My father was always the sole provider for our family. It was a simple, yet happy, life. My father worked in construction while my mother stayed at home and oversaw the house. My little sister and I attended school.

School had just finished for the day. I looked outside; it was raining. Pretty heavily, too. I was preparing to brave the storm when I heard a familiar, bubbly voice behind me, but it sounded so hoarse right now. "Big bro!" my younger sister yelled as she ran over to me, a clear look of dejection on her face. Her eyes were watery, and it looked like she could break into tears at any second.

"What's up? Is something wrong?" I asked her. She's usually so bright and cheerful, so to see her like this was quite a sight.

My little sister grabbed the hem of my shirt and said, "It's... Ma... Mo..." The tears started to flow from her eyes. Whatever happened, it wasn't good.

I put my hand on her head and ruffled her hair, saying, "It's alright, I'm here. Take a deep breath. And tell me what happened."

My little sister sniffled; I could hear the mucus in her nose. "Mom...Mom called me... Da...Dad's in the hospital..." She threw her head into my chest and rubbed her snot all over my shirt.

"Huh?! Do you know why?" It didn't feel real to me. Dad was always a strong, dependable man I could count on. I can't imagine him in a hospital bed.

"No..." She pulled her head away. It seemed that just talking to me about it was able to calm her down a little. "Mom just said... to meet her in the hospital, and that dad was hurt."

"Oh... Do you have your umbrella? The weather isn't looking good, but we should try to get there as soon as possible..." I took a deep breath to calm myself. It's the big brother's job to be the calm one in a situation like this.

"No... I forgot it... Do you have yours, big bro?"

"Yeah, I was just about to leave, actually." I took a look at my umbrella. I debated just giving it to my little sister and running through the rain to the hospital, but I ended up deciding against it. I think it would be better for both of us if we stuck together. "Want to share it?"

"Please... Thanks, big bro."

We took off together towards the hospital; the umbrella wasn't big enough for both of us to fit comfortably in it. Since I was the one holding it, I made the decision to make sure my little sister stayed completely dry. My shoulder was getting drenched, but it was a small price to pay. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't think of anything to cheer my sister up. Hopefully whatever put Dad in the hospital wasn't a life or death situation. It has to be pretty serious, though, if mom wouldn't tell.

We arrived at the hospital. I shook the umbrella dry and stowed it in my backpack. I looked at my sister; she was completely dry. I felt accomplished. And cold; half my body was wet, after all. I grabbed my sister's hand and bent down to be eye level with her. "Well? Are you ready?"

"Ye...yeah..." she squeaked out in a whisper. I don't think I've ever seen her this nervous. She gripped my hand tightly, and I stood up and started walking with her towards the receptionist. My little sister clung to my arm tightly as I started talking. "Hi. We're here to see Turk E. Moose; we're his children."

The receptionist clicked on some things on her computer, and her expression turned grim. "He's in room 404. Fourth floor, on the left. Sorry for your loss."

Huh? My loss? Is she implying . . . "Uh, thanks..." I tried not to let it rattle me. I snuck a peek at my sister, and she had a thousand-yard stare. I turned my head over to her and said, "Lets go, Ako."

My little sister gave me a weak nod, and we took off. It was a bit hard to climb the stairs because she was clinging to me so closely, but I wasn't about to say anything. We arrived at the fourth floor, and I saw my mother sitting on a chair outside of room 404. Her head was in her hands, and she was quietly sobbing. We walked over to her.

Seeing my mother in such a disheveled state shook me to my core. I've never seen her cry before. She's usually so upbeat, and with a penchant for teasing, I have no doubt she didn't want her children to see her like this. My heart sank into my stomach, and I could feel the tears trying to form around my eyes. I thought about my dad giving me an encouraging thumbs-up, and I was able to calm myself. I need to be strong here. I put one of my hands on my mother's shoulder. My little sister let go of me and walked over to the other side of the chair, and started hugging our mother's knee..

"Mom... Is everything alright...?" I tried to make my voice as calm as possible, but I have no doubt everyone could hear the concern in my tone.

"Your father... He's... He..." Her crying grew even more intense. She couldn't bring herself to say it. My mother wrapped her arms around my waist and started crying into my side. I didn't know what to do or what to say. I was frozen in place. I didn't want to believe this was real.

