All Good Things Must End an Ending for Meet My Brother's
I am generally an MA (for mature) writer, but I keep it fairly clean on to keep to community guidelines. If you want more heat, find me elsewhere.
I never intend copyright infringement and am careful to make my stories my own but since I am using other's characters, please send all love and adoration to the original author. I make no money from my stories and am simply happy to tell them.
Every story deserves a happy ending and I love writing them, though there is often a great deal of turmoil before I get there. I always say that I like to write the last book in a long series that way I always get the ending I think the characters I love deserve. Plus, I am impatient and don't like to wait.
My stories run about 70k-100k. I write between 6000-8,000 words per day.
My current story All Good Things Must End which is my ending to the story Meet My Brothers, is about to be posted. I have 90K words written so far. I will post every three days (roughly) until I am finished. I expect the story to take no more than 30 days to be finished.
My final book in the series starts at chapter 1090, if you haven't read it until there you will need to go read that book first. I stopped reading at that chapter so there would not be any overlapping themes. I will finish it at some point but not until I finish with my ending. If you have any questions send me a message and I will try to get back to you.
Credit for Meet My Brothers should go to Red Thirteen. You can find this story on Webnovel & Goodreads
PART 7
When Mia got back to the hotel room the children were already fast asleep. Angela was in the kitchen making the twins lunches for school the next day. When she finished, Angela asked Mia if she needed anything further before retiring to her room two floors down.
Mia went into her room and got changed out of her dress. She pulled on a satin nightgown with spaghetti straps and the silk kimono robe that Eva had picked her up last year while traveling. Mia grabbed a bottle of wine and a glass before curling up on the sofa with her feet tucked under her to wait. Realizing it had been over an hour since she had gotten in, she considered texting Tim but decided against it. Maybe he was too angry to see her.
Mia poured her second glass of wine and drank greedily. She would love to forget this entire day, she thought. Realizing she was still wearing Nicholas's ring she looked at it. It was not something she would have ever chosen for herself. The pointy edges of the marquise diamond looked hard and cold to her, like the man. Mia took it off and set it on her vanity table.
Mia finished her second glass of wine and considered a third when she heard a light tapping at her door. She walked to the door and looked through the peephole. It was Timothy. Mia opened the door and let him in.
Tim stopped just inside the door looking at her up and down as the door swung closed. He put his arms on either side of her trapping her and pushed her against the wall with his body as his mouth captured hers. She could taste the bourbon on his tongue as he kissed her and wondered if he was drunk. Not that she cared, Mia was buzzed herself.
After several moments he pulled back and allowed her to pass by him. She started toward the living room, but he pulled her with him to the bedroom, shutting the door behind them. Tim kicked off his shoes and started unbuttoning his shirt. She wondered what he was doing but didn't feel the need to stop him.
"Let's go to bed. If we must talk about the fiasco that just happened, I want to do it in bed with you against me." Timothy told her. He kicked out of his pants and removed his socks.
Mia unbelted her robe and laid it over the vanity chair. She was now standing before him in lingerie, and she saw his reaction as he took in her nightgown that barely covered her ass. Tim sucked in a hard breath before reaching out and taking her hand. He pulled her to him and buried his face in her hair. After a long minute he moved to the bed and pulled down the covers, he climbed into the bed and pulled her in beside him.
For a while they just lay there wrapped up in each other not speaking or moving beside Tim's hand that ran soothingly through her hair.
"Mia, baby, we need to get married. That is how we stop this issue. How we stop them from trying to keep us apart? This is how we stop your brother from interfering." Tim said quietly with a desperate tone to his voice.
Mia considered his words. Did she want to marry Timothy again? Mia knew the answer was yes or why would she have gone on the date with him and been with him so intimately. Sure, she wanted to wait awhile but did that really matter now. All that really mattered was that she wanted him too.
"All right..." Mia said calmly. It took a second then she was flat on her back with Timothy above her.
"Could you repeat that. I'm not sure I heard you right." Tim questioned her with intensity.
"I said all right, yes, I will marry you!" Mia laughed. Tim's lips crashed into hers as he crushed her into him. His mouth was everywhere, her lips, her face, her throat. After a minute he pulled back to look at her with a big smile on his face.
