Lila

"Mr. Burnstein, it has been a very stressful few days for all of us. I know for you as well. I appreciate that you're attempting to ensure there's no confusion, but frankly, I don't have the patience. Does this, at it's heart, boil down to you telling us that these papers are legally binding, that they were prepared by Dane himself, and that our only way to challenge them is through the legal system?"

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She sat at a small conference table in the Lawyer's office, Chris to her right, and Mr. Burnstein and his younger partner across the table.

"Well… yes, Delilah. That is the core of it."

"Excellent. If you need us to sign anything to the effect that we understand that and you have done your duty, I would be happy to do that—you too, Chris?"

She turned to Chris, who grinned and nodded. But the smile fell off his face even before she turned back to the lawyers. He was wound tigher than a guitar string, and Lila thought she knew why.

They both stared at the lawyers, who looked at each other. Mr. Burnstein nodded, then drew a sheaf of papers out of a clear plastic folder on the table. "Very well, Mrs. Daniels, let's get to the reading then, shall we?"

They were forced to sit through another fifteen minutes of legal language and disclaimers before the important things began. Lila was on the edge of her seat. She knew what was in these papers, but she also knew that Chris didn't, and his response to finding out was going to be very revealing, she thought.

"And so we reach clause 112.4, Ownership and Stewardship," Mr. Burnstein droned. When he began to read it word for word, Lila had had enough.

"Please, Mr. Burnstein. Please. Just… just tell us what it says?"

The laywer removed his glasses and looked at each of them. Chris nodded when Burnstein fixed his beady eyes on him. Lila was relieved.

"Well, the short version is that you, Lila, are about to become the CEO of Daniels Security. And Chris, your role will be expanded to Operations Manager

"What?!" Chris and Lila said at the same time.

Lila stared at him, mouth open like she was shocked, and waited to see what he would do.

Burnstein was either unaware of the tension that had suddenly appeared, or was ignoring it, because he went on. "Lila, you now own a controlling share of Daniels Security at sixty-eight percent. Chris, you now own the remaining thirty-two."

"What about Dane?" Chris asked, his eyes wide.

"He relinquished the company ownership to the trust last week, and upon the signing of these documents, he will no longer own any part of Daniels Security."

Chris turned and stared at Lila, who gaped back at him. She hadn't known he was completely cutting himself off. She imagined he didn't tell her because he didn't want her to argue.

Tears pricked her eyes and made her throat pinch. Then she turned to the lawyers. "Is this… permanent? What if he comes back? Or what if he—"

"From a legal perspective, once we sign these papers, Mr. Daniels has no legal claim or recourse. He will not be attached to the business in any way."

"I knew he was making provisions, but I never imagined…" Chris breathed, then stared at the lawyer. "Are you certain?"

"I assure you, Mr. Daniels, what Mr. Daniels has written into these documents is highly unusual, though it is robustly legal. We had lengthy discussion with him about this eventuality to ensure there was no doubt he understood what he was doing, and how it would affect his future. I personally had those conversations with Dane," the older man said, then removed his glasses and sighed. He looked at Chris, then at Lila. Then he slumped, and it was as if all the iron went out of his spine. He rubbed his eyes and suddenly looked very old. Lila's heart went out to him, but surprisingly, the man wasn't readying to speak about himself.

"We are not unaware of Dane's… unique family situation," Burnstein said carefully. "He was very clear with us about the risks of leaving any loophole or legal space for reversing this, and although it went against our advice, he made certain that we left no room to maneuver. Maam," he said to Lila, a grim smile on his face. "You are now the controlling ownership of a multi-million dollar company. And Chris? Your salary will double, and you will hold the tie-breaking vote on any board that may be established, now or in future. Congratulations, both of you. Dane tells me that your unique talents and efforts are part of what brought this company its success and he is proud to give it to you."

Lila looked at Chris and let herself appear shocked. But she was sweating, examining him to see how he would respond.

His reaction was very mixed.

He'd been speechless. Just sitting there as Burnstein spoke, but now he came alive, running a hand through his hair and shaking his head. "This is Dane's company," he said quickly. "We can't take it from him."

"You can, and more importantly, you will, Chris. Dane put this in effect for exactly this reason: He knew his father would attempt to destroy his life—and his life's work, which is exactly how he referred to this company. He sees your dual willingness to take over as the saving of the business, not the death of it. He was very clear on that point when we spoke. Very clear," the older man emphasized.

Under any other circumstance, Lila would have laughed at the man's obvious run-in with Dane's temper and strength. But all it did was make her ache for him—yearn to see his eyes flash, and his knuckles clenched white with his passion for… well, anything.

She looked at Chris, who just stared back. "We have to sign it," she said quietly. "He didn't tell me everything that was in there, but he was really clear that if they showed up, we had to do it. Even if we didn't want to. I promised him. But… maybe more importantly, Chris, if he's not… I mean… Maybe it's for the best?"

Chris frowned at her, but didn't argue. A minute later the lawyers called the notary into the room, who took note of their identification, then let them through a lengthy signing process.

And as she signed the final paper, Lila swallowed back tears, her mind turning back to that moment in the apartment when he'd made her promise...

He'd looked so pained. "It's all taken care of, Lila. You just… you just have to do it. You just have to live it." Her heart ached and she kissed him…

Forcing herself to stay in the present, she handed the pen back to the notary. She avoided Chris's gaze and instead made her silent promise to Dane that she would do everything he'd asked of her.

Even if it killed her.