by Kerri Ann
As the line is quiet for a moment longer than I’d like, she clears her throat. “Not good. Last night was a shit show. CD broke. You’ve seen the paper I assume?”
“Yeah. That about sums it up.” Reading the front page isn’t the worst of what China will have to deal with, but there’s not much I can do to fix something like this for her. I wish I could.
I may not have been around a great deal as she grew up, but I always kept tabs on her and Wyatt through Cassidy and Ciccero. I wasn’t a total heartless creep. I wanted to keep them at a distance as I felt it was best for them, but they’re still my family and they’re important to me.
“Tell me what happened, Har. I’m keeping Wyatt out of it, but I need to know what she’s up against.” Pacing my hotel room, I’m in a state of half-dressed distress. Tossing on a shirt, preparing for the meeting I have in a bit, I listen to her drone on about the whole affair. From her outfit blunder, to the collapse on stage, to the crazy ‘cop a feel’ on the front page. I’m blown away by it all. I can’t believe the shit my little sister can find herself in.
Fucking Doll.
“Thanks, Har. Let me know what happens at court, okay?”
“I thought you were coming?” Fuck yeah, I was.
“Sorry, can’t. Wish I could, Har, but…” I don’t want to tell her I have to go see the lawyers at the same damn time. It’ll cause China further stress, and it doesn’t seem like she’s taking stress well. “Take care of her.”
“She’s going to be pissed at you, Whiskey. You know your sister. She’s going to fucking lose it on you for not showing.”
Don’t I know it. “Can’t avoid it.”
Sighing into the phone, I know Harlow is biting her tongue. When Harlow’s being the sane one, you know shit is fucked.
“Jamieson Crown, you’ll owe me an explanation for why I’m lying to your sister if she asks me.”
Yeah, I know that, too. “Tell her I’ll call her later if she needs a rundown.”
“You owe me, gorgeous. Don’t think I’ll forget it. I’ll come calling, and you’ll pony up, Mister.”
I know that, too. “Thanks, Harlow. Gotta go.” Hanging up, leaning on the bank of windows, I try my best to control the steam rising in my soul.
Fuck, I hate this. I’m not sure why the lawyers even want to see me. Being cut out of the will years ago, it’s had no impact on me at all. None of it makes a difference in my life anyway. I’ll fly home, hit the snow and never look back. Maybe that’s part of the problem, I won’t look back. My brother and sister are fair weather riders, where I’m a snow and cold kind of guy. We’ll never see each other unless we make the effort to travel.
Closing off my mind to the possible reasons as to why they want to see me, I head out to deal with the sharks—I mean, lawyers.
Driving down to their office, my mind is a blur of thoughts. I’ve done everything I can to ignore the death that surrounds me. I’ve tried to be strong. I’ve tried to keep it together for them. Wyatt can’t deal with this shit, his mind is made up of fragile walls at best, and if last night is any indication, China’s hanging on by a thread, too.
I hope her shit goes well today. I wish to hell I was there for her. Yeah, lawyers are assholes, that’s a given, but why subpoena me for the same time? It’s like they want us separated.
Maybe that’s it. They want us apart, divided.
Damn, I’m gonna have to be on my toes today.
~~~~~~~~~
Traffic was evil. Snarling through every street, I reached the office with only twenty minutes to spare. Looking up at the glass and steel monstrosity, all I see is a temple to power. The gleaming brightness of it reminds me of how much I hate the heat. It bounces off the building, creating steaming tendrils of tangible California sunshine. Walking in, the strong air conditioning cools me instantly, thankfully.
“Hello, Mr. Crown,” the young woman behind the front desks greets me. Her candy sweet smile beams as she sits up just a touch straighter.
Jelly bean, fender bender girl. “Nice to see you again,” I tell her, then ask, “How’s the car?”
She grins. “Dinged, but that’s what it’s for.” Rising from behind the desk, she motions for me to walk with her. “They’re waiting for you in the meeting room.”
I don’t want to drag this out, I want it over fast, so I follow as directed, even as I rail against it internally. “My mom can’t meet with you today as she’s in court—”
“With my sister. Yeah, I know. I’m supposed to be there, too.”
