"Name?" he lifted a clipboard with a list of names printed on it.
"Jake Tolliver."
The man went down each name until he was almost to the end before placing a checkmark next to Jake's name. "You're on the list, go on in."
Brianna's stomach churned, and her body tensed as she held the door open for Jake before following him in. They hadn't even gotten very far into the room before Reginald attacked.
"What's this?" Reginald gestured toward Jake. "You all agreed to start with the attorneys first."
Brianna stepped around Jake to protect him from her father's wrath. "Back off, Reginald. Jake's only been out of bed for a week and needs to sit, so the man said he could be questioned first so he could sit."
"Well, you don't make the rules, Brianna, the panel does," he retorted.
She shook her head and focused on the three people who would decide her fate. All were retired judges, and other than their confidence and stern expressions, they seemed unapproachable. They would never blend into the beige walls and carpet that graced the conference room. There was some inexplicable aura of absolute power and control that emanated from them and drew the eye. Meeting their steely-eyed gazes, Brianna arched a brow. "May Jake start first?"
The panelists deferred to the woman in the middle. Her clothes spoke of understated elegance as the black suit wasn't boxy nor overtly sexy. The white blouse and black blazer were paired with red and gold accent pieces, and her dark brown and gray hair was pulled into a loose knot at the back of her neck. "Is he on the list?" she asked her tone even with no hint of an accent.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Okay, we will begin with him, then."
Brianna hurried to the front and took the seat next to Willoughby.
"Please state your name for the record," the woman stated.
Brianna listened with half an ear as the panelists ran through a list of questions as she took in the conference room. It was set up similar to a courtroom. The panel sat at a table to the front with a stenographer to the left.
Brianna sat at a table to the left and across from the stenographer. Reginald and his attorney, Mr. Guthrie, were at the one on the right. Behind them were cushioned seats.
"And the most important question," the woman asked.
Brianna swung her gaze back to the panel as she waited.
"Did Brianna Spencer ever mention the contract to you or in front of you?"
"No, ma'am. She never discusses why she pretends to be Briony and then is Brianna at other times. But I never asked any questions."
"Where did you hear about the contract?" the panelist on the right asked.
"Mostly around the staff kitchen while we waited for events to end." Jake shrugged. "You know, gossip."
"Okay, you may sit."
Jake took the chair behind Brianna.
The attorneys answered the technical questions and why the contract changed.
Brianna knew this piece, so she tuned the attorneys out as her eyes stayed glued to the door waiting for her grandmother.
Ms. Williams was an anomaly. Brianna wasn't expecting her to be there. But she said the same thing the other staff had except in terms of the contract.
"Oh yes, I know about the horrid contract," she stated a scowl taking over her features.
Mr. Guthrie pounced. "You know specifics about the contract?"
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Yes, I know specifics about the contract."
The panelists began questioning her in earnest.
"How?"
"You want to know if Brianna told me?" She shook her head. "No, that one was the one who let his lips flap." Her gaze narrowed on Reginald. "To Christopher."
Brianna flinched, her left thumb rubbed across her right thumb as her mind swirled. She wanted Jackson here with her, but based on how they were calling the groups in Jackson would last with Derrick and Callie coming just before.
It took half the time with Vince, Erica, and Callen since none of them knew about the contract and only assumed she pretended to be Briony to spend time with her mom. Everyone knew her mom was nuts and was in the mental hospital after trying to slit Brianna's throat. Otherwise, they couldn't answer any of the other questions.
Then Derrick was done.
Callie sauntered in a smirk on her face as an angry fire lit her gaze as it never wavered from Reginald as she answered the questions. "Oh, Reggie, here didn't tell you all." She grinned and wagged a finger at Brianna's father. "Naughty, Reggie." She propped her hands on her hips and faced the panel head-on. "Well, let me just tell you. I do not have an NDA, and I know all about the contract. Wanna know why?"
The panelists nodded. "That's why we're here," the woman stated.
