Page 26 of Escorting the CEO
“Great.” She flashed me a small, somewhat sad smile and left with Luke and Maria.
My nephew didn’t give me a backwards glance. He had Maria and his new friend, Rory.
But he didn’t have his father. And his mother hadn’t even called to check on him after I’d given her a pile of money and kicked her out of Barrington Manor.
It struck me, not for the first time, just how alone the boy was.
I preppedfor the board meeting for hours. I reviewed financial reports, noting proposed improvements and the growth strategy. I felt confident about my progress when the phone rang.
“Rhodes, it’s Alan,” my attorney said. “I just got off the phone with Miranda’s attorney. He called to let me know she was officially contesting the estate plan. She said she met your fiancé, she doesn’t think it’s legitimate, and she’s moving forward on all fronts. She’s already reached out to the board.”
“She’s in the same fucking house as me, and this is the first I’m hearing about it,” I snarled.
“She purposefully left you out so that it makes you look bad. She invited the board to Barrington Manor. She’s coming for you, Rhodes. Her lawyer says she’s convinced she can take over Barrington Enterprises.”
I sat back and closed my eyes.Fucking Miranda.She’d met Rory for one minute, and she was already trying to blow the situation up.
“Legally, what’s my next best move?” I asked.
“Based on the trust terms, you have to show that the relationship is legitimate. I would counsel you to get married as soon as possible—and include everyone. Invite your entire family, the board, and make sure the girl is introduced to everyone. Make her part of your family,” he said.
“Fine. But won’t it look forced if I rush things?”
“I think you can play this to your advantage,” he counseled. “I would say that you feel it’s imperative to respect your father and brother’s last wishes. And that you start this next chapter of yourlife as a married, settled man. And also, you want that for Luke. Because that’s the other thing, Rhodes.”
I felt a headache forming. “What?”
“Miranda has officially petitioned to become the boy’s legal guardian. She says she’s the most qualified, stable person in his life and that she’s the most suitable candidate.”
“Over my dead body.”
He sighed. “My sources indicate that she’s already discussed it with the mother. You and I both know that Gigi will happily sell Luke’s future to the highest bidder.”
“Gigi doesn’t get to decide. My brother wanted me to be Luke’s guardian?—”
“Ifyou are married, settled, and living at Barrington Manor,” Alan interrupted. “If Miranda can convince Gigi to side with her, you’re going to be looking at an even more uphill battle. The courts do care about what the mother wants.”
“After I gave her some cash, Gigi left here without a backward glance. She hasn’t even called to check up on Luke,” I spat. “Her opinion should hardly matter. And Miranda has no right to him. She doesn’t evenlikekids—I should know, because my father married her when I was one.”
“Then do your best to put a stop to this,” Alan said. “I’ll be looking for my wedding invitation.”
We hung up, and I briefly put my face in my hands.For fuck’s sake.I now had a life-or-death board meeting, a custody battle, and a wedding coming up next week.
Miranda had been waiting for this opportunity from the moment she’d married my father. All this time, it had only been about power and control for her. She wanted Barrington Enterprises, and now, she wanted poor little Luke.
But my birthright wasn’t hers for the taking.
I stared at my computer screen for a moment, financial and due diligence reports swimming before my eyes.Fuck it.I marched from my office, determined to win the day.
Miranda had come out swinging, but I was going to show her who the real heavyweight was.
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“Ready?”I asked, pulling the swing back. “Let’s gooooo!”
I pushed and ran behind Luke, giving him a classic “underdog”—when you ran under the swing while pushing it as high as it could go. The boy whooped, feet rising toward the sky, as he gleefully reached a new height.
