Read Online Cross Check (Marriage Contract #1) by Colleen Masters - Free Book Online Page B

voices.
    “There’s more?!” Cordelia whines.
    “Oh yes,” Price sighs, “But for this next bit, I’m going to
let Loudon speak for himself.”
    I watch as the lawyer produces a letter from his briefcase
and slides it across the table toward me and Jay. Both of our names are written
across the envelope, in Loudon King’s distinctive hand. Before I can make a
grab for it, Jamison plucks the letter out of its envelope, smoothing it down
between us on the conference table. I’m keenly aware of how close our bodies
are once again as we lean over the letter and begin to read.
     
    Dear
Jamison and Leah,
     
    It ’s strange to write this letter
to you both, knowing that you’ll probably never have reason to read it. If you
are perusing this note, it means that I’ve departed this world far sooner than
I ever imagined. But it’s better to be prepared for any eventuality, wouldn’t
you agree?
     
    As
you both know, Jamison has recently expressed an interest in coming into the
King Enterprises fold. I ’ve
had the pleasure of mentoring Leah for years, and am thrilled that I’ll have a
chance to teach my son the ropes as well. This is a big change for the company,
to be sure, but I’m certain that in the long run, it will be clear which of you
is better suited to the task of running the company when I no longer can.
     
    But
of course, such decisions take time. I intend to remain president of King
Enterprises for many more years, at which time I will name one of you my
successor. But if you are reading this letter, it means that I have passed away
before my retirement, and have not yet determined which one of you is more fit
to lead. In the event that this has happened, I have landed on a rather
unorthodox solution for the two of you moving forward.
     
    It
is my wish for the two of you to run King Enterprises as co-presidents. As a
team. I know that you haven ’t
spent much time together since you were children, but I think you each bring
important skills to the table which the other lacks as of yet. I have faith
that you will be effective partners if you put your minds to it. But seeing as
you’re also both stubborn as hell, I need a little insurance that you’ll put an
honest effort into working together.
     
    What
I propose is this. In addition to becoming partners in business, you must also
become partners in life. I want you to inherit my company and your shares of my
estate equally, and the best way to ensure that this partnership is protected
is for you to get married. That ’s
right, you didn’t misread. I realize that this is an unconventional
arrangement, but I believe it is for the best. This way, your fortunes will be
united. You’ll be a much more effective team if you’re working for your shared
success, rather than your own opposing interests.
     
    I ’m sure you’ll rebel against
this suggestion, so I’m putting it in writing. If you agree to get married, you
will run King Enterprises as a team and share Jamison’s half of my estate.
Alternatively, if you truly cannot stomach this arrangement, one of you can bow
out of the company altogether and leave it to the other. (Of course, Jamison is
in no way obligated to share his material inheritance with Leah if you are not
to be wed.) If you are unwilling to be married and also both unwilling to back
out of the company, the fate of King Enterprises will be placed in the hands of
my daughter, Cordelia King, and the remaining majority shareholders, who will
be free to do with it as they see fit.
     
    Again,
no part of me hopes that this letter will ever have to reach your ears. I ’m sure I’ll have more than
enough time to vet you both before I retire. But if through some act of God
this ultimatum does go into effect… Well. I hope you won’t be too cross with
me. Both of you are reasonable enough to understand that any marriage contract
is fundamentally a business agreement. I suggest you approach this as you would
any other