"Well, I'm the one who was there for every step of Brianna signing that damnable thing even though I didn't want her to." Callie paced as she gave a rundown of the entire contract without even looking at it. "See, Reggie forgets the help and always thinks he's the smartest person in the room. So he underestimated me. I got a copy of that contract." Callie reached into her purse and jerked her dog-eared, coffee-stained, heavily highlighted original copy of her contract out and slapped it on the panelists' table. "Here is my proof."
Their eyes widened as the woman dragged the thick sheaf of papers to her and unfolded a pair of half-moon glasses. After placing them on her nose, she bent over the documents.
Brianna wished she had paid closer attention and gotten the panelists' names but her mind was scattered between wishing Jackson was next to her, worry about what she would do if she lost her farm and hoping her grandmother was beyond those doors in the hallway; she couldn't focus on any one thing. Not even Callie eviscerating Reginald held her attention for long.
When Callie was dismissed to a chair, Jackson came in next, and the man in the hallway followed. Her grandmother wasn't behind him. Meaning something had happened to her.
Jackson answered the rapid-fire questions.
"And you swear, Brianna Spencer told you nothing about the contract."
"I swear it on my honor as an officer of the law." He held up his right hand when he made the statement.
"Very well—"
"No!" Reginald sprang to his feet, his face a mask of rage. "She not only broke the NDA but also used her grandmother's funds to pay off the contract."
The woman arched a brow. "You have proof of this?"
"Not yet, your honor, but I have an investigator looking into it as there is no way she raised the funds on her own."
Before Jackson could leap to Brianna's defense, Derrick snorted with derision. He leaned around Jackson to look at her father. "She didn't I gave her the money. With no strings attached." He smirked. "Just in case you missed the paperwork, your honor, Mr. Willoughby included all the transactions in an exhibit."
She hummed and flipped through the list.
"You gave her the money?"
Derrick met Reginald's fiery glare. "I did. Seeing as how I'm a hell of a lot better off than you or your wife and even Evelynn to some extent, I'm more than happy to help Brianna out. I consider her part of my family."
Reginald sputtered, and his lawyer dragged him back into his seat with a hissed. "I told you Derrick covered that cost, Reginald. Now sit there and let me deal with this." Mr. Guthrie stood with a broad smile on his face. "Your honor, my client is noticeably upset, so please disregard his outburst."
She remained quiet, but her gaze narrowed on the two men. "I thought we were here because Brianna was the one who spread the word of the contract and its details."
"Yes, ma'am. Mr. McCord knows entirely too much about said contract and the intimate details of the signing."
"That seems to be the case," the man on the left stated. "However, based on these witnesses, none heard of the contract from Miss Spencer but from your client."
"If they can be believed."
The man on the right snorted. "I can see her friends lying, but every person behind you? No."
"Actually
, your inept client ran his mouth too much, Mr. Guthrie, I'm surprised the entire state isn't aware of the contract," Evelynn stated in a harsh tone.
Brianna's shoulders slumped in relief as she turned to face the back of the room. Her jaw dropped open in shock to see Evelynn's new driver pushing Bianca ahead of him in a wheelchair.
"Really, Reginald? It wasn't enough we've lost one daughter? It wasn't enough I lost my mind? And it wasn't enough we welcomed a psycho into our lives who almost killed our last remaining daughter? That wasn't enough for you? You had to pull this stunt to alienate Brianna further?" Bianca's gaze spit fire at her husband. "Jackson and Brianna live together, of course, they're sharing everything."
Reginald squared his shoulders. "Not about the contract. She should never have crossed that line."
Evelynn huffed. "Technically, Brianna did not share any detail about the contract."
The room was so quiet Brianna bet she could hear a pin drop even on the carpet.
"And you expect me to believe that?" He snarled like a cornered animal refusing to give up any ground.
"Yes." Evelynn shot daggers at her son. "I told Jackson. And Callie helped since she didn't sign anything and I sure as hell didn't sign an NDA. But we both felt it was only fair for Jackson to know everything."
