Chapter 2
The meeting was being held at the McCreary's ranch type mansion. The weathered rosy structure always reminded Ingrid of a well-adorned lady who had seen better days. The ground was immaculate and precisely landscaped.
The wide sweeping cobbled drive already had several vehicles parked. Ignoring the clutch of her heart, she parked behind a silver Benz she knew belonged to her mother.
Taking a deep breath, she exited the vehicle and handed the key fob to the smiling attendant. Tugging on her cashmere jacket, she made her way up the steps and onto the gleaming wraparound porch.
The double redwood doors swung open by the housekeeper, a tall stick of a woman dressed all in black and wearing a sour expression on her bony face. Ingrid had never liked her and always had the impression the woman did not approve of anyone of a different race.
Not letting that bother her, and because of the sour expression, she did something she abhorred usually. Shrugging out of her jacket, she tossed it to the woman with a haughty expression on her face.
"Padded hanger only," she said coldly.
Ignoring the curled lips, she sailed into the wide hallway that smelled of pine and peat burning and made her way towards the Great Hall.
The clutch became a tear when she stepped inside the room and saw that it was filled with both sides of the family.
She had been held up on the way and called to make her apologies.
Her eyes skimmed over her father, standing by the mantle, a nervous look on his handsome face. The stilted conversation came to a stop as soon as she stepped inside.
Her mother, looking like the drama queen, was draped on a comfortable tan sofa next to Kyle, one hand gliding over his arm intimately. Her lips curled in utter dislike and disdain. Looking up, that was what Kyle saw and felt himself stiffening.
To hell with her, he thought viciously and in response, turned up the charm as he ducked his head and whispered something in her mother's ear. Apart from Kyle and Iona Ryder sitting close together, the room was clearly divided. McCreary over one side and Ryder to the other.
Her brother was lounging against the wall, his bored look a prop, of that she was sure. Jack McCreary stood next to his father, a drink in his hand. Jessica McCreary-Sweeny was rigidly seated on a throne-like chair next to her father.
Her blonde hair was ruthlessly styled at the nape of her neck, her thin, narrow face stiff and unyielding. Taking the place next to her brother, she slipped her hand through his arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"Now that we're all here, we will commence." Jack McCreary's sharp gray eyes swept over the group. "William and I will be conducting the meeting. We would appreciate it if there were no interruptions."
"What a shocker," Matthew muttered in an undertone.
"Shh."
"The McCreary/Ryder partnership has been around for more than a hundred years, since Ivan McCreary and Thomas Ryder came together and decided to start buying up parcels of land to make houses."
"A history lesson?" Matthew muttered, taking a sip of his drink. "Really?"
As if he had heard the words, Jack's eyes swept over him before settling on Ingrid.
"I will not go into the details, but we have come up with a solution to the problems we're facing."
"Problems?" Ingrid spoke up despite the earlier warning of no interruption. "I was not aware we had one."
She was pinned not only by Jack's gaze but her grandfather's as well.
"We need heirs to carry on the legacy." His gaze flickered without much interest on his granddaughter. Ingrid wondered what the woman must be going through right now. Her infertility was being spread open before everyone in the room. She felt sympathy lodge inside her throat.
"And since there's no hope of that happening from the male.
" William Ryder had taken over, and his disdainful and icy gaze flickered over Matthew.
Ingrid felt when her brother stiffened and had to tamp down the anger rising to the surface.
"It's left up to you." His eyes trapped his granddaughter's gaze.
"And you." Jack McCreary picked up the thread, sending his gray gaze to his grandson. "We've decided you two should get married."
The announcement left a stunned silence in the room. Everyone except the two old men were so shocked that at first there were no sounds in the room except the snapping of wood chips in the fireplace.
"No fricking way." Ingrid was the first to snap out of her daze.
With blazing eyes, she dragged her hand from her brother's arms and faced the two tyrants who had become so accustomed to running their families' lives that it had become part of them.
Well, to hell with that. "I'm not marrying that, that. .."
Words failed her as she gestured towards a very enraged Kyle, who had slowly risen.
