“Are you kidding?” I grind out as the pieces click into place. Mom didn’t just want the ability to unplug me, but to control all my affairs in such a case. And I acquiesced; it seemed fair, givenwhat was being asked. She might have the heart of Machiavelli, but she still has a heart.
“You gave me away in marriage while I was in a coma?” I demand. “What’swrongwith you?”
“The Webbers didn’t complain.”
“Did you disclose that I could be brain dead?” I ask.
She shrugs. “They didn’t ask. Besides, it wasn’t like the news of your accident was exactly a secret.”
“And if I hadn’t woken up? What would you have done? Give one of them instead?” I gesture at my cousins.
“Obviously I can’t ask them to do more than what they’ve already done by joining the firm,” Grandma says.Unlike you. “It wouldn’t be fair. The marriage deal will strengthen our alliance, and more importantly, it’ll create an heir who can mediate between the two families.”
Too many big egos. Not enough space at the firm. “And let’s see. We’ll get a bigger percentage of the firm because you’re giving me up for one of their third-tier losers nobody wants.”
Grandmother folds her hands placidly in front of her.
“Youcould marry Andreas,” I say, trying to keep my voice civil. “You’re both old and widowed. A geriatric romance. It’s all the rage these days, what with people living so long.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. We are not on the contract. And in any case, we’re far too old to produce a child.”
“Have you looked at the other girl? She isn’t stupid,” Uncle Prescott finally puts in.
“She spends twenty-five thousand dollars a month, and that doesn’t include rent because Andreas set her up in a condo for free.” Ares gave me the scoop on the other sister during a poker night. Apparently, this daughter is such a mess, the family is all hush-hush about her. Only the innermost circle knows—even most people at the firm are unaware of her existence.
“Wives are expensive, sweetie. But twenty-five a month is certainly within your capacity,” Mom says.
My patience is wearing thin. It’s the same bullshit conversation my grandmother and mom and I always have. This is why I do my best to avoid them. “Fucking her isn’t worth that kind of money.”
Grandmother turns positively apoplectic. “Huxley Lawton Lasker! She could become your wife!”
I’m not finished. “And if I ever decided to trade up, I’d need to pay her alimony too. Screw that.”
“Prenup,” Ares murmurs.
I give him a death glare.Whose side are you on?
I start to stand. Aunt Akiko looks at me, a futile hope in her eyes. “The nearest powder room is under renovation, so you’ll need to use the one off the living room.”
“I’m not going to the bathroom.”
“But I haven’t served the main course. The wagyu roast.”
“I’ll have to take a rain check.” I go around the table to lay a quick kiss on her temple, then turn to the head of the table, where my grandmother sits like a queen. “If you try to pressure me to marry a Webber again—justonemore time—I will elope with whomever Dad picks out next.”
Chapter Five
Grace
The second whiskey burns down my throat and joins its companion in my otherwise empty belly. I probably shouldn’t be sitting on a barstool drinking, but alcohol seems like a great option for consoling my wounded soul after that shitshow of an evening I just had. The bar is blasting Rihanna’s “Breakin’ Dishes.” I wish I could break some dishes and burn Peter’s clothes. But the plates at my place are mine, and he took his good clothes to the dry cleaners this morning, so there’s nothing worth setting on fire.
–Adam: Are you okay? Where are you?
That’s his tenth text, maybe twentieth… Something like that. I would answer him, but I have no idea what to say. He probably heard all there is to know from the other lawyers at the bar, assuming Viv hasn’t told him already. She hates it that Adam’s such a good friend to me. A girl like me doesn’t deserve somebody like him.
The fact that my mom was the “other woman” in her parents’ marriage has put a bright scarlet letter on me, figuratively speaking. When I pointed out that it was Nelson who decided to lie to my mother and cheat on his wife, she screamed like I’d poured rat poison down her throat, then called me a “fucking cunt.” Viv’s older brother Mick’s reaction wasn’t much better, as he worships his father. He pushed me, then smacked the backof my head hard enough to stun me. Karie said everyone should calm down, then threatened to cut off payments for Mom’s bills if I dared to make a fuss or tell Andreas.
Karie isn’t scared of anybody except Andreas. Probably because he isn’t impressed that her father was a judge or that she graduated from Vassar with a degree in French lit. Furthermore, she feels the need to ingratiate herself with him to advance Nelson’s career at the firm. By all accounts, he doesn’t cut anyone any slack if they don’t perform, family being no exception.