"Maybe you'll be conscious this time." Mia said smirking. Timothy kissed her again before he climbed out of the bed.
"Hey where are you going?" Mia asked as he walked over to rummage through his pants.
Timothy came back and sat down beside her. Picking up her hand he slid a ring on her finger. She looked at it. It was a large oval cut diamond sitting in a yellow gold band that looked like vines with tiny little diamond leaves near the large stone. It was beautiful.
"I trust this one fits you better?" Timothy asked nervously. Mia got to her knees and threw her arms around his neck.
"It's perfect." She whispered against his neck trying not to cry. Mia couldn't believe that everything they had gone through had led her back to him after all.
"You know, most girls don't get to be engaged to two men at the same time. How does it feel?" Tim was baiting her.
Mia smacked him with her hand. "You're an ass."
"They definitely don't get to be married and engaged so this should be interesting." He laughed.
"I am glad you find this funny now." Mia pouted.
"I don't, trust me I don't find it funny at all. I find it terrifying. People are trying to steal you and my children from me and that is not the least bit funny. Tim said seriously, "but I am relieved because we are going to rectify the situation immediately."
"Now I want you to get some sleep. I will see you in the morning with a plan. We don't want the children to find me here tonight, do we? Plus, I will be up most of the night anyway." Tim told her grinning. Mia shook her head as Timothy got dressed. He leaned in and kissed her sweetly and then he walked out the door. Mia checked that the main door shut all the way then climbed into bed. She was out quickly despite her racing thoughts.
Timothy took the elevator back to his floor. He was a jittery mess. He couldn't believe she had agreed so easily. Tim had taken forever going to see her because they had gone over every argument they could think of. She had simply said yes. Mia wanted to be with him. He was so happy that he became even more terrified of something going wrong.
Tim unlocked the suite and walked inside. Caleb was on the couch on his phone and when Tim walked in, he looked up at him confused.
"Why are you back already. Are you all right?" Caleb asked his friend concerned.
"Mia said yes." Tim grinned, "No argument, she just said yes."
"That's awesome man, congratulations!" Caleb smiled getting up and clapping Tim on the back.
"I am a little shocked. I thought she would fight me on this." Tim told him honestly.
"Mia is a reasonable woman. She knows what makes the most sense. Plus, she has feelings for you so that pretty much nails it down." Caleb smirked.
"Do you think so?" Tim asked hopefully.
"I would have to be blind not to think so." Caleb said seriously.
"We have a lot to do to put a wedding together in the next couple of hours. We will need to put a prenup together. I don't need her brothers hounding me." Tim was busy thinking of things that needed to be done to make this possible.
"Nothing like a prenup to ruin a wedding." Caleb snarked sarcastically.
Timothy looked at him raising a brow. "I need it to say that anything that belongs to Mia Lane at the time of the marriage is to be retained by her regardless of whether we separate."
"Mia will need a dress." Tim remarked absently.
"Shouldn't we let Mia worry about her dress." Caleb asked.
"I don't want her to change her mind, Caleb. I'm worried. If all she must do is show up maybe, we'll get through it, and everything will be all right." Tim said walking over and grabbing his laptop.
"Have a little faith in Mia, she won't change her mind easily." Caleb said trying to understand his friend.
"She might change her mind on when and if we are going to stop this plan that the doctor and Dominic are running it needs to be sooner. I don't know what they have concocted for the next round so the only way to win..." Tim paused.
"Is to close the deal and end the game." Caleb finished. It was Barrett strategy 101. If you couldn't predict the plays, you finished the game before the opponent could outplay you.
"Let's get to work on this and see how much we can get accomplished before we need to pass out. I can't call the judge until morning so that will have to be an unknown for now." Timothy turned to his laptop dress shopping. Caleb grabbed his laptop and began working on wording the prenuptial agreement.
The next morning early, Peyton knocked on Mia's bedroom door. Mia put on her robe and joined Peyton at the dining room table. Her children ate cereal while she sipped coffee. She told Peyton to wait as she kissed Ginger and Sage goodbye and sent them off with Angela to school. Once the children headed to school, Peyton plopped a stack of newspapers in front of her.
