.
                          
As much as Mason loved his sister, he hated to ask for her help.
                          
He hated that she was the trusted one.
                          
The one everyone turned to.
                          
As much as he hated it, he understood why she was trusted when he was not.
                          
"Okay I need money. It's Bobby. He's back and wants payment. I'm screwed. I honestly wouldn't ask unless I was desperate. Please baby sis."
                          
She got back to doing the books.
                          
As much as she loved her brother, this is the part she hated.
                          
"Look, I'll sort it, don't worry. Just get back to work."
                          
Bobby wouldn't go away with just payment and they both knew it.
                          
Andrew was still in the shop when Mason left Teddy's office.
                          
"You okay mate, you look a bit pale."
                          
Andrew snapped out of his daze.
                          
"Yeah I'm fine. Look I need to talk to Teddy can you tell me where she is?"
                          
Mason was bemused, yet he didn't want this guy going anywhere near his baby sister.
                          
"Yeah she's in her office, but I wouldn't go in there she's a bit pissed."
                          
Andrew was afraid it was his fault. Avoiding the question sent him into his own world. One he didn't want to come out of. But he soon realised that this is the real world and questions needed answers. He wasn't going to tell all. He couldn't tell at all.
                          
"Oh. I'll just catch her later then."
                          
Andrew couldn't steer away from the idea that he upset her.
                          
But, he didn't know her.
                          
Did he even want to know her?
                          
Why was he even bothered if she was pissed at him?
                          
"Look, if you want to work off some steam, just come to the gym anytime and I'll help." Mason almost felt sorry for the guy.
                          
Almost.
                          
Mason just believed that he could help him, without him getting closer to his sister. He didn't want more trouble to come for her. He knew he was the cause for most of it. He didn't mean to be. She bore the brunt of it all. She took the responsibility when no one asked. He felt as if she took it on as her duty because he was not only her brother, but her employee.
                          
He didn't ask her too.
                          
He didn't want her too.
                          
But she did.
                          
She did it all.
                          
She had become the women that their mother would have been proud of.
                          
'If only she stayed sober enough to see it.' Mason thought. 'She was an idiot. Our mother but an idiot.'
                          
Andrew considered his offer. Then wondered why Teddy had an office.
                          
"Why does Teddy have an office?"
                          
"So she hasn't told you? Well it's best if I don't. Wait for her to tell you."
                          
'If you stick around long enough to listen.'
                          
Mason was questioning himself.
                          
Then Teddy. 
                          
Then himself, again.
                          
Andrew question who this mystery man was, and why he knew so much more than him.
                          
He didn't like it.
                          
He didn't like him.
                          
Then again, he currently didn't like himself.
                          
Both of their thoughts were soon cut off by a certain women exiting her office, with her nose in the books and her glasses perched upon it.
                          
"Mason, what the fuck did you do to the books, they are a complete and utter pile of shit you need to fucking sort it out now..."
                          
She slowly looked up to see Mason and before she could finish her sentence she saw who was stood next to him.
                          
She wanted him gone.
                          
She didn't want him to still be there.
                          
She didn't expect him to still be there.
                          
She almost kicked him out.
                          
Almost.