With a herculean effort, I was able to move my hand and place it on my mother's head. She always did this to me whenever I felt sad; it was time to repay the favor.

My younger sister started to cry again as well. She gripped our mother's hand tightly.

In between sobs, my mother was able to choke out, "Your father... He... He's dead... A beam fell on him at work..."

When my little sister heard this, she walked over to me. Still gripping our mother's hand tightly with one hand, she wrapped her free arm around my hips and started crying into my other side.

I put my other hand on my little sister's head and stared at the ceiling. My vision was getting blurry. I couldn't stop it. The tears ran down my face, but I didn't make a noise.

***

It's been a few months since my father died. He had a small funeral that I'll remember for the rest of my life. With him gone, our family didn't have any income. My mother got a part-time job as a cashier, and I dropped out of school and picked up as many part-time jobs as I could find. My mother tried to stop me, but I was able to convince her that her wages alone wouldn't be enough to maintain the life we're living. I told her I was doing it for Ako, and she hesitantly gave me the okay. I still tried to study when I could, but most, if not all, of my time was spent working or sleeping.

One evening, I was returning home from my part-time gig as a dishwasher. I was walking along the sidewalk when a sleek black car parked a bit in front of me. A muscular man that looked like he belonged to the secret service got out of the passenger door, and he opened the rear door facing the sidewalk.

An elderly gentleman stepped out. He had a sleek black suit, a fancy bowler hat, and a thick grey mustache. He was holding a cane and used it to help him get out of the car. "Excuse me. Are you Anon E. Moose?"

I've never seen these people in my life. I have no idea what they want with me; I feel a little intimated by the burly man standing beside the elderly gentleman. "Yes. Is there something I can help you with?"

The gentleman's eyes grew a bit wide. "I'm your grandfather, Nick."

"Nick? I've never heard of you before... Are you sure you have the right guy?" I tried to think if I'd ever heard that name before. My father never talked about his parents, and I don't know much about when he was younger.

He grabbed the brim of his hat and tipped it down. "So... He never told you..."

"Huh? Told me what?" I had my doubts that this man was my grandfather. He was starting to irk me a bit, too.

"That's... Not something I should tell you. Ask your mother." The man used his cane to walk closer to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Tell me, Anon. How would you like to live a life of luxury? I'm sure all of these jobs you're taking are taking a toll on you. I can offer you an easy life. And a beautiful, free place to stay."

I bit my lower lip. He had a point. My whole life since dad passed away has been work, work, work. I was still confused about this whole situation, so I asked him, "What? I don't know... Why me? I don't even know you..." and I took a step away from him.

You're my grandson. That's why." Nick reached into his pocket and handed me a business card. It had his name and number on it. I took a look at his name, "Nick Walton." Huh? That didn't make sense. My last name is Moose. "I suppose this is all too sudden for you. Talk it over with your mother and my granddaughter. If you want to accept my offer, just give me a call. I won't take up any more of your time."

And with that, the men got back in the car and drove off. Leaving me dumbstruck. I still wasn't sure what to make of that whole encounter. I took a look at his card again. I suppose I could at least ask Mom about him and see what she says.

***

I return to a dark house. I guess Ako fell asleep. I unlocked the door and went inside. I turn on the kitchen light and noticed a container of food on the table with a note on it. "I tried cooking today, big bro. I think I'm getting better. This is for you. Eat up!" The note had a cute little doodle of me eating the food. Ako is just the best. I was getting hungry, so this is just perfect. I open it up and notice most of the vegetables were cut poorly. They had a certain charm to them, and I could feel the effort she put into them. I threw it into the microwave and re-heated it. I eat in silence, and the food is pretty tasty. I'll have to make sure to thank Ako the next time I see her. I glance at the clock; mom should be home in a bit over an hour. I finish eating, wash the container, and put it away. I walk over to the couch and sit on it, and watch TV while I wait for my mother to get home.

***

I hear the door open; I guess she's home. I stand up and walk towards the doorway. I see her there, taking off her shoes. "Welcome home."

"Oh, Anon. What a surprise to see you up! You're usually sleeping by now." She walked over to the fridge and opened it up, looking inside.

"Yeah... there's a reason for that." I try not to sound angry or anything like that. I'm just curious.

