Tag: Alison Farrell Montgomery

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Kingsport #24

Barbara Wilkes approached the door to Alison Farrell Montgomery’s bedroom suite with great trepidation. She had been warned by Mrs. Taplin to knock twice, count to five, enter the suite, turn right, walk to the last door at the end of the hall, knock twice, count to five, and enter the sitting room where she would find Mrs. Montgomery. After that, Barbara would be at the whim of the lady of the house before going down into the staff room where the staff answered calls, collected mail, and handled the day-to-day scheduling for members of the family. Barbara was assigned to Mrs. Montgomery for the duration of her trip to Kingsport. Every bone in Barbara’s body told her that she had to excel with Mrs. Montgomery while ensuring she never put a foot wrong. This was her moment.

When Barbara stepped into the bedroom suite, her mouth fell open. She stood into a corridor which seemed to go on forever with doors leading to one room or another. Had she not been told exactly what to do by Mrs. Taplin, Barbara would have been terrified about what to do next. She took a deep breath, screwed up all of the courage inside of her, and approached the door to the sitting room.

Barbara knocked twice on the door and waited for what seemed like hours. Finally, a firm voice said, “Come.” With that, Barbara deftly opened the door to the sitting room to find Alison Farrell Montgomery sitting on a love seat with a spread of newspapers in front of her. “Good morning, Mrs. Montgomery,” Barbara said, softly.

Alison extended a finger towards a table which had already been set for breakfast. Fresh flowers, silver salt and pepper shakers, and sterling silver cutlery sat on a linen tablecloth she had no doubt pressed weeks ago. “There will do,” said Alison, evenly.

Barbara took a quiet breath as she placed the tray on the perfectly laid table. “Enjoy your breakfast,” Barbara said, quietly.

“What is your name?” Alison snapped as she watched this unknown maid walk across the room like someone who’d just shoplifted.

“Oh, I’m Barbara.”

Alison eyed this young woman carefully. What she saw didn’t frighten her or intrigue her. Alison found her to be a perfectly unassuming woman who seemed to try too hard to be just right. “Barbara.” Alison let the name linger in the cherry blossom scented air. “I suppose Mr. Hurley has informed you that you’ll be assisting me as needed while I’m in town for my son’s wedding. Please call Mrs. Davenport’s office to arrange a cocktail hour with her at the estate or her mansion at six o’clock this evening. The location isn’t important to me. Also, call my house in Paris and tell Marianne to arrange with my dressmaker to be flown out by next week for the initial designs for my outfits for my son’s wedding. Tell Mr. Hurley to inform the family office that flights and accommodation will need to be made for this trip. I’d like my car brought around by ten o’clock; I will not need a driver. Lastly, I’ll need a copy of my schedule and my husband’s schedule emailed and printed out for me every morning. Oh, and Barbara, do bring a pen and notepad as I do not repeat myself.” Alison rose from the loveseat, a vision in an expertly tailored dress, and sat at the breakfast table. “You may go.”

Barbara nodded, walked quickly towards the door, and stepped into the corridor as she tried to fight back tears. While Alison hadn’t been horrible to her, she wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of demands from this intimidating woman. Barbara tried to recall everything Alison had told her. She had to remember it all because if she didn’t, she’d be back in the bowels of the mansion folding linen with Ada. The more Barbara thought about it, the more she swore something like that would never happen to her again. She made it upstairs. She wasn’t going anywhere.

“What is the point of this meeting?” asked Dylan Davenport to no one in particular. He crossed his legs while removing his sunglasses. Dylan had plans to leave for Greece this morning, but due to Eli calling an emergency meeting with the family, he was now seated in the conference room of the Davenport’s family office in Kingsport. “Eli, I do not appreciate being summoned.”

“Neither do I,” sniffed Lisa. “Mom, do you know anything about this?”

Sheila Davenport sat at the far end of the table, her gaze averted from Eli’s. “No,” she said, quietly.

Eli Davenport glanced at his family with mounting irritation. For all of their education, money, status, and power, they weren’t the brightest people. “I called this meeting because of Nick.”

Nicholas felt his stomach do a triple flip. “I didn’t ask for a family meeting,” he huffed. “I’m supposed to be in the Hamptons right now, Eli.”

“I’m aware everyone has plans, but this is important,” began Eli. He stood before his family, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stared at them. “Nick came to see me in San Francisco on Wednesday. He wanted me to buy his stock in Davenport Technology in order to free himself from the family.”

“How could you?!?” shrieked Sheila. She turned to her youngest child with fury in her eyes. “This is why you aren’t in control of your trust fund!” hissed Sheila.

“I’m not having this fight with you again, Mom!” Nicholas said, hotly. “It’s my stock!”

