Separating Riches (6 page)

“I understand that you married my daughter today,” he said, shaking my hand with a firm grip.

Always on the defensive with him, I wondered if he was baiting me. I fretted at how easily I allowed him to intimidate me.

“Yes, isn’t it wonderful?”

“Indeed. Melinda,” he said, quickly letting my hand go, and looking at his daughter. “Did you have our lawyer look at the prenup before you signed it?”

“Huh? No, Father. There was no prenup,” Melinda said.

I took a step back, knowing that the first argument of the evening was about to begin.

“This is unacceptable,” he scoffed. “I’ll have my attorney draw up an ironclad post-nuptial agreement and have it sent to you first thing in the morning.”

I watched as Melinda’s face flushed red with anger, and her hands balled up into fists.
This is not going to end well.

“And I’ll have my pen ready to sign it,” I said pompously. “At the same time, however, my father will have his attorney draw up an ironclad postnup, and I’m sure Melinda will be happy to sign it as well.” I’ve never liked confrontations, in fact I loathed them. But Mr. Blackstone was a forceful man and the only way to speak his language was to talk money.

“Damn straight I’ll sign it,” Melinda said, never taking her eyes off her father’s granite face. “But I won’t sign yours, Father. Chris is my wife now. For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer. Nothing you do will infringe on my love for her.”

“And you’re prepared to lose everything for her?” he asked.

“Yes. I’ve done it before, and I can do it again,” Melinda said proudly. “I know now that the most important thing in my life is the love we have for one another. Everything else, including money, will always be secondary to that love.”

He shook his head. I could tell that he didn’t understand what Melinda had so beautifully said, and that he wasn’t ready to let it go.

“Robert,” Elizabeth said, touching his arm lightly, “remember when we wanted to get married and my father said no?”

“Elizabeth, it’s not the same thing,” Robert said.

“It’s exactly the same thing, dear. He was afraid, just as you are now. But you loved me enough to fight for me. Remember? You were even willing to walk away from it all, just as our daughter is willing to do now.”

Robert averted his stare, and then looked over at his wife. He shook his head again, searching for a rebuttal. Elizabeth’s eyes were pleading with him, and finally he nodded.

“She will have to legally take your last name, just as I took your mother’s name.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, looking at Melinda to explain.

“Mother was an only child, and like me, the last in line to inherit the empire. Her father would not let her marry him unless he accepted the Blackstone family name. He had it legally changed.”

“Yes, and I also agreed to sign the prenuptial,” he said, crossing his arms.

“I’m so sorry, Chris. I probably should have told you about that before we got married, but it was the furthest thing from my mind at that moment,” Melinda said, turning to face me. “It’s the only way for my family name to be carried on, but I’m not asking you to change your last name. I’m asking you to love me in spite of it.”

“Damn it, Melinda!” Robert shouted.

This was so unfair. I had no time to think, to come up with the right answer that would satisfy everyone. I had my own parents to think of. Hell, I had myself to think of. I know it's traditional for the wife to take the husband’s last name, but was it typical for the wife to take her wife’s last name? Who’s to say which name that will be? I guess it would be decided by the both of them. But what if they both want to keep their family name?

“I am also an only child and have a legacy to carry on. I will happily take your last name, darling…”

“Thank God,” Robert sighed.

“But?” Melinda knew I had more to say.

“But I will also keep my parents’ name, and any children that I bear will have a hyphenated last name, combining both families.”

I could see Robert’s face turn red and his lips disappear, but just as he was about to release the fury, Elizabeth intervened.

“And whose last name will go first in your hyphenated marriage?” she asked without contempt.

“Melinda’s,” I said.

“Chris’ name,” Melinda stated at the same time.

I looked at my handsome, strong-willed, beautiful wife, and prideful tears welled up inside. I wanted her name to go first and not because her father was demanding it. In my prepubescent years, I dreamed of my wedding day, and of marrying my true love and taking her name. If Robert had left it alone, I would have gladly taken my wife’s name, but he tarnished the moment, and now I will stubbornly cleave to my right to keep my maiden name.

“Melinda, I’m okay with your name going first. I like the sound of Blackstone-Livingston, it has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“Sure, but are you really all right with it?” she asked.

“Yes, sweetheart. I am,” I said, pulling her closer so that I could kiss her. My eyes moved from hers, down to her lips, and I kissed her lovingly, possessively, demandingly. The heat radiating from her lips made the heat between my thighs sizzle, and I shifted to relieve the pressure.
God, I need you so bad.

Robert cleared his throat and we reluctantly separated.

“So, do we have a consensus then?” he asked.

“We do indeed, Father. Now can we please go eat? I’d like to get this honeymoon started already,” Melinda said, and I could feel her relax, even as her body responded to my touch.
I love the way her body speaks to me.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get far before the next argument sprung up.

“Charles?” Robert noticed Charles scooting the chair in for Norma.

Wedding Dinner
—
Melinda Blackstone-Livingston
, Chris Blackstone-Livingston, Robert & Elizabeth Blackstone, Norma Shelby, George Kirk,
and
Staff

What’s that old saying?
Make a deal with the devil and you wake up in hell.
Welcome to my hell. When will I learn that asking my father for a favor always comes with a price? I wish I could get Chris alone to find out if he ruined this perfect day for her. I know he did for me. Why couldn’t he have waited until next week to throw his little tantrum about the prenup? We were already married, so why bring it up now? Simple answer, he had to be in control, even of my marriage. Well, I’m not going to let him scare Chris off like he did my first fiancée. I admit I was drunk when I proposed to her, and relieved when she left, but it should have been me who called it off, not my father.

