Zach leaned toward Kendall and whispered in her ear, "Let's go out in the hall. You don't have to stay for this… in fact it'll be better if you don't."
Kendall looked at Zach with a manic expression in her eyes, fear of the unknown and near terror at what Ethan's will might do to Miranda or Zach or to them as a couple overwhelmed her… suddenly she felt as if the dead man on the screen had all the power. Bianca also recognized that Kendall was losing control and said something softly to Jackson who said loudly, "Can we have a few minutes, please?"
Before the attorney could respond, Zach began escorting Kendall from the room. They stepped into a nearby office where he pulled her into his arms and she began to cry hysterically. He held her close and whispered gentle, consoling words until she finally relaxed against him. Once she was calm enough to listen, he kissed her gently before saying, "You stay out here… I'll go back and get through this farce. Then we'll know exactly where we stand. This has been too much for you, and I'm so sorry. Here… sit down."
Zach pulled chair out and started to help her into it when she stood tall and took a deep breath before saying, "No. We're in this together… I'm as much at fault in all this as you are. If you can face it so can I."
"Kendall… you do not have to be strong for me. It is time for you to relax and take care of yourself. This is a battle I understand… a battle that I can fight. But to do that I need to know that you are okay. Please, rest here and wait until it's over then I'll tell you everything," Zach said in soothing tones.
"No… Look, I'm sorry. Seeing his face and hearing his words… it just unnerved me. Ethan will not get the best of me – remember, I'm the person who hid Michael's corpse to protect my sister… I can do this… we can do this… together. Let's go back in there and show them that it's going to take more than a video tape to hurt us," she said holding her head high and wiping her face with her hands.
Zach handed her some tissues from a nearby table and waited patiently for her to compose herself. Much as he would have preferred that she stay out of the room, he respected her determination to see it through. He would not force her to stay away if it wasn't what she wanted… but he would force her to take better care of herself from this point forward so that the stress would not wear on her as she had allowed it to since the accident. She had been his strength through those first nightmarish days after Ethan's death, now it was his turn to be strong for her.
Without further comment he opened his arms and she walked into them. He cradled her against him as he whispered against her hair, "Have I told you lately what a lucky man I am?"
"No luckier than I," was her muffled response as she nodded her head.
When they re-entered the conference room, JR and Bianca both quickly approached Kendall. JR tried to pull her into his arms, "Kendall… you shouldn't have to put up with this. Zach is crazy to bring you back in here… come on, I'll take care of you."
Kendall immediately pushed hard against him and shook her head, "No, JR. Whatever sick game you and Ethan cooked up together… I want no part of it. I'm here with my husband and that's where I'll stay."
With that comment, Kendall briefly clasped Bianca's hand and returned to her seat between Bianca and Zach. Once she was settled, Livia nodded to Mr. Dunbar that he could resume playing the tape. After another moment, Ethan's face loomed once again on the screen.
"You're all dying to know what I've done with Cambias, aren't you? Well, then, let's get right down to it. Dad… I invited you and my dear step-mother here just to tell you that you don't get a bloody farthing. If you want Cambias, you'll have to fight for it in court because it won't ever be that easy for you… and I'm sure that step-mommy will find greener pastures before you ever acquire that fortune she so desperately wants.
"JR… looks like you are the only real friend I ever had in Pine Valley. I made you president of Chandler Enterprises and you did very well by Cambias. Now I know that you really wanted it for yourself – just as I know that you always wanted my dearest step-mommy for yourself – and hopefully I'll be able to help you get everything. I am leaving you all my shares in Chandler Enterprises. Unfortunately, that means that half of the company is still held by my cousin Miranda… and her mother doesn't like you very much. BUT… I'm also leaving you all my shares in Fusion. Maybe you'll be able to use those shares to acquire the other half of Chandler… or my step-mommy… or BOTH. I wish you the best of luck whichever you choose."
"All right!" JR exclaimed. "Chandler back where it belongs. Now I know why I liked you Ethan. May you rest in peace."
Ethan's tape continued, "The remainder of my estate I leave in trust to my cousin, Miranda Mona Montgomery. My grandfather, Alexander Cambias Sr. wanted his estate to go to his grandchildren, and I would be remiss if I didn't honor his wishes. I name as her trustee my good friend, JR Chandler… a man who has always loved her like a daughter and only has her best interests at heart as I do not believe that Miranda's mother, Bianca Montgomery is a fit trustee to oversee the estate. My executors will be my attorneys, the firm of Dunbar, Lynch and Boland. It will be their duty and responsibility to see that my wishes are carried out to the letter."
