“I built this company through hard work,” James’ flinty eyes hardened. “I can do with my wealth whatever I want. Mostly I want my wife to be happy and I have got one last chance to do that. Dotty wants grandkids. So, if you want to keep your condos, cars, stuff, and inheritance you’ll do as I say. Marry within the month and you keep the condo and salary. Get your wife pregnant within the year and you’ll get your inheritance on your fifth wedding anniversary.”
“You are out of your mind,” Parker got up and began to pace.
“Is this even legal?” Marshall wanted to know.
“Oh, it is legal,” smiled James in satisfaction. “The lawyers saw to it.”
“Is he serious?” Gabe directed the question to his mother.
“Very,” nodded Dotty. From the look on her face it was obvious she didn’t fully approve of what James was doing but was resolute about supporting his decision. Gabe had seen the same look many times over the years and knew his mother wouldn’t budge in her role of supporting her husband.
James patted her hand with his free one. “It’s my last gift to her. Grandbabies.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Marshall asked rhetorically with some frustration.
“Get married within thirty days or be poorer than you’ve ever been and learn what it’s like to build up your own wealth rather than spending mine!” spat James.
“This is ridiculous,” Parker’s tone rose. “This is not some archaic time where you can just dictate what we do with our lives.”
“True, but there is no law which says I have to give my wealth to you boys either,” James apprised him. “I can give it all to the dog shelter if I want.”
“What about Mom? Tell me you’ve taken care of her financially,” Gabe wanted to know.
“Of course I have,” James was indignant.
Dotty shushed him. “I’ll be perfectly fine. James has seen to everything.”
“And you’re okay with him manipulating us like this?” Gabe shook his head in amazement, trying to wrap his head around what his dad was doing.
“You boys have had more than enough time to find someone special. You’ve all become stubborn old bachelors,” she told them. “I’m not proud of what he is doing but I hope it will be the making of you all.”
“‘The making of us’?” Parker was incredulous. “What is wrong with how we are?”
“Other than the fact none of you know the value of real work,” huffed James. “You are arrogant, stubborn, lazy, prideful, and mostly you are all entitled.”
“Some of it is our fault,” admitted Dotty sadly. “It’s how we raised you.”
James gave a grunt of dissent.
Gabe leaned back in his chair, silent and not knowing what to say. Between Nate’s death, Britney and his father, Gabe felt the entire world had turned upside down.
Parker whipped out his cellphone, his thumb tapping on the screen.
“What are you going to do?” chuckled James. “Have your lawyers call my lawyers?”
“Essentially yes,” Parker said shortly.
“I told you, it is all legal and unbreakable,” repeated James. “The lawyers have it sewn up shut. Took a whole team of them to do it and you don’t have the time to undo it even if you could.”
“This is crazy,” Marshall voiced what all of them were thinking. “You’ve gone crazy.”
“Maybe,” conceded James. “Maybe not. When you are married to the love of your life, you’ll find out what you are capable of doing for another person’s happiness over your own.”
“I hardly think I’m going to find the love of my life in thirty days,” muttered Gabe. He shoved Britney’s impromptu proposal out of his mind. There had to be some alternative.
Anyalternative.
“I need some air,” Marshall abruptly stood, heading for the door. Parker followed him, talking wildly on the phone about clauses and caveats.
