25. Orson
25
Orson
It has been four blissfully happy weeks since I went to Lily’s lakeside cabin, and as we arrive at the family estate, I can see her nerves creeping in. I reach out and take hold of her hand.
“They’re just people, Lily. Besides, Mom and Dad are going to love you as much as I do.”
“How do you know?” she breathes, squeezing my hand like her life depends on it.
“Because you’re amazing,” I say simply.
That night at the cabin, we talked until the small hours of the morning. At some point, Lily went inside and brought out a big heavy blanket, which we both snuggled under. Neither of us wanted to go inside. The beautiful night sky was just too mesmerizing, and the soft lapping of the lake against the small pier made everything feel so serene.
In fact, we got a little merry on a second bottle of wine. I thought of Jake’s words about how a woman likes to know where she stands, and taking Lily’s hands in mine, I looked directly at her and said, “I love you, Lily. I don’t know when I started loving you, but I know I do.”
“Me too,” she gasped.
Her words caught me off guard. After everything that had happened, I imagined I would have to wait a while before I heard those words.
“Really? That’s not the wine talking?”
“I could ask the same of you,” she countered.
“I assure you, I don’t need alcohol to know what I feel.”
She nodded and smiled. “And nor do I. I mean, I have been crushing on you since high school. It can’t really come as that much of a surprise.”
I laughed at her then.
We also came to the joint decision that we were going to tell those closest to us that we’d lied to them about the fake marriage. I confessed that I had told Jake and relayed his reaction.
“He was pretty upset,” I said. “I can only imagine how Ellie or Martha might react.”
“They’ll get over it,” she said flippantly, which sent us both into fits of laughter.
Since meeting Lily, I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in my life. In fact, I know I haven’t. Our lives are never going to be boring; that’s for sure.
“But we’ll have to wait until we go to my birthday dinner.”
Lily looked confused, which was understandable given that I hadn’t had the chance to tell her about it, but when I did, she agreed. My grandfather could still pull this deal off the table, and neither of us wanted that.
“Speaking of Ellie and Martha,” she said. “Which one ratted me out?”
I sucked in air through my teeth. “Ooh, I don’t know if I can spill the beans on that one. They’re going to be my sisters-in-law. I might need them to back me up one day.”
“No chance,” Lily laughed. “They’ll take my side every time.”
“Clearly not,” I said, gesturing to the fact that I was sitting beside her.
We stayed at the cabin that night, kissing each other goodnight before we headed off to our separate rooms. The following morning, we headed back to what I have continued to call our home.
As we walk through the grand entrance of my family home, Lily’s eyes are like saucers once again. The last time she was here, everything was so rushed, and this time, we take our time moving through the huge house.
Mom and Dad meet us in one of the drawing rooms.
“Oh, at last,” Mom says, hurrying over to Lily. “I have been waiting so long to meet you.”
It’s my mother’s usual drawl, and had she been in the country, she might have met Lily much sooner, but I let it go. I don’t want any domestic drama with Lily here.
While Mom kisses Lily on both cheeks, Dad strolls over to me and shakes my hand. “Good to see you, son.”
“Dad,” I say. “How was your flight?”
Apart from the business, Dad and I rarely have much to talk about. He was never there when I was young, and he’s never made the effort to really get to know me. That’s okay, though. I had strong foundations in my friend Jake.
Dad starts on about what a pleasure it is to fly in the private jet, and while I pretend to listen, I watch Lily and Mom. Lily is holding her own, which comes as no surprise. She’s a very eloquent woman and one who knows her own mind.
Pops arrives in the drawing room about five minutes later.
“Ah, the birthday boy,” he declares, like I’m ten years old. “Come here.”
I walk over to him, and to my surprise, he throws his arms around me. “You have no idea how happy I am that you’ve made it to this milestone, son,” he murmurs in my ear. “It certainly had little to do with your father’s parenting skills.”
His words surprise me even further. He’s not usually one for sentiment.
“Right. Drinks while we wait for the others,” Pops says.
Of course, he doesn’t actually get the drinks. He has staff to do that, and when we all have glasses in hand, Pops says, “I propose a toast. To Orson Donovan, the new CEO of Donovan Enterprises.”
Everyone lifts their glasses towards me and says, “To Orson,” in unison.