"Oh? What's up? Find a girlfriend?"

I hated it when she teased me like that. I guess it's a sign she's in a decent mood, so there's that. "If you count an old man by the name of Nick Walton, then yes. Yes, I did."

My mother froze in place. Hand halfway into the fridge. "Nick Walton... Huh... What did he want?"

I decided to say it bluntly: "He offered me a life of leisure and luxury. And he told me to ask you about him."

My mother grabbed a beer from the fridge and closed it. She walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. "So... He's finally making his move..."

I walked over to the table and sat across from my mother. "Do you know him? He said I was his grandson."

She focused on her beer before taking a big gulp and placing it back on the table. "Yeah, I know him. He is indeed, in fact, your grandpa."

My mind started to stretch in every direction. "Why didn't you ever tell me about him?"

She took another drink of the beer. She was probably already halfway done with it. "That wasn't for me to decide. It was your father. I'm sure he would have told you someday. But I guess it falls on me now. Let me explain."

She told me about Dad. He was from a rich family. She met him at a café she worked at, and it was love at first sight. His family didn't want him with her because her family was poor. They tried to force him to go to marriage interviews, but he ended up running away with her. His family disowned him, and he ended up taking my mother's last name when they married.

I was shocked to find all this out. I always pictured dad as your regular, run-of-the mill guy. It was hard to believe he was from a rich background. I took a few moments to process all this information. "But why would Nick contact me all of a sudden?"

My mom finished her beer and said, "If I had to guess, he wants you to become the next heir to Kinoplex."

Kinoplex? I've heard of them before. They're a giant conglomerate with fingers in many different pies. "Why me? Wouldn't it be better to get someone else?"

My mother let out a sigh. "Your father was Nick's only child. Nick became infertile in his old age and can't sire any more children. It's why he pushed your father to marry so strongly."

My mind swirled: "What do you think I should do?" I asked my mom; this whole situation felt unreal. I can't believe they were hiding such a big secret from me.

"What do you want to do? If you let him 'adopt' you, we'll be set for life. No more money problems. But, and this is a big but, He's going to force you to marry some rich girl, like he tried with your father. Can you do that? Can you marry for influence and not for love?"

I thought about it. I wasn't sure. I don't think I've ever been in love anyway. Wait, marriage? I don't know if I'm ready for that. But I'd never have to clock in to a shitty job with a terrible boss ever again. I'm sure mom and Ako would enjoy the life of luxury too. "I'm not sure... I think I could if it meant never having to work again, and it would secure Ako's future. Let me talk it over with her before I make my decision."

My mother stood up and got another beer out of the fridge. "Do you want me to tell her? Or do you want to do it yourself?"

"I'll let you do it if you don't mind. Ako is your daughter; you ought to be the one to tell her about your past." I got out of my chair and put my hand on the table.

"Alright. I will. I think she'd rather hear it from you, though. 'Big bro', That child absolutely adores you."

"I think you're overreacting, mom. Besides, isn't it a good thing your children get along so well?" I start walking towards the bathroom and say, "I'm going to take a bath and then go to bed." I hesitate before I add, "Oh, and mom? Thanks for telling me."

"You shouldn't have to thank me for that. I never meant to keep it a secret, my mother replied as she grabbed some food out of the fridge. I guess I did stop her from eating; she must be hungry.

I walk into the bathroom and close the door.

***

"Big bro!" I awake to the feeling of someone lightly beating on my stomach. I slowly open my eyes. It's Ako. She looks desperate.

"Huh? Oh... Good morning..."

She stops beating me up and asks, "Is it true?! Are you really going to marry someone you've never met?! You can't! I won't allow it!"

Ah, so mom must have told her. "Calm down; I haven't decided anything yet. I wanted to talk to you about it."

"What's there to talk about? I won't let you marry someone you don't even know!"

I sit up. "Well, I was thinking, if we had money, we wouldn't have to worry about our future. You'd be able to attend a good school, and I wouldn't have to work anymore."

"But what about your happiness?! You can't sacrifice everything for us!"

