Breach of Honor by Naomi Porter

23 Miranda

A DETOXIFYING FACIAL and pedicure were sheer bliss. The four of us were comfortably seated in reclining chairs while getting our feet massaged and toenails painted. I couldn’t remember the last time I had indulged in me time, so I soaked up every bit of this rare occasion along with the calming music. Then I’d go home to Will, totally rejuvenated.

I appreciated his concerns about my crazy work schedule. There was no hiding my exhaustion from Will. But I was just adjusting to all the changes in my life. Increased business and Will were new to me. Still, he deserved a girlfriend who didn’t fall asleep after her first orgasm.

“So if he doesn’t get an attitude adjustment and quick, I may spend the summer in Europe. Think you’d like to join me if I go?” Claire asked, a tinge of irritation in her voice.

I blinked my eyes open but refrained from looking at Claire. What had I missed during my musings?

“The whole summer? Not sure I can be gone that long, but I’d love to go,” Simone replied. “What do you think has Dad on edge?”

“Your drink, miss.” One of the spa attendants handed Simone what looked like cucumber water.

On edge? I dialed into their conversations with interest. I’d noticed some tension in Will the last few weeks and wasn’t sure what to make of it. When I’d ask if everything was okay at work, he’d recover quickly. But last night, he’d had a restless sleep thrashing in bed and waking in a cold sweat kind. He blew it off as a nightmare. Naturally, I believed him. Now I wondered if there was more going on at work… or in his family.

Claire continued. “I don’t know. He never talks to me when he’s stressed. That’s why it’s better when I go on holiday for a while. You know, out of sight, out of mind and all that. It’s better for both of us. It’s also why our marriage has survived as long as it has.”

“If I could pick up and go for a whole summer, I wouldn’t think twice about it,” Lily blurted. “Sadly, I have to work for a living.”

I gaped. “I thought you loved your job?”

“I do. But don’t you ever get tired of working?”

Stunned, I didn’t reply, chewing on my lower lip. Guilt crept into my veins. I relished planning events, but I imagined the business side of it was less than thrilling. Lily handled the money, contracts, schedules, and vendors. I did what Lily called “the fun stuff,” while she sat in an office doing the not-so-fun stuff.

“Well, if Miranda and Will get married, she won’t have to work,” Simone noted aloud, her voice faint at the end of our row. Still, I heard her loud and clear, and the quiet grumble from Lily told me she’d also heard. “You guys are going to have kids, right?”

“Miranda loves kids. I’m sure they’ll have several,” Lily answered.

Several? I didn’t care for the direction this conversation was heading in.

“Let’s not overwhelm Miranda with talk of marriage and babies,” Claire interjected.

I breathed a sigh of relief, then she continued.

“Besides, raising the next St. James heir will keep her plenty busy. Working will be nearly impossible.”

Impossible? My heart hiccupped to a stop. Heir? What did Claire mean?

“Heir?” Lily leaned forward, looking toward Claire. Her shocked tone reflected my feelings.

“Yes. In the St. James family, it’s been established that the firstborn son will inherit SJI. If Will has a son, his name will be William Howard St. James IV. The legacy will continue with him, and it will require raising the child in a just manner to prepare him for his obligation.”

Obligation? Will had thrown the word around like a cursed hex. My once-relaxed shoulders turned to steel.

“What if he only has daughters?” Lily asked the very question that popped into my head.

“Then it goes to the next male in line, my cousin, Henry. Girls aren’t important enough to have a controlling power in SJI,” Simone said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Oh damn, we hit a nerve.

“Simone! That is not true. Girls are quite important in other meaningful ways to the family.”

“Oh please, even my inheritance is less than Will’s. Nothing is fair in this family. It’s a hierarchy.”

“Will has been groomed since he was in elementary school. He’s earned what’s rightfully his,” Claire countered.

“Like he had a choice.” Simone laughed mockingly, putting the glass to her lips.