Each paper had one of various photos taken of her and Nicholas the night before. They had headlines like 'Lane Heiress to Wed Famous Doctor,' and 'Lane Family to Unite with Merches,' and even 'True Love at Country Club, Lane Heiress to Marry Dr. Merches of Merches Group.'
Mia rolled her eyes at the last one. What shouldn't have surprised her was that several of the papers had the full scoop on the proposal. Someone had talked. One paper even said Mia had a flair for the dramatic since she had gotten shy and kept everyone in suspense while she was on the balcony. Mia shook her head. This was ridiculous.
"Dominic has been calling nonstop demanding to know when you will be home or to be told where you are so he can talk some sense into you." Peyton told her.
"You didn't tell him anything, did you?" Mia asked worriedly.
"Of course not," Peyton replied.
"I will deal with him...later." Mia said slowly.
Thirty minutes later there was a knock on the door and Peyton went to answer it. Timothy walked in carrying a dress bag, a shoe box, and a piece of paper in his teeth.
"Take the paper," Tim said through clenched teeth. Mia did. "Look that over and tell me if there is anything that needs to be changed," he said as he walked into the bedroom and deposited the parcels on the bed.
Mia looked over the paper, reading quickly that it was a prenuptial agreement. Her eyebrows rose wondering what kind of terms were on this one. She finished reading confused. It protected her assets against Timothy but didn't stipulate any terms for his safety.
Mia rose and followed Tim into the bedroom where he was going through her jewelry. He set out a pair of diamond halo earrings that would look good with her ring. Timothy looked up and smiled. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms, Mia felt protected when he held her like this.
"Timothy, why are there no protections for you on that agreement?" Mia asked, confused.
Tim leaned down and kissed her softly, "Mia, I don't need to be protected. I will never let you go. There is nothing you could ever do that would make me want to be without you. There is nothing that I wouldn't give you if you asked."
"That is wide open Tim, how do you know I won't take advantage of you?" Mia questioned.
"Take advantage, please, let me do something for you. I know you won't because you didn't when I was still an asshole and deserved it. I signed my entire company over to you who I left pregnant and penniless, and you ripped up the document. I am not worried about money with you." Tim laughed.
"What about your family? I still don't want them around my children, ever." Mia said with agitation.
"Mia, listen to me, once Shelly is married, we never have to see them again if that is your preference. We can live our lives here in Norde City. If I have you and our children, I will be a happy man. I have been so happy to not have the constant turmoil and stress since I put them on house arrest." Tim told Mia emphatically.
"What if you go back to the way, you were? I don't think I could handle that." Mia asked quietly.
"Baby... the person I was doesn't exist anymore because of you." Tim replied.
"Timothy, have you developed feelings for me then?" Mia questioned him succinctly.
Timothy felt his chest seize up, his body tried to go on the defensive, but he also knew that this was the question that would make or break the rest of his life.
"Yes Mia, I have strong feelings for you." Timothy whispered only a few inches from her mouth. The moment the words left his mouth he felt such relief. Tim could just be with Mia now with no need to keep things hidden from each other.
"Then let's get married." She said simply before she raised herself up and kissed him. Tim wrapped Mia tightly in his arms and continued the kiss for a minute before he pulled away with a sigh.
"As much as I would like to keep kissing you. You need to get ready for our day. We have an appointment in about three hours so get moving." Timothy told her as he walked out of the room. Tim walked over to the pile of newspapers and scoffed after reading several of them. Peyton handed him the prenuptial agreement silently. Tim wasn't sure how much was too much information for Peyton to have so he simply thanked the man and walked out of the suite.
Mia climbed into the shower where she washed and rinsed herself enjoying the feel of the water on her skin. When she climbed out, she donned the terrycloth robe and went to work blow drying her hair. Once her hair was dry Mia went to see what was in the dress bag that Tim had left on her bed.