“I didn’t want that to start a fight,” said Eli, calmly. “Mom, you’re upset with Meredith about the way she’s running the company. I don’t blame you. Luckily for us, she didn’t go ahead with the stock buyback, but she still has the board’s approval to do so which gives her an immense amount of leverage. Ever since Dylan quit as the CEO of Davenport, we’ve all been a little anxious about the future of the company.”

Dylan shot Eli a terse look. “Thanks, bro.”

“He has a point,” added Lisa. “None of us have been overly thrilled with Meredith’s vision for the company. She seems to have big ideas without the team to execute them.”

Eli nodded in agreement. “Exactly. The dividend is what keeps us from making a ruckus, but I think it is time to make a lot of noise. Davenport Technology is our legacy. Jeremiah Davenport founded the company one hundred years ago with a hope and a dream. I think it’s time for the company to return to its roots.”

Sheila looked at Eli with a mixture of anger and intrigue. While she and her son had a rocky history, she didn’t trust him; however, she respected the fact that he was a brilliant businessman. “What are you suggesting, Elijah?”

“I think the first thing we need to do is nominate Nicholas to the Davenport Technology’s Board of Directors. Patrick Petersen is stepping down at the end of August. The search to replace him has yielded subpar results. Nick is a Davenport, he has some media cache, and it’ll get us press. ‘Davenport Scion Sits on the Board’! It’ll boost the stock price,” Eli said without missing a beat.

Nicholas shifted uncomfortably as all eyes turned to him. “I don’t want to sit on the board,” he whined, listlessly.

“You do need something to do,” reasoned Dylan. “It’s not like you have a real job or anything.”

“I think it’s a very good idea,” Sheila added. “Nicholas, it will be good for you. It will be good for the family.”

“I’ll mentor you as best as I can.” Eli took another deep breath. “Actually, having Nicholas on the board will give us an ‘in’ we haven’t had since Dylan quit the company.” Eli took in a sharp breath as he eyed his family carefully. In a low voice, Eli added, “I want to take the company private again. We can assume control, ditch our shareholders, and make Davenport a company of the future. We can invest in the future while doing what we do best. No more stock buybacks. We won’t have to fight with a CEO we hate. The Davenports will be in control of their company and future once again. Who’s with me?”

The Davenports looked at each other with masked faces. Each of them knew that Eli’s proposal was a risk, yet the reward it entailed could transform their lives. On the other hand, if Eli’s proposal failed, it could destroy the Davenport fortune along with the legacy of a great American family. No one knew what to say, yet everyone knew whatever was said next would change their lives forever.

 

In our next installment, Dylan remembers the past…

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Kingsport #22

“I’m not upset, Billy, I’m miffed.” Alison Farrell Montgomery stirred a splash of cream into her ink black coffee. She sighed with mild irritation before adding, “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t tell me about your engagement before you alerted the press. It seems the only time any of you want to talk to me is when you’re having a crisis.” Alison took a long, protracted sip of her coffee. “I am your mother, Billy.”

Will Montgomery lowered his eyes to avoid his Alison’s contemptuous gaze. He looked at the patterned carpeting in the sitting room of her bedroom suite before saying, “I’m sorry. I was caught up in the moment.”

“That’s really no excuse,” sniffed Alison, haughtily.

“Mom, I’ve been apologizing all weekend. You barely talked to me at the Independence Day party. Do you have any intention of forgiving me?”

Alison’s face was a stony, unreadable mask. She wouldn’t ever let her children know when she had forgiven them because it always allowed her to have the upper hand in all of their interactions. She merely said, “Do you need help financing the wedding? I know the Windsors aren’t as financially abundant as we are, so it may be best if your father and I paid for the affair.”

Will could feel the heat rise in his cheeks. Ever since he was a little boy, he had been wholly aware of the enormous generational wealth his family had which never seemed to deplete. Rather, it grew and grew with very little work or effort. He was always wary about the subject of his family’s money, even though his parents both loved talking about it. “Actually, I was going to pay for it. I barely the income from my trust fund, so you and Dad are off the hook.”

“Well, that’s very mature of you, Billy.” Alison fiddled with the diamond watch on her wrist. “I think we should discuss another matter.” She cleared her throat before saying in a low, hushed voice, “I’m concerned about how your wedding to Connor will affect India.”

Will rolled his eyes with annoyance. “I wish everyone would stop wondering how India’s going to feel when Connor and I get married. She’s obsessed with him. He doesn’t even like her.”

“You needn’t be so flippant; she’s your sister.”

“She’s crazy.”

