6 Joy to the Wealth
JOY TO THE WEALTH
Lucy
U sing the excuse of needing to freshen up, we stop at the first bathroom we see after deboarding the plane. Once I’m hidden in a stall, it takes me seconds to sink down and hold my hand out in front of me. Holy shit. This ring is humongous… and beautiful… and not mine. I’m practically hyperventilating from the emotions rising to the surface at having it on my finger.
What was I thinking when I asked Justin to do this, and what the hell was he thinking when he agreed? At least I have wine to blame. Justin has nothing. This can’t really be happening, can it? I’m about to introduce Justin to my brother. At least he knows what’s going on. I’m starting to regret not giving my parents a heads-up that he’s with me. Even though they did extend the invitation, I didn’t want to answer a million questions beforehand. Oh well, too late now.
I’m not sure how this is going to play out. He thinks I gave him enough information, but it wasn’t nearly enough to prepare him for what he’s about to walk into. My parents are going to rip him to shreds. I’m pretty sure Justin isn’t used to this level of wealth. Although, you’d think otherwise with the size of this ring. I still can’t wrap my head around it.
Realizing I’m taking too long, I hurry to freshen up before walking out.
“I was about to send the cavalry in for you,” Justin says as soon as I join him.
“Sorry, I just needed a minute before we see Trevor,” I explain.
“I take it you’re nervous?” His eyebrows raise in question.
“Yeah, I guess I am. I shouldn’t be since he knows, but it’s weird having him meet you, period.” I look at Justin sheepishly, seeing the understanding in his eyes.
“The good news is that if this were a real introduction to your fiancé, you’d be nervous, so you’re fine. I’m sure it’s no different meeting a girlfriend’s family for the first time, so I think I’m in the clear being nervous myself.”
“What do you mean you’re sure it isn’t? Have you never met any of your girlfriend’s families?”
“I’m not one for girlfriends.”
“Yeah. That makes sense. Sure wish I would’ve known that before you walked out on me.” I’m shaking my head as I start walking toward baggage claim.
“Lucy, that’s not what happened,” he pleads, grabbing for my arm, but I pull away before he does.
“It’s exactly what happened, but you know what? Save it for someone who cares,” I say, turning and heading toward the exit.
He sighs loudly as he trudges alongside me, and I can see him shaking his head in exasperation. Too bad. He made his bed, and now he can sleep in it.
When I enter the arrivals area, my brother and I immediately make eye contact while Justin trails behind. Thank God Trevor didn’t let me down. He’s exactly what I need to get me through these next few hours.
“Hey, Luce,” he says, wrapping me in a hug.
“Thanks for coming. I’m so glad you’re here… seriously,” I say into his shoulder, not ready for the inevitable.
“I told you I would be. You don’t have to act like it’s a miracle or anything.” He laughs as he pulls away.
“Right now, it feels like it. I can’t believe I’m doing this. By the way—Trevor, this is Justin. Justin, this is my brother, Trevor.” I motion to each of them as I make introductions.
Justin sticks his hand out toward Trevor. “Hey, man, it’s good to meet you. Your sister’s told me a lot about you. She speaks highly of you.”
Trevor shakes his hand with indignation. “Yeah, wish I could say the same, but no can do. Hopefully, you won’t disappear on us this week. From what I hear, you don’t seem to have a great track record with that.”
Oh shit.
Justin looks at me pointedly. I guess the cat’s out of the bag that not only does Trevor know we’re not engaged, but that Justin is on my shit list. Which means he’s also on Trevor’s shit list.
“Right. Why don’t we go get our bags before they think we abandoned them? Come on.” I hook my arm through Trevor’s and drag him toward baggage claim.
“You didn’t have to start things out that way,” I whisper low enough for only him to hear.
“I’m not going to be friendly with the guy who broke my sister’s heart. You can’t expect me to be nice to the douchebag.”
“You’ll have to be in front of Mom and Dad. If not, they’ll wonder what your problem is and dig for an answer. They’ll already be looking for any red flags as it is. Don’t screw this up for me. And he didn’t break my heart, asshole. He just ghosted me, no big deal.” I try to play it off.
“Lucy, you’re an open book. I could hear the hurt in your voice when you told me the story. You’re a terrible liar.” He’s looking at me pointedly when his eyes veer downward and widen.
“Holy shit! Check out that rock. How the hell did I miss that thing?” Trevor pauses mere steps from the baggage carousel and grabs my hand, inspecting the thing like he’s a diamond expert or something. “Well shit, I figured it’d be a fake, but this is definitely the real McCoy. What did you do, borrow it from a friend?”