Mia opened the bag and was surprised by what she found. Inside was a sundress in the softest blue with a fitted bodice, a wide intricately embroidered waistband and a skirt that fell just past the knees in a flowy material. The straps on the dress were about an inch wide and tied in small bows at the shoulders. The shoebox held a pair of four-inch nude heels. The man had exquisite taste.
Mia closed her bedroom door and got dressed. Fastening the ankle straps on the heels, Mia walked to the vanity and put the earrings Tim had picked out on. Mia selected a simple nude bag and put a couple of necessities into it. Mia put a small amount of ChapStick on her lips and checked her reflection. She started to head out but stopped, turning around she put the ring from Nicholas in a zippered pocket in her bag.
Mia walked out of the room and noticed Peyton as he worked on his laptop at the dining room table. The newspaper articles still sat beside him.
"Can you make sure those articles go into the garbage somewhere else? I don't want to risk the twins seeing them." Mia said.
"Of course, Mia." Peyton responded.
"I will be out most of the day and I don't expect to need you much if at all today, Peyton." Mia told her assistant.
"Is there something I should know about?" Peyton inquired concerned, "I saw the prenuptial agreement."
"That is something we are ironing out in case I decide to accept his proposal in the future." Mia explained hoping to calm Peyton's anxiety.
"I off to run some errands. Enjoy the day off." Mia said cheerfully.
Mia knocked on Tim's hotel suite door. Caleb answered a moment later and let her in.
"You look lovely, as always Mia," Caleb told her kindly as they walked into the sitting room. Tim came out a few moments later dressed in a full suit. He looked handsome but a little too serious considering her sundress.
Mia walked up to Timothy thinking he looked uncomfortable. She reached him and unbuttoned his jacket before pulling his tie off completely. She unbuttoned the top button of his dress shirt as he watched her. Mia stepped back a pace and looked him over.
"Now you'll do," Mia told him with a smile. Tim took her hand and pulled her in front of a mirror with him. They were semi-formal which was perfect.
"You're right this is better than before. I just didn't want to be underdressed at my own wedding." Tim laughed. Mia turned to him and gave him a quick kiss.
"As long as you are conscious, we will be in better shape than last time." Mia said cheekily. Caleb snorted loudly. Timothy just shook his head in mock ruefulness.
"You look beautiful, Mia." Tim said, turning her slowly in a circle.
Turning to Caleb, Tim asked, "Do you have the paperwork and everything else that is needed?"
"Yes, I have everything." Caleb patted his pockets and leafed through a couple of files inside a slim briefcase.
"The plan is that when we get to the courthouse, you and Caleb will go in and wait in the waiting room. I will come in about ten minutes to join you so that no one sees us together. When we leave, we will do the same thing, only you will get into my car and wait for me, and Caleb will be heading off to do other things. Caleb don't forget to fax your promotional documents to HR so you will be on the books in your position by Monday. Use my fax number so they know it is from me." Timothy explained.
"I am very frustrated that I cannot take you out after we are married Mia, but I did arrange for Caleb to set something up so that we can have a private meal and evening together." Tim said irritation plain in his tone.
"It will be done by the time you are ready." Caleb replied.
"You confirmed who will be at Lane Law today? I am loath to miss that appointment." Timothy told his friend.
"Only Jason and Nathan will be there, and they know to expect both of you." Caleb supplied.
"Why are we going to Jason's law firm. Is it about the prenup?" Mia asked, confused.
"No, we have been working on something else. I am meeting with my new attorney Margaret Rommel. She isn't affiliated with Lane Law so she can help me with the Heir Apparent Documents so that Sage doesn't have to be a secret anymore." Timothy told Mia hoping she wouldn't get upset.
"Why didn't you talk to me about this?" Mia asked.
"I only just spoke to Jason about finding a trustworthy attorney. I planned to speak to you but not until I had something concrete to say. I wasn't hiding anything I promise." Tim implored Mia; he was suddenly afraid he had done something to make her change her mind.
Deciding to trust Timothy, "Alright, but in the future please discuss things about the children with me first." Mia requested seriously.
"I will." Tim vowed. Timothy checked his watch and, seeing the time, told Mia and Caleb they needed to go.
