Pax
Pax
M y grandfather sits across the table from me at Thea’s favorite bistro. His request to meet here for brunch caught me off guard, but I rushed to agree, leaping at any excuse to get away from my parent’s house.
“I’ve gone over your scores for the academic year, Pax. I’m impressed with the final tally. You and your friends competed well.”
“Thank you, grandfather.”
“You boys work hard, and it shows. There are roughly two hundred points between you and the first-place team of your current prospect year.”
Two hundred points? That’s sounds like a lot, but if he’s happy with the spread, then I am, too. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time. I let a little of that show on my face.
“The three of you have always been our strongest team. My fellow council members have proposed separating the three of you to see if we can replicate your success with individual members.”
My heart thuds in my chest. Not today. Please , not today. We have too much to work out. The news of my engagement obliterated Holden and Finn’s trust in me, and there’s a Thea sized crack in our foundation. If the council forces us to work with other groups, there will be no way to work on repairing the damage my father’s done, because we’ll be too busy fighting each other for points. We have to stay a team. It’s the only way I can guarantee we ascend the ranks together, and prove that I’m still loyal to them.
My grandfather says, “I, of course, have disagreed with that vote every time.”
“Thank you, grandfather.”
He gives me a look that makes my nuts shrivel up. “I didn’t do it for you, boy. I did it because your Trium is powerful. Efficient. You boys get results. It’s wiser to leave you together, for now.”
He means he still thinks it’s in the best interest of all our families to keep us together. Separating The Trium gives other families a chance to rise to power and unseat us. There’s no way he’s risking that. I let out a sigh of relief. His desire to hold on to power actually works in my favor.
“Now, as for the girl… I understand how difficult the change must be for young Finn.”
For a minute I think he’s talking about Thea, and has some information about her. Then he mentions Finn, bringing me right back to my fucked up reality. “Finn’s dealing with it.” Hell, he’s elated. I’m the one having trouble adjusting.
“Your contract coming up for review surprised us, but we saw no reason to reject the petition.”
I can give him hundreds of reasons. Thousands, even. Those reasons still wouldn’t matter. Connections are key and my father intends to squeeze Liam Charles for everything he’s worth. My grandfather eyes me over his newspaper. “Her father is asking us to review her status with The League.”
“To end the recruitment process?”
“Mmm. He feels her time would be better served preparing to support you as your wife. What do you think of that?”
What I think is that I can’t think of anything worse than having Eloise devoting her time to me. “Eloise’s father knew what she was signing up for when she accepted The League’s invitation. There is no backing out. Only stagnating. If she wants to stay a first year prospect, that’s up to her.” I lean back in my seat. “Though, I’d request for a few more concessions and addendums to benefit me, if I’m to marry someone who is comfortable settling.”
He nods, his eyes gleaming. “Exactly my thoughts, my boy. Which is precisely what I told your father.”
“You did?”
“Absolutely.” He says with a decisive nod. “Speaking of addendums. Your father added one, giving himself proxy and decision-making authority of all your inherited assets.” He arches a brow. “Do you not feel you’re ready to take on responsibility for yourself?”
My father did what? I don’t know shit about that, but it makes sense. It’s another way to control me. “I’m quite ready, grandfather.”
“Excellent. I figured as much. That’s why the council rejected the draft contract he turned in, and instructed both parties to start again within the proper guidelines, to include the preliminary screening process for potential matches. We love initiative, but the rules are in place to prevent chaos and disorder, which will happen if we just ram a marriage contract through.” He sips his drink, then says, “Especially given Miss Charles’s long-standing match to young Finley.”
That part falls on me. Or it would if I’d been the one to start this clusterfuck. I play my part. “I didn’t realize that would be a problem.”
“Of course it’s a problem, Paxton. Neither the Charles’ nor the Rhodes’ ever suggested there was a breakdown in negotiations or an interest in withdrawing their contract. So for you to suddenly submit a petition to marry…well…” He gives me a pointed look. “That would suggest you’ve been disloyal to your brother.” He taps his fingers against the table. “Have you and Miss Charles been intimate behind Finley’s back?”
Thank god I don’t have to lie about this part. “No, grandfather. We haven’t.”
“So he was already aware of your interest?”
“He was not. Things happened suddenly, but I can assure you he’s fine with the way things have turned out with Eloise.” It’s the truth and since I know Finn hasn’t submitted a challenge to my application, my grandfather has no reason to doubt what I’m saying.
“Be that as it may, I can’t let your relationship to me undermine the process. We will follow the rules. Your contract is in preliminary negotiations. For now, we’ll formally recognize Miss Charles as your companion. We’ll administer the oath and she’s subjected to be tested and tried just like all the others, in addition to fulfilling her obligations as a prospect. Her success or failure falls on your shoulders.” He cuts into his eggs. “Take better precautions to ensure this one doesn’t run off.”
That jab’s about Thea. Is he suggesting I had something to do with her absence? I wish I could tell him. I wish I could explain she’d be here if she could, and that it’s his son who’s keeping her away. Instead, I jerk my chin and say, “Understood, grandfather.”