Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 13680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 68(@200wpm)___ 55(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 68(@200wpm)___ 55(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
The family lawyer leads the way with Ben behind him and I follow. My mind's racing about what I can do to fight this. I can't lose my education. Surely she hasn't cut me out?
"Sit down kids," Mr. Morian says motioning to the two leather chairs in front of Meryl's old desk. "Now, your mother thought the world of both of you. She told me that her greatest regret was that you two are no longer as close as you once were."
I look over at Ben and then back at Mr. Morian. Her regret? What? She never mentioned it to me. Hell she collected books full of Ben's exploits, I was just going through them.
"We talked a lot once she found out she didn't have long to live you see. She told me that you Victoria were every bit the find your father was. That when she married him it was so she could be a mother to you as much as a wife to him. She also told me that you Benjamin became a much better person when Victoria entered your life. That the two of you would be unstoppable together. This was important to her."
I watch Ben but his face is an unreadable mask. He's had years of schooling himself for high end business deals and being chased by paparazzi so he doesn't give away his feelings on his face.
"So to that end before either of you can claim your inheritance you must spend a month at her villa in the countryside of France. There's an itinerary of things you will do which includes three meals together every day, a daily outing, and other various sundries."
"No," Benjamin says.
Mr. Morian sits woodenly and I turn to Ben with shock. Even for an inheritance he can't spend a month on vacation with me? He'd turn down all that to avoid me?
"Benjamin, there really is no choice. You're living and working with your mother's company. If you want to gain your full inheritance, including keeping your position on the Board of Directors, you have to comply with her last will and testament."
Ben shakes. He literally shakes as he stares straight ahead not even sparing a glance for me.
"Is that all?" I ask.
I'm still waiting for another shoe to drop. There has to be another catch. One month on vacation to secure my education? You bet. Spend it with my stepbrother who hates me? My heart does a nervous flip in my chest.
"Yes, in essence that is it. I've made all the arrangements. It's set around your school schedule so you don't have to worry about that Victoria. I also talked with your Secretary Benjamin and she has cleared your schedule for the duration."
Ben leans back in his chair, steeples his fingers in front of him staring at Mr. Morian. "I'd like my own lawyers to look this over," he says through gritted teeth.
I close my eyes feeling small. It's hard to catch my breath as my chest tightens. It hits me that I'm having an asthma attack. My vision darkens around the edges as I gasp for air. I fumble around trying to find my purse where I keep an inhaler but it's in the kitchen. I try to stand up but fall back into the chair which falls over and I'm on the ground looking up. Ben's face appears in the closing tunnel of my vision.
"Vic!" he yells then he's gone.
It's okay, everyone leaves. He doesn't want me around anyway.
Don't leave me! echoes through my mind as blackness overwhelms me.
Chapter four
Gray eyes inches from my fluttering sight and boring into me are the first things I see. I blink again. I'm having a hard time thinking clearly. It's like cobwebs are holding me down. One and one aren't adding up to two. Why are these eyes so close?
"Vic!"
I'm shaking. I don't understand. What's going on? I close my eyes and become aware of my breathing. Short, shallow breaths.
"Vic! Stay with me."
Stay? Who wants me to stay? I open my eyes again and now I'm staring at the ceiling.
"I'm calling 911."
"No. It's her asthma. She'll be fine."
"She turned blue."
"And now she's not. Sit down and give her space."
Someone moves, a chair creaks, and the room slowly comes to stillness. I inhale deeply letting the simple act of air filling my lungs center me. Asthma. Okay, yes I remember. I had an asthma attack. Ben's here.
Ben!
My heart gallops and my next breath is shallow again. Ben's here and he still doesn't want to be around me. Elation dies replaced by shame as my mind clears. Horror that I've reacted so strongly to his refusal to spend time with me.
"I'm fine," I say struggling to sit up.
A strong arm like steel supports me as I rise to a sitting position. Ben, one arm around me, stares into my face. His expression is unreadable. His chiseled, tanned features give away nothing but my heart flips like it always does when I look at him. Grief hits me out of nowhere for no reason that I can remember, but it seems like I should.