“Billy, you have to consider how India’s obsession with Connor will color your marriage. She’s not going anywhere. When she was with me in Paris, I thought she was getting better. However, she’s self-destructive. Any time she would meet a nice man from the right background, she would find a fault with him, create unnecessary drama, and cry about how nobody loves her.” Alison shook her head wearily. “I don’t know if there’s any hope for her, but I want to ensure that you and Connor are prepared for her presence in your life.”

Will pondered his mother’s words for a moment. His mother rarely spoke so candidly about anything, especially when it came to her children. Either she was worried about Will or she was concerned about India. He couldn’t tell. “Connor and I will be fine, Mom. I think moving off the estate will help a lot. Connor and I are talking about living in his house.”

“That little house at the back of the Windsor Mansion? Oh, Billy, you can do better than that! I’ll call my estate agent to see if we can find a suitable mansion for you and Connor. It’ll be my wedding present to you, held in trust, of course. We don’t need the local papers in our private affairs,” stressed Alison.

“Mom, you don’t have to buy me a house!”

“Billy, I want to do this for you. To be honest, there were times when I didn’t know if you’d ever find someone to make you happy. If Connor is that person, then I will be here to celebrate your love until the wedding.”

Will looked at Alison with a mix of shock and surprise. “You’re staying in Kingsport until the wedding?”

“I intend to. Have you set a date?”

“We’re thinking of September after the end of the Season.”

“That’ll be fine, Billy.”

Alison rose from her chair and walked over to the windows which overlooked the rose garden. Her mind raced with so many private worries which she couldn’t share with anyone. Being in Kingsport until her son’s wedding would be hard, but going back to Paris right now would be even harder. Whether she liked it or not, Kingsport was her home. The Montgomery Estate was her rightful residence. It was safe. As she tried to forget about the events of the recent past, all Alison could think about was the pain, hurt, and sorrow which had haunted her for her entire life…

Nicholas Davenport sat at his computer in his Manhattan co-op apartment with a sense of dread in his heart. He re-read the email which stated that his latest investment, a dating app which used astrology to match partners, was closing down. His entire investment of five hundred thousand dollars would be lost. Nicholas knew his accountant could write it off on his taxes, but that wasn’t the point. It was one more thing that proved his mother right about his lack of savvy business or financial acumen. A moment later, Nicholas logged into his bank account and let out a little sigh. He had two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in cash, ten million dollars spread across various savings accounts, thirty million dollars in money market funds, a twenty-million-dollar investment portfolio, one million shares of Davenport Technology stock worth eighty million dollars, and a recent dividend payment of five hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Nicholas Davenport, like his mother and siblings, was one of the richest, yet unknown black people in America. He knew he was a long way off being broke or poor, but because he had so little access to so much of his money, he felt trapped and yoked to his family.

He walked into his pristine kitchen, turned on the kettle, and waited.

Nothing in Nicholas’ life made him feel at ease. He always felt rudderless. He felt like a child even though he had lived quite a life. His encounter with his mother the other week was just another incident where he felt powerless and voiceless. For the first time in his life, Nicholas needed something to happen. His writing career had stalled, his investments outside of his trust fund were failing, and he was practically estranged from his family.

The sound of the wailing kettle brought Nicholas back to life.

Suddenly, something in his mind told him what to do next.

It could be risky. It could pay off. Or, it could explode in his face.

Despite the risk, Nicholas pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a familiar number which was answered after one ring. “Hey, it’s me,” he said quickly. “I’d like to come visit you on Wednesday. It’s important.” Before receiving an answer, Nicholas ended the call and dialed another number. “Hi, this is Nicholas Davenport. I’d like to charter a plane for tomorrow night from New York City to San Francisco.”

 

In our next installment, Barbara receives life changing news…

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Kingsport #14

“How long do you intend to stay here?”

Will Montgomery ignored the question as he walked through the high-end jewelry store tucked along a quiet street in the middle of Paris. He looked at few diving watches, waved over a shop assistant, and asked to see three of them. “I’m not sure,” he finally replied. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

Alison Farrell Montgomery turned towards her son with a modicum of concern in her eyes. While she always enjoyed Will’s all too infrequent trips to see her, she was worried about her youngest child. He was a person who love hard, wanted it all on his terms, and never liked confrontation. For Alison, she knew Will would never have an easy life when it came to love because he made loving him very difficult. “Billy,” said Alison, “you can stay with me as long as you’d like.” She walked over to him and placed her hand on his. “I just wish you wouldn’t let India get under your skin.”

Will groaned. “I don’t want to talk about India.”

“Billy…”

“My life was terrific until you let India leave Paris,” seethed Will.

“I didn’t let India leave Paris! She’s an adult. She can do as she pleases,” snapped Alison. “Billy, don’t you think that the reason India left Paris was to get under your skin?”