Grimacing slightly, she continues on. “Sorry about that.” With a soft knock on the door ahead of us, she turns the knob and moves to the side for me to enter first. “I’m sure they didn’t expect—”
“Kimmy!” a sharp voice calls out from the interior of the room, effectively cutting her off. Watching her sweet smile disappear from the quick reprimand, Kimmy steps away, closing the door behind her without another word.
Turning to address the boisterous gentleman at the end, I decide to wait. He doesn’t deserve it yet. I look around the room instead of giving him my attention. It’s exactly what I’d expect a lawyer’s meeting room to contain. Sparsely decorated, the room is devoid of character—no artwork, neutral walls, a long black and steel table, and chairs spaced perfectly along each side. Regimented and stark. Not very inviting at all.
Clearing his throat, attempting to garner a reaction, he speaks. “Jamieson. Glad you could meet with us. I’m Carter Kelly, and this is Miss Mann.”
Yeah, I want this over, but I’m not going to let them think I’m glad to do it. “Not much of a choice when you subpoena me. And I’m Mr. Crown to you. Now, tell me why I’m here.”
With of wave of his hand, Mr. Kelly motions for me to join him and the young woman in attendance at the end. He sits at the head of the table, expressly meant to show power, as she sits on the right of him. His comb-over is stringy. His dark red complexion shows horrible blood pressure, and his huffing breath gives away he doesn’t care for his health. She on the other hand is well kept, with curly hair that’s neat, a nice pant suit that is tailored but loose fitting, and a sweet demeanor.
Rising, grinning tightly, she pulls out a chair a few down from her side. Instead of taking the offered chair, I walk down the opposite side to select one directly across. Pulling it out, sitting with a ‘fuck you’ smile, I look for a reaction from the pasty man.
Sucking in a breath, he narrows his gaze. “Thank you again for coming down here. We have a few things to discuss, and I hope you don’t mind giving us a few moments of your time.”
“I’d rather be with my sister, so let’s get on with it,” I say sharply.
“As you suggest.” He flips open a file. “You know that the late Jaxon and Marca Crown had adjusted their wills a few years back. If you remember, you left abruptly during the meeting. As they were still in charge of their full affairs, Jaxon felt it was best to leave you alone and readdress the subject at a later date. The later date was unfortunately—”
“Can you get on with it? I know what happened, I don’t need a history lesson. They’d pulled me from anything that had to do with Crown Industries just before my twenty-fifth birthday. I don’t need you to run it down again.”
He smirks. “True. But you missed a few crucial components of the documents, Mr. Crown.” He passes over a stapled stack of papers. “If you would look that over, you’ll see that not all is as you assumed. Please note the purple tab on page nineteen.”
Picking up the sheets, I begin to read through them, and pause at a particular portion. Rereading it a few times, I’m taken aback. “What does this clause nine mean?”
“I don’t think you’re a stupid man, Mr. Crown. It means exactly as you suspect.”
Reading it again, I try grasping the full impact of the wording.
In the event of the untimely death of both Mr. Jaxon Crown and Mrs. Marca Crown, if one Wyatt Jaxson Crown and one China Marie Crown are found unfit to run the affairs
of Crown Industries, whether by mental or physical inability, one Jamieson Harris Crown will take full control of Crown Industries, the Crown properties, and the care of his remaining family at that time.
“Wyatt is awake and—”
“Yes, we’re quite aware that Wyatt is awake, but as for mental and physical capacity to perform duties, that is yet to be determined.”
Sitting still, listening to this man tell me that a clause can adjust my brother and sister’s lives seems ludicrous. I can’t even fathom the idea that these lawyers, who were expected to look after our parents’ affairs, are wanting to tear it all down. Whether by a malicious need or a gratification for them, I’m unsure.
I’m pissed. No, I’m beyond pissed. Rising out of the chair, pushing it back against the wall, it crashes as I stare down at the wheezing man. “So you brought me here to tell me you’re looking at having my brother deemed incapable for the head position of Crown Industries?”