Justin stands to the side, arms crossed, while Trevor makes a spectacle about the ring. It doesn’t look like he’s going to help me out with this. Yep, he’s for sure not.
“I’ll go grab the bags,” he says, stalking off.
“No, I didn’t borrow it. Justin gave it to me before we got off the plane. It’s just for the week. I’m giving it back—obviously.”
“Dude, what did you say this guy does again? This is worth some bucks. Looks like you might just be able to pull this off, little sis.” He drops my hand as Justin joins us with our bags.
“Gee, thanks,” I say to my brother, rolling my eyes.
“Way to go on the ring, man. You may be a prick, but you have good taste in jewelry. That’ll be a good start with the parents,” Trevor says to a scowling Justin.
“You might want to lighten up on the jabs. I’d hate for you to slip up in front of an audience,” Justin responds.
“Nah, it’ll be fine. It’s normal for a big brother to be protective of his little sister. I wouldn’t blow your cover anyway… for Lucy’s sake. But if you fuck with her while you’re under my roof, then be prepared,” Trevor threatens.
“Trevor, he’s a bodyguard. I’m pretty sure he’d win in a fight. But thanks for the chivalry.” I lean up and kiss him on the cheek.
“I know people,” Trevor deadpans.
“Trevor, knock it off.” I smack his arm. “Can we go already?”
Justin, however, decides to get the last word in.
“If I hurt your sister again, you have free rein to kick my ass. But I can’t guarantee there’ll be no fucking… with her while I’m here,” Justin quips.
“Oh my God. I’m leaving now. Follow me or not—I don’t care at this point.” Without waiting for an answer, I turn on my heels and stalk toward the exit.
All I can think as we make our way to the car is not only will this be the longest week of my life, but at this rate, it’s shaping up to be the week from hell.
“Nice ride. What is it you do again?” Justin asks, perplexed, as the lights flash on my brother’s Maserati.
“Fuck off mostly,” Trevor answers, earning another slap to his arm.
“Shut up, Trevor. That’s not true. I know for a fact you’re one of the top agents in the office. I’m still in touch with people on the inside, you know,” I counter his statement.
“Aw, are you checking up on me, little sis?” he teases as he pops the trunk, each man loading a bag.
“No, but your name sure comes up a lot when I’m talking to Suzie,” I taunt.
“Christ, I can’t believe you’re still friends with that gold digger. She won’t leave me alone. You need to be more selective of those you surround yourself with.” He pointedly looks in Justin’s direction.
“God, you’re such a brat,” I say as I open the door to the back seat. I’m about to get in when Justin steps beside me.
“Hey, sit up front with your brother. I’ll take the back,” he says.
“No way, you’re too big to fit back here. I’m fine. Or are you scared to be that close to him?” I laugh and hop in, hearing him grumble as he shuts the door.
Justin
Just great. I knew Lucy and her brother were close, but I never imagined they were close enough for her to divulge our short-lived relationship and how it ended. That could put a crimp in my plan to woo her back. My instincts tell me Trevor won’t hesitate to regularly remind Lucy why she shouldn’t give me another chance.
I’ll have to play it cool around him and keep my efforts behind closed doors. It would benefit me to win him over, but whether that’s possible is a big question and not my priority this week. Winning Lucy back is.
Luckily, they continue their banter during the drive, giving me plenty of time to mentally prepare for what’s next. I’m doing this for Lucy, and I want to make it as easy as possible for her, which means earning her parents’ approval. So, I spend most of the drive going over possible questions they might ask and considering my answers.
I take in our surroundings as we exit the freeway. It’s a clean area with high-end commercial spaces, and based on the general feel, I’d say it’s a pretty bougie part of town. We take a few more turns before driving along the coast, where multimillion-dollar houses sprawl between us and the ocean. We turn off, coming to a gate, and a guard waves us through.
A minute later, we pull up to another gate at the entrance to a driveway, where Trevor rolls down the window and enters a code before it swings open. As we go around a curve, the house—or rather, the mansion—in front of me says all I need to know.
“Welcome to the Alcott Family Estate, where the wealthy want for nothing,” Trevor says as he pulls around the enormous fountain in the middle of the driveway and parks his car in front of a set of stairs leading up to a massive front porch with four three-foot-wide marble pillars supporting the veranda above.
Wealthy is an understatement.
“This is where you grew up?” I ask in awe of the grandeur, to either one willing to answer. As I speak, a man opens the back door for Lucy.
“All eighteen years,” she answers before climbing out, greeting the man as Darryl.
Exiting simultaneously, I join Lucy as she turns to introduce me. “This is my fiancé, Justin Burns. Justin, this is our house manager, Darryl.” She looks embarrassed as she makes the introduction, and I’m not sure if it’s because of me or the fact that they have a house manager.
