somewhere only we know || grayson hawthorne x oc

chapter one (avery)

Once Avery had settled next to Libby, she looked around in mild confusion. She had assumed that now both Jameson and herself had arrived, the will reading would commence. But evidently, they were still waiting for something or, perhaps, someone. Zara's voice suddenly broke through the muted conversations that had previously been taking place.

"Are you sure there isn't any way we can read the contents of the will without her?" Her? Avery thought. Who is her? A stillness covered the room. It's hadn't even occurred to her that she might not be the only person the Hawthornes were waiting for when the reading was delayed.

"As per the terms of the will, she has to be present, or it won't be read at all," said Mr Ortega in an unreadable tone.

This time, it was Constantine who spoke. "Nobody's seen her in over a year. I doubt she'd care about a matter like this. She didn't even bother to attend the funeral."

"She'll be here."

Nash somehow managed to, with lack of a better phrase, shut them up. He then proceeded to continue his precious conversation with Xander, everyone else following suit. While everything seemed as before the interruption, there was a newfound tension in the room. You could have cut it with a knife.

And then it was cut.

The doors of the Great Hall opened to the sound of precise and measured click of heels, the only sound in the vast space. It was as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. The owner of the heels was a girl a couple of years older than Avery, if that. She had golden hair that reminded one of a Greek goddess, layered and highlighted in such a way that only the rich could pull off. She had piercing green eyes, remarkable in their determination and observing nature. Not only that, but they were the type of eyes that could uncover all of one's secrets, without revealing any of their own. But perhaps the most striking things was her bright red lipstick. It created the illusion of someone of influence, who had everyone wrapped around her finger. Maybe it wasn't an illusion at all. Something about her commanded power, as if the devil himself would have no choice but to bow down in her presence.

Her lips ticked upwards. Her smirk struck a familiarity in Avery. She had seen this only a few moments before. It was the very same smirk Jameson had given her; she knew it couldn't be trusted.

"Apologies for my tardiness; my flight was delayed. I presume we can get the will read within three hours. I would rather not miss my return flight." At this, she smiled a sweet but sarcastic smile. Avery noted her unusual accent. It was English, but had some sort of American influence that she would have found hard to describe. And she had a strangely formal way of speaking, something she'd only expect to hear in a Jane Austen book. For what felt like an hour, no one reacted. Avery hadn't noticed the effect she had on the rest of the room until she looked around. All eyes were fixated on her, as if in a trance. She looked over at Libby, who looked equally as uncomfortable as her.

Finally, Mr Ortega spoke as if snapping out of said trance. "Well, we'll need to distribute the contents. That'll be bound to take more than a few hours."

"I don't want anything. I doubt he's even left me anything. He's probably said that my presence is required so he can rub it in my face. But the joke's on him, because I could not care less."

With that, the matter was considered dropped. The girl went to stand in a corner at the back of the room, phone in hand. She really didn't seem interested in what was going on around her, instead preoccupied with whatever was on her phone. Throughout the will reading, Avery watched her, transfixed and, it seemed, she wasn't the only one. Nash, Grayson, and Xander were discreet in their watching her, but it was easy to notice if you paid attention for long enough.

They stopped when people began to make outbursts against what was written in the will, busy with the confusion of what they had just heard.

The girl's head snapped up as her part of the will was read. She didn't seem to have registered the same thoughts that brewed in the back of Avery's mind. We're the only people left to inherit. And there's still 46.2 billion dollars to give away.

"To Isabel Alice Schuyler, I-I leave." Mr Ortega hesitated a moment before continuing, "I leave 6 billion dollars, the Hawthorne Foundation, and Hawthorne House, as well as everything inside not otherwise specified."

These words barely had time to register before the final part was read.

"The remainder of my estate including all properties, monetary assets, and worldly possessions not otherwise specified, I leave to Avery Kylie Grambs."

Silence followed.

And then

chaos.