"Isn't it the older brother's job to look out for their siblings? That's why I'm even considering it." I put a hand on her head and said, "Listen, I want to make sure you have a great life. And that means being able to go to a good school and not have to worry about paying for it." I ruffled her hair, and she looked sad. She didn't say anything else. I felt bad. "Plus, I'd be able to go back to school, too. I doubt Grandpa Nick would make me marry right away. He would probably give me a few years to go back and finish." I tried to cheer her up. I wasn't lying, either. That would be a perk. "So, what do you think?" I asked her.

"If it means you'll be happy, big bro. I won't complain." she said dejectedly.

"Alright. I'll call him up later and talk to him about it. You need to hurry or you'll be late for school."

Right. Oh, and big bro. Mom made breakfast, so eat up. I'll see you later!" And with that, she ran out of the room. I can't help but smile. She's such a good kid. She always thinks of others first. I'll need to reward her somehow. Maybe I'll buy her something nice when I have the money.

I get out of bed and make my way towards the kitchen.

***

It's midday; Ako is at school, and mom is sleeping on the couch. I go to my room and take Nick's business card off my desk. I take a deep breath. "It'll be alright. I can do this. Just a simple phone call. Easy peasy." I pick up the receiver and dial the number. I press the call button.

It rings a few times. Then someone picks it up. "Hello? This is Nick." The voice on the other side sounded exactly like the man who came up to me last night.

"Uh, Hello. This is Anon."

"Oh, Anon! You're calling! Did you talk to your family?!"

"Yes. About that... My mother told me what she knew, and I'd like to meet up and discuss some things. When would be a good time for you?" I was trying my best to keep the nervousness out of my voice, but I'm not sure how successful I was.

"Wonderful! Meet me at my estate tomorrow. I'll send a driver to your place."

"Your estate?! That's a bit much, don't you think?"

"Nonsense, boy. You are my grandson after all." I could practically hear the smug grin on his face. "Don't worry, I'll send someone for you and your family."

Tomorrow is a Saturday. Everyone should be available. "Alright. Send a car. We'll meet you tomorrow. Goodbye."

"Farewell."

I hang up the phone. The meeting is set.

***

The three of us are hanging around the house. Mom is sitting on the couch, and Ako is playing a video game. I'm in my room, doing some light studying. The sun is shining brightly. I hear a knock at the door. It's probably the car. I make my way to the front door and open it.

A man is standing there, dressed in a sleek black suit and sunglasses. His head is completely bald, and he's sporting a thick beard."Mr. Anon E. Moose?"

I have no doubt he's a bodyguard of Nicks. "Yes. Is this about the car? We're ready."

"I'm here to escort you to the vehicle. If you'd please follow me."

"I'd feel better if we all went together. Is that okay?" I was nervous. And it shows in my voice. I didn't want to go with this guy alone. I wanted to be sure my family was safe. I have no idea what kind of person my grandfather is. And I don't want to find out. Not by myself, anyway.

"Alright, Mr. Moose. We can wait here. It's quite alright."

"Thanks." I turned around and yelled, "Hey, mom! Ako! Time to go!" I walk back inside, and the two of them join me at the door. Ako takes my hand and holds it. My mother takes the lead, and we start walking behind her. The three of us make our way outside, and the man leads us to a limousine.

"This way, please." The man says this as he opens the door for us. I have to admit, I'm feeling pretty nervous. Mom and Ako enter the car; I get in next. The man closes the door and gets in the driver's seat. He starts driving.

We're in a long, awkward silence. Mom seems a bit nervous, too. But she's putting on a brave face. Ako is clinging to my arm, and her breathing is shallow. I'm doing my best not to shake. This is just a meeting; it'll be fine. There's nothing to worry about.

We pull up to an iron gate. The man rolls his window down and puts a passcode into the pad. The gates open, and we start driving again. A minute or two passes, and a large building comes into view. It looks like a mansion. There's a circular drive-way in the front. The man pulls in and parks the car. "Here we are, ladies and gentlemen. I'll be waiting for you here; please take your time."

"Right. Thanks." I try not to sound too nervous. Ako and my mother follow me out of the car. We stand there, and take a look at the large building in front of us. The doors open, and a woman in a maid outfit walks out. She walks over and bows deeply. "Welcome. Mr. Walton has been waiting for you. Please come inside." The woman stands back up and gestures for us to follow.

