Then he picked up and opened a manilla envelope and proceeded to place photos of six different women down on the desk.
“What’s this about?”James asked.
“Stability.It’s time for you to marry, so you must choose.”
James let out a deep breath.He had always known that when the time was right, he would have to marry the right woman who would help elevate his status.He didn’t need his grandfather to let him know what the council was looking for.In the Coalition, there was a certain criterion for daughters aspiring to be the wife of the leader.She had to be from money, either old or new.Good breeding stock, of course.Would have had to earn a degree in one of the accepted majors, which usually meant the degree was worthless in the real world but looked good on paper.Trained from birth to know her place within their world, even if she may not be from the Coalition.Her job would be to stay by his side and raise their children in the proper manner.
It seemed his bachelor days were over.Not that he cared.Women were tools for his ambition.There was no way out of the Coalition, not that he wanted it.His past thirty-three years of life had been building to this point, and he would rule it all.
One photo caught his attention.Long blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes, bringing forth a memory.A party, sometime last year, being thrown for ...he couldn’t remember.Social functions blended together.One of the more psychotic daughters of the upper class had tripped a maid, and laughed as the servant crashed into one of the dessert tables.The beautiful woman from the photo had stepped between the socialite and the crying maid, ordering her to walk away or else.Once the bitch left the scene, the woman helped the servant clean up the mess.It took a lot to impress him, and he watched the woman the rest of the night.Not once did she mingle with the other giggling daughters or break her so-called good girl act.By the end of the night, he had come to realize she truly was a good person with a good heart.
A rarity in their world.
David pointed to the first photo.“This is Celeste Rogers.Her father owns Rogers Department store off Fifth Street.New money, so her family will be absorbed into the Coalition if you choose her.Studied at Wellington College, earned her degree in—”
“Her,” James interrupted, pointing to the blue-eyed beauty.He had no interest in any of the other women.
His grandfather smiled.“Ah, good choice.This is Kleya Dane.She’s from an exceptional background, and unlike Celeste, well trained in Coalition protocols.Earned her bachelor’s degree in art history.Presently spends her time in soup kitchens and temporary housing for runaway teens.”
From watching her help a servant, he would hazard a guess she didn’t work in those places in order to impress anyone.She truly cared for people.
“Are you sure?”his grandfather asked.
“Question first.If, for any reason, something happens and I don’t become the successor, will she be killed as well?”
“No.Just our line.”
“Then, I am positive.”
“Very well, I’ll make the arrangements,” David continued.“We’ll set up a meet and greet for you two to get acquainted.And we’ll place the wedding as soon as possible.”
“What about the empty leadership?”
“That’s why you’ll marry as quickly as you can,” his grandfather said dryly.“Like I said earlier, you and Landry will have some kind of test, only you might not realize it’s a test.”
“He’s an imbecile.”
“An imbecile whose family is very wealthy, so don’t count him out.”
“I’mwealthy.I won’t let Landy Sessions take what’s mine.”
“Watch your back, because stabbing it is quite acceptable.”
