“You have to say nice things to me, I’m your daughter,” I joke as I turn to face her.
Her hand hovers, and I lean into the space that separates us so she can look closer at the flawless makeup I’m wearing. She’s quiet and reflective as her shaking hand cups my cheek and we both know it’s not about how I look anymore. Being sick, simple moments become memories.
“Wear Grandma’s watch,” she offers, pointing over to her dresser. It’s already lying on the top of her dresser; I suspect she asked Allan to get it ready. “I’ve already told your father you’re staying in the city tonight. Don’t let any of those bossy Alphas try to stop you either. You and I both know more than those Alphas do. If you say you’re ready, then you are ready. And don’t be too hard on your father, he’s under a lot of stress. You know he loves you the best way he can.”
“I know,” I reply, as I sit on the edge of her bed with my wrist out so she can fix the clasp on the antique watch. A family heirloom from my father’s mother.
We both do amazing at ignoring the tremble of her fingers.
“Have you thought more about what Collegiate you’d like to go to yet? Your internship finishes in a couple of weeks, and you going to an Omega Collegiate is what you should do next.”
“I don’t know,” I answer. And I don’t. I don’t know if I want to leave. I don’t know if I can, with her being sick and Ayden working here.
“We’ve said you can attend any college, sweetheart. It’s important you go. I’ll be fine, you know. The doctor said I’m just going through a bad patch, and Allan is working hard on finding a cure. He’s about to go to clinical trials with a new drug, so honestly, me being stuck in bed for a few more weeks isn’t enough to stop you from your future. I don’t want to hold you back.”
I twist around and hold her hands. “I know you will get better. You’re looking better than you did last week. You also know, I don’t need to go to Collegiate. I’m happy to stay and work the summer.”
“Nonsense. You need to go get your Omega accreditation before you can take on a full-time position with Verdune anyway. Plus, it will be fun, surrounded by Omegas your age, doing all the lovely programs on offer. You’ve got the rest of your life to be serious but this time is important for you,” Margot says softly. Her brown eyes match mine but tonight they seem even darker.
I falter. A rush of regret floods my system that has nothing to do with me leaving and everything to do with not having shared with either her or Allan that I’ve met my Alpha.
Meeting your scent-matched Alpha is an incredibly poignant time in a person’s life, but I’m also painfully aware that this time is not about me and Ayden, it’s about finding a cure. Or some relief from mother’s debilitating illness.
Despite it all, it is on the tip of my tongue that I tell her about Ayden. Thankfully, before I can figure out how to do it, she takes the decision away, making me keep my secrets to myself when she closes her eyes as she presses the backs of my hands to her cheeks, cutting off any discussions.
“You look beautiful. You make your father and me so very proud. I know you will be wonderful tonight. Please go have fun for me and come see me when you get home from the city tomorrow.”
She finishes our time together.
Leaning over to kiss her cheek, I fill up my senses with her peony scent before I leave her to watch her favourite current affairs program and review a stack of lab reports Allan has left for her. Although what stands out is the pen on top of the legal contract I could literally recite word for word.
“Why do you have this, Margot?” I ask, sitting back down on the edge of the bed and reaching to grab the pack contract.
“Ahh, see, you are brilliant. I nearly forgot.” She sparks up slightly. “I need your signature on a minor amendment.”
“Why?”
“Because before, nothing was going to stop me from being at your packing and also your twenty-fifth birthday. Now, I’m not as confident. I asked your lawyer, Douglas, to send you a memo on the amendments I’ve made to the guardianship, including the scenario where you find your own pack. I’m sure by the time you’re of age, you will know exactly who you want in your pack, until then, all we are doing is protecting you. I’ve made the smallest changes to a couple of other clauses too.”
“Which ones?”
“This legacy is yours, Heidi. No person can take it from you, and I’ll change the words a hundred times over if it protects you when I’m not here.”
“Please don’t talk like that,” I whisper, leaning down to initial where she’s marked but to also soak in her presence.
“Now, I am serious,” she says, her voice letting me know how tired she is. Her voice is slurred now and her movements are slowing. “Please go and have fun. We can talk about everything tomorrow, including scheduling the meetings for this.” She gives a tap of her finger with one hand on the contract I just initialled and with the other she effectively pushes me on.
I leave her with a final kiss and distracted thoughts which was probably her ploy all along. Worrying about the endless meetings I’ll have to sit through with our lawyers and financial advisers and anyone else who has an insight into managing a succession plan like ours, instead of worrying about her.
Although, I can manage both. People just don’t believe I can.
But it’s not the first time I’ve been pulled away from caring for her to be involved in meetings to discuss my future. Being the sole beneficiary of our legacy comes with more clauses and conditions than it does assets or wealth. As part of my future, my parents have established a series of complicated trusts, companies, and working memorandums to ensure that no matter what happens, the Verdune fortune is protected, and it remains mine, and mine alone. Much like my convoluted understanding of male and female sterilisation, I’ve got an understanding of how all these legal documents overlap and work with each other because I’ve been involved in these meetings since I first presented as an Omega.
My trepidation at not being honest and having to sit through more tedious meetings gets shut away with Margot. The strangling feeling that occurs every time we talk about my future stops and is replaced by a fluttering nervousness that has everything to do with Ayden.
A quick check on Grandma’s watch lets me know I’m still on time, although I do need to hustle so I arrive with plenty of time to spare. Unsurprisingly, Bradley and Charlie are in the corridor from Margot and Allan’s suite ready to accompany me to the waiting car.
The drive takes us less than thirty minutes to arrive at the exclusive members only restaurant at The Lodge, which is where we’re hosting the Verdune Annual Shareholder Event. And for some inexplicable reason, the Executives wanted to meet for an early dinner before, although I’m sure it’s for no other reason but them enjoying the entitlement that comes with working for Verdune.