His devious smile is dark and ominous. “Yes. In essence, that’s the jist of it. Your parents felt you would be the best person to run Crown when and if your siblings were unable to control such a business. Wyatt’s mental illness leaves him dangerously ineffective for the position, and your sister, with her precarious legal proceedings, leaves her to be a publicity nightmare. You may not have a care for the racing circuits or the motor world in general, but you are the best man for the job.”
“And if I decline?”
“Clause seventy-three. Blue tab.” He points to the stack in the middle of the table. “Effectively, it could leave you and your siblings in a hostile takeover situation from the board.”
“Fuck!” Pushing my nails through my hair, I pace, dangerously close to a fist or two through a wall. I do everything in my power to calm down.
Not moving an inch, old man wheezer and the young woman say nothing, allowing me to deal alone with the realization that I’m about to fix or fuck our family even further than it already has been.
Carli
“Really? Again?”
Stepping into the apartment using the key I was given, I know I’ll find the governor in another precarious position. Placing my key on the side table at the door, I lay my bag on the wingback chair, knowing what I’m walking in on. Anyone coming in would by the moaning and carrying on.
“Could you at least close the blinds?” I yell out as I walk through. Seeing the blinds wide open, without even venturing a guess that he’s giving the area paparazzi a show, I hit the remote for the window coverings to close.
Once that’s done, I round the corner and find it’s exactly as I assumed. Strapped to the dining room table, my boss’s bare ass is being pounded into by a man. I use that loosely, as I’m not sure the person with his cock slamming into Chris’s ass has attained his high school diploma yet. Furthermore, I doubt he has facial hair, but that’s why I’m paid the big bucks. I keep him out of the papers for marital discretions with less than legal aged men.
Chris’s arms are extended out and down. He’s tied tightly by his hands out front, and his legs are at the closest table legs. Acting as if it’s not a bother to see this, I walk past the two men in the throes of passion and enter the kitchen.
Opening the fridge, I pull out a bottle of water and twist the cap. Having my own personally hellish meltdown on the plane made me extremely parched. Guzzling down heavy helpings of the cool liquid, I watch with vague detachment. As his face rubs across the table, I anticipate chaffing. Makeup will fix that. I expect he’ll walk a bit funny for a few hours, so I’ll have him limp to explain a stubbed toe. For sure, his blood pressure will be sky-high. I guess I better grab his meds.
As I absently watch them cresting what I assume is the end of their activities, I try to expel Kato and his demands from my mind.
Pulling out the drawer as the two of them caterwaul like Tomcats on a fence, I pop the cap on his blood pressure meds. Taking out two, I place them on the counter and grab two more bottles of water out of the fridge as I continue to view the festivities. Gazing at my watch, I’m impressed. The young man has stamina. I’ve been here for at least ten minutes, and by the way he was going at Chris, I’m pretty sure he was going strong at least ten minutes before that.
Leaning on the counter and pulling out my phone, I scroll through emails and texts. There’s a couple from Circe, apologizing for the abrupt attitude when she shooed me out, but I’m ignoring those for the moment. Two are from the press team, one from the Mayor of Indianapolis wanting to give the Crown’s a key to the city, which is just bullshit and bravado, and two from my sister Miori. Those I’m expressly worried about, but ignoring wholeheartedly.
Kato gave me a week! No one can decide life in a week. No one can pack up, rearrange and redesign anything in a week, especially when they don’t want to. He wants to hold my sisters’ lives in the balance, which is shit. Fuck! Now I’m thinking about them instead of something sexy and dangerous.
Closing the emails, I pick up the remote from the counter and turn on the television. Mounted on the wall behind the young man plowing into my boss, I wonder if it will distract him, but I’m interested in seeing if he can keep the tempo and pace he has with background noise.
It’s eleven-thirty at night here, so the LA entertainment shows are just coming on. Mind drivel is always a good way to forget your dangerous mental anguish, I say. Staring over the shoulder of the man, or boy, the current affairs blast across the screen.
“Don’t mind me,” I tell the sweaty blond. “You just keep up the pace, darlin’. Color me impressed.”
