My Groom Tried to Steal My Family Empire Through Marriage novel · Chapter 3 of 24

Chapter 3: Her Own Signature

Brynn learns she can only cancel the proxy in person on Monday, refuses her mother's sleeping pill, and leaves with Brice until a summons to a dinner Preston is already attending.

The guests were still filing out of the terrace when my mother shut the suite door behind us.

I sat on the vanity stool in thirty pounds of lace and stared at the folded paper in front of me.

Preston had left it on the arch. One of Brice's men had brought it in with two fingers.

Page six had my signature at the bottom.

It was my loops, my slant, even the small flourish I make on the B.

"It's the same pen as the rest," I said. "It's the same afternoon."

"They slipped it in." Mom was pacing in her silver dress, one hand at her pearls. "Those lawyers. I'll have every one of them gone by Monday, I swear to you."

"Which lawyers, Mom?"

"The ones who drew up the forms. I just signed where they told me."

She had signed where they told her, and I had signed where she told me.

Brice stood by the door with his arms crossed. He hadn't said a word since we came in.

The family's lawyer sat across from me with a legal pad. He was a quiet man with reading glasses, and he wanted to be anywhere else.

"Brynn, here is the situation," he said. "The proxy is notarized. Your father's trust lets a spouse hold it, and the way it was written, the effective date is today."

"I'm not anyone's spouse."

"It says the date, not the marriage. I'm sorry. It was drafted that way on purpose."

"Can I tear it up?"

"You can revoke it. But only in person, at a meeting of the board. The next one is Monday morning at nine."

"And until then?"

"Until then," the lawyer said, "Preston can walk into that meeting with your forty-one percent in his pocket."

I laughed. It came out thin and strange.

Mom crouched in front of me and took both my hands.

"Listen to me. You're coming home with me tonight. I'll put you in your old room, and I'll make that tea you like."

"Mom."

"The doctor sent something to help you sleep." She pulled a small white envelope from her clutch. "One tablet. You haven't slept in weeks, baby. You can't face a board room like this."

I looked at the envelope.

I wanted to take it. I wanted to lie down in my childhood room and let someone else be in charge for one night.

"She's not taking anything tonight," Brice said.

It was the first thing he'd said in twenty minutes.

Mom looked up at him. Her face stayed soft, but her eyes didn't.

"Brice, honey, I know you mean well. You aren't family."

"No, ma'am."

"Then let her mother take care of her."

"Her mother can take care of her tomorrow," Brice said. "Tonight she needs to be awake."

I should have asked what he was afraid of.

I didn't. I was too tired, and my mother had a hand on my cheek, and I loved her.

"I'll go with Brice," I said.

Mom's hand stayed where it was for a second too long.

"Of course, darling. Whatever you need."

She kissed my forehead and left the envelope on the vanity, and she didn't look back.

When the lawyer had gone too, Brice closed the door and came across the room.

"I need to say this once," he said.

"Say it."

"Until Monday, you do exactly what I say about security. Where you sleep, who you meet, what phone you carry."

"Fine."

"And nothing else is between us." He said it flatly, looking at the wall over my shoulder. "I won't be the man you grab for on the worst night of your life. You'll hate me for it by Monday afternoon."

My face went hot, and I didn't know why.

"I wasn't going to grab anyone."

"Good."

"You can stop talking now."

"Yes, ma'am."

He held out his arm for me to stand. I got halfway up, and the corset caught my ribs, and the room tilted.

His hand was on my back before I knew I was falling.

The lace ended in a low open curve, and his palm settled on the bare skin above my spine.

It was warm and rough, and it was larger than I had expected.

"Breathe," he said.

I breathed.

Neither of us moved, and I felt every one of his fingers.

I told myself I was dizzy and he was holding me up. Then I stepped out of his hand and he let me go at once.

"The service stairs," he said. "My car's in the garage."

We were at the top of the stairs when my phone buzzed.

It was the lead director of our board.

"Emergency dinner, 9 PM, tower private dining room. Everyone's coming. Preston is already here."

← Chapter 2 · All chapters · Chapter 4 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend