Chapter 4
Four
S ybil
It’s obvious and heartbreaking Cooper is not the man he used to be. Not even close. Every time I think I can see the Cooper I used to know underneath this new version, he does or says something to remind me the boy I adored doesn’t exist anymore.
New Year’s Eve was the perfect example.
Thanks to Arden and Ethan, we all ended up at the same party.
After a botched attempt at checking on him—in which he bit my head off—I had spent the night avoiding Cooper, catching up with old friends and making new ones.
By the time midnight rolled around, I’d been cozy with an attractive man, my New Year’s kiss for the night in the bag.
I can’t remember the guy’s name now, but he was sexy and single and funny and safe and exactly the kind of guy I like to hook up with.
The countdown was about to begin, and I was locked in on this man when Cooper grabbed my wrist and tugged me to him, claiming we needed to talk. I knew exactly what this was. He was trying to ruin my evening.
He did exactly that.
I told Coop to fuck off when the guy I was interested in found someone else to kiss at midnight. Cooper laughed at me, said I was predictable and needed to have higher standards. We ended up in a heated, embarrassing argument, I stormed out, and Arden and Ethan took Coop’s drunk-ass home.
That can’t happen again. Not here. Not tonight.
“What do you want, Cooper?” I demand. “Spit it out.”
“Have you received your trust fund yet?”
I blink once, then twice. Why would he ask that? I haven’t talked openly about my trust fund with anyone. What’s done is done.
“My finances are none of your business.”
Truthfully, my inheritance was released to me after my father’s death.
He was lost at sea, but enough people witnessed him going into the bloody, shark-infested waters that the state of Massachusetts released his death certificate.
The lawyers and trustee took care of the estate, and I was given more than enough.
I’ll never have to work again if I don’t want to, but that’s not me.
I love my work with the foundation, and I studied at Harvard for a reason.
A frown pulls at the corners of my lips. “I don’t want to talk about this, Cooper.”
“Can you humor me for a minute? This is important.”
I sigh. “Fine.”
“Were you given ownership in Laurence International?”
I blink. “My father’s equity was divided among the children. We own the majority of the company, yes.”
“But it’s a small majority, isn’t it?”
We own fifty-four percent. It would’ve been more, but Father had to sell much of the equity years ago.
When he stepped in as CEO, the company was in trouble, and he did what he had to do to bring it to the thriving conglomerate valued at billions of dollars it is today.
Laurence is in many industries, thanks to my dad’s leadership.
Cooper grins with a boastful expression that is unfamiliar to me. More proof that Cooper isn’t the sweet, loving guy I remember. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
My eyes narrow. “You sound like your father. What does any of this have to do with you?”
He steps back, steel walls guarding his emotions.
The unmistakable ding of someone making a toast rings from the front of the room. That’s weird; we already did the speeches. I turn to see the devil himself standing at the front of the room, gaining everyone’s attention, and my stomach drops.
Conrad King.
“Ladies and gentleman… Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears,” Conrad booms. The music has quieted, and everyone has turned to him, several chuckling at his stupid joke.
He’s quoting Shakespeare now? Give me a break.
“It’s with great pleasure I stand before you today to celebrate my son, Ethan, and his match to the beautiful Arden Laurence. ”
I snort, and Cooper side-eyes me.
“What?” I whisper. “You know that’s not how he really feels.”
Cooper shakes his head. “You have no idea.”
“With the union of our families comes a new lease on life and an opportunity for peace,” Conrad continues, taking complete attention as he speaks into the microphone that was definitely not intended for his use. I make a mental note to talk to the band about that one.
I peer around, trying to get a sense of where the rest of my family is. They’re all up front, and Cooper and I are in the back. Maybe I should edge my way over, but as I start to move, Coop grabs my elbow. “You don’t want to interrupt him.”
He shoots me a charged look, and my nerves skyrocket.
“It’s no secret that the late Gregory Laurence and I had a falling out some years ago,” Conrad continues. “My only regret is we couldn’t repair our relationship before his passing.”
Bullshit .
The crowd stirs at this, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks his lies sound forced.
These men hated each other; my father had an affair with his wife—something that didn’t come out until after her death.
It blew up our lives and dismantled a lucrative business partnership.
My parents nearly got divorced over it. I lost Ethan and Cooper in the process of choosing my family.
“I truly believe Gregory is looking down on us now, grateful for this union between our kids.”
A few people clap, and a sly smile transforms Conrad’s face into something that appears charismatic, but I know is sinister.
“Years ago, when we were raising young children, Gregory and I signed a contract.”
I freeze, and everyone in the room seems to do the same. Cooper’s hand is still on my elbow. He squeezes once before letting go.
“A marriage contract.”
Confusion washes over my body. What does that even mean?
“The terms were simple. If a King heir were to marry a Laurence heir, an exchange of company equity would take place.”
I dart a glance at Cooper, but he’s stony faced. Rage roils through me—so this was why he asked. He was confirming intel.
“The King’s would gain ten percent ownership of Laurence International, and ten percent in King Media would go to their family. We thought of it as a mutually beneficial partnership; not only would the children be tied together in matrimony, but in business as well.”
I feel like I’m sinking into the marble floor, my body heavy with questions I’ll never have answers to. Why would my father agree to a contract like that?
I take a deep breath and think this through.
Marriage contract or not, King Media and Laurence International did end up doing a lot of business together, but as far as I know, actual ownership never exchanged hands.
It doesn’t seem like something my father would’ve agreed to, but then again, he did a lot of things I never thought he was capable of doing.
“Alright, that’s enough.” My mother climbs to the stage, visibly ruffled, and I bite my lip. My mother is the poster child for grace and sophistication, and my role model. A knot of worry twists in my stomach, tightening quickly. I hope Mom’s okay.
“Aren’t you pleased by this union, Amelia?” Conrad repeats, and instead of my mother having to pry the mic from his hands, he passes it to her as if she is next in line to make a speech. She already gave one an hour ago.
“Very pleased,” she quips and turns to the guests. “Thank you all for coming. We’re blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family who are happy to share in our joy. Now please, enjoy yourselves.”
She hands the mic to the band behind her, and the singer takes over, but it’s too late.
The party is ruined. Oh, not for everyone.
The guests are definitely going to enjoy themselves; this is the kind of gossip New York City’s elite lives for.
No, the party is ruined for those of us who want to know what the hell is going on.
One glimpse of Arden’s horrified face and Ethan’s angry grimace, and I know I’ve failed them.
I turn on Cooper. “You knew he was going to say that?”
“Yes,” he says, wearing a mask of indifference.
“And you didn’t think to warn us?”
“If I’d have told you, I wouldn’t have had the satisfaction of seeing your face right now.”
He’s. Fucking. Gloating.
My rage comes quick, like a flash of gasoline to a flame, and I slap him clean across the face. He steps back, his hand traveling to the spot I made contact. My own hand rings with pain and betrayal, but I don’t regret hitting him. Not even if it added more gossip for our guests to spread.
“Who are you?” I hiss, glaring into Cooper’s dark eyes.
“I’m exactly who you made me to be.” He turns and walks away, his gait slightly changed from before the accident. But his back is straight, and his head is high, as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. As if he already won. Maybe he did, even if I’m still not sure what I lost.