Forbidden Contract (The Birmingham Brothers Series)
Read Forbidden Contract (The Birmingham Brothers Series) Online
Authors: L. A. Miller
FORBIDDEN CONTRACT
Book 1 of the Birmingham Brothers Series
BY L.A. MILLER
3
By
Leslie Miller
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.
ISBN-13: 978-1483954219
ISBN-10: 1483954218
cknowledgements
For Art who never let me forget my dream. For Merry who never let me give up on my dream. For Cindy who helped me make my dream a reality. For Michelle who kept reminding me to do what made me happy and for Kim who was my cheering section.
Bailey laid Tristan gently
down in his bed and pulled the covers over his tiny fragile body. Careful not to wake him she closed the door then leaned back up against it exhausted. All she wanted to do was climb into her bed, pull the covers over her head and forget the world existed for just one night. But the dishes in the sink and the load of laundry that needed to be folded reminded her she still had work to do. As she walked down the hallway she peeked in on Alexis who was deep in dreamland with her teddy safely tucked in her arms. Pulling the door closed Bailey made her way first to the kitchen where dishes were piled up in the sink. She loved the fact that Amanda was always willing to babysit at a moment notice and that Alexis and Tristan adored her. However she wished just once when she came home she would find the kitchen cleaned or the toys all put away. Sighing she turned the water on and while she waited for the hot water to reach her pipes she played the answering machine.
“
Ms. Montgomery, this is Mrs. Sheffield in the collections department for Chapman Medical. It is important you contact our office tomorrow so we can discuss the payment arrangements for Tristan’s medical bills. I can be reached in my office at….”
Bailey hit
stop. She knew the number by heart and hated the fact she would once again have to beg for an extension. Sighing she looked at the pile of bills and collection notices that sat on the desk. She managed to pay for the rent and the utilities, food was also a priority and then any money left over went for Tristan’s medication or doctor bills. The loss of her job last week had been unavoidable and despite the fact the lawyer told her she had a wrongful termination case the mounting bills would not wait till she was able to settle. Her lawyer had been sympathetic but honest. She would probably win but only after years of continuances. Despite the fact Matt had given her additional hours at her second job the money she made there would not keep them afloat for long. As she washed and rinsed the dishes she felt the tears begin to form. Shaking her head she refused to cry. She needed to be strong; she needed to find a way to support them. Bailey had no time to feel sorry for herself. Since her father’s death at the age of eighteen she had been in charge of the family. Her mother was pregnant with Tristan at that time and it was a difficult pregnancy. She had been diagnosed with cancer midway through her first trimester and the news compounded with her husband’s death pushed her over the edge. Bailey took charge and instead of going to college she took a job at her father’s construction firm. It was then that she realized how deeply in debt they were. His business partner had squandered all the money and her father had mortgaged the house to the hilt to keep the business going. Her mother lived for two months after Tristan was born then one morning she just didn’t wake up. Bailey was left with a two year old sister, a two month old brother who was prone to asthma attacks, a pile of bills left behind from her mother’s illness and a home in default. Packing up her siblings she found a small apartment to live in with the help of her church. They provided her with daycare while she went to work.
Eventually she was able to get them a bigger place
when she landed a high tipping job as a waitress in Newport Beach. She took a second job with Matt an old high school friend cleaning condos on weekends. He didn’t mind if she brought the kids along knowing it saved her money on daycare. He even found her additional work during the week and would often watch the kids for her. Uncle Matt as the kids called him was known to show up with pizza when he noticed the fridge getting low. He would also treat them to a day at the park when Bailey was exhausted from pulling a full shift at work after being up with Tristan all night during an asthma attack. Bailey knew Matt was in love with her and it would have been so easy to allow him to take care of her but her parents had brought her up with certain morals. Taking advantage of another person’s compassion was not one of them. She was fond of Matt but would never be in love with him.
With the dishes clean she looked at the laundry and considered putting it off till she remembered she had a meeting with
Alexis’s school in a few hours. Alexis had given another child a black eye when the boy teased Tristan to tears about how small he was. Bailey had been summoned to meet with the principle to discuss reasons why Alexis should be permitted to remain in school. She knew if she went to sleep right now she would wake up even more exhausted than she already was. She made herself a pot of coffee then set about folding the laundry before quietly putting the clothes away in each child’s room. She had an hour to herself before she needed to wake them both up for school so she laid her head down for one minute to rest. Bailey was awakened by the knock on her apartment door and groggily looked up at the clock.
“
Shit!” She cried fully waking as she ran to the kid’s rooms. “Alexis... get up, we’re late.” Then she flew to Tristan’s room opening the door. “Tristan wake up….we’re late.” He moaned and rolled over to fall back asleep but she pulled the blanket off him. “Tristan wake up, come on babe we’re really late.”
He turned to her eyes full of tears and her heart melted. He was exhausted and really needed to stay hom
e. She didn’t have a choice and shook her head. “Never mind….go back to sleep.” She said and stepped out of the room. As she headed towards Alexis’s room the knock on the front door grabbed her attention. She glanced into Alexis’s room to see she had also rolled over and gone back asleep. Again the knock came so she ignored Alexis she headed for the door.
“Alright…alright….I’m coming
.”
Without thinking she opened the door to find herself face to face with a distinguished elderly woman whom she had only seen in photographs.
Regina Montgomery, matriarch of the Montgomery family stood before her in her designer navy blue skirt and matching blazer. Her white silk blouse with a V neckline exposed the large emerald shaped sapphire surrounded by diamonds. It matched the wedding ring she wore on her left hand. Bailey paused for a moment considering what to do but her grandmother pushed passed her as if she owned the place. Bailey could only stare at her boldness. When her grandmother turned to face her she closed the door taking a moment to collect her thoughts before turning to her grandmother.
