“He was a fool.” She nodded. “But Jeremiah Bradley was not the only fool I knew, Jakob. Or the one who I blame for my broken heart. No, he was a weak man. Everything in his life dictated that money was more important. My only hope in life was that you weren’t poisoned by his greed and want any of his money.”
“Money is not the most important thing in the world, Mother. It’s what causes countries to go to war, and diseases to continue to flourish and people to starve.” My voice was passionate as I tried to show her that I wasn’t about the money. I wasn’t like my father. I wouldn’t make choices that would negatively affect her just so I could make money.
“You’re wrong, Jakob. Money is important. It’s the most important commodity in the world. Without money you’re no one. Life tells you what to do. With money, you decide your fate. With money, you make your own choices. Make it your goal to have money, my dear. I would hate for your life to be dependent on others.”
“But you said you don’t want us to take my father’s money. You said that . . .” My voice trailed off at the stern look on her face.
“You’re a smart boy, Jakob. I don’t want you taking your father’s blood money. His fortune is intended for David, anyway.”
“David doesn’t like me.” Even as a child I knew that my half brother didn’t have sentimental feelings for me. At first that had hurt, growing up around him, knowing he was my brother, even if he hadn’t known right away. Being the maid’s child in a rich environment had shown me just how the two halves lived. It had shown me that life was harder but simpler when you were poor. I didn’t have to want for anything that I needed, but I’d never been able to have the name-brand sneakers and clothes that my peers at Harrow Meade were able to afford. I was very much the pauper at the school, but that didn’t bother me. Maybe it was because I was a handsome boy, so girls were all over me; even while the boys taunted me, due to superiority and jealousy. It didn’t hurt that they all wanted to rebel against their rich and dominating fathers by dating the poor kid at school. That all changed once word got around that I was the illegitimate son of a banker, as cold with his child as he was with his figures. Then the whispers became about something else and people wondered if I was just eclectic and that was why I looked so poor.
“It doesn’t matter if David likes you.” She kissed my cheek. “Your mother loves you.”
“Don’t you ever want to get married?” I looked at her hesitantly, not wanting to hurt her feelings with my question.
“There was only one man I’ve ever loved enough to want to marry and he already was. I thought he loved me. I thought he wanted to be with me. I did things I’m not proud of. Things I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life. Things that keep me up at night.”
“What things?” I asked softly, staring at the pain in her eyes. “What happened, Mother?”
“Don’t worry your head about it. Just remember what I tell you. You’re a smart, handsome boy. You’re my life. Don’t make the mistakes that I made and don’t become your father. I want a different life for you, Jakob. I want you to travel the world. I want you to be happy. And if you ever fall in love, I want it to be with a woman who deserves your heart.”
“Is there ever going to be a woman who deserves my heart?” I teased her, knowing that she wanted much more for me than just giving my heart away.
“There will be, one day, when you’re in your forties.” She smiled.
“Forties?” My jaw dropped. “I’ll be an old man then.”
“Better to be old and smart than to be a young fool in love.”
“I guess so.” I nodded in agreement, though I still thought that forty seemed like such a long time away.
“One day you’ll make a great father and husband, Jakob. Any woman will be lucky to have you.”
“You’re just saying that.” I blushed, feeling pleased at my mother’s words. One day I’d make my mother proud and she’d forget all the pain she’d lived through. She’d realize that everything had been worth it. I would make her happy.
*
“Steve, it’s Jakob,” I said as soon as the phone stopped ringing. I knew that Steve didn’t talk when he answered the phone until someone had spoken first.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?” His voice let me know it was anything but a pleasure.
“You’ve been working with Larry recently, right?”
“Yes.” His speech was tinged with a hint of a British accent this morning—heaven only knew why. “I’ve been working with him ever since Mr. Bradley died.”
“That’s good.” I felt guilty that I hadn’t known that before, but Steve was one of those people who was easily forgotten. He’d always had a chip on his shoulder and he’d resented both David and me. Steve grew up in a foster home and had started in the mail room at Bradley when he was seventeen, quickly rising through the ranks when my father took him under his wing. I always wondered what it was about Steve that had attracted my father’s interest, but I never really cared enough to actually investigate their link. “Are you going to the company ball this weekend?”