27. Legit
27
LEGIT
KEATON
The kitchen at the Hops was quiet, but far from calm. The head of West Games sat across the island from me, an ice pack pressed to his eye. I had one on my knuckles, the dull throb pulsing in time with my temper. Sophie stood between us, arms crossed, jaw tight like she was holding back from screaming.
“Do you think you two can be mature enough now?” she snapped. "Let's pretend that fight didn't happen and start over. Keaton, this is Griffin West, my stepbrother. Griffin, this is Keaton Kingston. M-my husband."
Griffin snorted. “You couldn’t have let me meet him before it came to this?”
“We got married in Vegas, kind of spur of the moment. Believe me, if I didn’t tell my own mother, why would I call you?” She retorted.
“I’ll be damned if I let an outsider have a piece of my family's company. You get nothing, asshole. I had my lawyers draft a contract, and you'll sign it if you know what's good for you,” Griffin spouted off.
I glance sharply at Sophie, jaw clenching. “What the hell is going on here?"
Griffin laughed coldly. "So you didn't tell your own husband all your family secrets? Tsk, tsk. Not a great way to start a marriage, butterfly.”
“Butterfly? Did you just call my wife a nickname?” My other hand, the one not hurting, formed into a fist.
"Stop, Keaton,” Sophie snapped. “Please let me explain."
She let out a breath, eyes darting between us. "My mother married his father, but she had me when she was young. My birth father ran off, and I have no idea where he is. Then she met Philip West—a single father with five boys older than me. They got married, and for a while things were great but money was always tight. My mom was creative, coming up with games for us kids to play. One day Philip saw one of her games that she played with me and decided it would be perfect to create and sell to other families. So they started a business from our kitchen table. The West Games company was born.”
Griffin added, "Those were the days, weren’t they? Packing orders after school, helping Mom brainstorm more games."
“You make it sound fun. It wasn’t for me, Grif. I remember your dad hovering over us like a little dictator. ‘You kids put this pieces in each slot perfectly or else…’”
My eyebrows shot up and I turned to Sophie. "You're related to the West family?"
"Was, and not by blood,” she said quickly. “Then in high school, after the kidnapping attempt on me?—”
“Wait. Hold on. You mentioned that when we played two truths and a lie, but I didn’t think you were serious. Someone tried to kidnap you?” My stomach churned for the emotional scar that must have put her through. I’d seen documentaries over the years about that, but Sophie’s face had always been blurred, out of respect I suppose.
“Yes.” She dabbed at her eyes. “As the heiress to part of the West fortune, it was a very scary time. I try not to relive it if I don’t have to.”
“It was tough on all of us, butterfly,” Griffin assured reaching a hand out to her. He retracted it upon my growl.
“Then who is Sophie Hatchett?” I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all.
“Me. I emancipated from my family after that and legally changed my name. It’d just become too much for me. I yearned for a life where none of my friends knew I came from money. Where the threat of kidnappers didn’t exist. When Mom and Philip divorced, he’d been pushing harder for more games, more money. It was never enough for him no matter how successful the company became. It took all the fun out of it for Mom. They fought and she walked away from it all with practically nothing."
“Don’t make your mom sound like such a saint. For one thing, she ran off with her filthy rich divorce lawyer. She is not hurting for money at all.” Griffin picked up where she left off. “But there was only one thing your mother required in the divorce, because she cared more about securing your future than hers. Once you marry you get one-sixth of the company.”
My eyes snapped to Sophie’s, loaded with accusations, yet not able to say a damn thing because of the NDA Melanie made us sign.
“I need to know what your intentions are. That’s why I’m here. You can either join the board and claim your shares or, like my brothers, accept my buyout offer. None of them wanted to run the company like I did,” Griffin shook his head and shifted the ice bag.
“I can’t blame them. Your father took the fun out of it, destroying my mother’s creative ideas for profit. By the time I left high school, I wanted nothing more to do with it. Going to Columbia for college offered me a new start, with my new name. I met Maisy Calhoun, a normal girl from a loving family who didn’t have money, and she became my best friend.”
I tried to be understanding considering everything she went through, but she kept so much from all of the people who loved her. Most of all, me. Was there more? Would I wake up tomorrow to find out she’d kept more things from me? How could we go on from here?
“So, you want out then? I’ll have my legal team send you the buyout offer in the morning. Trust me, you’ll be set for life, you and your husband.” Griffin scanned the kitchen, turning up his nose at the business Keaton proudly built from the ground up. “You could start up fifty of these breweries across the nation and still have money to live on easy street.”
A knock on the kitchen door interrupted us. Jessa poked her head in. “Keaton, the band's playing their last set and needs their check."
“I’ll be out in a goddamn minute,” I griped at her.
