Page 1 of Seducing the Billionaire

Chapter One

Connor

“Are you ready?”

I glance over at my brother, Gabriel, and beyond him, my other brother, Archer, each giving me identical expressions of concern.

I wish they’d stop walking on eggshells around me. I’m in the same boat they are. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Archer’s lips purse as Gabriel lets out a soft grunt of disbelief.

“Okay, I’m not fine.” How could I be after what’s happened? “Let’s just get this over with.”

Archer nods and tells the estate lawyer on the other side of the boardroom table we’re ready to begin.

The man clears his throat and pulls a stack of papers out of his briefcase, handing us each a copy of the will. Was he at the funeral? I can’t remember. The entire morning is a blur.

“I wanted to gather you together in case there was any confusion about what’s set forth in here,” he says. “Your father submitted this revised version of his will to me three weeks ago, and as far as I know, was in sound mind as he did so. If anyone feels the need to challenge its validity—”

“We’re not contesting anything,” Gabriel interrupts. “We’re prepared.”

He nods and begins to read from the top of the document, but Gabriel cuts him off again. “Could you skip all the legalese and just tell us what we got?”

Archer side-eyes him but stays quiet, slipping on his reading glasses to look over the papers for himself. Since when does he need those? How much has changed since I’ve been away?

“Gabriel and Archer, your father has given you each one hundred dollars,” the lawyer says bluntly.

I blink, a part of me unable to believe Dad really cut them out of the will like that. Even as mad as he was at the two of them for defying him, I’d hoped it would eventually blow over.

“A hundred dollars? Why even bother leaving anything?” Gabriel asks.

Archer sighs, taking his glasses off to pinch the bridge of his nose. “It’s a tactic to ensure we were purposely included in the will, so if we take it to court, we can’t claim we were left out.”

“One final fuck you, huh?”

“Essentially.”

“So Connor gets everything, then?”

“Yes.” The lawyer turns to me, his expression sober. “Mr. Bishop’s shares in Bishop Industries, his real estate, and stock holdings are all yours. He also appointed you as CEO of Bishop Industries. The company is yours to run now.”

My jaw trembles for a moment before I firm it. I was supposed to be Chief of Operations one day, not CEO. My background is in project management, not running the whole thing.

I glance over at Archer, who gives me a weary smile. “Congratulations.”

This must be crushing for him. Bishop Industries was supposed to be his. He was groomed to be the successor.

I shake my head before pushing my chair back from the table so I can rest my elbows on my knees, blowing out a long breath. “I don’t want it. You take it.” Seriously, how am I going to run a billion-dollar corporation? I’m twenty-six years old. I’m not prepared for this.

“I’ve moved on,” he says simply. “And I’m sure Dad put some kind of clause in there that prevents me or Gabriel from having anything to do with the company.”

“That’s correct,” the lawyer says.

“You deserve the money,” Gabriel exclaims, clapping me on the back as I sit up. “You stuck him out the longest.”

“I’ll give you both—”

“No,” they say in unison.

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