As to the last will and testament of Samuel Henderson... said Max.
Everyone stilled in their seats.
Max looked down at a page in front of him. Mr. Henderson has also left a list of small, specific bequests, and has made several charitable donations, also ten million dollars to the Atlanta arts community, along with an additional ten million dollar scholarship to the Georgia Pilots Association.
Max took a sip of water. As to the bulk of Mr. Hendersons estate, Ill read directly from the document. My entire estate is left in trust, in equal shares, to my legitimate children. So long as my wife, Coco Henderson, remains guardian of my children, and until they reach the age of majority, business decisions pertaining to the childrens interest in Coast Eagle Airlines will be made by Dryden Dunsmore.
There was a collective intake of breath in the room, followed by murmured sidebar conversations.
Well, theres a complexity, Destiny whispered to Amber.
It was obvious Samuel had not contemplated Dryden Dunsmore dying along with him.
Max cleared his throat, and everyone fell silent.
Should my wife predecease me, he continued, guardianship of my minor children will go to Roth Calvin.
The room went completely silent, and a dozen gazes swung to Roth. He held his composure for a full ten seconds, but then an uncontrollable smile curved his thin lips, gratification glowing in the depths of his pale blue eyes.
A buzz of conversation came up in the room.
Roth turned to the lawyer on his right. His tone was low, but Amber heard every word. With Dryden out of the picture, do I have control over the shares?
The lawyer nodded.
Roths smile grew wider and more calculating.
The codicil, Max interrupted the various discussions.
People quieted down again, and Roths expression settled into self-satisfaction.
To give some context to this... said Max. And I do apologize for being so direct on such an emotional matter. Samuel Henderson was pronounced dead at the accident scene, while Coco Henderson was pronounced dead during the ambulance ride to the hospital.
Ambers stomach tightened. Shed been assured Coco had not regained consciousness after the crash, but she couldnt help but be reminded of the fear and horror her stepsister must have experienced in those final seconds while the plane attempted to land in the storm.
As such, Samuel is deemed to have predeceased his wife. Max held a single sheet of paper. Given that fact, Coco Hendersons codicil is legal and valid. It modifies the joint will in only one way. He read, I leave guardianship of my child or children to my stepsister, Amber Welsley.
Amber could feel shock permeate the room. Jaws literally dropped open and gazes swung to her. Roths glare sent a wave of animosity that nearly pushed her backward.
Beneath the table, Destiny grasped her hand.
What about business decisions? Roth barked. That woman is in no position to run the company. Shes an assistant.
Assistant director, Destiny corrected.
Amber was in a management position, not a clerical one.
Roth sneered at them both. Samuel clearly wanted someone qualified in charge of business decisions on behalf of his son.
Its a valid question, said Max. For the moment, Amber Welsley has guardianship over Zachary, including all rights and responsibilities to manage and safeguard his ownership position in Coast Eagle.
But Roth began.
Max held up a hand to forestall him. For any changes to that, youll need a decision from a judge.
You can bet were going to a judge, spat Roth.
Amber whispered to Destiny, What does this all mean?
It means were going to court to duke it out with Roth. And it means he just became your mortal enemy. But right now, it also means you get Zachary.
Ambers chest swelled tight. Zachary would stay with her. For now, nothing else mattered.
* * *
Walking through the entrance of the Atlanta hotel ballroom, Cole gazed at the crowds of people attending the Georgia Pilots Association annual fund-raiser. Tonight was the formal recognition of the new Samuel Henderson Memorial Scholarship, so he knew the whos who of Coast Eagle Airlines would be in the room.
Luca was beside him, dressed in a formal suit. Youll be glad you came.
Ill mostly be glad if it shuts you up.
Cole had told himself a thousand times that the Hendersons of Atlanta were none of his business, and he still believed it. But Luca had kept after him for three long weeks. Finally, Cole had given in and checked out a picture of Zachary on a news site.
