22 years old
It’s over. In a little over an hour, the last part of my past will die away, and my future is finally coming together. I glance in the mirror and look into the eyes of a woman I wouldn’t have recognized three years ago. I’ve changed. Grown. Found something I’m passionate about. I used to hate that contract that ruined my teenage years, but now I wouldn’t change how things happened. I learned to pick myself up, to love myself, and prove to myself that I can make impossible things happen. Emilio Knight didn’t know what he bargained for when he chose me to be his forced-granddaughter. He sure as hell never fathomed I’d be the one to get us all out of this nightmare.
“Mia, are you ready?” Spyder knocks on the bathroom door.
I take one last look in the mirror, using my fingers to smooth down the pink tresses one more time. My hands run down and over the black pantsuit I’m wearing for the business meeting I’m about to have. A meeting that has been years in the making. After all the silence and missed moments, I’ll be sitting down with York, my grandfather, and Zander. I want to make sure I look the part while I tell them the contract is broken, and after today, I’ll never have to see them again. Except my grandfather. Along the way, I was able to convince the old man there was no way to keep our family intact if this contract wasn’t broken. It took some time, but finally, he understood, and at the end of the day, he wanted us to be family again, rather than having his company dismantled.
“Yes,” I whisper to myself in the mirror, “you can do this.” Taking a deep breath, I open the bathroom door and find both Spyder and Becks waiting. Both are dressed in their own versions of business attire. They look more like rockstars going to the music awards.
“Let’s do this,” I tell them, leading the way into the conference room of the newly-furnished office that I now own. They follow me silently and take chairs across from me at the table. They won’t be seen by the camera and have promised to remain silent until I introduce them to my grandfather, so he can meet the first musicians under my new label.
The red light on the phone flashes, letting me know the call is waiting. Once I pick up, the camera will click on, and I’ll be in a virtual conference with York and Zander. My eyes flutter closed while I breathe in and out one more time, before pushing the button.
“There she is.” My grandfather’s voice fills the space, and I can’t help but smile. It’s been about a year now since we last saw each other. He flew to New Zealand for the holidays and helped me look at office spaces that I can grow into. He’s aware that my plan is to stay in New Zealand after graduation, making Auckland my homebase for the new company. He wasn’t happy I wouldn’t be returning to Allister mansion, but after hearing me out, I think he was less pained in the end.
“Hi Grandpa.” I nod my head respectfully, keeping my role as a businesswoman first. After all, I’ve learned from the best. “Thank you for taking this afternoon meeting,” I tell them all.
“Nonsense,” my grandfather waves his hand, “it’s early enough for us. You, on the other hand, you should probably be heading out to dinner for the evening.”
My lips tip up in a tight smile. “I plan to as soon as we’re done. I promise I won’t take much of your time. I know you all are very busy men.” I let my eyes touch briefly on York and then Zander. Both of whom look slightly surprised, as if they weren’t aware I would be part of this meeting today. I turn my focus back to my grandfather, while I let myself adjust to the situation. I can feel the intensity of his eyes on me through the screen. Bile threatens to climb up my throat, and my nerves jump in my stomach. I remind myself that I can do this. I need to do this.
“Everything is prepared and everything is in order to proceed how we discussed previously?” I ask my grandfather, who nods his head at me.
He waves his hand and a binder is set in front of York, and one in front of Zander. I personally chose the design for those folders. Glossy and black with rose-gold lettering. All my future documents, training manuals, and contracts will be presented in those colors. I watch as York opens his folder and takes out part of the document. His eyes scan the form, before he looks at our grandfather, then goes back to reading. As much as I want to seek out Becks and Spyder, I keep my eyes on the screen, staying in the moment, even while my stomach clenches.
“This is the contract you had me look over for the new business investment.” York glances at our grandfather, who nods his head. “And this is your business?” York looks to me.
His tone is even and maybe somewhat surprised, but I can’t help the way my body wants to coil within itself, waiting for his criticism. “Yes,” I tell him, keeping my voice strong and proud.
York shuffles through more of the papers before suddenly stopping. I know he’s found it. He glances up at me. “Mia?”
Taking a deep breath, I tell my brother all the things I should have said back then, the ones that hurt the most now. “When Mom and Dad died, it was just you and me. You were always my hero, and I looked up to you. I wanted to be confident like you were. Since we were young, you knew what you wanted in life and went after it. Any interest I’ve ever shown in business or in Allister Holdings was mostly my way of trying to find some way to stay close to you. I never planned to take Allister from you or fight you for a position. I only ever wanted your acceptance, York.” My eyes drift to Zander then back to my brother. “If you sign this contract today, you will have my shares of Allister Holdings.”
“Mia,” my brother shifts in his chair, “if you sell your shares, you essentially forfeit any decisions or rights to the company.”
