“Burn those who burned me!” Chapter 152

**Chapter 24: Jamie’s got a secret.**

For the past two weeks Harold and Christian had been working on the Delgato project. Harold wanted the designing team to begin submitting designs by the beginning of November. Even Jamie joined the company and began working in the finance department. Christian and Harold had been impressed with how hard he’d been working. Just a few weeks ago, Christian wasn’t sure what was going on, but something was wrong with his younger brother. When he asked Vanessa about it, she claimed to know nothing; but something was telling him that wasn’t true.

His strange behavior increased the night they appointed Vanessa as the project manager for the Delgato project. That evening, Laura had the maids and chefs prepare all of Vanessa’s favorite dishes to celebrate her new promotion.

*“Oh Nessie! I’m so proud of you!! You’re so talented!!”*

Laura hugged her daughter tight as she planted kisses on her cheeks.

*“Thanks mommy! I couldn’t have done it without all of you always giving me love and support! I….I know things haven’t been the same since Josie-”*

*“Don’t bring her up! This is a joyous moment. I don’t want your moment being taken away by the negativity of that girl.”*

An awkward silence seeped through the room. Since Josie left, Laura had all but acted as if she never existed. Suddenly, Vanessa clapped with joy.

*“Mom! Did you have all of my favorite foods cooked!”*

The maids and chefs all made an uneasy expression, remembering the last time Laura requested her *'daughter's'* favorite food. They were sure THIS time, she would get the order right. As if happy energy swarmed back into the room, everyone went right back to celebrating.

*“I sure did baby! I want you to eat and enjoy!”*

After having family dinner, the chef brought out a strawberry cream cake; Vanessa’s favorite dessert.

Just as she was about to hand Jamie a slice, he shook his head and lightly pushed the plate away.

*“No thank you.”*

Laura looked over at Jamie in surprise.

*“Are you feeling okay sweetie? You barely touched your fo-”*

*“I’m fine. I’m going to bed…I’m feeling a little tired.”*

Hearing that, Harold scoffed; he’d been disappointed lately in Jamie’s lack of ambition.

*“Tired from what; lounging all day.”*

Jamie looked at his father and then glared at his sister. For the first time in his life, he resented Vanessa. As she looked at him with her usual pitiful eyes, Jamie simply excused himself and went to his room.

That night, Vanessa made her way to his room to find out what was going on. She’d come too far for everything to crumble just because Jamie wanted to go soft.

*“Hey…knock, knock.”*

Vanessa peaked her head into Jamie’s room. Startled; he jumped up instantly.

*“Shit Ness…I didn’t hear you knock! Don’t just walk into my room like that!”*

Vanessa smiled apologetically as she made her way to his sofa.

*“I’m sorry Jame, Jame…I just wanted to check on you! Are you okay? You’ve been acting weird all night. I just wanted-”*

*“I’m not okay Ness!! I…I’m really not okay!”*

Tears began to fill Jamie’s eyes as he slumped his head into his hands. Vanessa began to panic; what could have happened between this morning and now that rattled him up so much. Taking a seat beside him, Vanessa began to rub her brother’s back as if she was trying to console him.

*“Jamie…what happened?”*

Jamie looked up at Vanessa with despair in his eyes, as the tears rolled down, his eyes began to redden.

*“I’m afraid you’ll hate me if I tell you.”*

Vanessa smiled nervously as she panicked from within. Did he say something to dad or Christian! No…that couldn’t be it! What the hell was going on! Trying to maintain her composure, Vanessa continued to comfort Jamie.

*“Jame…that’s not true. Whatever is going on…you can tell me! I’m your sister…I love you no matter wha-”*

*“I killed him!”*

Vanessa’s eyes widen as her hand stopped moving.

WHAT!!!!

*“J-Jamie….what are you talking about? Who’d you kill?”*

Jamie sat up and grabbed his phone. With trembling hands, he handed it to Vanessa. Puzzled, Vanessa looked down at the text messages on his screen. As she scrolled the thread, her eyes began to widen until suddenly, the final message was appeared. It was a picture of a dead man laying on a hotel bed as blood pooled around his head on the pillow. Vanessa didn’t need to ask who the person was. She’d recognized him instantly…..

Lawrence Tillman.

The phone nearly fell out of Vanessa’s hand as she stared at her brother.

*“Jamie…what did you do?”*

Jamie instantly jerked forward from his seat.

*“What I had to do! I….I did what I had to do! I didn’t know what else….I….”*

Jamie fell to his knees, tears pouring out of his eyes. As Jamie cried, Vanessa began to feel a since of serenity. It was as if the gods were moving mountains to make sure she received everything she was supposed to get out of life. Vanessa stared at her brother….for so many years she’d deemed him useless; but now…now he had become her white knight. Her beacon of justice. Kneeling beside him, Vanessa slapped Jamie hard! The sting instantly sent a shrill of shock down his spine.

*“Vanessa!! What the fuck!! You just slapped-”*

*“I want you to listen to me Jamie!”*

Placing both hands on each of his cheeks, Vanessa pulled his face closer to hers. The sting from her slap causing him to wince.

*“Look at me Jamie. Hear what I say. You. Did. Nothing. Wrong.”*

Jamie’s eyes widen in shock; he’d thought for sure she would be mortified.

*“Listen to me brother…you did nothing wrong. Okay?”*

*“But I-”*

*“But nothing! He was a bad man! Okay. Even I didn’t know he would do all of those awful things to Josie. I only told him to mess with her a little bit. I had no idea he would do all of that! So you didn’t do anything wrong!...He deserved it!”*

Jamie’s hands shook as he stared at Vanessa.

*“H-He…deser-”*

*“Yes! You’re a hero Jamie….you’re my hero. And whether Josie knows it or not….you’re her hero too. Besides…YOU didn’t kill anybody. You paid for him to disappear….it’s not on you how it gets done.”*

Tears poured down Jamie’s face as he stared into Vanessa’s eyes. He could see the conviction burning with every word she spoke.

*“I-I’m a hero.”*

*“That’s right Jamie…you’re a hero! So now…you’ve got to get your shit together! You can’t fall apart! Christian and dad will start to notice! It’s time to come out of this room. That chapter is now closed! You’ll join the company…you’ll work hard…and you’ll prove why you belong there just as much as Christian and me!”*

Jamie nodded his head in agreement with his sister. Her words pierced his heart like a rocket that sored him back into existence. No more would he waste his days struggling and stressing over Lawrence Tillman. He’d handled the situation like any man protecting his sister would!

Vanessa stood up extending her hand towards her brother. As he took it, he felt a surge of satisfaction seeping through him. Everyone thought Christian was the golden boy..…the man that would lead the family after his father retired his crown..…but had either of them ever killed for this family?

Jamie smiled smugly; this would be his secret to bare and an amour of diamonds. Who cares if his dad crowned him king or not….he’d already crowned himself.

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Christian stared at the article on his tablet. The man that was murdered in his hotel room two weeks ago; the afternoon of Vanessa’s promotion.....was none other than Lawrence Tillman.