The baby was cuter than hed expected, and his face had seemed strangely familiar. But Cole chalked it up to the power of suggestion. When you started looking for a family resemblance, everything took on new meaning. Sometimes gray eyes were simply gray eyes.
But once hed scratched the surface, hed ended up reading the rest of the article, learning there was a court challenge for guardianship. He didnt necessarily agree with Luca that everyone involved was a jackal out to get the kids money. But he did find himself analyzing the players.
In the end, his curiosity won out, and he agreed to make the trip to Atlanta. He had no intention of marching up to the front door and introducing himself as a long-lost relative. He was staying under the radar, checking things out and returning to Alaska just as soon as he confirmed Zachary was safe.
Right there, said Luca. In the black dress, lace sleeves, brown hair, kind of swooped up. Shes at the table below the podium. Shes moving right now.
As Cole zeroed in on Amber Welsley, she turned, presenting him with a surprisingly pretty profile.
Her diamond jewelry flashed beneath the bright lights, accenting her feminine face. Her dress was classic, a scooped neckline, three-quarter-length lace sleeves that blended to a form-fitting bodice and a narrow skirt that emphasized her trim figure.
From this distance, she surprised him. She wasnt at all what hed expected. She was younger, softer, insidiously captivating. While he stared at her, the wholly inappropriate thought that she was kissable welled up in his mind.
You want to go over and say hi? asked Luca.
The true answer was no. Cole wanted to get on an airplane and fly back to Alaska.
He might as well get this over with. Checking out Amber and all the other characters in this family drama was his purpose in being here. There wasnt any point waiting.
Lets do it, he said.
Roth Calvins at the next table, said Luca as they walked. Hes facing us, talking to the guy with red hair, in the steel-gray jacket.
I think you missed your calling as a spy.
Luca grinned. Im calling dibs on the one named Destiny.
Whos Destiny?
She was in a couple of the photos with Amber Welsley. Shes hot. And with a name like that, Im definitely giving her a shot.
Cole shook his head. Shes all yours, buddy. I just want to make sure the kids okay. Then any duty he might have as a blood relative would be done.
By kid, you mean your baby brother?
Yeah, thats not a phrase well be using.
Boggles the mind, doesnt it?
Boggles the mind, doesnt it?
Youre going to have to be boggled all by yourself. I wont be here long enough.
You want a wingman for the intro?
Sure. But dont use the name Henderson.
Undercover. I like it.
Ill use Cole Parker. My middle name.
Right behind you, Cole Parker.
The closer they drew to the Coast Eagle tables, the more beautiful Amber became. Her hair wasnt brown, but a rich chestnut with highlights that shimmered under the bright stage lights. It was half up, half down in a tousled bundle with wisps flowing over her temples and down her back. The scalloped neckline of her dress showed off an expanse of creamy skin, while the lace across her shoulders played peekaboo with his imagination.
Her eyes were deep blue, fringed with dark lashes. Her full lips were dark red, her cheeks enticingly flushed. He had a sudden vision of her clambering naked into his bed.
She turned as he approached, caught his stare and gave him an obviously practiced smile. He realized hundreds if not thousands of people must have introduced themselves and offered their condolences in the past weeks.
Amber Welsley? he asked her, offering his hand.
I am.
Im Cole Parker from Aviation 58. My condolences on your loss.
Thank you, Mr. Parker. She shook his hand.
The soft warmth of her palm seemed to whisper through his skin. He felt a ripple of awareness move up his arm and along the length of his body. Her expression flinched, and for a second he thought shed felt it, too. But then her formal smile was back in place, and she was moving on.
Cole quickly spoke again to keep her attention. This is my business partner, Luca Dodd.
Please call me Luca.
And Im Cole, Cole put in, feeling like an idiot for not having said it right away.
Aviation 58 was looking to contribute to the Samuel Henderson fund, said Luca.
Coles stomach twisted, and he shot Luca a glare of annoyance.
Where had that come from? There was no way on earth Cole was contributing to something with Samuels name on it.