Griffin stood. "Of all my siblings, I didn’t mind buying the rest of them out. Their hearts weren’t in it. But I love West Games, Soph. It’s my life. Still... I’ve been impressed with what you’ve done with the marketing campaigns here for Hops. If you wanted to stay on, I wouldn’t be opposed. You’re like your mom. Creative. Visionary. We could work well together."
Then he locked eyes on Jessa. The corner of his mouth lifted as he followed her out. “Can you pour me another scotch, sweetheart?”
“Returning to the bar to flirt with me some more?” She teased.
He gave her a smoldering look. “That’s about the only thing I want to do in this town tonight.” He paused at the door after she left. “Friendly staff you’ve got, Keaton. And if I’m ever up in Holly Creek again, I’d definitely enjoy another scotch with her.”
I wasn’t laughing. “Leave Jessa alone,” I warned.
I turned back to Sophie after the door closed behind him, seething. “If you knew about the marriage clause then marrying me in Vegas takes on an entirely new meaning, doesn’t it? You used me. You’re no better than Starla and all of the other women who see me as a launchpad to something better.”
“No. I’m not. How can you even say that? Besides, I knew our marriage was fake.”
“Exactly. It was all fake.” I tossed the soggy towel onto the counter and headed toward the back door.
“But as soon as we act out our break up for Melanie on camera, I can go to him and explain that we’re not married. He can keep the money and the company. All I care about is you.”
“I’m sorry. I need some space.” I almost reached the door until Melanie’s voice barged in.
“Hold on, Keaton. I have some news you’re going to want to hear.” Her ominous tone should have made me sprint out the door, but I turned back, wondering what more drama could be packed into this night.
“Were you listening at the door this whole time?” Sophie shrieked.
“Anything you heard in here about Sophie’s life is private, do you understand? If a single word about her past ends up on the show, we’ll sue.” As upset as I was, I couldn’t help but defend her. I marched back to her side and crossed my arms, like I couldn’t help myself but be her knight in shining armor.
“Melanie, please leave us alone. Don’t you think Keaton and I have been through enough tonight?” Sophie begged, sobbing, but Melanie wouldn’t be deterred.
She handed Sophie a paper towel. “I know you two must think I’m a monster. I don’t blame you if you did. But it’s all this pressure to succeed as a woman in Hollywood. I’ve been pursuing this career for ten very long years?—”
“If you don’t mind, could you get to the point,” I warned through gritted teeth.
“Oh, sure. It turns out, your wedding wasn’t fake after all.”
Both of our jaws dropped at the same time. I recovered fast. “What game are you playing now?” I scowled.
“No. I’m being honest here. The actor we hired to play your officiant at the wedding, really is an officiant. Only we didn’t know that at the time, I swear it. He signed over a real certificate of marriage after the fact. You have a real license, the ceremony was legit. So… you’re married. Congratulations.” She grinned between us like we owed her the world for this great news, and handed documents over to me. I rifled through them, notarized affidavits from the wedding officiant, and various documents from the studio legal department begging us not to sue them.
“Married? Real?” Sophie could hardly breathe. “That means?—”
“That you can march back out there and tell Griffin West that you’ll take your share of the company and become super rich? Yes.” Melanie gloated.
“I don’t care about that. What about us?” Sophie turned to me, questions filling her eyes.
“A minute ago I was headed out the door, too overwhelmed learning the truth abut you. Now, I learn we’ve been married this entire time. I—” I stopped and glared at Melanie. I gestured toward the door. “You. Go. While I appreciate you bringing this to our attention, if you don’t mind giving us some privacy please? I think you’ve done enough damage for one night.”
She sauntered to the door hands up in surrender. “Okay. Fine. But I want an exclusive interview to wrap this all up. You two don’t have to divorce, but share the details on what happens next. I can see the promos now, Lost Heiress Found.”
“Leave and please take Starla with you.”
“But the interview?—”
“Don’t call us. We’ll be in touch,” I snorted and practically shut the door in her face. I paced the room, breathing deep, trying to calm down and clear my head.
Finally, alone with Sophie, my heart ached for her.
For my wife…
“So your secret legacy caught up to you. Why didn’t you just tell me who you were in the first place?"
"I was going to when the time was right. If it makes you feel better, even Maisy doesn’t know. It’s not something I talk about. The long lost princess of West Games was a part of my life I tried to leave behind.”
“Why? What was so bad about it?”
“My stepfather turned into this lunatic. Everything became about the business. Kids used to tease me, then in high school guys only wanted to date me because we were rich. Then after the kidnapping attempt, I got scared. It was traumatizing. To this day, I avoid white vans if at all possible.”
The documentaries said Sophie had done the right thing, kicking and screaming, biting and pushing, all to get out of the van before they shut her in it. My throat constructed that she had to go through that.
