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“Tell me about yourself, Emree. I’ve only gotten little bits and pieces from Conny and want to get to know more about the girl who has my brother taking control of his own life.”
Swallowing the bite of bread in my mouth, I wipe my face to make sure no crumbs are left behind. “Well, I don’t think there is much to tell. You probably know about how Conrad and I met, so I won’t bore you with that. I’m from a small town in Florida and was raised by a single mom. I’m going to school for fashion management and design. I would love nothing more than to one day have my own fashion line.”
“Her designs are sick too. You should have her come up with some outfits for you, Alice. You’d like her style.”
Alice’s face lights up. “I would love that. Based on your outfit alone, I have a feeling you’d be able to put together something perfect.”
We spend the rest of the evening in relaxed conversation with Alice while enjoying a five-star meal. Neither of them brings up the reason why we’re in Boston or any of their family members. It’s natural too. As if not talking about their parents and brother is normal. I have tried to understand the Dugray family, but it is useless. I’m happy Conrad and Alice have each other, but Howard, Annie, and Archer will never make sense to me.
For hours, we sit together, and I enjoy getting to know Alice. She’s quiet but has a great personality, and I can see us being friends. She would get along great with the rest of the girls in our friend group too.
With our meeting early in the morning, Conrad and I reluctantly say goodbye to Alice. It’s a sad parting because he knows she is going back to the house he hates, but we promise to have more visits here or have her fly out to us. I can tell by the way he clings to her that Conrad misses his sister.
* * *
The conference roomwe are in is bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook downtown Boston. There is a long table that is almost the length of the room and there are well over a dozen chairs surrounding it. Conrad and I are occupying two of those chairs while Mr. Groves’s assistant passes out water bottles. Mr. Groves himself has been rambling on with Conrad about what to say and how today will go.
Mr. Groves ends the conversation and walks over to the small counter against the wall stocked with fruit, snacks, and a mini-fridge, where his assistant is now organizing items.
Leaning over, I kiss Conrad’s shoulder. “You doing okay?”
His hand on my thigh tightens as he smiles over at me. “Doing a lot better than I thought I would. More concerned with how I’m not going to rip my father’s head off for threatening you.”
My heart swells. He keeps worrying about me more than himself, and I try to reassure him that I handled myself well and will be okay.
“Focus on keeping a serious face against your father during this meeting. He thinks he is so sure of himself that he can somehow get control over your trust, but he is in over his head and needs to be taken down a few notches.”
Conrad chuckles, but it is cut off by a knock on the door. The woman who works at the front desk of the large office enters, and following her is Howard Dugray and another woman with blonde hair in a fitted black dress carrying a folder in her arms. Conrad’s father is dressed much like he was when he came to Whiskey Joe’s, except this time it is a dark blue, almost black suit with a white shirt underneath.
“Well, if it isn’t my son and his lovely little girlfriend,” Howard says in a mocking tone as he takes the seat across from Conrad. The woman with him occupies the seat crossways from me.
“Morning, Howard. Leslie.” Mr. Groves takes his seat at the end of the conference table as he greets the two new guests.
Conrad’s father gives Mr. Groves his attention and a devious smile grows on his face. “Anthony. How’s the wife?”
Mr. Groves doesn’t let the double entendre affect him. “She’s wonderful,” he tells Howard with a smile. “How about we get started with why we set this meeting up?”
“Proceed.” Howard waves a hand at Mr. Groves.
“It appears you have made some threats to Miss Anders here about your son’s inheritance from his grandfather. After reviewing the paperwork from your father’s estate lawyer, I’m going to assume you weren’t able to get ahold of that to look at it yourself?” Mr. Groves’s tone is serious and stern.
Howard does a good job of keeping a poker face, but I see a small slip in the way his eyebrow twitches. “No, I haven’t had the chance to yet.”
“Well, you probably won’t get that chance. I’ll give you an idea of what it states. Your father has left a generous amount of thirty million dollars to your son and only your son. The conditions of the inheritance are that Conrad must complete high school, graduate from college with the minimum of a bachelor’s degree, marry, have his first child, and retire. Those are all the milestones he must reach to obtain the money that was left. After each achievement, he will get a certain amount.”
My breath catches at the amount of money. Conrad never told me the amount, and I didn’t want to know, but hearing how much his grandfather left behind leaves me speechless.
Mr. Groves continues. “One of the other conditions in the will is that not a single one of his sons, including you, is to touch a cent of Conrad’s or any of the other grandchildren’s money. It seems dear old Dad didn’t leave anything to you all besides his businesses, which I’m sure he would have left to Conrad if he were old enough.”
Howard’s jaw is clenched, and his face turns several shades of red. “I don’t fucking believe you.”
“Oh, trust him. You’re not allowed access, but if you really want to, I can show you the part of the will where it says you aren’t allowed near my inheritance,” Conrad says with a smile.
His father glares at him, and Conrad doesn’t even flinch. He only smiles. The two maintain eye contact in a stare-off until Howard is the one to break the awkward silence. “You little shit. Do you really think you can win this fight?”
“Actually, he has a much better chance than you would think. Not only was your father’s will extremely detailed, but couple that with the fact that the best estate lawyers on the East Coast won’t touch your case after I spoke with them, it bodes well for your son.” Every word comes out smoothly as Mr. Groves sits reclined in his chair.
Howard’s chair rolls against the carpet as he quickly stands. “Don’t think this is over, Conrad. You made a mistake going against me, boy. I don’t give a shit what your little lawyer here says.”