The man on the left asked, his gaze hammered at Jackson. "Is that what happened, young man?"
"Yes, sir. Brianna never discussed the contract with me. When Evelynn and Callie explained why she wouldn't talk about it, no matter how much I tried pushing her, I finally understood what she had to lose." He turned to meet her gaze, and it felt like a warm hug just for her. "I would never take her dream away from her. And her telling me about the contract would have done that very thing. "
"She never uttered a word? You swear that?" the female panelist asked.
"She never said a word about the contract or its contents."
The panelists stood and headed for another door. The man that let Brianna and Jake in at the beginning moved to the front. "The arbitrators will return with a verdict for those who wish to remain here, feel free. For those that need to leave, you may."
Everyone except Callie, Jackson, Derrick, and Mr. Willoughby stayed with Brianna.
She kissed Grandmother's pale cheek and hugged her mother, glad to see she was up and around.
"We have to get Bianca back to the care facility. She's not allowed long jaunts, yet," Evelynn stated as they made their way slowly to the back doors.
"But, you can have visitors now?" Brianna asked clasping her mother's hand gently in her own.
"Yes, dear, and you're on my guest list. Visitation is on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
"Thanks for coming, Mom." She pressed a kiss to her mother's cheek.
"You're welcome, dear."
"Call me when you hear something." Evelynn hugged Brianna.
"I will."
And then they were gone as quickly as they appeared.
Brianna turned back to the tables. Reginald refused to look at her as he conversed quietly with Mr. Guthrie.
She wished none of this was happening. Why couldn't she have a father who waas happy that she found someone to love her? Why did she have to have one with a vindictive personality when he didn't get his way? Brianna flinched as the description reminded her of Briony.
Jackson's fingers laced with hers grounded, and when he brought her knuckles to his lips, the blood heated in her veins. She wanted to be home with Jackson now. Not dealing with this crap.
The arbitrators strode back in.
"We find no fault with Brianna Spencer—"
"What?" Reginald roared.
"None." The woman jabbed a finger at Reginald. "You have no claim on Brianna Spencer's farm or anything else of hers and will sign an agreement to that effect by this time next week, or there will be punitive damages."
"I'll take it—"
"You cannot take it to court, you signed a binding contract stating you would abide by what this panel found," the man stated in a rumbling voice. "Therefore, you will abide by our ruling."
"And let's be frank here, it was your loose lips that spilled most of the fodder on the contract," the third panelist stated. "Which means this entire spectacle was a waste of our time."
With that, they headed back to the doors they had disappeared behind for the discussion.
Jackson tugged her to her feet with a laugh. "You won!"
"I did." Brianna couldn't believe it. "It felt easy."
Willoughby snorted. "That was not easy and getting your father to agree will be even harder." He snapped his briefcase closed. "But I'm looking forward to the fight." He grinned and shook Brianna's hand. "I'll call you the second he signs the paperwork."
"Thank you, Mr. Willoughby."
Looking to Jackson, Brianna smiled.
They were both finally free with nothing hanging over them and nothing to stop them from fulfilling their dreams together.
Epilogue
Jackson woke with a smile as he felt Brianna in her usual position sprawled across his chest. Pushing the silky hair away from her face he kissed her forehead.
She grumbled.
"I smell bacon."
A huff as she pushed away from him. "Fine you go see what Ms. Williams is cooking and I'll be down right after I brush my teeth."
Jackson chuckled as he climbed naked from the bed. After Brianna threatened to tase Callie if she ever came into their bedroom to wake them up while Jackson was here, Callie had backed off teasing them by coming over early in the mornings and rapping on the bedroom door.
Heading to the bathroom to cleanup, Jackson watched Brianna slide out of the bed.
Three months in and he loved his new life. Though he had moved in, he was ready to make it official and hoped Brianna was too.
He it all planned down to the last detail thanks to Callie. Now, he just needed to wait.
