Conviction (A Stand-alone Novel): A Bad Boy Romance by Ellie Danes Page A

contest it without forfeiting their dispensation." He slipped two pieces of paper neatly from a large pile and handed them to David and Autumn.
    I could tell by David's silent gulping that the amount bequeathed to him was enough to make him think twice. While he fought against himself, he gaped and gulped like a fish on dry land. I caught the ghost of a rye smile on Bryon Shelton's face before I looked at Autumn.
    She would hate me. I appeared out of nowhere. No, worse, I had walked out of prison and snatched away all of her hard work. I thought about the long hours, the outlandish ideas, and the nearly indecipherable plans she had suffered through working for Jace. I imagined the next time I saw her beautiful brown eyes they would be as jagged as broken bottles and screaming for my blood.
    "Mr. Shelton, I know you have just met Ayden King, but I can assure you this is great news. There is much more to him than even Jace knew," Autumn said. She smiled at me. Her eyes warm like chocolate.
    "What I heard from Mr. Knight himself was quite enough in my opinion," Shelton said. "Now, understand that the board will decide the best CEO for Knight Holdings. Mr. King is the owner, but we did not know at the time of the will's creation, if he would be available for the position of CEO."
    David stood up and fumbled to push his chair back. "Your opinion? I didn't think lawyers were allowed to have opinions about their client’s decisions. Or maybe you do and you just don't want to say, but I will. Jace made a mistake willing his legacy to this no-account loser who has spent the last decade and a half of his life rotting in prison. The board of Knight Holdings will never stand for it."
    Before Bryon Shelton could retort, David gathered up his briefcase in both arms and stormed from the office.
    During the echo of the door slam, the silver-haired lawyer removed his glasses, polished them, and then met my eyes. "Any questions?"
    * * * * *
    The lawyer's smile appeared again as I faced him speechless. "Take your time."
    He selected a large folder from his paper tray and opened it in the center of his desk. The first piece of paper he picked up was a sealed letter. As my brain was spinning uselessly instead of processing, I watched his practiced motions. Shelton opened a desk drawer, removed a silver letter opener, and sliced open the envelope in one neat flick of the wrist.
    I was the owner of Knight Holdings. The sentence finally formed in my head, but it did not make any sense. It was almost as bad as the football jargon nonsense that Jace used to yell at me just to irritate me.
    Still annoying me from beyond the grave, I thought. Somewhere Jace was laughing.
    I shook off the thoughts and kept my eyes on the lawyer. He scanned the missive with quick, sharp eyes, and then paused. Something was wrong. His edge disappeared. I saw him work to swallow. Then he folded up the letter, slipped it back inside the envelope, and buried it at the bottom of a different pile.
    The lawyer sat back in his office chair, looking pale.
    "You weren't just pulling a prank on David?" I croaked. My voice just did not want to work right, same as my brain. "I mean, that would be great, but I feel like you punked me in the process."
    "I assure you, Mr. King, no one has punked you. Jace thought very highly of you, and this was his intention."
    Autumn agreed with the lawyer. "Jace wanted it this way. Anyone can tell you that. David is a minority of one."
    I thought of all the people at Jace's funeral, his vast empire of fans, employees, and friends. My heart stumbled around in my chest, and I felt light-headed.
    "I should contest the will. That would mean I forfeit my portion. Jace thought he was making this all airtight, but that's the loophole, isn't it?" I gave Shelton a hopeful look.
    He laughed in my face without a hint of malice. "Sorry, Mr. King, but Jace knew you very well. He put an addendum in the will that means nothing you can do will forfeit your