“I would invite you to come in grandmother but I see you’ve already done so
.” She replied smartly.
“I see your father forgot to teach you manners
.”
“My father taught me manners and to respect my elders
.” She said angrily. “But he also taught me respect had to be earned and I don’t believe you have earned it….what do you want?”
“For starters a cup of tea would be nice
.” She said looking around the apartment in open disgust before she chose to sit on the sofa.
Bailey turned to make her a cup of tea not because she felt the need to be polite but because she needed time to figure out what her grandmother wanted. She had never met the woman and to her knowledge
neither had her parents after her grandparents had disowned Baileys father for marrying beneath his station. Turning she went back out to the living room as the water boiled on the stove.
“Do you prefer lemon or sugar?”
Bailey said mimicking her grandmother’s accent.
“No just plain
.” She said ignoring the southern drawl of her granddaughter.
Turning Bailey went back to the kitchen where she added a tea ba
g to a cup then poured the boiling water over the bag. Once she felt it was strong enough she put the tea bag in the trash then carried the cup out to her grandmother. She saw her disapproval when she didn’t come out with a full tray and the fine china. Handing the cup to her grandmother she took a seat on the edge of the arm chair near the window.
“Why are you here?” Bailey asked
never one to mince words.
“Really Bailey….were you
raised in a barn….proper manners dictates you ask about the person first before you begin your line of questioning.”
“I would only ask if I cared
. Since I’ve only seen you in a few photographs and I didn’t see you at my father’s funeral I have no curiosity about how you are.” She saw the way her grandmother flinched when she mentions her father’s funeral.
“Very well
, since you wish to be so direct I will not mince words either. I have a proposition to discuss with you.” Regina said in a very businesslike tone.
“What kind of
proposition?” Bailey asked skeptically.
“You are one
paycheck away from losing everything….your brothers medical bills continue to pile up and I see no way you will ever get out from under them in this life time.”
“I don’t know where you got your information but we’re doing alright
.” Bailey said defensively.
Her grandmother stood and placing the cup on the table walked over to the desk and held up the stack of bills. She then pushed the button on the machine to replay the call from the collections department at the hospital
from yesterday that she hadn’t erased.
“I know you
lost your job. I know your father’s partner embezzled all the funds and your father left you and your mother with a pile of debt. Despite your youth you have done surprisingly well raising your brother and sister after your mother’s death. But behind the debt collectors will be the authorities who are already building a case to take your siblings away from you.”
“They
can’t do that!” Bailey cried. “I’ve given them a place to live, food, clothing, medical attention, love, I’ve kept my family together and they have no right.”
“Bailey you
’re exhausted…..your brother is constantly in the hospital with his asthma and your little sister has begun to show violent tendencies in school.”
“She hi
t a boy for teasing her brother; that’s not violent tendencies.”
“
A well-bred lady never hits anyone.” She countered.
“Well then I guess neither of us is well bred…..but then again grandmother isn’t th
at why you disowned your own son, he didn’t marry to your standards.”
“Your father was young and rash
and all would have been forgiven had he come home.”
“You mean had he left my mother and come home
.”
“Your mother didn’t belong in our world
.”
“
My God, you truly are an elitist bitch.” Bailey said satisfied with her grandmothers shocked face. “Oh I’m sorry grandmother….to crude for you….I don’t know any better remember, it was how my under classed mother and disowned father raised me.”
Bailey watched her grandmother try to regain her composure. She expected the old woman to walk out but instead she just calmly sat down. Bailey didn’t know what else to do but sit also.
“I have a proposition for you.” Her grandmother began again. “One that will help not only you but your brother and sister”
“We don’t need your guilt money
.”
“
You’re as stubborn as your father.” She sighed. “Bailey, you will lose custody of them, I did not lie. The paperwork is already drawn up and just waiting for a judges signature. They will be placed in foster care and probably be separated. You will have to file bankruptcy to get yourself out of the mound of debt you have incurred because of your brothers medical attention, is that what you want?”
“NO
!” She said fearing what her grandmother had just said might be true.
“Then you have a choice
. Agree to my proposition or explain to your siblings why you let them be taken away from you.”
“What is it
you’re proposing?” Bailey asked warily.
“A merger you might say
.”
“Merge
r…..but I have nothing to offer. As you already pointed out my father’s firm is bankrupt and our house was foreclosed on.”
“That’s not the type of merger I’m speaking of
. What I’m proposing is a merger by marriage.”
“Marriage…..you want me to marry someone?” Bailey said astounded
.
“Yes
, Beckett Birmingham is a very wealthy man by his own rights. His family has amassed quite a fortune and they wish to purchase our family business.”
“Then sell
.” Bailey said as if it was so obvious.
“We cannot do that….the
Birmingham’s are Yankees. They need the Montgomery connection to be successful in the south and your uncles have unfortunately let the business slip.” She admitted.
“Slip….you mean you
’re broke and you need the Birmingham’s money to maintain your family name and lifestyle.” Bailey said quickly figuring where this had been leading. “And you expect me to marry a total stranger so that a family I don’t even know can continue to live in the means they have been accustomed to. Despite the fact they turned their back on my father and his family….oh grandmother.” She laughed. “You have balls I’ll give you that.”
“Must you be so
vulgar?”
“I’m sorry, my upbringing remember…the answers no….it would do you and your family some good to get knocked off your high horse
.”