I nod. “I know. But let’s be honest, York, Allister was never mine to begin with. I never wanted it like you do. I only wanted to be included, and I thought having that share meant something about family.”
York’s mouth clamps shut. He reads through the rest of the contract, before stopping at the last page where his signature is needed. “I don’t understand. I don’t think this is the best way, Mia.”
“Sure, it is,” I tell him, lifting my shoulders. “I’m selling you my shares and using the money for my new company. The only request I have is that I’m able to use Mom’s maiden name for my own.”
York watches me closely. I can see his emotions change from confusion, to anger, to pride, and finally, to resignation. York makes it easy. He wants full ownership. “And I need to provide you with a list of women who can help your business here in the U.S.? Why can’t I just help you with anything you might need?”
I shake my head. “I want to do this on my own without the Allister name. Just the list will do.”
Silence drops between us. My heart thunders in my chest, knowing what’s coming next. York picks up his pen and signs on the dotted line. My grandfather nods, and someone picks up the documents. Butterflies twirl in my stomach, and I clench my fingers together under the desk. My head turns slightly, my eyes really, truly looking at Zander. Even over a video call, I can tell his jaw is clenched, his eyes are narrowed. All those old feelings and insecurities rush to the surface. A flush heats my neck, but I fight like hell to manage it. He can’t touch me. I just need to say all the things I couldn’t before.
“I’m sorry.” I take a shaky breath and try giving him a small smile, but it’s forced and forlorn. “You were right that night. I was trying to forget, and I should have been trying for months to find a way to end the contract. It wasn’t because I wanted to hurt you, but that I was protecting myself. The feelings that I had for you back then were innocent, but in the grand scheme of who you want to spend the rest of your life with, I get it. And I’m sorry you were drug into this by our families. The contract states that if I don’t marry you, I forfeit all my shares of Allister Holdings to you. Well, I’m now able to inform you, and the board, that I no longer possess any shares of the company, and therefore, this contract can’t protect me. As neither Allister Holdings or Knight Industries has a tolerance for what would essentially be human trafficking, the contract is null and void.”
My lips dip, and I take another shaky breath, motioning with my hand for my grandfather to hand over the box. “You once asked me, Zander, about your grandma Bee’s ring. I remember seeing it when I was very young, but I’ve never owned it or stolen it. My grandfather was keeping it in his safe after your grandfather gave it to him. I’m sorry that this was kept from you and that it has taken so long for it to be returned.”
Zander’s long, tan fingers reach out and brush against the satin box, before pulling it in closer. He flips the lid and seeming satisfied with the contents, he snaps it shut. “What if I don’t want out of the contract, or I don’t think it’s beneficial for it to end?”
My eyes snap to his, my gaze moving over his face, but he’s unreadable. His poker face is in full force. My eyes fall, before lifting again, trying to match his A-game. I tilt my head. “Page seven of your new contract states that fighting or rebuking the findings from the contract, either for personal reasons, manipulation, or payback, will result in an eight-million-dollar fee. Now, I know Seraphina and Brody are finishing up high school. Soon, they’ll have college, and I bet you’re going to need that money to help them. I’m aware your businesses are doing well financially, but not to where you can risk losing eight mil comfortably and soon put your siblings through Ivy League colleges.”
Zander watches me closely, our eyes locked. He’s looking for my bluff, and I’m looking for a way to speed this up. I don’t know how I’ve survived this long. I want it to be over. I accomplished the impossible, and they both want to sit here and argue with me now that I’m almost out. His hand jerks slightly, but finally, he puts the pen to the document and signs. All the air and the tension leave my body.
Zander leans back in his chair, his face contemplative, and if I cared, I would almost say he looks upset. But this is me and Zander. He’s probably more upset that I found the loophole before him. I nod, and as promised, someone walks over and hands Zander the previous contract, ripped up and sitting on a silver platter.
Smiling, I turn to my grandfather, anxious to end this call. “Are we good?”
He nods. “You promised you’d visit this summer, don’t forget. And I want to meet your first two clients.”
I wave Spyder and Becks over. They move to my sides until all three of us are seen on the screen. Becks’s arm drapes over my chair and Spyder’s hand grabs mine under the table. Looking at both of them, I’ve never felt more proud. “This is Spyder and Becks, two members of Rise Above. Guys, this is my grandfather, Arlo Allister.”
“Nice to meet you, Sir.” Becks nods at my grandfather, who smiles back.
“And great to meet you. I had my secretary play some of your work last week. Your band has a promising sound.”
Spyder laughs. “Thank you, Sir. We won’t let our girl down.”
“See that you don’t,” Grandfather warns, but his words are laced in humor as well.
In the next few seconds, the screen goes black, and the conversations are done. After months and months of planning and making decisions, Rosen Records, named after my mom, is official. I graduate next week and plan to jump in feet first, setting up concerts and promotions for these guys. It’s time to make our dreams come true.