I take the lead, and my family follows. We walk inside the building. The inside is very lavishly decorated. We make our way through the mansion; the place is enormous. The maid speaks up: "He's right inside here. Please make yourselves comfortable." She opens a door, and we step into the room. It's a large living room. There are a few couches. My grandfather is sitting on one of the couches.

"Ah, you're here. Please, have a seat. What can I get for you to drink?"

"Uh, water would be fine." I'm feeling a bit intimidated by his presence.

"I'll have some beer." Mom is sounding calm, but I have no doubt she's on edge as well. Ako just nods.

"Very well. Mary, can you please fetch them some water and a beer? And a soda for the girl."

"Yes, Mr. Walton. Right away." And with that, Mary, the maid, walks out. We walk over to the couch and take a seat. Nick sits on the couch across from us.

"So what do you think? Pretty fancy place, right?" My grandfather asked with a chuckle. "This is where you'll live if you accept my offer." He takes his hat off and places it on his lap.

"Yeah, it's nice. Wait, live here? With you?" I was a bit confused. "Why would I have to live here?"

"Of course. How else would I teach you about the company?" He has a smile on his face. "Mary and myself are the only ones that live here currently. My wife died a few years ago. I can't have the heir living anywhere but the main residence. Don't worry, there's plenty of room."

That made sense. "What about Kotori and Ako?"

"Hmm? Well, they're free to stay here, if they'd like. They can even move back into the home you guys currently live in, if they so wish."

Mom chimed in, "That won't be necessary. If Anon lives here, we'll live here too. That's non-negotiable." She said in a stern voice.

Nick laughed, "Of course, of course. Whatever makes you comfortable. The more the merrier."

Mary walks back into the room, a tray with drinks on it in hand. She sets it on the table in front of us, and places a glass of water, a beer, and a soda on the table. She walks back out.

"Now, I assume you're ready to talk about the future?" My grandfather takes a sip of his coffee, and waits for a reply.

"Yeah. Lets talk." I grab my glass of water and take a small sip. It tastes expensive.

"I'll be blunt, you'll have to marry someone. You'll also have to learn the family business. It's not something that's easy to learn. But you'll get there. Eventually." He pauses to take another sip of his coffee. "Do you have any questions?"

I wasn't really sure where to start. "Yeah, you said I would have to marry someone. Who?"

"Ah, yes. I suppose we should discuss that. I'll let you pick her." His face became a tad somber as he spoke: "I learned my lesson with your father; I never should have disowned him." He sighed and put his coffee down. "My only rules are that you have to pick someone by the end of the year and that you have to take on my last name, Walton." He leaned back and picked his coffee back up

"Wait, so I'm going to lose my last name? Why?"

"Well, it would be difficult to convince people you're the heir if you have a different last name, no? Plus, I'd prefer the company be under my name, rather than your mother's. Don't get me wrong, it's not because I hate your mother or anything; it's just tradition."

"Huh, well. I guess that makes sense. So, how does it work? How do I decide?"

"There's a few ways. You could have marriage interviews, or you could pick someone you already know. I don't care who it is; it could be your best friend, a girl from a marriage interview, your mother, your sister, or a prosti-" He looked over at Ako and said, "A lady of the night. I don't care." He let out a deep sigh, saying, "If it's a scandalous choice, the company will cover it up. Money talks." He finished off his coffee. "Now, do you have any other questions?" He asked as he stood up and walked over to his desk.

It was October, Nick wasn't giving me a lot of time. "Why only three months? Isn't that a little too soon?" I asked him. I took another sip of my water. It's starting to grow on me. Ako is still clinging to my arm. She hasn't drank any of her soda. I'm worried about her. Mom is drinking her beer.

"I'm not getting any younger. The sooner, the better. I want to see my legacy be carried on." He sat back down, holding a piece of paper. "Now, let's talk about what's in this for you."

I put my water down and waited for him to continue. He handed me the piece of paper. "This is how much money you'll get." My eyes grew wide. It was a huge amount. "You'll also get a credit card. So don't worry about the cash flow. If you marry and produce a son, I'll triple the amount."

I show Kotori and Ako the piece of paper. Their mouths drop. This was more money than we've ever seen before. We'd be set for life. It was enough money for a small house, three cars, and enough left over to make sure no one ever has to work again. "What do you think? I ask my family.

