16 years old
Her lips taste like bubblegum, and I don’t even mind the stickiness of her lip gloss or the fact that I’ll be wearing the pink residue on my own lips for hours after she leaves tonight. Making out with Carringan Hutchin is worth it. She’s the hottest girl in my grade and probably in all of Magnolia Hills. We aren’t technically dating, but I consider the fact that I’ve had my fingers inside her and her lips wrapped around my dick to mean that we’re serious. At least as serious as sixteen-year-olds can get. The fact that she hates her parents as much as I hate my grandfather just adds to our connection. We both feel trapped and find ways to escape together. My fingers drag through her platinum blonde hair, angling her head so that my tongue can delve further into her mouth, chasing the aftertaste of the Peach Schnapps and whiskey we stole from my grandfather’s liquor cabinet.
“What time does your grandfather get home?” she asks breathless and throaty, pulling back slightly.
I shrug, my brain not even computing exactly what she’s asking me. “I don’t know. It’s Thursday, so late.”
Carrigan sits back on her heels, her fingers drifting to her button-up top. “So, is it okay to do this then?” She bites her lip, slipping one finger under the material and pulling, the little buttons sliding away until I can see the silky material of her light pink bra underneath.
“Uh,” I run my hand through my hair, “yeah. Yeah, that’s okay. I mean…” I watch in fascination and lust as she keeps going. I know Carrigan is a virgin; she’s told me so on many occasions when we fooled around, so I’m slightly surprised she’s initiating this tonight. She’s been very vocal about how she’s not happy that I wasn’t a virgin anymore, as if my fifteen-year-old self was supposed to know to wait for her. I place my hands on her hips and watch as each little button comes undone, and the material of her uniform shirt is just open. A dangling blue charm hanging from her belly-button.
“I think I’m ready.” Carrigan glances at me, under her eyelashes. She’s never been shy, so I’m slightly taken back by the blush on her cheeks. It hits me then what she actually said and is implying.
My brow hitches. “Yeah? Are you sure? We don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for.”
Carrigan rolls her eyes. “Shut up, Zander. We’ve been fooling around for a while now. It kills me that some other girl had you first. I wanted it to just be me, so I’ve been taking it slow. I’m ready now, though. And before you say anything, yes, I’m sure. I want this to mean something to you too, though.”
“It does,” I tell her honestly. I’ve never felt for any girl before what I do for Carrigan. It’s almost as if all her broken pieces fit mine. She’s imperfect just like me, and she needs me in a way that no one else does.
Her dark brown eyes glaze over and she licks her lips before dropping her shirt to the ground. My hands slide up, winding around to the clasp behind her back, right as a knock sounds at my door.
“Zander, I need to speak with you downstairs.” My grandfather’s voice announces at the door.
Carrigan lets out a small shriek before she rolls off me and onto the floor, scooping her shirt up. “I thought he wouldn’t be here.”
Glaring at the door, I hop off my bed, throwing my t-shirt back on. “I thought so too.” I can’t help the venom that laces my tone. Just another thing he can’t help but ruin. Carrigan gets dressed quickly and throws her bag over her shoulder. I take her hand in mine when we step out into the hallway. Thankfully, the old man didn’t stick around up here. I walk her down the stairs and to the front door, suddenly feeling thankful she drove me home today. There is a glow of light down the hallway, letting me know my grandfather is in his office waiting for me.
“See you tomorrow?” she asks, her voice low, and a hint of a smile on her lips.
“Yeah, babe,” I respond before leaning down to kiss her one last time, taking her mouth aggressively with my own until I pull away breathless. Her cheeks flame pink, and she winks as she walks out the door.
I throw my shoulders back and grit my teeth on the walk toward my grandfather’s office. Even with the door slightly open, I know better than to just walk in. I raise my knuckles and knock on the outside.
“Come in, Zander.” His voice is somewhat gruff as he answers.