“Congratulations, Miss Lucy. It’s a pleasure to welcome you, Mr. Burns. I’ve been serving the Alcotts for twenty years now. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything to make your stay more comfortable.” He shakes my hand and bows slightly. What the hell have I gotten myself into?
“Please, call me Justin. It’s nice to meet you, Darryl. I’m sure I’ll be fine but thank you.” I walk to the back of the car for the bags, only to have Darryl rush over to stop me.
“No, you head on in, and I’ll take care of the bags. That’s my job, sir.”
“Okay, thank you, Darryl,” I return.
Lucy and Trevor stand by, waiting. Trevor looks amused, clearly recognizing the bewilderment on my face, while Lucy appears uneasy, making me want to sling her over my shoulder and leave this all behind. Instead, I drape my arm over her shoulder and give her a playful squeeze.
“You ready to introduce me to my future in-laws?” I lean down and kiss her forehead as she looks at me like a deer in headlights, Trevor chuckling in the background. “It’s okay, baby. We’ve got this,” I whisper in her ear and nuzzle her for a second while I’m there, breathing in her scent.
“Come on, it’s time for the fun part. I can’t wait to see the shock on their faces,” Trevor says as he starts up the stairs.
But I pause on the second step, turning Lucy to face me. “What does he mean by shock? I thought I was here because you already told them we were engaged?”
Trevor stops and turns around. “You didn’t tell him what he was walking into? Oh, this is going to be good.”
“Lucy, what am I missing?”
“They know we’re engaged. They just didn’t know you were coming.” She winces.
“You fucking kidding me right now? Were you not going to warn me?” I’m whispering so Darryl doesn’t hear and get suspicious, but there’s enough venom in my voice to make it clear I’m angry.
“I was worried you’d back out. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Anything else you forgot to tell me, other than your parents have no idea I’m here and that you’re rich as fuck?” I’m frustrated that I’m walking into an unknown situation without more time to prepare.
Another staff member, this one in an honest-to-God maid uniform, opens the front door, cutting our conversation short with no choice but to finish it later. And you can bet we will be.
“Greetings, Miss Lucy, Mr. Trevor. Your parents are waiting in the conservatory.”
I feel like I’m in an actual twilight zone as we enter. If I thought the outside was grand, it’s nothing compared to the opulent luxury once we step over the threshold. Completely over the top, absolutely indescribable, and with no subtlety that it’s Christmas.
“Thank you, Mary,” Lucy says to the woman as we walk by.
Trevor is in front of us, and I grab Lucy’s hand, unsure if it’s for her comfort or mine, considering I’m the one who should be on pins and needles at the moment.
As we weave through the extravagant house, I notice there’s a fully decorated Christmas tree in each room we pass. We travel down a long corridor that descends into a large open area at the end with wall-to-wall windows, and a glass roof overlooking the ocean. Between us and the sand lies a pool that looks like it belongs at a resort.
Holy shit, who are these people?
“Lucy, dear. I’m so glad you made it. We were beginning to wonder if you’d changed your mind about coming.” Her mom rises from the chair she was sitting in and stops short when she sees me. “Who do we have here?” she asks, her shrewd eyes glued to mine.
Lucy’s dad places his book on the table beside him but stays seated, saying nothing while sipping the amber liquid in the glass he holds, waiting for an answer.
Trevor walks over to make himself a drink at the minibar and addresses me, giving his sister a few more precious seconds to gather her thoughts. “What do you want to drink? I think you might need it.”
“I’ll take a whiskey. Thanks,” I respond before towing a petrified Lucy further into the room.
“Mr. and Mrs. Alcott, I’m Justin, Lucy’s fiancé. It’s a pleasure to be here. I apologize for barging in unannounced, but I surprised Lucy at the airport today. She thought I couldn’t break free from work, but I made some last-minute changes to make it happen. I knew how important it was to Lucy for me to meet you.”
“Surprise!” Lucy says, plastering on a fake smile as she holds up her hand, flashing the ring while Trevor brings my drink over.
She walks over to her mom, and sure enough, the woman thoroughly inspects it. Her smile upon completion is somewhat reassuring. They hug and air kiss on each cheek as if they were in France, which we may as well be since I feel like I’m in a foreign country right about now.
“I’m glad you’re wearing it this time. That makes it official, I guess,” her mom comments.
“Mom, Dad, this is Justin Burns, my fiancé. Justin, this is my mom, Josephine, and my dad, Franklin.” She gestures to each of them, and that’s my cue.
Her mom seems the safest place to start, so I shake her hand first. “Mrs. Alcott.”
