Montgomery Industries sat in the heart of Kingsport’s business district. The privately held company was based in a low-slung brick building from the 1800s which was filled with the hottest technology and smartest people money could buy. Montgomery Industries was a holding company which owned all of the Montgomery family’s assorted business interests going back generations as well as managing an empire which made them billions of dollars every year on top of the fifty billion dollars they were worth. The company was owned by members of the Montgomery family, but in the 1960s, Charles’ father, Bennett, bought out all of his cousins, gave them shares in a lesser family enterprise, and consolidated ownership of the company to Bennett and his direct heirs. In the wake of Bennett’s death forty years ago, Charles, his sisters Alice and Sandra and their brother, Walton, each inherited 25% of Montgomery Industries. From that moment on, Charles and his siblings were the some of the wealthiest people in the world. Moreover, very few people knew about their offshore interests, private trust funds, and varied economic interests which they had inherited over the years. While the public thought Charles and his siblings were worth $30 billion each, Charles true net worth was closer to $40 billion. Charles didn’t care to correct the record because he had little interest in being truthful to people who were only after his money.
Charles Montgomery, IV sat in his office on the executive floor of Montgomery Industries. He was a man who’d never worked, yet he insisted that other people learn the value of a dollar, and thought his children were gifts from god. While he could be mean, stingy, and entitled, Charles wanted to ensure his children never wanted for anything. He rubbed his eyes as he finished reading a report concerning a chemical company Montgomery Industries had bought from his brother, Walton, ten years ago. When Walton decided he wanted to run for Governor of California, Montgomery Industries bought the company, but Walton’s campaign failed like all of his other ventures. Now, Charles was in charge of cleaning up his brother’s mess. Again.
“Dad, I’m ready when you are.”
Charles looked up to see Warren standing in the doorway dressed to perfection in an Italian suit. He let out a little smile. “I’m not ready for this, Warren. It’s not good is it?”
Warren sat in a chair directly across from his father’s desk. He pulled out the same report concerning The Chemical Alliance Company. “I don’t see how Uncle Walt can talk his way out of this one, Dad. I think…as council for Montgomery Industries…that the company pays a fine, Uncle Walt pays a fine so they won’t throw him in prison, and we move on. Any legal proceedings will damage The Chemical Alliance Company, Montgomery Industries, and our family.”
“Walton is such a moron,” bit Charles. “He’s always been like this. Our father thought Walton was the golden child, but he was just a little shit with too much money and no responsibilities.” Charles grabbed the report and tossed it in his desk. “Have you talked to Walton?”
“No. I’ve reached out to his team. I know Janet Ruiz, one of Uncle Walt’s lawyers. I’m sure she’ll make him see sense. Dad, I know you didn’t want The Chemical Alliance Company or Montgomery Industries to pay the fine because of Uncle Walt’s actions, but it really is the best way forward.”
“Fine. Once the details are in place, I’ll tell Stephanie to wire the funds. It’ll be good to have this over and done with once and for all.”
Warren nodded and started for the door, but something inside him made him stop. “Dad, I’m concerned about India.”
“She’s fine. I think she’s adjusting well.” For all of Charles’ finer qualities, he could be flippant about India’s dark side.
“I think we should keep an eye on her. Billy told me what she accused Connor of doing to her and now that he’s with Connor and she’s back in town…”
Charles shook his head. “It’s none of our business, Warren.”
“Dad, I’m afraid if we pretend like everything’s fine, it’ll create a huge blind spot where India is concerned.”
“Warren, there’s nothing to worry about. India’s fine. Billy and Connor are safe. You’re worrying about nothing, son.”
Connor walked into his bedroom after working a double shift at Presbyterian Medical Center. He’d lost a patient who overdosed on ketamine and another who was shot by his wife. While Connor enjoyed being a doctor, these were the days which made him rethink the trajectory of his life. If he had gone into investment banking at the family firm Windsor & Associates, he would have been able to swan off to London or Hong Kong like his sister, Deanna. Instead, he was stuck in Kingsport trying to save people who, in some circumstances, didn’t want to be saved. Although he wanted to see Will today, Connor was too tired to spend time with the love of his life.
Will. Connor had never before considered a relationship with a man, but that one fateful day two years ago changed everything. He and Will were both at the country club when they realized their tennis partners hadn’t shown up. Instead of playing a match, they had lunch in the clubhouse and there was an instant spark. A few days later, they had dinner. The next weekend, they went to Connor’s cabin in Maine where they spent the whole weekend in bed. It was new territory for Connor, but everything in that moment felt right. Whole. Real.
As Connor stepped out of the shower, he quickly toweled off, silenced his phone, and stepped into his darkened bedroom. He crawled into bed when he felt something under the covers. Knowing it wasn’t Will, Connor flicked on the bedside lamp to find India giving him a menacing glare in the dim bedroom.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered.
“How the hell did you get into my house?!”
India stood up to reveal her nude, supple body. It shimmered in the dimly lit bedroom. “You used Billy’s birthday for your security code. I guessed you would.” She let her hands find their way to her vagina. Her head fell back in wild bliss as she began to rub herself. “I know how much you like this, Connor.”
“Get out of my house, India!” he screamed.
India slowly walked over to him. She pressed her nude body against his. India could feel his rising erection on her leg. “I thought you liked men now,” she whispered, coolly.
Connor shoved her across the room with such force she grabbed onto the bureau to stop from falling. “I hate you. I’ve always hated you,” seethed the doctor.
“You may hate me, but I know you can’t resist me, Connor. I challenge you. I make life more interesting. Billy can’t do what I’ll do… You can do whatever you want to me…like you did before…”
“I’m not going to tell you this again, India. Get. Out. Of. My. House.” Connor grabbed a robe, tied it around his waist, and turned on all of the lights in his bedroom. “You’ve lost your mind.”
India released a husky chortle. “You and I know the truth. You’ve never been able to keep your hands off of me…whether I wanted you or not.” She bent down, picked up a full-length trench coat, and put it on. “One of these days, you’ll be inside of me. You’ll be in my arms. Billy is a distraction. You may love him, but you’re obsessed with me.”
“You have lost your mind.”
“Men always say that when women hit too close to home.” India slipped into her six thousand dollar heels as she marched towards the door. “I know the truth, Connor. So do you. It’s only a matter of time before everyone finds out…including Billy.” With that, India slipped out of Connor’s house.
His heart raced as it hadn’t in years. While he wasn’t terrified of her, he knew that she was dangerous. He also knew exactly what she was talking about. Connor couldn’t let the truth come out, especially her version of events. In his brightly lit bedroom, the doctor decided that now was the time to begin spinning his version of events because if there was one thing he knew how to do, it was how to make everyone doubt the truth…
In our next installment, Barbara doubles down on her plans for the future…
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