Saved By A Bad Boy

[2]. Where There's a Will...

Jax's cold, empty stare followed me to the chair beside him as I reluctantly took a seat, shielding the side of my face with my hair as I brushed it over my shoulder. The man who was conducting the meeting leaned back and looked at me for a moment, staring intently until Jax cleared his throat.

"Can I ask why she's joining us?" he asked, using his most established diplomatic voice, even though I heard the disgust that rolled off his tongue when he said "she." I tried not to show any emotion as the probate clerk glanced in my ex-best friend's direction.

"Yes, well, we'll get to that in just a moment, Mr. Maxwell," he explained, and then returned his attention to me. "I'm Richard Ganyaw, and I deal with legal matters concerning last will and testaments. As you know, we're here on behalf of Chloe Maxwell." Ganyaw adjusted his glasses, then picked up a sheet of paper from his desk and began reading in a monotonous tone, "On the day of Jaxon Blake Maxwell's eighteenth birthday, he is set to receive the Maxwell real estate as well as a payment of fifty million dollars. The rest will be given to him in annual installments on his birthday until the day he turns twenty-two, which is when he will receive the complete sum of 243 million."

I nearly choked on my own saliva. I always knew the Maxwells were filthy rich, but not to that degree. 

They really were loaded.

Jax, however, seemed completely unfazed by the amount of money being thrown at him. I suppose it was no surprise to him, though, considering the fact that he probably had reviewed the terms of the will a million times since his mother's death.

"However, there is one thing about the will that must be determined with Miss Herron present, as it concerns her as well as you, Mr. Maxwell," Ganyaw informed us, looking up at Jax before sliding his attention to me. He then returned his gaze to the clipboard and read, "All furniture, accessories, and appliances on the Maxwell property are to be distributed to Jaxon Blake Maxwell, to do with them as he sees fit. However, the private library that is included inside the house does not contain anything belonging to Jaxon, but will instead be turned over to Alyssa Taylor Herron when she turns eighteen on April second."

My heart faltered and my jaw went slack.

"What?" Jax and I asked simultaneously, our voices dripping with confusion. Mrs. Maxwell left me her library? My mind traveled back to my favorite place in the world. Books. So. Many. Amazing. Books.

"I'm getting a library?" I clarified, almost jolting forward as the idea settled in. Ganyaw nodded slowly, handing me a copy of the will to look at.

"I wasn't aware of this arrangement," Jax said in an icy tone, leaning back in his seat. "We've gone over the will several times before, and this was not brought to my attention." He sounded calm and charismatic, just like he always did when dealing with anything on a professional level. But he definitely wasn't pleased. 

On the other hand, I didn't even know what to feel. 

Why would Chloe Maxwell leave her library to me? 

"This aspect of the will was not to be revealed until Miss Herron was present, and because you hadn't received custody of the Maxwell property yet, the matter wasn't much of a concern. On top of that, Chloe Maxwell mentioned very specifically that the library was meant to be a final birthday gift from her," Ganyaw explained, shifting in his seat. A small envelope was pinned to the clipboard he was holding, and he detached it before handing it over to me, his beady eyes meeting my own. "This was written out to be given to you when you found out about the library." I took the envelope in a trembling hand, staring at the calligraphic lettering scrawled on the front.