The funeral was concluded, the burial complete, and the reception was over. There was only one more thing to do.
Poe sat slumped in the chair in front of the desk belonging to Ms. Larma D'Acy, Esquire. Next to him sat Ben Solo, who looked just as exhausted as Poe felt, his tall, lanky body hunched over as if it was ready to slide right out his chair. Larma sat across from them, her eyes just as tired, but her posture still ramrod straight. There was no one else in the office, which said quite a bit about what Leia Organa's Last Will and Testament contained.
"Gentlemen," Larma started. "I'm sure you know most of what I am about to tell you. Leia was never one to beat around the bush." She stood slightly and reached over the desk, handing each of them a sheet of paper. "Here is a list of the charities and non-profits that will be receiving a share of Leia's fortune. None will be a surprise, as they are all organizations that she donated to in life. The total of her final donations will equal one million dollars."
Poe nodded. Nope. Not a surprise. Leia had always been generous with her wealth. While she had been born into an affluent family, her marriage to the talented engineer Han Solo and her own degree in architecture allowed the creation of Organa Enterprises, and within a decade the Solo's had increased the Organa fortune by tenfold.
"This still leaves a substantial fortune, of course," Larma continued. "Three-quarters of it, approximately fifty-two million dollars, is yours, Ben." She nodded her head at Leia's son. "Leia's house on Rosencrest Avenue, all the furnishings, art, and appliances within, as well as the summer house on the coast with all its contents, have also been willed to you." Ben nodded, his expression showing no surprise. He glanced at Poe.
Poe felt his heartrate increase. She hadn't said anything about Organa Enterprises.
"Poe," Larma looked at him. "You are to receive the rest of the money, approximately seventeen million dollars, as well as the cabin on Naboo Lake, its furnishings, art, and appliances." Poe felt a surge of joy at the words; he loved that cabin. However, he could tell Larma wasn't finished. She hesitated, looking down at the papers in front of her and licking her lips. Then she raised her eyes to meet his again. "You are also to receive Leia's fifty-one percent controlling share of Organa Enterprises…" Poe felt his heart surge. "But there are conditions," Larma finished.
Poe held his breath for a moment. "Conditions?" He could feel Ben's eyes on him.
Larma took a deep breath. "Keep in mind, these conditions are unusual, but Leia and I talked them over several times in the last year or so, and she was absolutely mentally sound when she decided on them."
Poe felt a chill go up his spine at her words. He frowned at Larma. "Go on."
"You are to marry in order to secure Organa Enterprises."
Ben snorted next to him. Poe looked at him, wide-eyed, then looked back at Larma. "Excuse me?" He couldn't stop the squeak in his voice.
"You are to marry within six months of the reading of the will, today. It must be a legal, binding marriage. Exactly one year after the marriage is performed, if the board and myself decide the marriage is still acceptable, the controlling share of Organa Enterprises will be signed over to you. If you fail to marry in the required time, or we find that said marriage isn't authentic, the share will go to Ben."
Again, Ben snorted. "Well, I don't want it!" he exclaimed. He looked at Poe. "Don't worry. I'll just sell it to you when I get it."
Larma cleared her throat. "Actually, Leia has made sure that whichever one of you gets the share, it may not be sold for at least ten years."
"Seriously?" Ben shook his head. "She never misses anything, does she?"
Poe had watched the exchange with his mouth open, still shocked. He finally pulled himself together. "Why?" he demanded. "Why is she doing this?"
Larma shrugged. "Poe, Leia loved you like a second son," she said. "She trusted you to take care of Organa Enterprises, prepared you as best she could to do so, but your behavior these past few years concerned her. She believed that if you couldn't have a steady personal life, a family to take responsibility for, the business would consume you and possibly ruin you."
Poe shook his head. "That's ridiculous!"
"Maybe," Larma said. "But this was her decision." She looked down at the papers in front of her. "Your spouse, whoever it may be, will also be given a percentage share in the business upon completion of the year. The money and the house are yours with no obligation and you will, of course, become CEO of Organa Enterprises until the final decision of the company is made." She handed both men more papers. "Here are all the details, if you have any questions." She sat back and folded her hands in front of her. "Leia was very meticulous in regard to the specifics of this will. There are no loopholes."
The two men left the office together, Ben with a bemused look on his face and Poe with a frown. Ben nudged him as they walked down the hall to the elevator. "Well, Dude. I'm thinking all the women in the area are wise to your shenanigans, so maybe you better start looking at the men."
Poe glared at him.
Ben raised his hands, laughing. "Not me! I KNOW I'm not your type!"
"Shut up," Poe said without any real anger. "This is a nightmare," he murmured. "There is no way I can find someone to legit marry in six months."
"Seems to me you never took that long with any of the others."
"And look what happened to all of them," Poe groused.
"And whose fault is that?"
Poe rubbed a hand over his face. "Yeah, yeah. You sound like…" he stopped suddenly, focusing on Ben, his eyes wide. "Rey."
Ben blinked at him. "You're not thinking of asking Rey to play this game, are you?" He shook his head. "Don't do that to her."
"What do you mean?" Poe asked. "We already see each other every day anyway. We can live with each other for a year, then end the marriage when Organa Enterprises becomes mine."
Ben was silent for a while, then he closed his eyes and sighed. "You don't even know, do you?"
"Know what?" Poe asked, but he wasn't really paying attention. He was already planning. His condo had a guest room. Rey's apartment was small and old, and he had been pushing her to move out of it. With the share in the business, she could afford much better accommodations after the year was up. It was perfect!
"Never mind." Ben threw up his hands. "Sure. Fine. Ask Rey. Just be aware that your goals are not the same as hers. Don't push her."
Poe finally focused on his pseudo-brother. "As if anyone can make Rey do anything she doesn't want to!"
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