#2
The Montgomery Estate sat on two hundred acres of prime land five miles from the heart of Kingsport. It was a world unto itself. With sixteen bedrooms, twenty bathrooms, two guest houses, a helipad, stables, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a movie theatre, ballroom, trampoline room, and other rooms only known to the inhabitants of the estate, this was an estate unlike any other in Kingsport. For the last two hundred years, the Montgomery Estate had been home to the Montgomery family. Their wealth was first established in England during the thirteenth century when they inherited a successful brewing operation from a distant cousin. Upon their arrival in America just before the Mayflower, the Montgomery family built, grew, invested, and hoarded their wealth as if their collective lives depended on it. Their mercurial approach to life kept them wealth and wealthier still through the present day. According to every publication of note, the wealth of the Montgomery family stands at $50 billion, with their private holding company, Montgomery Industries, Inc. worth $100 billion. However, this did not account for trust funds, offshore investments, private companies, centuries old interests, and six blocks of prime city real estate in Manhattan registered to a company in Luxembourg. Most people did not know how rich the Montgomery family were, but Barbara Wilkes was not most people.
She sat in the Household Manager’s office somewhere on the Montgomery Estate. Barbara didn’t know where she was for sure, but she was finally on the estate and that thrilled her more than anything else.
“This is a very difficult position. Being a maid for the Montgomery family means being six steps ahead of their requests yet never lording it over them.” Dane Hurley, the household manager, furrowed his brow. “The whole family can be difficult. I’ve been here for six years and I’ve seen people who’ve worked for the Queen of England leave here in tears. If you can’t handle being treated with disdain and indifference every day, leave now.”
Barbara stiffened in her chair. “I can handle it,” she said, her voice never wavering.
“Fine, then. We’ll do a trial run of ninety days. I’ll check with the agency to make sure your background and credit checks have cleared before we make it official. If we get the all clear today, you can start tomorrow.”
Barbara bade Dane goodbye as she got back into the car and drove away from the grand estate. She’d worked too hard to lose this opportunity now…
Inside of the Montgomery Estate, William Montgomery sat on the bed in his childhood bedroom with a huge dilemma before him. He’d been racking his mind for days about whether or not he should say the thing he needed to tell Dr. Connor Windsor. Their relationship had, for the last two years, been one filled with mighty lows and terrifying highs. Will loved Connor. Connor loved Will. Will wanted to be happy. Connor wanted Will to be happy. And yet… And yet…there was a problem which they needed to address. Their relationship had been one kept in secret for two years. If Will said the thing he wanted to tell Connor, it would alter every aspect of their relationship. It would be exposed to the daylight which might damage the fine veneer of romance they’d worked so hard to keep away from the prying eyes of others.
A knock at the door startled Will. “It’s open,” he said, breezily.
The heavy oak door was opened by Charles Montgomery, IV, Will’s father. Charles was a tall, imposing patrician man of seventy who ran the family just like he ran Montgomery Industries: He was in charge; everyone else was an afterthought. Charles hovered in the doorway before he said, “We need to talk.”
Will rolled his eyes. Even at thirty-six, his father treated him like a ten-year-old boy who couldn’t be trusted with a pair of scissors. “I have to get to the polo club,” Will said, quickly.
“Billy…” Everyone called Will ‘Billy’ even though they knew he hated it. “There’s something you and I need to discuss. It’s about you…and Connor…”
Will could feel his body tense up. For the last two years, he and Connor had maintained the pretense that they were just friends. It was the worst kept secret in Kingsport and New York City, but it was a lie they had to keep because the truth would have been much more destructive. “Dad, I don’t have time to talk about Connor.”
“Billy, I’m not in the mood to play games with you. Everyone knows that you and Connor are an item. Why you don’t own up to it is beyond me. Furthermore, I’ve received some news which may be of interest to the pair of you.”
Will perked up. His father wasn’t one to gossip which made Will want to hear everything on his father’s mind.
“It’s about your sister.”
Will groaned. “God, what has she done now?! India is always one train wreck away from disaster.”
“She’s your sister.”
“She’s made my life a living hell.”
“She’s coming back to Kingsport.”
Will looked at Charles with marked shock. “Dad… She can’t!”
“This is why you and Connor need to make a decision about your relationship. With India back in town, I fear that she will…it will be hard for her to see you with Connor.”
“She should stay in Paris with Mom,” snapped Will.
Charles sighed heavily. “Your mother can’t deal with her anymore.”
“No one can,” snapped Will. “I don’t see why Connor and I have to do anything more than what suits us just because India is too fragile to order lunch.”
“Your sister has always been a fragile person.” Charles cleared his throat. “If we give her enough time to…understand…that you’re with Connor, it may be easier for this family, Billy.”
Will shook his head. “She’ll never accept it, Dad. She’s obsessed with him! She has been for years!”
“Be that as it may… It may be wise if we told India prior to her arrival in town. If you and Connor show the town that you’re a happy couple, I think India will be less likely to create a stir. Think about it, Billy,” said Charles as he left Will’s bedroom.
Will sat in shock for a moment before he picked up his phone, sent an emergency text, grabbed his car keys, and raced out of the house.
“There’s nothing I can do, Billy. We can’t lock her in an asylum.” Warren Montgomery was forty-five, was six feet seven inches tall, had a rower’s build, piercing blue eyes, and a full head of black and silver hair. He was brilliant, handsome, and direct. “Want another drink?” asked the prominent white shoe lawyer.
Will nodded as he polished off his second gin martini. “I’ll have the driver pick me up.”
Warren shook his head with slight abandon. “Billy, you can’t drink your problems away. I know you love Connor…”
“We’re friends…”
“Tell that lie to someone else,” intoned Warren, harshly. “I think Dad may have a point. Tell India the truth, come out as a couple with Connor, and she’ll be fine.”
“Warren, you don’t know the half of it. The things India has said and done to Connor in the past… It’s sickening… The minute she finds out that he’s with me, she’ll lose what’s left of her mind. God, Warren, I’m terrified to think what she’ll do this time.”
“What did she do last time, Billy?”
Will thought long and hard before he replied, “Something so vicious it almost ruined Connor’s life. She did it because he rejected her.”
“I know India can be vindictive, but…”
Will looked at Warren gravely as he said, “She accused Connor of raping her, Warren.”
In our next installment, Connor pleads for help…
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