When they got to the lobby, Mia and Caleb went out and got into the car which had been hired for Caleb as part of his position in Barrett Group. The car pulled out and headed for the courthouse. Once the duo was on their way Timothy got into his own car and followed a few minutes behind them.
Mia and Caleb were already in the courthouse when he got there but Tim still had his driver go to the side entrance and wait five minutes before he went in. Tim didn't want anything to get in the way of their marriage now. Tim walked into the courthouse and made his way to the anteroom on level two of the building.
Mia was seated prettily in a chair while Caleb leaned against a wall. Timothy was trading a fine piece of art to Judge Morrel for his help in making this marriage happen today. The judge was an art collector and Timothy had outbid him for a specific piece of art which was now coming in very handy.
The judge was waving the marriage stipulations, and the fourteen days hold that was required in Norde City. The paperwork would be predated, and everyone could leave happy. Tim texted the judge and let him know they had arrived. Timothy moved to Mia's side and sat next to her, taking her hand. He could tell she was a little nervous.
The door opened to the judge's private office a moment later and the three of them were ushered inside.
"Do you have the paperwork Mr. Barrett?" The judge asked from behind his desk looking at them through wire rim glasses.
"Of course, and we have an extra that needs three signatures." Tim said as Caleb handed over all the paperwork. The judge looked the documents over. "You didn't tell me that your bride was Ms. Lane, though." The judge typed something into his phone when Tim buzzed, he turned around and checked the text. 'What we agreed on isn't enough to tangle with the Lane's.' Tim simply told the judge to name his price.
"We are ready to move forward now." Judge Morrel said.
Timothy smirked; this was going to be expensive but worth it. They each signed the prenuptial agreement and then the judge signed it after remarking that Barrett might get the shaft if things didn't work out.
Next it was time to say their vows. They promised to honor and cherish, to be faithful and obey, for richer or poorer, through sickness and health for as long as they both lived. They each said I do, and they slid beautiful gold bands on each other's hands. Their rings were yellow gold and diamond eternity bands with a line of weaving vines over the top.
"I now pronounce you man and wife; you may kiss your bride." The judge said. Timothy's smile was radiant as he pulled Mia into his arms and kissed her feverishly for a few moments. Mia was laughing as he pulled away. Looking at his wife Timothy vowed that as soon as he could, Tim would give her the wedding she deserved.
"Congratulations Mr. And Mrs. Barrett may you have a long and happy life together. Please come sign your marriage certificate." The judge called to them. They went and signed the required forms and Barrett said he would get the documents they needed and meet Mia in the car. Tim knew he needed to pay up with the Judge.
"Well Mrs. Barrett," Caleb said cheekily holding his arm out for her, "shall we take a walk?"
"Absolutely, Mr. Winters." Together they walked out of the courthouse to a few curious onlookers but one that was more sinister.
Chuck Nolan stared after Mia thinking he wouldn't even be at the courthouse today if it wasn't for her. He would show her though, when he married into the Barrett family, he would make her pay. It had taken half his inheritance to finally make that woman that pressed charges against him walk away but he had made her pay in the end. Just as Mia Lane would pay too.
Caleb held the door for Mia and helped her into the car before walking away to his own car and leaving promptly. Mia sat in the car for about fifteen minutes before the door opened and Timothy slid in, sliding his thin briefcase onto the seat beside him and moving over to pull Mia against him.
"We are right on time for school yard antics if you want to see what I do at lunchtime every day." Tim told Mia happily. She nodded her ascent, so the driver took them to the spot under the oaks across from the school playground.
"I have been watching to see how Ginger cajoles Sage into interacting on the playground most days. Sage seems to be a bit antisocial, but Ginger is incredibly determined." Tim explained. "We still have about five minutes before the children come out." Mia nodded and leaned back against her husband. That caught her off guard. Timothy was her husband, Mia looked at him.
"You're my husband." Mia said.
"And you're my wife." Tim confirmed.
"Wow." Mia remarked in an awed voice.
"I know." Timothy said reverently.
The children came running out of the building to various pursuits. Ginger and Sage were in the middle of the group today walking side by side. Sage didn't have his backpack which was a promising sign. Ginger headed to the merry go round followed by Sage and two other children. Ginger had Sage climb on and sit down and she and the other two children started pushing and then hopped on.