The room is immaculate as always, nothing out of place, and if it weren’t for the two stacks of papers on the desk in slight disarray, I’d think this room never got used. “You wanted to see me?”
The old man sits back in his chair, and it’s then I notice he’s swirling a glass of brown liquor in his hand. His gray brow is raised, and frown lines mar his forehead. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with the Hutchin girl, now.”
I feel my insides heat, and I snap my eyes to his. How the hell does he know Carrigan’s last name? “Yes, Sir.”
He hums under his breath and takes a small drink from his glass. “The Hutchins are a good family. I’ve played golf before with the young lady’s father.”
I feel my body tense at his words. A pit starts to grow in my stomach, anticipating what he will say next and somehow knowing it’s going to alter the course of my life. Our eyes connect, and I hate that mine are so similar to his. They bore into me, trying to read my thoughts and figure out all the things I’m not telling him. Surprisingly, he breaks first, his gaze dipping down to his glass.
“You’re young and you have plenty of time to play around with the Hutchin girl or others,” he flicks his hand, “but I want you to be aware of the stipulation that is in place for you to inherit Knight Industries.”
“What?” I question. This is news to me. Never before has there been any stipulations in place, besides attending his choice of University. He sighs and reaches into his drawer, pulling out a manilla envelope. He hands it to me, and surprisingly, I manage to keep my hands from shaking as I take it. I pull out the stack of papers that are held together with a clip, red, yellow, and blue tabs decorating the sides. “What did you do?” I manage to breathe out, while my eyes scan the pages. I hate him. With every fiber and feeling in my body, I hate my grandfather and all he stands for.
“It’s really in your best interest. And that of your half-brother and sister,” he replies gruffly, without a hint of remorse.
“Why are they part of this?” I flip through the pages detailing my expected graduation, GPA, university options, the amount of compensation and money my mother is getting. When I flip to the blue tab, everything crumbles. “An arranged marriage? This isn’t the damn 1800s. No one does this shit anymore!”
“Zander, I know your goal is to run my empire. I also know you hold enough hate in your heart for me that you would destroy my life’s work, if given the opportunity. I can’t bring your father back. It is tragic what happened to him, but he should have listened to me.” My grandfather’s voice grows vicious and so damn calm, while I’m practically vibrating with anger. “You’ll marry the girl I chose and you get all of this. That marriage also sets you up to be part of Allister Holdings. You’ll be one of the richest men in the world, and your mother and her children will be able to continue living off of you.”
“Allister Holdings?” I question, my brow rising. My eyes scan down the page, line after line, until I reach her name. “Amelia Allister?”
“She’s younger than you, yes. So I don’t expect that you’ll be creating a relationship anytime soon. As long as you’re married by the time she’s twenty-three, you’ll fulfill the contract.”
My mind spins. York and Amelia are my friends. The two closest people to me. “Does York know about this? Does Amelia?”
“Emilio has decided there is no reason for them to know at this time. Miss Allister will not be able to access the contract details until she turns eighteen. There is nothing that can be done by the younger Mr. Allister, his own standings with Allister Holdings is partially dependent on this contract.”
“Why? Why are you doing this?” I glare at him, hating the way his face is so calm as if he isn’t making life-defining plans for me. This can’t be legal? “How is this even legal?”
“My legacy won’t die with you, as much as you wish it would. Your father didn’t want to run this company; he wanted to play music and look where that got him. But I see it in you, Zander. I see the hunger, I see the motivation, the predator out to protect and survive. You can be everything that Knight Industries needs, be who the employees rely on. After I’m gone and, in the future, this can be all yours,” he continues, all while my ears are ringing and black spots are dancing across my vision.
Amelia is York’s baby sister. She’s like my little sister; she’s my friend. I can’t marry her. My chest tightens. “I love Carrigan. You can’t make me marry someone I wouldn’t choose for myself.”
He shrugs his shoulders. “You love the Hutchin girl, or you’re in lust with her after feeling a pussy for the first time? Things change, Zander. Over time, you might not feel anything for the Hutchin girl. Besides I have it on good authority the Allister girl already thinks you’re her knight in shining armor.”