“What a nice surprise. We’re happy to have you, Justin. We’ve been dying to meet the man who stole Lucy out from under us,” she says in a way that makes me question whether she meant it as an insult.
Next is her dad, who rises from his chair as I approach. His handshake is much firmer, and the battle of wills is apparent. However, I’m not stupid enough to overpower him right out of the gate, so I relax my grip.
“It’s good to meet you, sir. I’m sorry for showing up unexpectedly, but I was anxious to meet Lucy’s family and put any concerns you have about me marrying your daughter to rest.”
“We’ll see if that’s possible, Mr. Burns. It’s interesting we didn’t hear anything about you until last month… after you were already engaged. We have a lot to discuss while you’re here.”
“I’m sure we do. I’m prepared to earn your trust by answering any questions you have. Lucy’s a remarkable woman, and I’m in love with your daughter, sir. I understand your apprehension about her future husband, but I assure you I’m the right man to stand by her side.” My gaze doesn’t leave his eyes as I make the statement I prepared on the way here.
“That’s a nice speech, but I’ll be the judge of that. In the meantime, you have a lot of ground to cover. Our acceptance of this marriage isn’t to be expected but earned.”
Their acceptance? What the fuck is his plan if they disapprove?
“Understood, sir.” If this situation weren’t fictional, I would have a much different response to this uptight asshole.
I avoid losing my cool thanks to Lucy, who seems to snap out of the fog she’s been in and intervenes. “Sorry I didn’t warn you. I was so excited when he showed up at the airport that I wasn’t thinking clearly, and it never crossed my mind to let you know. We’d like to freshen up before dinner, so do you mind if I give Justin a tour as I show him to his room?” She links her arm with mine and pulls me toward the hallway.
“That’s a good idea. Be down in an hour appropriately dressed,” her mom orders as Lucy drags me away.
We don’t make it far before Darryl appears out of nowhere. “Miss Lucy, I put you and Mr. Burns in the right-wing guest quarters. I assumed you would want your privacy,” he informs us with a bow—something I don’t think I’ll ever get used to.
“Oh, okay. I guess that makes sense. Thanks, Darryl,” she responds, dragging me onward. “See you all soon,” she yells over her shoulder since we’re already ten steps out of the room and booking it in the direction we came from.
“What does appropriate dress entail?” I ask Lucy, who’s let me go but is still frantically rushing through the house. My arm darts out to stop her. “Whoa, slow down there.”
“We have bigger issues to worry about than what clothes to wear. We’re expected to sleep in the same room,” she whispers in the foyer at the base of the stairs.
“What did you think was going to happen? We’re adults who have been dating and are currently engaged to be married. Did they think you were saving yourself for marriage, or do you suppose they know we’ve already done the deed ?” I whisper back, my words dripping with sarcasm.
“Ugh. You’re so annoying. This wasn’t part of the plan.”
“No? What was part of the plan? Because I’m pretty sure you didn’t have one. You didn’t tell them I was coming, Lucy. How did you think me not knowing that information was in your favor? What the fuck?”
“This is ridiculous.” She puts her head in her hands. “Let’s just go back in there and tell them the truth. It’s not going to work anyway. I’m sorry I dragged you into this.” She looks up at me, and the torment on her face is unmistakable.
I know the right thing to do would be what she suggested, but the stubborn side of me won’t have it. I’ve made it this far—there’s no way I’m quitting.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I didn’t just lie through my teeth in there to turn back now. We’re sticking this out for better or worse, wifey, so you better give me that tour. Otherwise, I’ll be lost forever in this palace.” She groans, prompting me to continue, “I’ll let the rest drop for now, but you have some explaining to do later.” Boy, does she ever.
“Fine. I’ll show you enough to navigate your way, but keep up because dinner is in an hour, and you can’t be late around here.” She avoids commenting on my last words.
After a thirty-minute tour, Lucy opens the door to our room. Rooms is more appropriate, and to say they’re over the top is an understatement, which I’ve discovered applies to the entire place. A sizable sitting room greets us with a kitchenette and bar on one side. Opposite the door we entered, two stairs lower into a larger area housing a massive, oversized four-poster bed. The far wall is made entirely of glass, with a sliding door to the veranda overlooking the ocean. To the right is an en suite bathroom and larger-than-life walk-in closet, where the suitcases have already been emptied, our clothes hung and tucked away. The entire situation is extravagance at its finest.
“We only have twenty minutes to freshen up, so don’t dally. I’ll take the bathroom first.” She grabs a dress from one of the hangers, and the door closes to the bathroom right as I’m about to ask what to wear.
Judging by her choice, it’s formal, so I choose accordingly and change, deciding to give her space for now. When we return to the room later, there’ll be plenty of time for answers.