The love he felt for Brianna wasn't flashy though the desire he felt for her raged like an out of control forest fire. Their love was steady and true. With a foundation set in bedrock as they'd forged their bond through the fires of lies and betrayal.
A sharp jab to his side made him jump. "Ow, what was that for?"
"You've been standing there staring at me for like a million years. Then I realized you weren't even seeing me so it was the perfect time to test the tickle factor."
Jackson arched a brow. "You do know you're the ticklish one in this relationship."
Her eyes widened and she raced into the bathroom. "I've got a wet, toothpaste-filled toothbrush and I'm not afraid to use it."
Jackson grinned. "I'll bide my time until you're unarmed. I have what's known as patience."
He strode to her and trailed a his fingers across her side in the lightest of touches, she squealed and dodged to the left. He arched out of the way of the toothpaste ridden toothbrush.
"Jesus, Bri, watch where you put that thing."
"Kids! Breakfast is almost ready," Ms. Williams called up the stairs making them both freeze and look guiltily at the door. "And you might want to hurry because Ray's filching the bacon."
Jackson growled. "Tell Dad he better leave some of that for me."
"Then move your butt, Son," Ray hollered from the kitchen.
Grumbling, Jackson headed downstairs. "My own house and I have to beg for scraps."
Brianna sputtered with laughter. "As if Ms. Williams won't make you more bacon if Ray eats it all."
It was true. The woman doted on him, and he returned the favor. Never having an actual mother before Ms. Williams filled the role perfectly, and he was glad she had chosen to come and live on the farm with them. She had taken the one bedroom cabin next to Ray. Jackson loved having his family in one place so he could protect them all.
Even Jake and his small family had stayed. They had fallen in love with the ranch while recovering at Callie's house and with his knowledge of heavy machinery, Brianna had offered him a job maintaining the tractors and other ranch v
ehicles. The bunkhouse near the second pasture had sat empty except during the planting and harvesting season. So, they had claimed it. Norah had planted flowers along the pathway and Vince and Ray installed a sidewalk so Jake had an easier time getting around on his prosthetic leg.
Dressed, Jackson took the coffee Ms. Williams passed him when he entered the kitchen. Just as he sat down across from Ray, Callie bound into the room. "You'll never guess who I saw downtown," she gasped as if she had run all the way from her car.
"Callie, shoes off, now," Ms. Williams admonished in a stern tone.
When Callie skipped back in the room in only her socks, she was bouncing in place as she waited for them to guess. After several seconds of everyone staring at her, she sighed dramatically. "None of you are any fun." Sprawling into the chair next to Jackson, she shook her head. "Fine. Bianca was in town and walking with a walker."
"Walking?" Brianna asked. "Seriously?"
Callie's head bobbed up and down.
"I didn't think she would be walking for another month."
"She said she was sick of that damned chair." Callie stole a piece of bacon from Jackson's plate and licked it before he could snatch it back. "Mine." she waved the bacon between them before taking a bite. "She's ready to come out here for a visit."
Brianna sat heavily in the chair next to Ray. Shock and worry pinching her features. "What did you say?"
Bianca and Reginald hadn't been to the farm since the shooting. Though Bianca had told her therapist and Reginald she was ready they wanted her to take it slow since she still had flashbacks and nightmares.
"I said as long as Raging Reggie behaved then it was fine. And that your family would be close by for moral support."
After Christopher's convictions in the of shooting Bianca, cutting the brake lines on Evelynn's cars, and aggravated assault with attempted kidnapping of Brianna, Reginald woke up with a realization it wasn't Brianna's actions that had almost destroyed their family but his own in siding with a psychopath. From that moment Reginald became a new man.
He sold the mansion and purchased a small cottage in the center of town that Bianca loved. He was often found with Bianca turning their backyard into an oasis. The new home laid a lot of the old ghosts to rest and gave the couple a new start at happiness. Without the empty bedrooms marking Bianca's miscarriages and without the specter of Briony hovering around them they were lighter and their smiles came easier.
The Twin Contract (The Contract Series Book 1) Page 32