Will thought about the statement for a while. He’d never considered it, but it was a possibility…and it was something India would do. “You don’t think…”

“When I spoke to Warren a few weeks ago, he mentioned how happy you were with Connor. It’s possible someone from the country club saw you with Connor and came to the same conclusion. If someone tipped off India, that may explain why she left one night without nary a goodbye.”

Will kicked himself for being so stupid…for being so blind! How could he have not seen right through India’s surprise return to town?!? She’s done this on purpose! “I didn’t even think about that!”

“Why would you? You aren’t very perceptive when you’re only thinking about yourself, Billy.”

“Ouch, Mom.”

“It’s true.” Alison told the sales assistant they would take the three watches Will wanted along with a diamond tennis bracelet for herself. “Billy, if you love Connor – and I don’t know why you do – then go home and be with him. All of this drama with India is pointless. She’s always been obsessed with Connor. That will never change. However, if you do love him, then you’ll go home, be with him, and show her that you two are impervious to her machinations.”

“I will,” said Will, triumphantly. “I can’t believe I was too pigheaded to see what was right in front of me. Thank you, Mom.”

Alison smiled, lightly. “Thank me by not letting India push you around. You’re not a child anymore, Billy.

“Barbara, Miss India Montgomery is by the pool and she would like her lunch.” Ada handed Barbara a printed menu which listed the exact lunch order of India Montgomery including the precise number of croutons to be placed in her salad. “Chef is almost done with it. Get everything ready so you can take it to her without delay. You don’t wanna keep that one waiting because she’ll have you fired if you’re fifteen seconds late.”

Barbara nodded in agreement. While she hadn’t spoken to India Montgomery, she still remembered how she observed India eavesdropping outside of Will’s bedroom last week. To say Barbara was intrigued by India would have been a very accurate statement. “Oh, Ada,” Barbara called after her colleague, “which pool is India by?”

“The outdoor pool. Pay attention, Barbara!”

A few minutes later, Barbara was being sent up a service elevator she hadn’t seen before towards the outdoor preparation area near the pool. She quickly ensured everything was up to snuff on the lunch tray as she pushed open the door. The blinding afternoon sun nearly made Barbara cry out in pain. For the last few weeks, she’d been working inside of the main house which rendered her vulnerable to the unrelenting summer sun. Once she regained her composure, Barbara wheeled the cart through the oppressive humidity. She began to sweat profusely through her uniform and, for a few moments, Barbara thought she would drop dead from heat stroke and suffocation.

“Just leave the tray there.” India pointed to a spot to her left without ever lowering her sunglasses or looking up from the magazine cradled between her knees.

“Yes, Miss Montgomery,” said Barbara, quietly.

“You’re the new one.”

Barbara picked up the tray from the cart and placed it on the table to the left of India. “Yes, Miss Montgomery.”

“Your manners are too sparkling,” sniffed India. “They’ve trained you well.”

“Would you like anything else, Miss Montgomery?”

India lifted her head for the briefest of moments before lowering it once more. “If I need anything,” she began, “I certainly won’t ask you.”

Shock and humiliation coursed through Barbara. She felt like the lowest form of being in the known universe.

“You can go now,” India said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

Stunned, Barbara forced a smile onto her face as she went back to the outdoor preparation area. She could feel the tears begin to swell in her eyes while she frantically hit the buttons on the elevator. No one had ever spoken to Barbara like that before, not even when she was at her lowest moment in life. That snooty heiress didn’t even talk to her; she barked at her. She treated her worse than a dog…worse than nothing. In the elevator, Barbara held back her tears because she knew every area of the servant’s areas was awash in cameras. The last thing she wanted to do was let any of these people see her cry.

Back in the servant’s area, Barbara returned the cart to its corner and resumed her place on the stool in the chef’s kitchen. Maybe, thought Barbara, this was a bad idea after all. Before she arrived in Kingsport and during the first two weeks, everything seemed possible and full of opportunity. However, very slowly it was dawning on her that the gulf between people like the Montgomerys and everyone else in Kingsport may be too vast to ever cross. Even with all of her planning, Barbara had been dismissed by India Montgomery and made to feel like she was worth less than less. She felt inhuman. Yet, before the tears began to flow, Barbara swallowed her pride. She hadn’t come to Kingsport to make friends or become popular. It was then that she realized that India Montgomery had given her the greatest gift of all: A window into the world she lived in. If Barbara could exist around India without being the victim of her wrath, Barbara realized that she may achieve she goals quicker than anyone could have imagined. As Barbara sat on that stool to await her next assignment, a small smile formed on her lips. If she played her cards right, Barbara could learn everything she needed to know from Miss India Montgomery.

 

In our next installment, India plots her next move…

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