When the merry go round started to slow, one would hop off and push for a minute. Sage finally laid down flat on his back and Ginger laid down beside him. They stayed like this until the end of recess when they got up somewhat wobbly and went back inside. If they could have heard the twin's conversation, they would have worried about how to deal with the situation. It seemed everyone at school knew that the twin's mom was going to marry a doctor.
"Do you think Sage was feeling alright?" Mia asked Tim, "He was lying down for a long time."
"Maybe we should check on that later." Tim offered. "He could have simply liked the way it felt. I used to do that all the time."
"I know. It's hard not to helicopter him when he has been sick his whole life." Mia explained sadly. "It is most likely nothing. He has a checkup next week. I don't want to make him self-conscious." Tim nodded.
"It was nice sitting here just watching them play though. They have always had such a strange life that it makes me so happy to watch them be normal children. Mia smiled thinking about Sage playing like a regular child.
"What time is your appointment at Lane Law Offices?" Mia asked.
"In about thirty minutes, we should go." Timothy spoke to the driver, and they got on the road.
Timothy took Mia's hand in his and kissed her hand above the rings. He couldn't believe they were married. He couldn't believe she was his forever. It had been a long hard road getting back here but now they could heal and build a life together. Sure, they couldn't announce their marriage for a couple of weeks but that was all right. Nothing could keep them apart now no matter who tried or how hard they tried. It was too late. Timothy had won the game.
Tim turned to his wife and turned her face toward his then leaned in and kissed her passionately. By the time he pulled back she was clinging to him ready for anything. But Tim would not take his wife for the first time in the back seat of his car. She deserved better than that though he really wanted to. Tim stroked his thumb across Mia's cheek, and she turned her head enough to kiss it. He wanted her badly, but he could wait. Tim had a plan.
Tim texted Nathan to make sure that there was only Jason and Nathan at the office. A minute later a text came in, 'Jason told Dominic you canceled. He was pleased and was headed to his office an hour ago.'
"I want you to go up to Jason's office and wait for me. I will be up in a few minutes. If there are paparazzi just tell them no comment and keep walking." Tim told Mia seriously.
"I'm not new Timothy," Mia smirked at her husband.
He sighed, "I forget because I want to protect you so badly."
"I forgive you," Mia said giving Tim a quick kiss and hopping out of the car. Mia was up the stone steps and into the building in a flash. Timothy told his driver to drive around the block and park in a new spot. He felt like he was becoming paranoid trying to preempt this situation.
Timothy made his way to the top floor of the building marveling slightly at how successful Jason Lane had to be for Lane Law Group to own this entire building. It was no small feat. All the Lanes were incredibly successful. Dominic owned the largest real estate company in Norde City with subsidiaries around the world, Jason had the Law Firm, Connor was a renowned heart surgeon, Nathan owned Technosphere, Liam was the A-list actor Linden Lane, Claude was a celebrated pianist, Eva was the most sought-after Fashion Merchandiser in the business, and Mia was a celebrated interior designer that now owned high-societies most touted resort chain, Aide Castle. The Lane family was impressive. No one could dispute that fact.
If their two families ever learned to get along, they would be unstoppable. Barrett Group owned Bern City the way the Lane's owned Norde City and now they were family whether they liked it or not. Eventually they would get there because they had no choice but right now that time felt extremely far away.
Tim walked into Jason's waiting room to find Mia typing a message on her phone. He went over and sat beside her trying not to be nosy.
Mia looked up and smiled at Tim, halfheartedly. "I'm trying to set up lunch with Eva because she is really upset and doesn't understand what is going on. I can't really go out though because of the risk of the paparazzi following me back to the hotel. Eva doesn't want to come to me because she is afraid that Dominic will find me if she does. I don't know what to do. I hate this. How did everything get so messed up?" Mia looked at Timothy despair clouding her expression.
"We will talk about it with Jason and Nathan, maybe they can pull her aside and reassure her until things settle down." Tim answered gently.
"Yes, that might work." Mia said quietly.
