A Billion Dollar Bequest to A Stranger - An Inheritance Games Fanfic

Chapter 2: Davenport

Author's Note:
To start off the chapter, here's a little picture of Jackson Passaglia as Grayson Hawthorne. Better not catch me simping for some tiktok dude 👀. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!
- Reika
----------
I pulled the sides of my black pencil skirt out of habit and straightened my black and silver blazer over the white balloon button up blouse that I wore under it.
"You look fine, Lacey," Kirk mumbled as he entered my room and walked over to where I was standing in front of my full-body mirror, straightening his own deep ocean blue tuxedo vest. "Who are you trying to impress anyways?"
"Says you, Kirk," I chuckled a retort to his last statement. "I hear Nash was to be present as well."
My older brother cleared his throat as his face flushed.
"U-Uh, Carson, maybe Lacey should just go by herself," he stuttered as he called to our oldest brother who entered the room.
Carson entered the room, his black tuxedo jacket slung across his arm and a smirk across his face.
"Maybe we should, shouldn't we?" he smirked at both me and our brother. "That way Kirk won't have to see Nash and Lacey will have to be with Mr Grayson Hawthorne."
"Oh, shut it, Carson," Kirk and I chimed together as we turned away from our brother who came up from behind and slung his arms around both of us.
"You both look great, guys. Don't worry about the guys you're tryna get," he smiled into the mirror. "Besides, I already got the girls."
Kirk and I turned to Carson in mock disgust and then looked at each other.
Then in unison, we slapped our dear brother over the back of the head with a successful slap echoing throughout the empty mansion.
Laughter soon bubbled through the air as Carson held his head in pain and us youngest and eldest children mocked him.
"That's what you get, big brother!" I exclaimed in delight.
"Don't give us that 'I get all the girls' bullshit, big brother," Kirk followed. "We know about your little crush on Alexander Hawthorne too."
The back of Carson's head had ultimately turned red and eventually, his whole head became a red tomato, matching the red tie he wore.

Suddenly, slow claps echoed from the doorway.
"Miss Prairie," Grayson Hawthorne slurred, my titled slithering out of his pretty mouth.
"Mr Hawthorne," I replied, straightening my clothes once again and again and regaining my composure. "How lovely to see you."
Carson and Kirk both straightened at the sight of the Hawthorne boy and their eyes glared at him.
"We'll let you two speak," Kirk mumbled as he pulled a red Carson out of the room.
Soon, they were both out of my room and it was only me, Grayson and a deadly silence.
"Would you like to converse in my office?" I asked the boy, cutting the silence as I cleared my throat and stood straight.
Grayson gave a curt nod as he followed me to the room that lead from mine to a small office space.

Once we were both inside, I closed the door behind me and went to stand in front of my desk; Grayson staying near the doorway.
"Thank you for coming as my escort, Mr Hawthorne," I said as I rested my hands on the desk behind me.
It was important to be polite to a rich man if you were in pursuit of a safe future.
I looked at Grayson and his all black attire. His tuxedo jacket, pants and shirt were all black and his silver eyes were circled with grey.
It must have been because of his grandfather's death.
"Are you alright?" I asked out of curiosity and concern for the boy, but instantly regretted it as he looked straight into my eyes with a steel look and remembered the vow that I took to never concern myself with Grayson Davenport Hawthorne ever again.
"I'm fine, but thank you for asking, Miss Prairie," he answered before looking away.
"You can call me Malacey, Mr Hawthorne," I laughed at his formality.
"Then you must address me as Grayson, Miss," he replied, but didn't meet my eyes.
I ignored his strictly polite formality and watched him as he stared out of the window.
It was hard not to stare at Grayson Davenport Hawthorne with all of his striking features. His icy silver eyed, his tidy yet messy hairstyle, his strict and straight attitude. No wonder he was the heir apparent.
Luckily, I caught myself staring before he could.
Unluckily, not quite fast enough for him to notice.
"Like what you see?" he smirked as he turned to look at me.
My cheeks flushed red as certain memories came up but I pushed them back down into the darkness.
No.
"Don't flatter yourself, mister," I scoffed as I tossed my hair over my shoulder. "You look alright."
"You don't look too bad yourself," he replied, sweet poison dripping from his words.
Silence filled the space between me and him as his eyes fluttered me up and down and I watched him watch me.

I cleared my throat once again to clear the silence.
"Who else has been labelled to be present at the reading of the will?" I asked, trying to cut tension.
"All of the family and very close friends," he replied, a sudden seriousness falling over his already icy features. "And two random girls who are complete strangers to the family."
"Strangers?" I echoed.
"You and some other girl nobody has even heard of," he scoffed and I saw annoyance flicker in his eyes as he said those words.
Why would I and a random stranger be labelled in Tobias Hawthorne's will?
"Thankfully, it wasn't so hard to find you, Miss Prairie," the boy in the black tuxedo, the colour bringing out the silver in his eyes. "It wasn't as easy to find the other... girl."
"Mr Hawthorne, I advise that you control your sarcasm and choose your words correctly," I retorted, just as much sass lacing my tone just as much as his.
His ice silver eyes met mine as he walked over to the desk where I stood.
"Maybe you should too, Miss Prairie," he said as he reached me and the small of my back hit the desk as a curious light flickered in his eyes,
"Malacey, Grayson," I sneered at him with a smirk. "We aren't total strangers, are we, Gray? Or should I call you, Davenport, like old times?"
Suddenly, the boy stepped away from me, all light gone from his eyes.
Oh no. I'd said the magic word.
Davenport.
"I-I'll be waiting outside, Miss Prairie," he stuttered as he left the room.
Funny. Grayson Davenport Hawthorne never stuttered.

"Shall we follow behind you?" came the sudden shout from Kirk as he opened the door.
"You alright, Lace?"
"I'm... fine," I replied as I heaved myself off of the desk. "Just follow the escort car to Hawthorne House and I'll meet you there."
Kirk looked at me, concerned but didn't say anything.

This was gonna be a long ride.