Page 154 of Unwritten Rules

Brent looked at me with pity. “It’s always about money and power. You’ll never see a relaxing day in our world. We handle backstabbers daily and it's because someone offers them more than what they’re getting. Greed is a nasty thing. So is envy over those who have more than you.”

“Says the uber rich guy.”

“Don’t call the kettle black,pot. If I get to a point where I run my grandfather’s conglomerate, I’m not planning to be a stuck-up asshole about it. What I won’t accept are those with unending greed that jeopardize other people.”

“I suppose.”

“What type of leader do you plan to be? You’re set to inherit one of the top companies that is built on luxury. You service uber rich guys like me.”

Fine, he had a point. There was no denying that I was born into this and now had to wrestle with my own personal morals surrounding the elite. Iwasthe elite. It didn’t feel like it, but it was true, and this part of society was nothing like the others. Endless money created more than simple first-world problems.

We had a hand in shaping the entire world.

“I never thought about the whole me being a leader part.”

He stroked my hair and planted a kiss on my head. “So, let's sit and watch a movie. We have to get you through the worst of it before then.”

I fell asleep during the movie and James coming in around seven woke me back up. Brent wasn’t on the couch with me, but I was silently grateful no one saw me sleeping curled up with him. I still wanted to keep my distance from him romantically. Business had to come first, and we couldn’t complicate things by getting our personal lives twisted up in the height of this situation.

The trip to New York was lonely and long. James was silent. I figured he had nothing to say—he probably didn’t want to freak me out or put me on edge. It was still early in the day and the lobby to the offices was a deserted wasteland. No hustle and bustle yet.

“Miss Montgomery,” the doorman nodded at me.

“Good morning.”

The elevator dinged, sending off alarms in my body and spiking my adrenaline again. If the elevator could crash and send me to my death, that would have been preferable.

“Evans,” I nodded, walking into the boardroom. Not many men were in attendance.

“Miss Montgomery.” He set down an envelope. “I’ve come with news today. We are aware of documents withheld from company knowledge.”

I sat in the chair at the head of the table.Myplace at the table. “Jason Haines called me. He told me that Sylvia Montgomery has usurped a certain amount of power out from under him. Now, she’s coming for me.”

“Your new associate will be joining us.” The door opened to reveal Brent, Reaper, and Dave in suits.

Reaper was wearing a skull mask. Could be fitting.

Brent took a seat to my right.

“As Miss Montgomery said, Jason Haines has been a thorn in the Vaughns’ side for quite some time. He now seeks pity from the very hand he burned many years ago. This is a long and quite bitter tale of jealousy.

“You see, Jason Haines was not picked as a mentee in favor of Maria Montgomery. He didn’t like a powerful woman who was smarter than him getting a one up over him in our world. Like a spoiled child, he did not accept the offer from my grandfather and set out to compete with him instead. A while later, he meets a woman by the name of Sylvia Montgomery who has the drive to destroy her sister’s life’s work. Once her sister dies of cancer, she takes to enacting her revenge on her niece, the soul heir of Montgomery Group. Jason, believing he is in bed with an ally, discovers that he is not. Back to square one, he crawls back asking for crumbs from the table.”

The puzzle pieces made sense. I only saw them from one side—Sylvia’s side and what she wanted me to see. How was I blind for so many years to her antics?

“Since this involves both of us,” Dave cut in. “We are going in on a joint effort. Our department has the skills necessary to rip weeds out by their roots. Unfortunately, the garden is overrun, and it may take some time. Evans, you have had close dealings with Augustus and should be up to speed on plans.”

The relationship between Montgomery Group and Chamberlain Industries ran so deep that someone looking too hard wouldn’t be able to distinguish where one ended and the other started. My mother left me with a very confusing situation to manage, but I didn’t think she could foresee this type of betrayal and plotting against me. She also didn’t know her aunt was going to get guardianship over me. Sylvia volunteered.

Now we know why.

“While we work on the legal nightmare, you all have the list of those who are suspicious characters from this company. I bode you well in your endeavors. Miss Montgomery, I assume you are up to speed with current events of the company’s high-level overviews this week?”

“Yes,” I replied, hoping I could hold an aura of assuredness. “My birthday is around the corner, and I am looking forward to the transition. Media training has reached out and we will begin our efforts to make me not so...me.” My heart rate was running wild. Things were happening quickly, and I was still sorely unprepared for it all.

The press coverage on a CEO transition. The news about what my movements were and how I ran a company would be brutal—my life to be scrutinized at every turn. It would be an endless twenty-four-hour news cycle, and I would be the star of it in my role. If Brent could do it, I could too,right?

“Good. I have some meetings to attend to. Mr. Caldwell will be going over some details on legal issues with you all and... other pertinent information you should know. None of that leaves this room.” He exited swiftly and left us to our devices.

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