Nathan came to the door then and motioned for the pair to come into the office. He glanced at them inquisitively as they walked past. Once they were in the office, Nathan walked to the conference table where Jason sat rubbing his forehead along with a woman in her late forties.
"You are looking especially lovely today, sister." Nathan told Mia. She smiled her thanks at him.
"Sorry about keeping you waiting. I was dealing with an irate caller. You know that Rolls Royce you favor stands out quite a bit Mr. Barrett." Jason smirked at Tim. "It's a nice car but people know it is yours."
Timothy scowled; he had missed a trick. He thought of his car as a plain black sedan, but he knew it was an impressive car to most people. That meant that the caller was angry because the car had been spotted.
"How long until he gets here?" Timothy asked knowing they would have company.
"Dominic is about thirty minutes away if he floors it." Jason said succinctly.
Timothy pulled his phone out and dialed a number. "Caleb come to the law office, swap cars with me. Go to a car dealer buy a new plain sedan, no, nothing flashy and take the rolls and have it stored for the next thirty days. Yes, at once. No, people are tracking my car. It's only dumb luck we haven't been caught. Good enough, Bye." Everyone was watching the ping ponging half-conversation with interest.
"So, we need to leave here in twenty minutes?" Mia asked.
"We can't, it will take Caleb an hour to bring his car for you to leave in. We will get some work done in the meantime." Tim tried not to act irritated.
Mia groaned, "I don't want to see Dominic. I am so over his nonsense." Tim reached over and squeezed her hand telling her it would be alright.
"All right then, Mr. Barrett," Tim raised an eyebrow at Jason's formality. Jason continued, "This is Margaret Rommel the attorney I think could be a good fit for you going forward with the Heir Documents." Ms. Rommel shook Tim's hand then Mia's.
"Before we move forward with that there are some changes that may alter how the situation needs to be handled." Tim said, producing a stack of documents from his briefcase and handing them to Jason. "Make copies and put them away before Dominic gets here. We still need to play pretend for two weeks." Jason was looking at the prenuptial agreement, the marriage certificate, the judge's sworn statement of compliance with ordinances.
"Mia, you got married without your family there?" Jason sounded sad and Nathan snatched the papers away from him. Margaret was watching the unfolding events with interest.
"I didn't really have a choice. Dominic took that away from me." Mia said frustrated.
"Tim, are you telling me you applied for this marriage two weeks ago?" Jason asked perplexed.
"What did that cost you?" Nathan laughed.
"The paperwork says I did, doesn't it? Nathan, I have no idea what you are talking about." Tim answered smirking.
"Timothy, did you bribe that judge?" Mia asked appalled.
"Of course not. Just because you didn't know that we were getting married doesn't mean that I didn't." Tim smiled cheekily at his wife. Ms. Rommell chuckled heartily at that, and everyone relaxed.
"How come your prenup only protects Mia?" Jason asks handing the document to Margaret when she held her hand out for it.
"I must recommend that this be retracted and rewritten. Plus, the Heir Documents you are asking for are extremely concerning. For your protection, I have some suggestions for a rewrite that while fair would be less biased in favor of your wife." Ms. Rommell said.
"No, I want them exactly as I specified." Timothy stated uncompromisingly.
"I really must insist." Margaret began.
"No." Tim shook his head at her.
"Then I can't put my reputation on the line by drafting documents that would be disastrous for you if the worst were to happen." The attorney said with a shake of her head.
"Has she signed the NDA's?" Timothy asked Jason. Jason nodded in the affirmative.
"You may go. I no longer need a separate attorney from my wife anyway." Tim told the woman who then stood and after a moment walked out the door.
"Isn't that correct, Jason." Tim asked.
"Technically, a gray area but we should be able to get the documents finished then add a consulting attorney, so it won't be questioned by anyone." Jason said, thinking quickly. "I think we can get everything ready for signatures within two weeks."
"Good, that's what I want to hear." Tim answered. Nathan walked back into the office and handed the original documents back to Tim. He handed the copies to Jason who took them and locked them in a drawer in his desk.
"I have to ask, Mia, did you really get married because you wanted to?" Jason asked his sister crouching down in front of her. She gave him a lop-sided smile.
