Page 79 of Vows In Corruption

Do we all go home and then vote again in two week, while we keep our fingers crossed that someone flips back to Bennett’s side?

“Well, it looks like we have a tie,” Gerald lets out, looking a bit disgruntled, all the while Peter looks happy as a fucking clam.

“We should reconvene in two week and have another. Surely by then, we are able to make a decision.” Peter stands from his chair, buttoning his suit jacket, like he owns the damn place.

“We don’t need to reconvene.” Bennett announces, sounding almost board.

Is he rethinking all of this?

Peter looks angry when he responds. “And why the hell not?”

For a few seconds it feels like everyone is at the edge of their seats waiting for a response from Bennett.

“Because not everyone voted.”

What the hell is he talking about? Everyone that was supposed to vote, did. Am I missing something.

“Son, I think you need to go back to school and take a math class. Nobody is missing.”

Bennett is facing me, so I see the smirk spread on his face as he gets up from his seat.

“But there is.”

I look around and find Gerald, Henry and Elliot all wearing the same smirk that Bennett has, which tells me I should be terrified with whatever these four have planned.

“How? Everyone was accounted for.”

Bennet’s smirk deepens. “Before Thomas and Cathrine Lane died, they both were voting members. When they passed those two seats went to the person that was stated in their will. Since my brother and I already had our seats accounted for, those two seats went to others.”

“Who?” Peter spits out, getting desperate.

“As per their will, my father’s seat went to Henry Bamford and my mother’s seat went to her son’s wife. Since there is no evidence that her eldest son of ever getting married, that seat falls to the wife of her youngest son.”

My eyes go wide. Is he saying what I think he is saying?

There’s no way…. is there?

My eyes stay with Bennett the whole time as he reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out some paperwork.

“As of last Saturday, Catherine Lane’s seat was filled by Elizabeth Vincent.”

Papers land on the table and Peter doesn’t even hesitate in reaching for them.

As the asswipe reads them over, I look over at Bennett who’s already looking over at me.

One look at him and I know. He knew about this. He knew that once we got married, his mother’s seat will be mine. That’s why he told me that everything would work out, because he had this up his sleeve.

The papers that Peter was holding, slam back onto the table taking away my attention from my husband.

“So you met a clause with a clause, big fucking deal. Your wife isn’t here and isn’t able to give her vote. So we have to reconvene.”

Bennett’s eyes move back to mine, causing a shiver runs down my spine.

“Oh but she is here.”

All the eyes in the room look over to me and all I want to do is sink into my chair and get away from the scrutiny.

But I don’t cower. I don’t sink into my chair and let embarrassment take over.

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