AS THE DOOR opened, Bryce met me face to face. For only a moment I forgot to walk; instead, I stood mesmerized by Bryce’s face, more accurately, by the large egg-like elevation on his left cheek. I fought to pull my gaze from the purple contusion to his eyes. Once I did, my lower lip disappeared between my teeth.

“Sorry.” As soon as the apology left my lips, I regretted uttering the word. I wasn’t sorry that I’d head-butted him. I was sorry that he’d caught me, wrestled me to the ground, and gotten aroused. I was sorry I’d allowed him to choreograph my conversation with Deloris. I could go on and on with my regrets. Head-butting him wasn’t one of them. Shrugging, I added with a grin, “Not really. Maybe you should think twice before you tackle me again.”

His eyes narrowed and voice lowered to a whisper. Cocking his head toward Alton and Suzanna, he said, “This is another instance when you should keep your mouth shut.”

Bile swirled in the pit of my stomach as I took a breath and stepped through the threshold.

“Mother,” Bryce said.

Suzanna nodded. “I’m glad you could make it on time. I see your ability to tell time has improved, Alexandria.”

Bitch.

I summoned my most accommodating tone and even allowed a bit of Southern drawl to sweeten my response. “Thank you for noticing. It was difficult without my phone, but at least the clock in my room works.”

“Hmm,” Suzanna said, pursing her lips. “Well, Bryce has asked that we give you and your father some privacy.” She looked toward her son. “He hopes that with fewer distractions, you’ll understand.”

I was in a strange quandary. I didn’t want Suzanna and Bryce present, yet I didn’t want to be alone with Alton. Yesterday, Bryce had stood up to Alton on my behalf. I’d never seen anyone do that, not even my mother. That didn’t mean I wanted to admit I wanted him here.

Instead, I focused on my indignation at their insinuation. “I’m capable of understanding, distractions or not. It’s the absurdity of the information that has me thrown.”

“I don’t have all day,” Alton announced as he sat behind his desk.

So this wasn’t going to happen at the table—another gray area for me. Each unfamiliar move seemed to throw me off-kilter.

Bryce stepped closer and reached for my hand. “Would you rather have us stay? Me stay?”

I didn’t want him to ask, nor was I willing to admit to anything. Retrieving my hand, I shrugged. “It seems to me that I’m the only one who doesn’t know all the information. Just tell me so I can go see my mother.”

“That hasn’t been—” Alton began.

“They’re gone,” Bryce interrupted. “You showed me the manifest.”

My heart sank with the knowledge he so casually offered. I was truly here without them. Nox and Deloris had done what I’d asked, leaving me alone. I held out hope they’d caught my message about Isaac. However, as I faced this room, it didn’t matter. I was alone. I reminded myself to concentrate on my mother.

Alton’s eyes narrowed toward Bryce in some unspoken exchange. Finally, he said, “That doesn’t mean it’s safe.”

“We’ll take security. I won’t leave her alone.”

“Alexandria,” Alton said, “sit down. First things first.”

“I agree,” I consented as I eased into a chair across from his desk. “First things first: you promised me a call to Columbia.”

“It’s done.”

“What? What do you mean it’s done? You said I could call.”

“The day is half over. I assumed an institution as prestigious as Columbia Law would do business at a more reasonable hour and I was right.”

“What did you say?”

Alton leaned back and lifted his brow. “It was an interesting conversation. I spoke with a Dr. Renaud.”

“Yes, she’s my faculty counselor.”

“She was surprised to hear from me, again—your father—in connection to your records.”

My stomach twisted as I recalled telling her that Alton had no say over anything regarding me. “You have to understand, I’m an adult. I should have been the one who called.”

“While that’s debatable—”

“It’s not,” I interjected. “Talking to parents is against university policy. She has to talk to me.”

He waved his hand. “The subject is irrelevant. After a brief discussion and reminders, the situation is resolved. You’re now on a family-emergency leave.”

“What does that even mean? How will that affect this semester?” Panic filled my bloodstream. “I can’t go on leave. I’ll finish from here. I can watch lectures online and communicate with my professors via email and teleconferencing. I only have a little over a month left until the end of the semester. I don’t under—”

Alton lifted his hand. “Enough. I took care of it.”