"Right back at you." He snapped. Wild Irish blue eyes raked over her. "I don't give a crap what you threaten. There's no way I would ever think of marrying someone like her. She's not my type."
Even though she had been the one to draw first blood, his words and the scathing tone of his voice had her hackles rising. Before she could hurl more damaging words at him, Matthew was across the room, his hands fisting into Kyle's soft cashmere sweater.
The murderous expression on his handsome face had Jason stepping between them and shoving them apart.
"Enough." William's voice cut through the chatter and confusion effectively. He held up a hand, his gaze slicing towards his granddaughter who stood quivering with fury. "Here's what's going to happen. You two will get married as soon as possible. There's..."
"I won't do it."
He sent Ingrid a cold look.
"If you refuse, you," he pointed to her, "will find yourself out of the company and your exalted position handed over to someone else."
"And you," Jack nodded to his enraged grandson, "you will no longer be in charge of acquisitions. I might not be able to stop your inheritance, but I can tie it up through legal tangles that would take years to untangle. And the privileges you enjoy as a McCreary will be rescinded."
Kyle felt as if his chest was being pushed through his ribs. Turning, he trained his blue eyes on his father.
"Do something."
His response was a shrug as he stepped back. There was no help there.
Turning to his grandfather, he tried reasoning.
"I'll get married. There are several females, suitable ones you would approve of. Pick one and I'll give you so many heirs, you'll have to call a halt."
Jack's expression never changed.
"Our decisions are final. You both get married to each other or we go through with our plans."
Now it was Ingrid's turn. Her life was turning upside down, and she felt the helpless rage flowing through her system. Taking a deep breath, she faced her grandfather. Matthew had just recently commented on the fact that William Ryder considered her his favorite.
"Granddad, please reconsider." She spread her hands in entreaty, a pleading expression on her face.
It took a hell of a lot out of her to beg, but she was desperate. For a moment, William seemed unmoved, his jaw set and eyes steely. Jack looked at her, his face giving away nothing.
The silence stretched, thick and oppressive, as everyone in the room waited for the verdict. Finally, William sighed, the sound edged with disappointment.
"Everything we've built depends on you two. This isn't about punishment. It's about preserving what we started." His words hung heavy, leaving Ingrid acutely aware of both the weight of expectation and the love that, however stern, underpinned his resolve.
"I for one think arranging a marriage is archaic.
" Iona, highly entertained, drawled as she stretched shapely legs encased in transparent stockings forward.
"But darling, you should be grateful." She eyed her daughter maliciously.
"You're getting a sweetheart deal. Kyle is a very handsome man, while you. .."
"You'd do well to shut your mouth." William told his former daughter-in-law in an icy tone. "You're nothing but a worthless tramp who somehow managed to produce a smart whip of a daughter. You're only here as a consideration, seeing as you own two percent of the company."
"How dare..." She sputtered to a stop when he started to rise and shrank back in sulky silence.
"Consider this a fait accompli." He continued. "The wedding will be a private affair, which will be held in two weeks." He swept a gaze around the room. "Our decision is final." He looked at his granddaughter, expression softening fractionally. "It's for the best."
*****
She was vibrating. She could actually feel her bosom trembling. The meeting had been summarily dismissed by the two men who had told them in no uncertain terms that their word was law, and it was a take it or leave it situation with no wiggle room.
She had stormed out of the house, grabbing her coat from the disdainful housekeeper and stormed out with her brother behind her. And on top of everything, she had had to endure her mother's snide remarks as she put in her parting shot.
"Think of it this way, darling." She had murmured, careful not to allow her voice to carry. "Kyle is handsome and quite a catch. In ordinary circumstances, you would never be able to latch onto a man like him. Consider yourself lucky."
Ingrid had not bothered to comment. If she had, it would have been lethal. So, she had left and was at her brother's place.
She could not go to her apartment. Alone, there was no telling what she might do, and she had to vent. Needed to indeed.
She paced restlessly around the sparse living room, her mind racing with anger, disbelief, and a gnawing sense of betrayal.
Each time she tried to calm herself, the reality of her situation came crashing back.
Her future had been decided in a single, suffocating meeting, with barely a thought for her own desires or happiness.