Chapter 9 Bomb Drop
BOMB DROP
Eli
“Seriously, Eli, you need to slow down.”
Sebastian isn’t the only one using those words, and quite frankly, I’m sick of hearing them.
“I’m fine. It was a close call is all,” I argue from the hospital bed I’m stuck in until they release me.
“A close call this time, but what about the next time when it’s more than that? What will you be saying then? Nothing, because you’ll be six feet under, just like Mom and Dad. This recklessness has to stop. You could’ve died today. On your birthday, no less. Our birthday.”
“It’s a simple concussion—nothing to get bent out of shape over.
I’m the one with the headache to go with it.
” It’s not my fault another car clipped mine and caused it to spiral out of control before slamming against the curbing.
The sucker should have known better than to try and pass at the time, but that’s a newbie for you.
Racing cars is my new favorite pastime after our Las Vegas trip.
I’ve become pretty good and am quite the contender in the local circuit.
“You’re not listening to me,” Sebastian growls in frustration.
“I’ve heard that before.” My brother and Cici are sounding eerily similar these days.
“This isn’t a joke, Eli. My concern doesn’t only apply to what happened today. It’s about your entire life, for Christ’s sake. You need to make better choices going forward. You have no concern for anyone but yourself. Do you think I want to be the last Dubree standing?”
Well, shit. He makes a fine point when he puts it that way. But people race cars every day. It’s not like I’m free diving with great whites. However, it’s on my list.
“Your silence speaks volumes. I can’t stand by and watch you carelessly live your life. It’s time for you to grow up and behave like a responsible adult.” He runs his hand through his hair and paces back and forth.
“Sebastian, I’m fine. Really. And I’m sorry about ruining dinner plans tonight.”
“Dinner is not the issue.” He turns and heads for the door, pausing at the threshold.
“Don’t forget about our meeting with the trust attorney tomorrow.
I’ll have Darryl drive us over. Be ready to leave by ten.
” He walks out without another word. He’ll get over it when he realizes he’s upset over nothing.
My head thumps back against the pillow, making me wince. They need to give me something more potent for this headache. In the meantime, I close my eyes while waiting for Cici.
Something soft touches my hand, gently waking me. Cici’s beside the bed, holding my hand.
“Happy birthday,” she says shyly.
I chuckle. “Thanks.” I bring her hand up to kiss it. “And thank you for coming.”
She squeezes my hand. “I don’t need your thanks. I’m here because I care about you. That was scary.”
“It made for quite the birthday. I won’t forget this one anytime soon.” I smile.
“This is serious, Eli. Please stop racing.” Is Sebastian putting her up to this, or could it be that she cares about me more than she’ll let on?
I take in a big breath before sighing loudly. “It’s exhilarating. And I’m fine, so why would I stop doing something I love?”
“Sometimes you have to give up what you love to protect yourself. I love dessert, but I don’t eat it.
Cocaine addicts love cocaine, but it’ll kill them.
And in your case, you’d be giving up racing to keep yourself alive and ease your brother’s fears.
He was a wreck when he called me. You’re the only family he has left—he doesn’t want to lose you. ”
“Who’s the counselor now, huh?”
“Come on, Eli. Think about it.”
“What do I get in return?”
“A longer life.”
Not the answer I was looking for.
My stomach growls loudly, making us both laugh and thankfully changing the topic. “I’m starving. How about we blow this popsicle stand and grab a bite to eat? What do you say?”
“I say we wait until you’re released and make sure it’s okay with the doctor.”
“They’ll release me and probably make it mandatory for someone to check on me every two hours. And you know, it’s still my birthday, so can I choose how you do that?” I ask with my best puppy dog eyes, causing her to laugh.
It looks like it’ll be a great birthday after all.
“Can you repeat that, please?” I ask as calmly as possible, trying to keep my cool.
William, our family attorney, doesn’t hesitate.
“To retain your shares of the company and the trust, you’ll need to be in a valid marriage by the time you turn thirty,” he says formally from behind his desk.
We’ve been here for an hour reviewing assets, and only minutes ago, he dropped this bomb.
The first time he said it, I thought I misunderstood something. Because what the actual fuck?