I nod my head. “Thank you. You are all too kind.” I move towards Lily, and slipping my arm around her waist, I tenderly kiss her on the cheek. “You don’t know how delighted I am that you’re here with me for this.”
She gazes up at me and with a sly smile, she murmurs, “You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me. There’s no way I was going to miss it.”
I chuckle and shake my head. She has a wicked sense of humor, and I love it. In fact, I love everything about her, and as I drink her in, I can’t wait to spend all the remaining days I have left on Earth by her side.
Slowly but surely, more guests arrive, and what I thought was going to be an intimate family dinner ends up incorporating all the board members and their wives. I suppose, given the fact that the contract is going to be handed over, that they need to be present. It’s something I know little about, though not for long. Once I’m Chief Executive Officer, there are a lot of things I’ll need to learn.
Dinner is a rowdy affair, with many conversations going on all at once. The four courses are, as always, delicious, because my family has some of the best cooks working in their kitchen. If I recall, I’m certain one of them was once a three-star Michelin chef. It wouldn’t surprise me. Pops has always demanded the best of everything.
After dinner, the women retire to the drawing room while Pops leads me and the rest of the board members—which, of course, includes Dad—into the conference room.
On the top of the table, Pops has a contract laid out, and one by one, each of the board members signs it. Robert Lowe is also a lawyer, and thus, he is there to ensure that everything is done legally.
And then it’s finally my turn.
It’s a huge moment, and I can feel my heart thumping in my chest as I wield the pen.
“Just there,” Robert says, pointing to a dotted line.
The minute I scrawl my signature across it, the men give me a round of applause.
There follows much patting on the back and words of congratulations, mixed in with how they are looking forward to working with me and how my appointment is well deserved.
“Now, gentlemen,” Pops announces. “Let’s join the ladies for a drink.”
“But not you,” he murmurs in my ear.
He rests his hand on my shoulder as we watch the men file out of the room, all muttering to each other; when the final one leaves, he nods to Pops and closes the door behind him.
“So, are you happy now?” I say to him, hardly masking my slight resentment.
Pops takes a step back and eyes me carefully. “You know it was never about the money, don’t you?” he says.
I’m confused by his words, and I tilt my head to the side and look at him inquiringly.
“Son,” he sighs, “I’ve watched you all these years. From the minute you left university, you threw your heart and soul into the business. You worked your fingers to the bone, starting from the bottom and working your way up.”
“I would have thought that work ethic would have pleased you,” I counter.
“And it did. But I was always waiting for the time you’d cool off, take a step back, and make a life outside of your job. I saw these women you had on your arm at business dinners, and imagined that, at some point, one of these beautiful ladies might be a future wife.” He gestured emphatically.
“But then you surpassed the wining and dining stage, and still, your life was your job. I didn’t want you to get married to inherit your fortune. I wanted you to get married so you wouldn’t be alone for the rest of your life.”
My jaw has dropped, and I’m now gawking at him.
“You don’t remember your grandmother. You were only two years old when she died. But I tell you, son, my life would have been a miserable mess without her. She was the light of my life. I wanted you to find that same happiness. This was never a punishment. It was a liberation.”
I’m completely gobsmacked, and in these passing seconds, I can’t find a single word to say. All this was actually to get me married so I wouldn’t spend my life alone?
“How could you possibly know I would find the right woman?” I blurt.
“Because your heart has always been in the right place, son,” he replies. He then tilts his head and gives me a half smile. “So, when are you actually going to marry her?”
My eyes fly wide, and I gawk at him again. I’m shaking my head and figuring out what I should say when he says, “Do you really think I didn’t know?”
“When? When did you know?”
“I knew before you arrived with that fake marriage certificate.”
“How?” I gasp.
“I called the public records office.” He shrugs and smirks at me.
I can’t help but laugh. “So you made me sit there and dare you to call them, even though you already had?”
Pops looks me dead in the eye and says, “And it was in that moment I knew what you were really made of. That took guts, son.”
“But I’m still not married.”
“No, but you will be.”
“How do you know?” I say.
“I knew you were in love with her at the gala. It was written all over your face. And I knew she was in love with you when she danced with me. She couldn’t run to your defense quickly enough, which is pretty hardcore, given who I am.”
“Wow,” is all I can manage.
“I’ll give you ten out of ten for creativity, son. And I like a man who can come up with original solutions. Now, shall we go and join your soon-to-be-wife?” He smirks.