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“Mom,” Ryker says. “Sit down. Let’s hear the rest before you object.”
“That would be a good decision. Shall we?” Mr. Hanover says.
Debra takes her seat. I swear, smoke is coming out of her ears, she’s so mad.
James unfreezes and comes to life again as the video continues.
“This brings me to my dear, sweet wife, Debra. I suppose you’re wondering at this point where your inheritance lies. I will tell you what you already know. It’s in a bank account in Switzerland, exactly where you placed it when you took money from Martel Investments and opened up a personal account for yourself.”
“What?” Ryker says loudly, his hands clenched into fists.
“I have no idea what you were planning to do with it or if you had decided to leave me, but you have more than enough to live quite comfortably for the rest of your life. Consider it your inheritance, my dear. By the way, if you hadn’t taken the money behind my back, you would’ve inherited a lot more. Ponder over that one for a while.”
Debra lets out an odd sort of wail, half shock, half outrage. Ryker bows his head, shaking it with disbelief.
“As for the house, it’s in Zane’s name. I’m sure he will allow you to continue living there. As a matter of fact, I’m sure he will show you the same kindness that you have always shown him throughout his life.”
Debra places her head in her hands.
“Mother?” Ryker says.
She doesn’t answer.
“Ryker, I call upon you to take care of your mother and see that she has all she needs. Debra, you have two options. You can accept your fate, or you can fight me on this and be escorted out of the room and arrested immediately for embezzlement. Your choice, my dear. I strongly suggest the first choice. Under the circumstances, it seems extraordinarily fair.”
Zane nods at the two security guards and they move to stand behind Debra.
The game just changed.
I study Zane for a moment. The prince has taken back his kingdom. He doesn’t look happy, even though he’s won. It isn’t a glorious victory for him. It’s taken a lot out of him. It’s the first time I notice how haggard he looks. His face looks ashen, even in this low lighting, and he has dark circles under his eyes.
“All right, that’s it in a nutshell. Zane and Ryker, I implore you to work together and take Martel Investments to new heights.”
The camera slowly pans out away from James’ face, and we see a small purple gun being held to the temple of his forehead.
The entire room gasps. What? Was he coerced into saying what he just said? Is this some kind of joke?
The camera continues to pan out, and we see Zane holding the gun. He presses the plastic trigger and water shoots out all over James.
They both break out into laughter. James leans toward Zane, wrapping his arm around his waist and hugging him tightly.
The camera pans over to Mr. Hanover. He shakes his head and laughs. “Their idea, not mine. I advised against it. But this is legal, I assure you.”
The camera pans back to James and Zane. They’re still laughing, James still has his arm around his son.
And that’s where the camera freezes as the video comes to an end. We’re left in stunned silence as we stare at the father and son on the screen, caught in an embrace, their laughter evident, frozen forever.
Debra turns and huddles in the corner, whispering with her lawyers. It sounds heated. I don’t doubt she’ll fight with everything she has to overturn James’ will.
“All right,” Mr. Hanover says. “Those were Mr. Martel’s wishes in layman’s terms, as he put it.” He addresses Debra’s lawyers. “Copies of the legal documentation are available for your perusal.” To Zane and Ryker, he says, “Gentleman, I have some documents that need your John Hancock, if you will.”
Zane and a dazed Ryker head to the front of the room. I imagine they’re going to be busy for a while. I head for the exit, my mind whirling. I look upon Zane so differently now.
He’s been the puppet master all along, the one pulling the strings. He was always several steps ahead of everyone else.
And he never told me one single thing.
No, he remained silent about it all and I feel betrayed. So many secrets. So many things he never told me. Honesty is so important in a relationship. He never lied to me, but he omitted a lot. It’s so much to process and I’m not thinking clearly. I only know one thing. I want to escape, to get away and never look back. I don’t know what I was to Zane, but it wasn’t what I thought. It makes me want to cry my eyes out.