“Are you saying you want to work at SJI? If in fact you do, I’ll speak to your father, and I’m sure he’d happily put you to work.” Claire’s reprimanding tone, though soft, was quite scary.

I hadn’t heard any of this about Will’s family and their legacy. I wasn’t sure I liked any of it. I glanced sidelong at Simone. She didn’t appear thrilled about working.

“No, I’m fine living off my inheritance. Let’s not get crazy.” She sipped her water. “I guess there’s a little green-eyed monster in me when it comes to the favoritism in this family.”

“Well, careful what you wish for, dear. The expectations on Will can be burdensome, and it will be passed down to his son as well.”

My stomach churned as a mama bear force woke inside me. A protectiveness for my child, a child who didn’t exist but one I wanted in the future, rose to the surface. I understood that if Will and I got married, my life would vastly change. But if we had a son, he’d be groomed like Will to take over after Will retired, and that didn’t sit right with me. What if our son didn’t want to work in finance? What if he wanted to be a baseball player or a musician or a zookeeper?

I jumped when Lily put her hand on my arm.

She winked, mouthing, Don’t listen to them.

But how could I not? Claire of all people would know how the St. James family worked. The rules, the expectations, the burdens… Like Simone had said, Will didn’t have a choice. But I wanted my children, our children, to have the freedom to choose their own path.

“So if Miranda has daughters, they’d be free to do as they pleased and get a hefty inheritance?” Lily asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. I was grateful to have her as my mouthpiece, asking all the questions I had floating through my head.

“Well, I wouldn’t call twenty million a hefty inheritance,” Simone scoffed. “Not compared to Will’s fifty million and controlling rights to SJI. Not to mention his obscene annual salary.” Simone sipped her drink several times.

I waited with bated breath for her to continue.

“But yes, if they have girls, they’d be free.”

“After all of that, why would Miranda want to become a St. James?” Claire sighed, displeased. I’d heard my mom do the same from time to time.

“Sorry, Miranda.” Simone leaned forward to look at me with a sheepish grin. “I wasn’t trying to scare you off. There are a lot of good things about our family, and you found the best: Will.” Despite her previous complaints and jealousy about money, love showed in her eyes for her brother.

Will had talked about how close they were and how he’d intervened many times on Simone’s behalf with their father. She was right. Will was the best part of the St. James family. He’d mentioned the hierarchy within the family before, and how he wanted to dismantle it. When Will gained control as head of the family, there would be a lot of changes. He hated how his sister and cousin weren’t viewed as equals in the family because of their name or gender, and after that conversation, I’d admired him and loved him even more.

“No worries, she’s fine.” Lily blew it off like no big deal to defuse the apparent tension. Lightening the mood was her specialty.

“Miranda, dear, don’t worry. Despite everything Simone and I said, Will would never let you or your child be controlled by the family.”

“Oh, absolutely.” Simone agreed, standing up. Oddly, she looked a little pale. “Will adores you. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone before. I know he’d do anything for you. Even go against Father.”

“Are you all right, dear?” Claire asked, concerned.

“I don’t know. Excuse me.” Simone left toward the bathroom, clutching her stomach.

Claire turned toward me to continue. “Will’s a good man. No need to worry, dear.”

Her assurance didn’t comfort me. Still, I wouldn’t bring any of this up to Will just yet. We were only approaching four months together. Marriage hadn’t even been brought up… though I’d say yes if he popped the question. I didn’t doubt his love for me or his devotion.

Unfortunately, knowing he loved me didn’t ease the gnawing in my stomach if we were to have a son.

“I appreciate that, but I’m okay,” I replied with as genuine a smile as I could produce. “I’ve really enjoyed today. Thank you for inviting us.”

I flitted my gaze to Lily. Her green eyes said everything would be fine. Of course it would be. If Will and I got married and had a family, I had every confidence he would battle his father and the family name for us. I only hoped it wouldn’t come to that for Will’s sake. His family meant a lot to him.

But then, he’d said I meant everything to him—and I believed him.