“Really, dear,” Suzanna said, her words once again filled with sugar. “You’ll be too busy. What, with the wedding arrangements and of course, your mother, you don’t have time for school.”

I turned toward Suzanna, my jaw clenched in helpless frustration. “I can make time.”

Alton opened a manila folder on his desk and gestured toward the chair beside me. “Suzy, sit. Bryce, pull over another chair. Brantley is waiting to take us back to Montague Corporation. The world doesn’t stop because Alexandria has decided to grace us.”

I didn’t decide to grace them. I was kidnapped, tricked, and captured.

Momentarily, the loss of Columbia drowned out the commotion of everyone sitting around me. I turned toward Bryce. “You’re going back to work? What about going to see my mother?”

Before Bryce could respond, Alton began. “I explained the groundwork yesterday. Basically, your grandfather legally secured the future of Montague by tying up loose ends before his death.” He handed me a piece of paper.

Leaning forward I took what he offered, curious yet dreading what I was about to read.

“This is a section of Charles Montague II’s last will and testament,” Alton explained. “It’s a copy. You can imagine the magnitude of the actual document. This is the part that concerns you.”

I stared down at the words. The room quieted, taking a collective breath, as I read.

 

Article XII - Provisions for Montague holdings

 

If at the time of my passing these provisions have not been satisfied, it is the responsibility of my heirs, Adelaide Montague Fitzgerald and Alexandria Charles Montague Collins, to willingly and legally satisfy the following criteria at the appropriate dates. Failure to do so will result in the loss of all inheritance, including but not limited to assets, property, shares, personal properties, and the residual remainder of my Estate.

As is now the case, it is essential that Adelaide Montague remain married to Alton Fitzgerald for the remainder of their earthly lives. As Adelaide’s husband, Alton Fitzgerald will have all rights set forth as the primary stockholder in Montague Corporation. If either party files for divorce or attempts to end the marriage, all Montague holdings revert to Alexandria Collins.

Upon the death of either A. Fitzgerald or A.M. Fitzgerald prior to the coming-of-age of A. Collins, all Montague holdings will be held in trust for her until the age of twenty-five or until she has completed a college degree, whichever comes first.

Once the age or degree completion has occurred, in order for A. Collins to inherit the Montague holdings and assets and to fulfill the requirements set forth in this legal document she must adhere to the following:

Being of the legal age of twenty-five (or having completed her college degree), Alexandria Collins must agree to a legal union with a husband who too will represent her and their biological children’s shares in Montague Corporation as well as in the running of private Montague assets.

It is my desire, and thus forth the determination of this last will and testament, that A. Collins will marry Edward Bryce Carmichael Spencer, the son of Suzanna Carmichael Spencer, as outlined below.

E. Spencer must first complete undergraduate and graduate school and prove himself worthy of Montague Corporation. Upon completion of his postgraduate degree, no more than eighteen months may transpire before their union.

Upon their marriage, controlling interest in all things Montague will revert to A. Collins and E. Spencer, with provisions for the continued support and oversight by A. Fitzgerald and A.M. Fitzgerald until the time it is determined that either or both is no longer competent.

If this union does not occur, all Montague holdings and assets will be liquidated. The assets will henceforth be bequeathed to Fitzgerald Investments, leaving both heirs and their descendants without Montague assets.

If the marriage of A. Collins and E. Spencer fails to survive, resulting in divorce or premature death, all Montague holdings and assets will be liquidated and henceforth bequeathed to Fitzgerald Investments, with one exception: in the instance that a male heir exists over the age of twenty-five, the designated heir will retain all holdings and controlling interest.

If it is found that anyone mentioned in this article willfully and purposely hinders my wishes, that beneficiary will be stricken from receiving his or her share of the inheritance.

 

Once I’d finished, I didn’t look up. Instead, I read it again from the beginning, looking for something I’d missed the first time. With each paragraph dictating my life and essentially the lives of my children, my head moved from side to side. If this were a test question, I’d answer that it was illegal.

Finally, I looked up and said what I was thinking. “This can’t be legal.”

“I assure you, it is—beneficiary stipulations.”

“This is why my momma never left you?”

Alton’s brow furrowed. “Why, Alexandria, would you presume that your mother wanted to leave me?”