“I hid away, changed schools, changed my name. Anything not to be associated with that family.” She took a shaky breath. "I could have worked for West Games right out of college if I wanted, and have all the money, all the prestige, every good thing a rich woman living in New York City can buy. But there’s a part of me that always wanted to build something that was mine. Not just inherit something I didn’t earn and didn’t want.”
I rubbed my neck. "And now you've got Melanie's offer for a show. Griffin dangling a job at West Games and money in front of you. The whole world seems to want you, Soph. What’s keeping you in Holly Creek after this?”
Her expression shattered. “I thought you were. Was I wrong?”
That broke me, along with the tears streaming down her face. I went to her and cupped her face, swiping away her tears.
“Come here,” I went to her and pulled her into me. Then, as if a dam broke, she sobbed into my shoulder. “It’s okay, baby. I know so much has happened. But I think everything will be fine now.”
“Will it? Am I going to lose you?” She cried. “Because you’re all I care about in this big sordid mess.”
I shuffled with her to my office and locked the door behind us. I sat on a chair and pulled her onto my lap, stroking her back gently until she calmed down, not caring that the front of my shirt soaked through.
“I’m sorry, Keaton. I should have told you the truth about who I am. Er, was. God, I don’t even know who I am anymore.” She held onto me tighter, her voice so sad.
“I know exactly who you are and I can say without a doubt. You’re my wife. My legitimate wife and all that it implies by the power of the state of Nevada.” I kissed her temple, her skin hot and clammy. “You’re an amazing woman. Soph, you’ve been trying to forge your own way in this world since you were sixteen? And considering the trauma you’ve been through? Most women would have buckled under the weight of it all long before now. But not you. You’re strong. Own it.”
“Thank you,” her words came out weak, like she didn’t believe me, but she would over time. I’d help her recover from all of this—if it took the rest of our lives. “What now?”
“Now? I’m starving. I could really go for some pie from Flora’s.”
“Me, too.” She sputtered and chuckled, lifting her head to gaze up at me. “Seriously though, where do we go from here?”
“I’m pretty sure that tomorrow I’ll wake up, still the owner of Hops, and continue to pursue my dream of expanding nationwide. And, if you’ll have me, I’d like to still be your husband.” I cleared away a few remaining tears from her golden eyes. I caressed her cheek gazing at her. “You’re the woman I love. Your inheritance doesn’t change that.”
A slow smile spread on her face. “Even if I’m a very rich woman by next week, you wouldn’t be intimidated by that?”
“What? No. The size of your bank account doesn’t change the size of your heart, Soph. That matters more to me.” It was a little intimidating, but I’d deal with it, because I didn’t see the money changing her much like some people. She was Sophie, my wife, my love.
“You know, with the money we could both retire and never have to work another day in our lives.”
“What would be the fun in that?” I joked. “I don’t see myself changing much because of it. Although should I be worried you’ll trade me in for someone who wears tailored suits and leather shoes like Griffin?”
“No. I’ll take you in flannels and black jeans any day. But I could invest in Hops. Take Richard out of the equation if you want.”
I shook my head. “Nah. I respect Richard. He’s been solid. I want to build this with good partners, by my side, him and you. But I know you’ve got bigger dreams than brewing beer. I want you to chase those. Even if it means you’re not at the bar every day next to me.”
She grinned. “I don’t want to be part of Melanie’s circus. I want clients I choose. Projects I believe in. And I might even suggest to Griffin that West Games could use a rebrand, bring it into the current century.
I whistled low. “Nepotism much?”
“Maybe. But Griffin trusts me and I think we could do some limited work together. I also have about a dozen emails already from other people wanting to work with me. Apparently, fake-married-to-Keaton-Kingston was a hell of a networking boost.”
I grinned. “Glad I could be of service.”
She kissed my chest. “And I like working from Holly Creek. Kind of addicted to that desk over there and seeing your face here every morning.”
“Sounds like we have everything figured out,” I said.
“We do.”
“Do you? Because I have one question for you. Come with me.”
“What are you up to?” She giggled as she took my hand and followed me back out to Hops.
“I’m doing something I should have done in the first place.”
“Come on, up here.” I patted the bar, lifting her up onto it. I hopped up next to her. We stood there and she had no clue what I was about to do.
I bent a knee, took her hand in mine, and the crowd went crazy. Her hand flew to her mouth, tears starting again.
“Sophie, would you do me the honor of being my real wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward? Forever and ever? Because I love you, and I know that together we’ll make it through anything life brings our way.”
“Yes!” She cried, wrapping her arm around me.
We were already married, but now she had a true proposal story to keep in her heart.
Griffin had no clue what was going on.
Jessa shouted. “By the power invested in me and the Hops, I now pronounce you two lovebirds husband and wife!”
We stood together on top of my bar, hand in hand. Married.
And hopeful for whatever came next.