Now he’s after Charles. Poor, innocent Charles, who did me a huge favor that allowed Norma to keep her dignity, something I regret was even necessary. But unlike my father, I will not allow Charles to be put through hell because of that favor. Damn it, this was supposed to be a celebration.

“Charles, what on earth are you doing here?” my father asked.

Charles stood as if he were at attention. “My apologies, sir.”

“Father,” I said, stepping in front of Charles. “Charles is here as Norma’s date, and my guest. He is not on duty tonight.”

“Of course, Melinda,” Mother interceded. “He is welcome. It is your wedding dinner after all.”

“Good. Then can we get back to it, please?” Not waiting for an answer, I grabbed Chris’ hand and led her over to the buffet table. I had seen her eyeing the truffles earlier, so I scooped up one of the ice cream balls and put it to her lips. The slow, sensual way she wrapped her lips around it, staring softly up at me with her celadon green eyes, left me breathless. I watched, panting, as her tongue moved the ice cream inside her mouth until it melted enough that she could swallow what remained.
God, that was incredibly sexy.

“You know, if you’re not very hungry,” I gasped, “we can skip dinner and—”

“No one’s skipping dinner,” my father said from behind me. “I went to great expense to put this together as you asked, Melinda. The least you could do is enjoy it.”

Damn it!

“Of course, Robert,” Chris cajoled. “We were just about to get a plate and dig in.”

Chris whacked me on the butt as she laughed her way over to the buffet table. Feeling guilty for so many things, I unconsciously filled my wife’s plate with everything on the table. Chris stopped and looked at me.

“Honey, are you trying to make me fat? I can barely lift this plate,” she said as she sat it down by the ribeye steak.

“No, uh, I thought maybe you were hungry,” I groveled. I wasn’t sure which guilt was driving my reasoning, but I was sure my father had something to do with it.

“Sweetheart, listen to me,” Chris said, taking my hand in hers.

I sat my plate down and gave her my full attention.

“I know your father upset you. I can see it in your eyes. But, sweetheart, there’s no need to let him ruin our wedding day. I’m not. I married the most wonderful woman in the world today, who just professed to her father that she would be willing to give up her inheritance for me. I want you so bad right now, I can barely walk.”

“Oh, babe. Let me take care of that for you,” I begged.

“No, you’re too upset to enjoy it. I want the love, not the guilt. So, let’s eat our dinner, and enjoy our guests. Then we can party on the dance floor until we’re either too tired or too randy to continue, and we’ll run up stairs to christen the Presidential suite with our love.”

“Oh, my, God, I love this woman. You’ve got a deal.”

“All right then. I’m getting back in line because I’d like to sample a few of these wonderful entrées.”

“Chris…”

Chris turned to me. “Yes, honey?”

“Thank you,” I said sincerely.

“Melinda…”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Thank
you
.”

*

We did indeed enjoy a delicious dinner and even endured a longwinded toast by my father. He was standing across from where I sat next to Chris at the round table, and I was actually listening to him. That is until he began talking about grandchildren, and how we should start having children right away. I know my father wants a male grandchild to carry on with the family business that I have been avoiding for years. And I admit, it would let me off the hook if we had children who could carry on the business.
And hell no, they wouldn’t have to be boys either.

“I am proud of my daughter, Melinda, and what she has achieved in just these last few months,” he stated. “I’m proud that my daughter has finally sobered up and settled down. I know she has you to thank for that, Christine.”

I looked at Chris, who blushed, but it was true, she is the reason for anything I might have achieved. If not for her love, I would most likely be passed out somewhere in Vegas right now.

“And that’s why her mother and I would like to announce that Melinda will be taking over our firm in Tennessee,” my father dramatically stated, and then gave me an evil wink.

“You are?” Chris asked.

“I am?” I asked.
What happened to New York? Is he trying to do an end run on me?

His holdings in Memphis were modest compared to other cities like New York and Los Angeles. The Blackstone Corporation owned stock in several businesses there, plus owned a hotel and a floating casino in Memphis. And then there was the resort, which would begin construction at the end of the year. Father had bought up an entire city block, including the building Chris and Norma had been living in. Their apartments were just a few doors down from each other, but it took a furry little kitten to bring them together. And lucky for me, they became fast friends, and invited me into their friendship. I can’t imagine my life without either one of those two ladies.

“Surprise,” my father quipped. “You’ve bought a house, taken a wife, and you’ll be having children soon,”
Again with the children.
“Your mother and I agree that this is the next logical step for you. After all, it will be up to your family to carry on the Blackstone fortune.”

Ever since I could walk, my father would sit me on his lap and read from his business journal. He was like a drill sergeant, cold, detached and all business. True, he was loving too, and would wrestle or tickle me, depending on his mood. I love my father. I just don’t like him very much. And now, I begrudgingly admit that he is right. It’s time to make sure my family is taken care of, not just for now, but for many generations to come, just as my ancestors and my father have done for me. It’s a bitter pill to swallow on my wedding day, but then it shouldn’t have surprised me. I had accumulated quite a few million based on my allowance alone, and a few more million from my salary as an executive in his company. But I had no doubt that all that was about to stop. Now the only way to make money was through my investments and an earned paycheck.

Chris put her soft hand on my arm and asked, “Are you all right, Melinda?”

“No, damn it,” I snapped, instantly regretting it. “I’m sorry, Chris. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”