The tape ended and the screen was filled with static before the unnamed attorney turned off the television. Mr. Dunbar then said, "I have Mr. Cambias' legal will with his bequests in the correct language. It has been filed with the proper authorities and you will find that it will stand up in any court of law should you wish to challenge it."
"Mr. Dunbar, you are aware that the petition to have Alexander Cambias Sr.'s will overturned is still pending, and any distribution of the estate under this will would be considered premature at best?" Livia stated emphatically.
"There is a codicil to the will that does address the pending lawsuit should Mr. Slater not drop the petition. If Mr. Slater's petition is successful, obviously Mr. Cambias' will becomes null and void. If his petition fails, however, then the portion of the estate that was left to Miranda Montgomery is directed to be liquidated in full and the proceeds donated to the scholarship endowment at Oxford University."
"But such liquidation could destroy Miranda's existing share of Cambias Industries. You can't sell off half of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate without affecting its ability to do business and the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of people," Jackson interjected. "This would be corporate suicide."
"It is entirely up to Mr. Slater," Dunbar said quietly. "All Mr. Slater has to do is drop his petition to overturn Alexander Cambias Sr.'s will and the estate will be distributed per my client's instructions. Should he pursue legal action and fail, Miranda Montgomery's share of the estate is forfeit. I'm sure that you will wish to discuss this with counsel. Mr. Cambias gave you ten days in which to withdraw the petition before the codicil takes effect."
With that comment the three attorneys picked up their briefcases and left the room. Livia and Jackson shared a look to indicate that they needed to confer privately and left for Livia's office while Bianca, Kendall and Zach remained in the conference room with JR.
Bianca looked coldly at JR, "If you'll excuse us, JR… we'd like to discuss this as a family."
"Looks like I'm family now, Bianca, so you might as well get used to it," JR answered with a smug smile. "We could start off on the right foot if you'll trade me Miranda's share of Chandler for my new Fusion stock… and I won't even request an audit if you do it today. Then we can sit down and discuss how I'll be managing the remainder of the estate."
With a low growl, Zach rose from his chair and towered menacingly over JR, who had the intelligence to realize that it was not the time to press his advantage. JR backed his chair away and stood up before saying quietly, "Okay, okay… I get that you're not in a good mood… I'll give you a few days to think about that Fusion for Chandler offer… and I'll… I'll… just be going now." With that parting comment he quickly exited the room pulling the door tightly shut behind him.
Despite his threatening demeanor towards JR, Zach's main concern was for Kendall's welfare. After her outburst, he wanted to get her away from the stress and tension that were so tangible in the room. He poured her a glass of water from the pitcher on the table and encouraged her to drink it slowly before resuming his seat next to her.
Meanwhile, Bianca had been quietly trying to assimilate all that had just occurred. She finally said quietly, "No matter what we do, we're screwed. I will not allow JR to be a part of my daughter's life… not after the way he has treated us or the things he has said about us. If we do nothing, then I will always have to turn to him for decisions about Miranda's estate. I don't care if JR gets Chandler back, but if we don't trade the other half of Chandler for Fusion then he'll destroy it just like Ethan almost did. He has no more love for Ryan and Greenlee than he does for me… and you are off limits, Kendall. Don't even think of sacrificing yourself to JR."
Bianca had spoken the words that Zach had been afraid to admit to himself… that Ethan would win because Kendall would blame herself for this turn of events. If she felt that she had to turn herself over to JR to save Bianca and Miranda, he had no doubt that she would do that… and he could not allow her to make that sacrifice. It seemed to him that they had no choice but to continue his petition to have the will overturned – or else find a way to prove that Ethan was not entitled to the estate through his parentage. It was a long-shot, but if there was a way to prove that Ethan was Alexander Cambias Sr.'s son, then this could all be ended, the estate could go to Miranda, and he and Kendall might be able to build a life together. But did he have the right to ask Kendall to build a life with him? Just looking at her, seeing how the stress was eating away at her… it didn't seem fair to her to inflict himself upon her. They had had good times together, and their marriage had been much more of a success than he could ever imagine… but was it really enough for her? Was asking her to sacrifice the hope of love and a family too much of a trade-off for what they had together? Once again, he had no answers nor any time to reflect as Livia and Jackson re-entered the conference room.
Zach, Kendall and Bianca looked at the two attorneys expectantly. Livia was the first to speak, "Okay… here's what we're going to do."