Ako is the first one to speak: "Grandpa, you said he could marry me?"

My grandfather looked surprised, and he started laughing, "Hahaha! I didn't think you'd want your own brother! Sure, if Anon chooses you, that's fine."

Ako nodded her head. Mom chimed in, "That's not the only reason. Ako doesn't want her brother to marry a stranger." I'm not sure what she meant by that. "If I remember right, you said there's no age limit, right?"

"Indeed. Anon is free to choose whoever he wants."

"Good, then I want him to pick me." Mom has a serious expression on her face.

"Hah! That's an interesting development. I was sure you'd be against the whole marriage thing." My grandfather was grinning widely. I could feel the pressure rising.

"What can I say, I'd rather have him marry someone he knows." Mom replied. She seemed to have an unbreakable resolve. She was dead set on it. Ako was squeezing my arm tightly. I could tell she was scared. I didn't want to hurt her, but I didn't want to hurt my mom either.

Mary the maid opened the doors and said, "Sorry to interrupt, but have you made a decision?"

I looked at my family, "Well? Should we live here?" I ask them. They both nod their heads. "Then I guess it's decided." I turn back to my grandfather. "We'll live here."

"Wonderful!" He clapped his hands, "I'll have the moving trucks get your stuff from your home tomorrow. You can start living here tonight. We have everything you need."

Mary spoke up, "Well then..." Before I realized what was going on, she was grabbing my mother and pulling her out of the room. "We'll be back." Mary closed the doors. I couldn't hear their conversation. But I could tell they were arguing. My mother came back into the room, and Mary was dragging her out. Mary gave me a wink. I don't understand what she was trying to accomplish.

"What's going on?" I ask Nick. I had a sinking feeling in my gut.

"She's going to be your personal maid." Nick said.

"What?! Why?" I was stunned.

"Don't worry, it's just a formality. She won't have to do any real work. Besides, don't you want to see your mother in a frilly French maid outfit?" Nick was grinning. My face felt hot. It was like he knew my fetishes.

"No, I wouldn't. I mean, I would. Wait, what?" My thoughts were scrambled. I didn't know what was happening. My heart was pounding.

"And what about you, Ako? Want to be your brother's personal maid?" My grandfather asked her. I could tell he was teasing. But it didn't help. My mind was swirling.

"I do." My little sister replied. Her expression was serious. I felt a knot form in my throat. Was she really okay with that? Is she doing this just because she doesn't want me to be lonely?

"Wonderful! It's settled then!"

Mary and my mother returned to the room. Nick told Mary what Ako said, and Mary escorted Ako out of the room. Mary closed the door. My mother walked up to me. I could feel the anger and embarrassment radiating off her. She was staring a hole through Nick. She was blushing furiously. Her lips were pursed, and her hands were clenched into fists.

I couldn't help but to look at my mother. She looked... cute. She was wearing a frilly maid outfit. It was black and white, just like in an anime. It hugged her hips. It had a cutesy apron, with lace at the bottom.

My mother looked at me, her face was flushed red. I couldn't help myself. "You look really cute." I said it without thinking.

"D-don't tease me like that, Anon. I know what your fetishes are." Her face turned an even brighter red, if that was possible. "And, thank you." She added after a short pause. She stood beside me. Her face was still red. I'm guessing Mary was teasing her, too.

Speaking of Mary, she and Ako returned to the room. Ako was wearing a frilly French maid outfit as well. My heart skipped a beat. She was adorable. My little sister walked up and stood on the other side of me. She was blushing too. I could feel my heart beating a million miles an hour. What was wrong with me? This is my sister and my mother; why am I getting all excited?

Nick cleared his throat, "I guess I forgot to mention. The three of you will be staying in a special suite together. Just the three of you." My grandfather continued. "The rooms have their own bath and kitchen, and they're connected by a large living room." My grandfather stood up and walked over to his desk. He pulled out a set of keys and walked back to us. He handed me the keys. "These are the keys. Your stuff will be in the closet. There's also a spare bedroom, but I don't think that will be necessary." He sat back down. "You're free to do as you please, as long as you don't cause any trouble. Now, go ahead and get settled. We'll talk more in the morning."

And thus began my new life, where my mother and little sister became my personal maids.

***