“Why the fuck wasn’t I made aware of this until now?” My temperature is rising, and staying calm is no longer an option. So much for my headache going away, even though Cici did her best to distract me from it last night. Too bad it isn’t my birthday every day.
My brother and I showed up this morning to what I thought was a routine review of our family trust. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Suddenly, I’m told I have a year to marry or lose all claim to my inheritance and company shares. Is this even legal?
“Your dad stipulated that neither of you be told until a marriage occurred or one year before your thirtieth birthday if no marriage was in place—whichever came first. With Sebastian’s wedding commencing only two months before your twenty-ninth birthday, I decided to tell you simultaneously.”
“Sebastian, we have to find a way out of this. Do something to stop this nonsense. Anything…,” I plead to my brother, who’s been reviewing this section of the will since it was handed to him minutes ago.
“It’s not contestable. The directive is as black and white as it gets. Somehow, I made the deadline without knowing it. And honestly, Eli.” He shrugs. “Maybe marriage would be good for you.” He actually fucking shrugged.
“Glad to know my brother has my back,” I scoff.
“Let’s not start on who has whose back. We still haven’t discussed your extracurricular activities. You sure as hell don’t have my back by risking your life on a weekly basis. You need to stop racing.”
“No. Bullshit. You don’t get to tell me what to do. The only person who apparently gets that privilege is already dead, so fuck off.”
William clears his throat. “Gentlemen, let’s get back on track, shall we?
How about I go over the particulars? First, you must be married by your thirtieth birthday, so one year from yesterday.
It cannot be a marriage of convenience, and to discourage that, he’s required a six-month engagement period.
Your father wanted you both to be in a genuine union of love—his words specifically.
Once the marriage is executed, you’ll have a two-year probationary period to validate the authenticity of the union.
If the marriage dissolves wherein, additional requirements are mandated to retain the trust moving forward.
However, upon your two-year anniversary, the stipulation is deemed satisfied, and no further action is required.
Thus, the trust will proceed as usual. Any questions? ”
Where do I fucking start?
“Did you find any loopholes?”
No pause before William replies, “No.”
“Why would he wait twelve months before the deadline to tell us? Had I known, I could have made different decisions or taken dating more seriously.”
Sebastian scoffs next to me, but I ignore him. I have more significant problems than my brother’s judgement.
William rests his elbows on the desk and steeples his fingers.
“That’s precisely the reason for his directive.
He didn’t want it hanging over your head the past few years.
He wanted you free to find love in your own time without this influencing your feelings, possibly resulting in a forced-marriage situation. ”
“Seriously?” I throw my hands up in the air. “Then why make it a stipulation in the first place? Because that’s exactly what this is.”
“Eli, it might be difficult to process, but try to remember your dad’s state of mind at the time.
He was devastated at losing the love of his life and deeply wished for both of you to experience the same profound love in your lives.
He felt six months would be adequate to find someone who sparked that feeling enough to pursue a serious path toward marriage if you hadn’t already. ”
“So I have six months to search for some woman I want to propose to, and then hope like hell she says yes, or I’m screwed?”
“Essentially, yes. I’d recommend considering anyone you’ve had a connection with as well as looking into some of the higher-end matchmaking services. They vet their clients well, and I’m sure the long-established ones have developed outstanding algorithms with high success rates.”
“Sounds romantic. Exactly what my dad was hoping for, huh?”
I sit in silence for a moment, mulling over the situation.
Sebastian and William continue conversing, but I drown them out as my mind spins with possibilities.
Start with anyone I’ve had a connection with?
How about the only person I’ve had a connection with?
The woman I’d happily kneel for today. And probably the only one who would refuse.
What the hell? How am I supposed to find someone else to marry when the only one I want is out of reach?
“Eli!” Sebastian shouts, interrupting my thoughts.
“What?” I snap back, sounding like a petulant child and feeling like one under current circumstances.
“You haven’t even been listening. Do you have any other questions before we leave?” Sebastian barks.
Yeah. How do I escape this? Or….
“What if I don’t? Who’s to say Sebastian doesn’t make me partner once I’m cut off and hand me half the trust anyway?”
Sebastian winces, telling me he already knows the answer.