Read Online Cross Check (Marriage Contract #1) by Colleen Masters - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Colleen Masters
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trying to solve some kind of puzzle.
“I don’t see why we can't just wait to hear the details,”
Jay says testily, leaning his elbows on the long conference table, “I’m sure
it’s all pretty standard, yeah?”
The ten other lawyers on Loudon’s team glance nervously at
Mr. Price, who takes a deep breath before responding.
“Standard is not exactly the word I’d use,” Price finally
says, steeling his fingers, “Which is exactly why I thought it best that the
three of you have some… advance warning.”
Jay, Cordelia and I exchange glances, wondering after Price’s
meaning as the head lawyer dismisses the rest of the team. Ten powerful law
professional shuffle out of the conference room like guilty schoolchildren,
unwilling to look at me or the King siblings. Acidic worry starts to churn in
my core. What the hell is going on, here?
When the room has finally been cleared, Mr. Price walks
around the table to take a seat closer to the three of us.
“You all must be so disoriented,” he says sympathetically,
giving Cordelia a gentle pat on the hand. “I hope you know how sorry I am for
your loss.”
“We can do without the water works, Greg,” Delia snaps,
snatching her hand away, “Just tell us what we need to know.”
“Very well,” Price breathes, sitting back in the chair,
“Though I warn you, not one of you is going to like what you’re about to hear.”
Christ, what could this bad news possibly be? Did Loudon
decide to leave his entire fortune to a Nigerian prince he met online or
something?
“Let me cut right to the chase,” Price goes on, “Since Jay
was born, Loudon and Priscilla’s has more or less gone unchanged. If they
should perish together, their estate and assets would be split evenly between
Cordelia and Jamison. Easy-peasy.”
“And now?” Jamison asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Well. After years and years of leaving the will more or
less untouched, Loudon decided to make a rather… drastic change just a
couple of weeks ago. Actually, this change was on the occasion of you deciding
to start working for King Enterprises, Jay.”
“You’re what ?!” Delia exclaims.
“Must have forgotten to tell you," Jay shrugs, “The
doctors won’t let me play hockey anymore, so I’m finally getting myself a big
boy job.”
“Are you ever,” Price breathes, looking back and forth
between me and Jay. “The change Loudon wanted to make to his will involves King
Enterprises. Specifically, who should take his place as president now that he’s
gone. Long story short, Loudon came to the conclusion that the company should
not be run by its board of directors, or sold off, or god knows what else.
Instead, it should stay firmly in the family. Namely, with Jamison and Leah
here running the show.”
I blink across the table at Price, sure that I’ve heard him
wrong.
“Sorry. What was that?” I ask, heart hammering away in my
chest.
“It was Loudon’s wish that you and Jamison jointly take over
his role as president of King Enterprises,” Price repeats.
“What about me?” Cordelia cries.
“You’ll still have your share of the estate,” Price tells
her, “But the company will go to Jamison and Leah.”
“Why wouldn’t it go entirely to me?” Jamison scoffs, “Like
Dad said, it’s a family company. I should be the one in charge.”
“Are you kidding me?” I laugh incredulously, “You don’t know
the first thing about how to run a company, let alone King Enterprises! I’m the
one who’s been working my ass off there for the last six years.”
“As a glorified assistant,” Jay shoots back, “Not as a
leader. I’ve been running the one-man media juggernaut that is the Jamison King
brand since college. I think that more than qualifies me.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I scoff, “Making pouty faces for the
camera and fucking puck-bunnies does not mean you have any idea what—”
“I’m afraid I’m not finished,” Gregory Price says over our
bickering
“I don’t see why we can't just wait to hear the details,”
Jay says testily, leaning his elbows on the long conference table, “I’m sure
it’s all pretty standard, yeah?”
The ten other lawyers on Loudon’s team glance nervously at
Mr. Price, who takes a deep breath before responding.
“Standard is not exactly the word I’d use,” Price finally
says, steeling his fingers, “Which is exactly why I thought it best that the
three of you have some… advance warning.”
Jay, Cordelia and I exchange glances, wondering after Price’s
meaning as the head lawyer dismisses the rest of the team. Ten powerful law
professional shuffle out of the conference room like guilty schoolchildren,
unwilling to look at me or the King siblings. Acidic worry starts to churn in
my core. What the hell is going on, here?
When the room has finally been cleared, Mr. Price walks
around the table to take a seat closer to the three of us.
“You all must be so disoriented,” he says sympathetically,
giving Cordelia a gentle pat on the hand. “I hope you know how sorry I am for
your loss.”
“We can do without the water works, Greg,” Delia snaps,
snatching her hand away, “Just tell us what we need to know.”
“Very well,” Price breathes, sitting back in the chair,
“Though I warn you, not one of you is going to like what you’re about to hear.”
Christ, what could this bad news possibly be? Did Loudon
decide to leave his entire fortune to a Nigerian prince he met online or
something?
“Let me cut right to the chase,” Price goes on, “Since Jay
was born, Loudon and Priscilla’s has more or less gone unchanged. If they
should perish together, their estate and assets would be split evenly between
Cordelia and Jamison. Easy-peasy.”
“And now?” Jamison asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Well. After years and years of leaving the will more or
less untouched, Loudon decided to make a rather… drastic change just a
couple of weeks ago. Actually, this change was on the occasion of you deciding
to start working for King Enterprises, Jay.”
“You’re what ?!” Delia exclaims.
“Must have forgotten to tell you," Jay shrugs, “The
doctors won’t let me play hockey anymore, so I’m finally getting myself a big
boy job.”
“Are you ever,” Price breathes, looking back and forth
between me and Jay. “The change Loudon wanted to make to his will involves King
Enterprises. Specifically, who should take his place as president now that he’s
gone. Long story short, Loudon came to the conclusion that the company should
not be run by its board of directors, or sold off, or god knows what else.
Instead, it should stay firmly in the family. Namely, with Jamison and Leah
here running the show.”
I blink across the table at Price, sure that I’ve heard him
wrong.
“Sorry. What was that?” I ask, heart hammering away in my
chest.
“It was Loudon’s wish that you and Jamison jointly take over
his role as president of King Enterprises,” Price repeats.
“What about me?” Cordelia cries.
“You’ll still have your share of the estate,” Price tells
her, “But the company will go to Jamison and Leah.”
“Why wouldn’t it go entirely to me?” Jamison scoffs, “Like
Dad said, it’s a family company. I should be the one in charge.”
“Are you kidding me?” I laugh incredulously, “You don’t know
the first thing about how to run a company, let alone King Enterprises! I’m the
one who’s been working my ass off there for the last six years.”
“As a glorified assistant,” Jay shoots back, “Not as a
leader. I’ve been running the one-man media juggernaut that is the Jamison King
brand since college. I think that more than qualifies me.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I scoff, “Making pouty faces for the
camera and fucking puck-bunnies does not mean you have any idea what—”
“I’m afraid I’m not finished,” Gregory Price says over our
bickering
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