I shake my head in denial, everything in me rattling, hate and rage combining and trying to tear out of my skin. “I’m not doing this. Fuck you and fuck your company.” I turn on my heel, ready to storm the hell out of this office. I’ll figure something out.
“If you leave now, your mom will lose everything. You don’t follow this contract and your half-brother and sister will never see the inside of their Academy again. They’ll be blacklisted. Their entire futures rest on this contract. Just like yours. What will you do? Quit school and work three jobs just to help out?” His demeanor may be calm, but the threat is clear.
It’s enough to stop me in my tracks. My feet falter, and an invisible noose is thrown around my neck. My mom. Brody. Seraphina. My dad. My own future swings in front of me like a pendulum, ticking away the hours left of my freedom. As long as Emilio Knight is alive, I have no freedom. As long as my grandfather pulls the strings, I will be at his mercy because he knows my weak points. My fingers itch to call York. This is a major glitch in our plan that neither of us saw coming. I also need to know if he was aware. York’s own future hinges on this contract and position to run Allister Holdings.
“I see I’ve given you some things to think about.” My grandfather finally speaks again. “I suggest you do just that. Think long and hard, Zander.”
Slamming his office door behind me, I practically sprint to the garage and jump in my car. My mind spins, but one thing is clear. The whole way there, I don’t think about anything else except for finding my best friend and figuring out what he knows.
“Are you sure?” York paces in his room, glancing at me. I nod silently, feeling like my teeth are going to crack from how tightly my jaw is clenched. “My sister?”
I nod again, even though I don’t know how much clearer I can be. The contract clearly had her name on it. “Yes.”
“So, in order for us to both take over and then merge…you have to marry my sister. And if you don’t, your mom and siblings lose everything.” York talks through it out loud.
“Not just lose everything. They will become nothing. No one will work with my mom. When Brody and Seraphina finish high school, no colleges will take them and no companies will look twice at their resumes when they’re done. You know the reach our families have,” I explain, bitterness coating my tongue.
“Let’s just have Amelia call it off then?” York’s brow lifts. “Is there a clause saying she can do that?”
I glance at his door before lowering my voice. “She can’t find out about the stipulations before she’s eighteen or else it will look like I broke the contract.”
He blows out a breath. “Well, that could be an issue.” I glance at him, and he sighs. “Look, it’s painfully obvious Amelia has a crush on you.”
I shake my head, completely taken aback. “What?”
“Dude, anyone can see the way the kid looks at you. Ever since we were younger, she’s had feelings for you. I thought it would go away…but if she finds out about a marriage contract…”
My grandfather’s words from earlier play in my mind. “You think she’d try and stay in it?” I want to rage. My mind flips to Amelia. She’s always been so sweet, a bleeding heart and a source of happiness. I’ve always considered her a friend up until today. Now I feel like she’s in danger of becoming another roadblock on my path to achieving my goal.
“No,” York shakes his head, “not if it meant hurting you. But if she felt you might like her maybe. Or if my grandfather got to her first and laid it on thick about being best for the family.”
“It’s your family too, York,” I remind him.
“I know what this means to you. I wouldn’t do that. Our plan stays the same, but you need to think of something to deter Amelia.” He glances at me.
My head bows, knowing what I need to do. Whatever school-girl crush Amelia has on me, I need to destroy it. Bury it. And make sure it never sees the light of day again. There is no contract, no merger, or settlement in this lifetime that will keep me from taking down my grandfather. I don’t care who I have to hurt. I will never follow his orders. I will never give him what he wants. “We keep our plan the same. Knight Industries needs to be gone. Once Amelia turns eighteen, we tell her. Until then, I’ll make her dislike me so much that she won’t even want to think about marrying me. I can’t let him win.”
Our eyes hold, and I see the same steely determination in York’s gaze, as in mine. “We’ll figure it out.”