“Wait!” I said. “She can’t die. She has to get better. It says in here that if she dies—”

“Your mother won’t die,” Alton said. “I told you to ask yourself if you wanted to see her and if you wanted her better. Dying isn’t nor was it an option.”

I stared in disbelief, remembering Jane’s concerns. Instead of asking Alton if he’d hurt my mother, I changed the subject. “Where is Jane?”

Alton’s head twitched. “What?”

“Where is Jane? I saw her briefly after I arrived.” I could have said ‘was kidnapped and locked in my room,’ but I didn’t. “Where is she? I haven’t seen her since.”

“I don’t know the location of each member of the household staff. That’s your mother’s duty and obviously she isn’t currently capable.”

“Then who’s overseeing the staff?”

“It’ll be your job as lady of Montague Manor, once you and Bryce marry, which is another reason for a leave from your studies. This is a big estate.”

Because hiring cooks and gardeners was more important than my degree? Staying focused, I asked, “Who’s doing it now?”

“I am,” Suzanna volunteered. “I’m doing all I can to help your mother.”

I turned her way. “Where is Jane?”

“She’s no longer with Montague.”

There wasn’t enough gravity in the atmosphere to keep me seated. “What? Why?”

Alton lifted his hand. “The two of you may discuss household staff and budgets after I leave. The information in that document is as simple as I can make it. Tell me, Alexandria, do you plan to fulfill your responsibility as a Montague?”

How many times had my mother asked me a similar question? Yet never had she explained exactly what would be expected of me as a Montague.

“When was this archaic document written?”

“After your mother and I married, nearly twenty years ago.”

Standing behind my chair, I held tightly to the formed back, squeezing the leather until the tips of my fingers blanched. “I was four and my future was dictated?”

Bryce shrugged. “Mine was too, but I’m not fighting it.”

“Why?” I asked louder than I should. “Why aren’t you fighting it? Why would you want to go along with this plan? Do you want to be married to someone who doesn’t love you?”

“This is business, not love,” Alton said.

Bryce stood and faced me. His gray eyes swirled with sadness. “No. I want to marry my best friend. I want to marry the pretty girl who used to swim with me in the lake. I want to marry the beautiful girl who accompanied me to the dances at the academy, who visited me at Duke. I want to raise children with her and have them attend the same academy. I want to hold her hand as our son swims and our daughter runs. That’s what I want.”

I couldn’t form words, not in coherent sentences.

He reached for my hand. “I know this seems out of left field, but really it isn’t. You know I’ve always wanted to marry you, long before I knew about this stupid will. I’ve loved you since we were children.”

“Bryce?” Suzanna asked.

The world moved in slow motion as Bryce’s Adam’s apple bobbed and he fell to one knee. I took a step back when he released my hand and reached into the pocket of his suit coat.

“No, please don’t do this,” I whispered.

Undeterred, he removed a small box from his pocket and opened it to a diamond engagement ring. The stone was huge. I wouldn’t say it was pretty or stunning. It was big. Other than my mother’s, I couldn’t recall seeing a bigger center stone. The diamond sat in prongs on a platinum rather than yellow-gold band. That alone told me that it wasn’t my mother’s ring.

“Remember,” his voice cracked with emotion, “when I told you I had a ring at Duke?”

I nodded.

“This isn’t it.”

“It isn’t?”

“No. This diamond belonged to your grandmother, Olivia. With your mother’s help, I had it reset in a more modern setting. See, Alexandria, this is what she wants, too.” He swallowed again. “I’d be honored if you’d wear it, if you’d wear it forever and be my wife.”

My head moved from side to side. “Bryce…” Tears filled my eyes. “…I don’t love you.” I hesitated, but continued. “I love someone else.”

The muscles and tendons in Bryce’s neck tightened. “You heard Alton. This isn’t about love.”

I looked back at Alton. Suzanna was beside him with tears in her eyes.

Is she nuts?

I concentrated on Alton. “If I say no? If I refuse?”

“Magnolia Woods expects payment. You’re free to walk away from Montague, but what will happen to your mother?”

“But she can’t die. You said that.”

“Oh, I thought you’d learned by now that there are fates worse than death.”