Marrying the Boss (Golden Gate Billionaires #6)
Chapter 1 – Grant
C ontrol is the name of the game.
From the leather desk chair, I stare at my late grandfather’s attorney, hoping the man will bring me better news today than when I first learned of this ridiculousness. He disappoints me yet again.
“The will is ironclad, Mr. Barclay. You must marry or the estate will pass to your second cousin. He believes this property would make a lucrative development project. A subdivision.”
“A subdivision,” I mutter sourly, turning toward the window. The vineyard’s October foliage is golden and breathtaking this afternoon. From here, I can’t see the boarded-up entrance of the hedge maze but her ghostly laughter echoes there and I know Linus is laughing at me, too. Even from his grave, my grandfather intends to have the final word.
“Did you make the offer to Lincoln on my behalf?”
Mr. Gray shifts in the uncomfortable chair I often occupied when I was summoned to this room as a boy. Linus loved his power games, especially here in his private kingdom. “I did. If he inherits, your cousin wants you to know he’d leave it all as scorched earth before he’d sell it to you.”
The bad blood between us lives on, leaving me little choice.
Running my finger along the desk’s edge, I find a fine layer of dust covering it, the papers exactly as he left them. The framed photograph remains face down on the corner, the remnant of our last argument. This room feels so empty without him… like the rest of this house that has sheltered five generations of Barclays.
But, that’s not why I cannot let it go.
“How soon?”
“Before your next birthday.”
So much for delaying a year or so. “Were there prerequisites regarding the lady?” I wouldn’t put it past the old devil.
“No, sir. She will be your choice.”
“Nothing about this sounds like a choice to me.”
“The terms of the will stipulate that it must last a year at minimum and there can be no prenuptial agreement. You forfeit the estate if you do not abide by that. Your grandfather expected you to marry a woman you could foresee spending the rest of your life with.”
I keep my mouth closed but a man with my fortune marrying without a prenup? Lunacy. Any wife with half a brain would come after half of everything the second I ask for a divorce. That simply will not do.
“Am I expected to have an heir as well?” I ask, wryly.
The man’s ruddy cheeks grow redder as he attempts to explain human biology to me. “I’m sure your grandfather hoped for that but, obviously, it would be difficult to guarantee conception or…”
Good. There’s no need to complicate matters with an unwanted child by an unwanted wife. She can reside here, I’ll keep my place in the city and the estate will be safe.
“Very well. I look forward to introducing you to the new Mrs. Barclay soon, Mr. Gray.”
“I’ll be delighted to meet her. Your grandfather also had a verbal request regarding the remaining staff…”
“Yes, yes. I’ll be keeping them on. It’s hard to find trustworthy help.”
I hear Mrs. Keating shuffling down the hallway and know the other three will soon be apprised of their fate. They deserve to have their loyalty repaid.
“If that’s all for now…” I say dismissively, wanting the attorney gone so I may grumble in silence.
I pick up the framed photo and place it upright again, wondering what she’d make of this situation and what advice she would give. Probably something illogical. Her decisions were ruled by the heart.
My father wouldn’t bend to his will so Linus has determined that his grandson must. I suppose he wins that round but, while he may force me to marry, he can’t force me to stay married. On the other hand, I won’t be forced into giving my fortune away to some gold digger.
Evening is creeping in when Mrs. Keating pokes her head in. “I’ve put on a kettle if you care for some tea and would you wish for me to air out the rest of the house, Master Grant?”
My lips twitch at Master Grant as though I’m still three instead of thirty-three. “No tea for me but, yes, Mrs. Keating, I suppose that will be necessary. There will soon be a lady of the house again.”
“Do you mean a wife for you, sir? Oh, how lovely! I shall start going room by room tomorrow to prepare for Miss...”
I see nothing lovely in the prospect but the housekeeper is fishing for a name and I have no name to give her. Silently studying her while ignoring her curiosity, I realize it wasn’t just my grandfather who grew old. Poor Theodosia will have her hands full and there are many rooms to clean.
“Perhaps we might hire a new maid to assist you. I’ll speak to Radcliffe and send a girl over for your approval as soon as I can get to it.”
I have no opinion to offer when it comes to maids. No more than I have experience with choosing wives. Love is the last thing I expect out of this marriage. Yet, I am determined not to lose this place.
A year of marriage will suffice to secure my ownership. An amicable divorce after that with just enough of a settlement to get her irrevocably out of my hair. I’ll need to find a rational woman; one fully prepared to play her part and comply with my orders. Someone I can control, who won’t get notions about fighting for more money or, God forbid, falling in love.
Let the hunt begin.