Its a very worthy cause, said Amber. But then she caught Coles expression. Is something wrong?
No, he quickly answered.
You look upset.
Im fine.
She canted her head to one side, considering him. You dont agree that the pilot scholarship is a worthy cause?
I believe what Luca meant is that were thinking of setting something up in parallel. With Georgia Pilots, but not necessarily... How exactly was he going to phrase this?
Not necessarily in honor of Samuel Henderson? Amber finished for him.
Cole didnt know how to respond to the direct challenge. He didnt want to lie, but he didnt want to insult her, either.
You have a spare ten million hanging around to match Coast Eagle? she asked.
Ten million is a little out of our league, Cole admitted.
Her blue eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Did you know Samuel?
I never met him.
The suspicious expression didnt detract at all from her beauty, and Cole experienced an urge to sweep back her hair and kiss the delicate curve of her neck.
So you disliked him from afar? she asked.
I didnt... This was getting worse by the second. Cole gave himself a mental shake. I knew people who knew him.
Amber? prompted a man at her elbow.
Cole clenched his jaw at the interruption.
Five minutes to introductions, said the man.
Thanks, Julius. She glanced at Luca for a moment before settling her attention back on Cole. It looks like I need to take my seat. It was a pleasure to meet you, Cole Parker.
Are you always this polite?
Do you want me to be rude?
Cole was the one whod been rude. This conversation didnt go the way I expected.
Maybe you could try again some other time.
What are you doing later? He hadnt intended the question to sound intimate, but it did.
She didnt miss a beat. I believe Im eating crab cocktail and chicken Kiev, giving a short, heartfelt speech on behalf of the Henderson family, then relieving the nanny and going to sleep.
Zachary? Cole took advantage of the opening.
Hell be having his bath about now. He likes splashing with the blue duck and chewing on the washcloth.
Are you staying for the dance?
I doubt it.
Will you stay for the dance?
She hesitated. You think youll do better if were dancing?
Ill try not to insult the evenings deceased honoree.
You set a high bar.
Underpromise and overdeliver.
The man named Julius returned, touching Ambers arm. Amber?
Goodbye for now, she told Cole with a smile.
Though her expression was more polite than warm, he decided to take the words as encouraging.
What the hell was that? Luca muttered as she walked away.
Contributing to his scholarship? asked Cole. Where did you expect me to go from there?
You choked.
We are not contributing to his scholarship.
You made that much clear.
They turned to wind their way between tables.
Shes not what I expected, said Cole as they returned to the back half of the big ballroom.
She has two arms, two legs, speaks English. What did you expect?
I dont know. Cole struggled to organize his thoughts. Snobbish, maybe, polished and conniving.
She looked pretty polished to me.
Shes beautiful, but thats not the same thing.
Shes a knockout. Do you actually think shell dance with you?
Why not?
Because you choked, and Im sure she has other offers.
Im staying optimistic.
As the lights went dim and the applause came up, Cole made up his mind to approach her as soon as the dinner was over. This was by far his best chance to mingle with the Hendersons and Coast Eagle without revealing his identity, and he wanted to get it done and over with.
Two
Amber couldnt wait to get out of the ballroom. Her first choice on a Saturday night was to stay home with Zachary, tucked in her jammies with a cup of hot chocolate and an old movie. But she was the closest thing there was to a member of the Henderson family, and somebody had to graciously accept the pilots associations thanks.
Unlike her sister, Coco, Amber never attended highbrow events. Consequently, everything she wore tonight was new. Her feet were killing her in the ridiculous high heels. Her push-up bra was digging into her ribs, the lace scratching her skin. And the tight dress, chosen by Destiny, who insisted it was perfect, was restricting her movements so that she couldnt even cross her legs under the table.
The MC ended a string of thank-yous with a request for applause to compliment the catering staff. As the clapping died down, the music came up, signaling the start of the dance.
Amber breathed a sigh of relief. All that was left was to politely make her way toward the exit, find a cab and get home. She stood, tucking her tiny purse under her arm.