Kelsie paced in her mother’s office and fiddled with her cell phone. It felt wrong being in here by herself, surrounded by bookshelves and Kincade treasures. One spot, the one that used to hold a particular black ring, was conspicuously empty. Kelsie hadn’t mentioned to her mother that she’d given the Soul Ring to Conryu. That struck her as an argument she didn’t need.
From the time she was a little girl, Mother had made it clear that, unless summoned, she had no business poking her nose in here. Coming to the office to wait and make her threat was a calculated move. Hopefully Mother would be taken by sufficient surprise to let Kelsie press her case.
Of course, for it to work, she’d have to be—or at least look—considerably more confident than she felt. Confidence, alas, had never been Kelsie’s strong suit.
Her phone chimed and she checked her messages. Mother was home. She’d asked one of the maids to let her know when the limo arrived. The servants, at least, were on her side. Most of them disliked Mother as much as or more than they’d disliked Grandmother. Which was quite an accomplishment when you thought about how much everyone hated Malice. Only the high pay kept most of them from quitting.
Steeling herself, Kelsie moved around behind the desk and settled into her mother’s chair. It would have been amusing if Mother went directly to bed for a change, but she didn’t expect that to happen. Mother always came here before bed to check her messages. Some things just wouldn’t wait for morning.
A minute later the loud clicks from Mother’s heels reached her.
Kelsie’s breath came in ragged gasps.
Calm down!
If she lost it before Mother even got here, she’d have no chance of facing her down. This was the right thing to do, for the family, the business, and especially for Conryu. He’d saved her so many times, it was her turn to do something to help him.
The clicking stopped and the door opened silently inward.
Mother stepped inside. She looked rough. Her hair was windblown, a long tear ran the length of her stocking, and sweat had made her makeup run. She looked, in short, like someone who had fled an illegal auction.
She finally noticed Kelsie and her mouth opened a fraction. Getting herself quickly under control Mother asked, “What are you doing in here, girl? You know this room is off limits.”
“We need to talk, Mother.” The words came out without a tremor. “I know about the auction. I was there and I recorded you. Kincade Industries needs a new leader, someone less erratic.”
“You?” Mother sounded as incredulous as Kelsie had expected her to. “The business will eat you alive. You’re not ready. In fact, I doubt you ever will be.”
“Ready or not, if you don’t sign control of the company over to me, I’m turning the recording over to the Department. They’ll either arrest you at once or the investigation will ruin the business.”
“You’re blackmailing me?” Mother threw back her head and laughed. Tears of mirth made her makeup run even more. “Of all the stupidity.”
Mother’s face hardened. “I should kill you for the insult.”
Kelsie’s anger washed away some of her nervousness. “If you do, the recording goes to the Department as well as all the tv stations. Well, the ones we don’t own at least.”
Why did all her relatives want to try and kill her? Normal people had parents and grandparents that would do anything to protect them. What did Kelsie have? Psychopaths and lunatics.
“And don’t think you can just erase it. I’m not the only one with a copy.”
“Conryu Koda,” Mother muttered.
Kelsie nodded, happy to let her believe whatever she wished. “So how about, for once in your life, you do the right thing and stand aside? You’ve hardly been paying attention to the business since Grandmother died anyway.”
Mother grimaced, crossed the room, and sat across from Kelsie. “I don’t think I’ve sat in one of these chairs since I was younger than you. Doing this took guts. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Nearly getting sacrificed to a demon lord changes your thinking. Not that I recommend it.” Kelsie spun the contract on the desk in front of her around and pushed it towards her mother along with a pen. “So how about it?”
Mother looked from the contract to Kelsie. “Assuming I sign this, what happens to me?”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine. No one will ever know about the auction. As it happens, I know about your account in London, the one at that very exclusive bank; it should tide you over nicely. In fact, you might want to go to London to keep a closer eye on your holdings.”
“And get me out of your hair. I’m impressed, Kelsie. I really doubted you had it in you. But you’ve clearly given this a lot of thought. Maybe you’ll survive the business after all.”
“I survived Grandmother. How much worse could running a business be?”
Mother laughed again. It might have been the first time Kelsie had heard her laugh with genuine mirth. She grabbed the pen and signed, not even bothering to read the paper.
“There. It’s all yours. Frankly, it’s a relief. Since Mother died, I’ve been thinking as well. Why should I waste whatever time I have left grasping and striving for more wealth and power? Look what that got Malice. No, it’s a life of luxury and lust for me. You wouldn’t believe the quality of men you can buy with enough money.”
“I wish you much joy in your new life, Mother.” Kelsie surprised herself by meaning it. She doubted her mother would actually become a good person, but less evil seemed within reach. Maybe. “In fact, why don’t you take the head butler with you. That old man gives me the creeps.”
“You’re stuck with him I’m afraid. As the new master of the house, I guess you need to know. The head butler—I don’t think Mother even gave him a name—anyway, he’s not human.”
“That surprises me less than it probably should. What is he?”
“A homunculus, the most advanced ever created. Mother planned to grow an entire line of them, servants of all sorts, absolutely obedient and totally loyal. They would have sold for a fortune. But, they also cost a fortune to make. After seeing the cost of the prototype, she decided to abandon the project and kept the prototype for herself. He’s bound to the house and can’t leave the grounds. So you’re stuck with him, assuming you don’t want to just melt him down.”
“Will his loyalty transfer to me?” Kelsie asked.
“More or less. His real loyalty is to the house and the family as a whole. Heaven knows why. Probably just part of his programing. Do what you want with him, I don’t care.”
“I—”
An explosion cut her off before she could ask her next question.
Mother and daughter rushed to the window in time to see a huge, flaming mushroom cloud fill the air about half a mile north.
“What’s that about?” Kelsie asked.
Mother shrugged. “That’s the new-money neighborhood. Nothing but posers and criminals. If one of them blew themselves up, good riddance.”
The idea that a Kincade might call anyone else a criminal was hilarious, but Kelsie kept the thought to herself. This was as close to a warm family moment as she’d ever had with her mother and she didn’t want to ruin it.
When the flames had died down Mother turned for the door. Over her shoulder she said, “Don’t come crying to me in six months if you want to quit. Now that I’m free, I’m not coming back. Good luck.”
The door slammed and Kelsie was alone. Alone and in charge of one of the biggest companies in the world.
What in heaven’s name had she done?