Mr. Carmichael clears his throat and smiles softly. “I’m sorry, dear, the only information I have is that of the name listed on thefile. This was a contract made by my father before I took over our office, so I wasn’t involved in this trust. The only information I can give you is that the other attorney involved worked famously with a family who lives in the Southeast. The Sinclairs.”
Chapter three
Wiping tears from my eyes, I pull a one-hundred-dollar bill from my pocket to hand Ledger as he smirks.
“Happy doing business with you,” he says, taking my money and patting me on the back. “I knew you wouldn’t make it. You love her too much.”
“You didn’t cry, and he’s your brother!” I reply, feeling somewhat less manly as I use his monogrammed handkerchief to dry my tears.
He sighs. “He’s my brother, but we didn’t grow up as close as you and Kat. When Jack and Margot finally do this, I’m sure I’ll be giving you your money back.”
“Two of them, so double or nothing?”
“You’re on,” he says, winking at me as he moves on to mingle among the other family members here today.
I haven’t attended many weddings, but I didn’t expect my KitKat’s vow renewal to affect me as much as it did today. She’s always been as close to me as a sister, rather than a cousin, and finding out a few months ago that we share a father felt like confirmation of a truth we’ve long felt in our souls. Whenshe joined the Sinclair family to fulfill our grandfather’s scheme from the past, I was worried about her, even after meeting her husband, Henry, and having a hunch that they would be a good fit. I never could have dreamed that they would fall so madly in love and be so happy. It gives me peace to know she’s safe and well cared for.
“She was radiant today.”
My father joins me, sipping his own champagne and watching the Sinclairs fuss over all their newborns. Between Margot and Jack’s twins and Ledger and Sloane’s second baby, something has to be in the water around here. I’ll stick to champagne.
“I’m glad the two of you have been spending more time together. It killed me to keep your secret, you know,” I say, grabbing another appetizer from a tray being carried by a server.
“Yes,” he agrees, “it’s been wonderful to see her more. Although I suspect she’ll be quite busy with her husband from now on.”
We stand in companionable silence before he speaks again.
“I want you to know that I have no expectations from you over the next few years. You can stay here to be close to Kat if you want, or you can travel. Certainly, from my perspective, there’s no need for you to rush into anything like a marriage or—”
He’s cut off as champagne sprays out of my nose, burning my sinuses and causing me to choke and gasp for air. He slaps me on the back as I try to recover, waving off concerned staff and ignoring snickering from Ledger and Jack.
“I don’t think you have anything like that to worry about from my end, Dad. No marriage plans for me. You know how I feel about bringing someone else into the business,” I say firmly, once I’ve finished choking. And he does know. I deflected his questions about serious girlfriends long enough, then finally told him exactly how I feel. I don’t want to get married. It’s not fair to any wife that I might have to bring her and children intothe dangerous position ahead of me. Even if I hopefully have a number of years before I have to take over for Dad.
Just because I’m not running things now doesn’t mean I don’t have my special projects and tasks, though. And there’s one motherfucker in particular who I haven’t been able to lay my hands on and eliminate.Lawrence.He’s been kicking up more dust lately and causing more problems, and he’s been on my short list of men to silence.If only I could catch the slippery bastard.
Dad gives me a loaded look and opens his mouth to continue our conversation, but I’m saved by Margot approaching withtwonewborns strapped to her chest.
“Ivan, I don’t think you’ve met these two new Sinclairs yet. This one’s MJ, and this one’s JJ…”
I’ve met both babies already, neither of whom seemed impressed by me based on the wails I caused, so I sneak off and let my dad coo to his heart’s content.
I don’t make it far before I hear my name.
“Sasha! Darling, I’ve been trying to get a moment to chat with you all day. How are you?” Blanche squeezes me in a tight hug before pulling back to assess me with her keen gaze. I’m not sure what she’s looking for, or what she finds.
“I’ve been all right. A little bit of this and that. It certainly isn’t the same working at the club without you there. I can’t say that I think I’ll stay for much longer,” I say honestly. “Have you been enjoying being a full-time grandma?”
She smiles but rolls her eyes. “I’ve been loving every minute of it, but I think after a month of being on duty 24/7, I’m ready for a little break. Actually, I have a pet project I’m working on, although it’s been a mess trying to get the ball rolling on it.”
A pet project for Blanche could be any number of things, ranging from reasonable to terrifying. I’m scared but curious. Before I can ask, she’s already explaining.
“You see, I’ve dreamed for years of filming my love story with my husband, and something has just been telling me this is the right time to do it. I have a crew all sorted out. Lighting, sound, everyone! You know I have that space at my house everyone thinks is so scary.”
“The dungeon?” I ask. And itisscary. I’m not sure if it used to be a cellar, basement, or torture chamber, but it’s annexed to Blanche’s house. Although it’s finished and clean, it gives the whole family the creeps.
She rolls her eyes again. “Yes,the dungeon.It was a storm shelter! I don’t know why nobody believes me. It was just a big storm shelter meant to hold a whole neighborhood of people, and now with new drywall and better ventilation, it’s just a big party room! But anyway, I have it all set up as a film set, and it’s just going to be perfect. I just don’t have a cast.”
“A minor detail,” I tease.