"I married Tim because I wanted to marry him. I got married now like this because Dominic is trying to force me into marriage with Nicholas and he is fighting so hard against Timothy that there is no room for compromise." Mia said, her voice turning angry at the end.
"I'm sorry, we should have tried harder to reign him in." Nathan said coming up beside Mia. "I can't believe we didn't get to be at your wedding. That just really hurts my soul" Nathan continued.
"We will have a real wedding when this all blows over." Tim told the brothers. He could tell they both really cared for their sister. They both nodded gratefully at their new brother-in-law.
"Now all we must do is survive the next two weeks of my engagement." Mia cheerfully remarked.
"Thirteen days." Timothy amended stonily. Mia rolled her eyes but nodded her acknowledgement of his statement.
"So, is there any information you still need from me as far as the Heir Documents are concerned?" Tim asked, wanting to escape with his bride but not able to until Caleb sent him word.
"What about stipulations for Mrs. Barrett Senior?" Jason questioned unsure on the topic.
"I miss Grandma Laura." Mia was saddened at the thought. "Any news, Tim?"
"There is still no major change, but brain activity continues to improve at a gradual pace." Timothy repeated what the doctor had told him during his weekly phone call. "I only ask that Mia continue to care for Grandmother as I have done and if she were to awaken that she provides comfortable care for the rest of her days. Grandma is quite wealthy on her own so that is not an issue. I suppose you should be aware that Grandma Laura bequeathed almost all her estate to you years ago."
"What?" Mia asked, "and where would you be in this?"
"Yes, she left you her estate a long time ago back when I first said I wanted to divorce. She gave you almost everything." Tim paused, "I would be dead in this circumstance, Mia. The documents protect you and my heirs when I am not around to do it myself." Timothy explained.
"Can we not talk about me being a widow on our wedding day?" Mia asked extra cranky about the topic now. Tim brushed his hand across her cheek. Tim's phone buzzed with a notification.
"The car is here let's go." Tim said, nodding to Jason and Nathan.
"Leaving so soon, Barrett?" Dominic's voice sounded in the room as he strode into the office. "Mia's engagement not enough punishment for you so you came in for another round with the Lane brothers?"
Mia had her hands under the table in her purse, quickly switching out the rings. She hated to do it but if Dominic found out she was married to Tim now he would go crazy. With the ink barely dry on their marriage certificate, Dominic would try to undo the match. They needed to stay married secretly long enough that a judge wouldn't consider an annulment. Mia finally managed the great ring swap and placed her hands back on the table. She glanced at Tim; he was looking at Nicholas's engagement ring scowling.
"Mia, what are you doing here?" Dominic asked grumpily. "I can't get ahold of you or find you. Not even your assistant will give me a straight answer but here you are?"
"The documents concern me, so I came in. I don't want to talk to you or for you to know where we are." Mia told her eldest brother.
Dominic's face became stony, "When will you be home today? It isn't right for you to be out in the world unchaperoned before your marriage."
"I am a divorced mother of two children nobody cares where I am. I will not be coming back. Since you are forcing me into marriage you will have to accept that I will be doing it my way." Mia retorted angrily.
"Why are you always around Barrett? He abandoned you for four years." Dominic said in a sharp tone.
"Wow! You faked my death and told him the children and I died and then hypnotized me so I wouldn't remember him, and you call that abandonment?" Mia scoffed. The three other men in the room were watching the exchange with increasingly concerned expressions.
"Why can't you just let me live my life?" Mia asked quietly.
"As long as that bastard is in the picture you keep choosing wrong, and I must protect you from yourself. You don't think clearly around that man." Dominic said harshly.
"You mean I don't think the way you have decided I should." Mia laughed derisively. "Since we have learned that my life is all about you, I guess we are done here. Just text me what I am supposed to think next and save me some time." Mia let the sarcasm flow unable to continue this a moment longer.
"You and Nicholas will join Eva and I for dinner on Monday to discuss wedding venues. The sooner you are married the better." Dominic ordered his sister.
"At least we agree on one point." Mia said quietly before turning and walking out the door.