I nod. “It’s exactly like one. His marriage was the definition of ‘and they lived happily ever after,’ and he wanted that for us. But it’s never been an issue, since I never wanted to shepherd the company. Erik has been running it anyway, and he’s been with Jandy for a few years now, so it all made sense when Grandfather laid it out. His expectations aligned with our reality. Over the last few months, we’ve been dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on the paperwork governing the estate.”
Erik takes a long drink and bangs his glass down. “And now I’ve fucked that up.”
Elise rubs his shoulder. “No, you didn’t. She fucked it up. She’s not worthy of you, and she doesn’t deserve your company, and we’re going to do everything we can to help you sort this out.”
“Thank you,” he whispers.
Damn, she shouldn’t be turning me on at a time like this, but she sure as hell is, with her commanding tone and her deep concern.
“That means that among the other shareholders, she has the most control right now? If there’s no married grandson to serve as a trustee?” Elise asks.
I nod. “Seems that way.”
“She can make all the decisions?”
Erik nods. “And she wants to sell it.”
I drop my forehead to the table and contemplate banging it a few times. I turn and look at him. “You kept that little nugget till the end, did ya?”
“Sorry, but there’s a silver lining.”
I raise my head. “Please. We need some good news.”
“I talked to Oliver,” Erik says.
"I thought he didn’t know where you were?”
“Well, before that. About the contract stuff. Stick with me, Chris. C’mon.”
“Fine. What did our dear old cousin say?”
“He and the other lawyers at his firm looked at the paperwork. Some of her shares come due for renewal in three months, and they’re the type of shares we can buy back as the officers of the company, and then she won’t have majority control. We just need to prevent a sale before then.”
I rub my palms together, shucking off my frustrations. “Okay, let’s solve this, then. How are we going to keep Grandfather’s company in the family?”
Erik snaps his fingers. “Why don’t I go ask the waitress to marry me?”
I laugh morbidly. “You’re not divorced yet.”
He slumps down in the booth. “Oh yeah. There’s that issue.”
We toss around some scenarios for preventing a sale, and I’m doing my best to maintain a cheery vibe when Elise clears her throat.
In her brown eyes, I see a brand-new fierceness. “Yes?”
“Gentlemen, it seems you’re missing the most obvious solution.”
“What is it? Tell me. Tell us,” I say.
“You don’t know what it is?”
Erik shakes his head. I do the same.
“The marriage stipulation,” she adds, making a rolling gesture as if encouraging us to catch up. There’s a wicked grin on her face. A hint of mischief and victory in her eyes. “It only stipulates that a married grandson would control the company. It doesn’t say which one.”
Erik opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. I’m not sure what to say either.
Elise points at me. “You could go propose to the waitress.”
Erik laughs loudly, smacking his palm on the table. He points to me, a look of utter delight on his face. “Or you could marry Elise. For three months.”
15CHRISTIAN
“Going to the chapel . . .” Erik’s voice carries through my flat as he stumbles into the bathroom off the guest room.
“I do have neighbors,” I remind him, since he’s left the bathroom door ajar.
“Oops. I better be a quiet little crooner.” But his next line about getting married doesn’t come out at a lower volume.
“You’re too loud.” I toss an extra pillow from the closet onto the bed in the guest room.
“Let a drunk man sing while he pisses, will you?”
I roll my eyes. “Plastered, Erik. You’re plastered.”
“And sloshed. Don’t forget sloshed. I am most definitely sloshed.” He’s quiet for a moment. “Oops. I pissed on the floor.”
I grit my teeth. “You did not. You’re thirty-three, not a fucking uni student with shite aim.”