Smiling, he gives me a wink. Picking up his pace, he pulls Chris’s body closer. Reaching around, he grasps his cock and pumps. I can just see in my peripheral as he strokes him in long, hard movements to edge their finish. Not a bad crescendo if you ask me, and I’m pretty versed in the long game.
“You’re right, Caroline. This will certainly harm the Crown family.” With the audio distraction catching my attention, I tune in. “With China Crown’s arraignment today, we’ll keep you posted when we find out the results of her pending charges.”
Not meant with any edge of snark there, huh, Caroline?
“Mark, I’m not sure how she’ll fare with this. It seems that since the death of King, this once strong family is just falling apart.” Showing a few unsightly pictures of China with some absolutely stunning uniformed man, she looks like she’s tanked. With everything going on, I would be too if I were her.
This can’t be good. They were already dealing with Wyatt’s crash, their parents’ deaths, and now? Now they’ll be working through China’s bad publicity as well. Do I feel for them? Damn right I do. I even feel bad for China, and that’s saying something for the way she’s treated me.
Itching to call Circe, my skin crawls as I avoid tapping the screen on my phone. We’d left things raw, and I’m avoiding the apologies we’ll both let loose. Skimming the smooth surface, warring back and forth, the insane volume of the two men humping in front of me has raised an octave. Shit. I forgot about the two of them fucking on the living room table. With a final, ‘ohh’ and ‘ahh,’ I quirk a brow, showing just how disenchanted I am with their crescendo.
“Done? Finally.”
“I could be talked into another round with you,” the blonde says in his sexual hangover haze.
Pushing off of the counter, I lay my phone down. “Honey, there are three reasons I’m out of your league. One, I don’t go trolling high school spares for truants. You should get back to PE class. I’m sure your teacher is wondering where you wandered off to.” I walk closer to the birthday suit of his. “Two, I like taint. You’re a bit clean looking for me. No tattoos, no scars and no…” Pausing, I look down at his loud and proud semi hard cock as he’s pulling off the used wrapping, “piercings.”
“Let me guess number three. I just fucked your boss and you don’t take seconds?” His proud as a peacock snark revs my attempt to shut him down harder than I had originally planned.
Going
for the shock factor, I pull him close by the balls. Squeezing them tightly, I say, “I want a man. One who makes me scream. You, sweetie? I’d tear you to bits.” Leaving a peck on his cheek, I start off toward my room in the apartment, leaving my boss in my wake.
“I’m going to wash up. Tell your toy it’s time to go home. The street lights are on.”
Jamieson
Glaring at me hard, Carli shakes my shoulders. “Where were you? You said you’d be there, James! She needed you!”
Sitting up in bed, the dream of Carli telling me off for not being there for my sister, seems so real. And there was China, wearing an orange jumpsuit, being walked away by the transvestite she’d had the pleasure of bunking with for a short time. His purple heels were clacking on the floor, and he was wearing his own orange jumper which was pulled low and wrapped around his waist, with the T-shirt ripped and tucked up in a tankini.
Raking my hands through my hair, I breathe out heavily to calm my overactive mind. “I’m such a fucking asshole.”
With everything going on, I couldn’t even be there when she needed me the most. Neither could Wyatt, but he has an excuse. Did I tell him about my meeting? No. Will I? Yes, later. For now, we have bigger issues. It seems China’s under house arrest, and the police officer that arrested her will be staying at the house alongside her. Does it make me feel better or worse? Fuck. I’m truly not sure.
Looking at the time, I see it’s four in the morning. There’ll be no going back to sleep after that.
With the early sunrise peeking through the blinds, I lay back hard against the pillows. Noticing the light blankets tenting, I talk to my cock like a friend, not a member of my body. “Well, guess I’m not the only one awake early. Might as well start the day.”
Throwing off the blanket, I flick the side table light on. The brightness of the room is shocking. Pulling back the wooden blind, I stare out at the ocean below, not caring that I’m naked. No one is up yet, and the windows are tinted. Even if they weren’t, if someone’s ballsy enough to take a picture of me and my morning wood, they’re welcome to it. I’m not shy.