Page 4 of Omega's Pretend Mate
“You said that grandfather was going to put you in charge of things! But it was just the trusts! You were supposed to be in charge of the properties too! Now who’s going to kick Gabe out of that house?”
“Nobody is kicking anybody out of any houses, Ivy,” Evelyn said.
“Why does Gabe get a beach house all to himself?” Ivy demanded. “I got my penthouse when I got married, but he’s just an old spinster! He doesn’t deserve a house on the beach!”
“Honey,” Evelyn tried, placating tone to her voice. “You could have asked for a house in Harris Cove too if it was that important.”
“But I want his house!”
I cringed. This wasn’t going to go well. She’d thrown a tantrum right after grandfather had bought the house for me as a graduation present, claiming that she deserved to have a beach house, despite her already having been given her own place when she’d mated two years prior.
I’d thought she’d gotten over it, but apparently not.
“I want Gabe’s house!” Ivy cried. “It’s not fair that he has a beach house all to himself while I have to book a resort trip to enjoy the beach.”
“You can do so many other things living in the city though,” Evelyn tried. “You have a penthouse condo in Manhattan, and you always love your resort vacations.”
“But I deserve it!” Ivy wailed. “I need a vacation house too! Gabe has a strip of beach to himself! That should be me! Why can’t you get me his house?”
“It’s in his name dear. Just like your condo is in your name. It’s meant to be the first big asset gift.”
“There must be something you can do!”
There was a moment of silence, and my stomach turned. It only meant one thing: that aunt Evelyn was trying to figure out a way to get Ivy what she wanted.
“He does pay a lot in property taxes for one person…” she mused. “Surely it makes more sense for a lone omega to live someplace more affordable until they find an alpha…”
“Thanks mommy!” Ivy declared. “I knew you’d find a way.”
“It’ll take time though sweetheart. Father will never deny such a request.”
“I’ll wait.”
I almost snorted sarcastically, but managed to hold back. The last thing I needed was for them to know that I was there.
“No promises Ivy,” Evelyn warned. “Just because he asks for it, doesn’t mean that he can’t cover it on his own. I don’t have access to any of his other finances.”
“I know you’ll get me his house once grandfather dies,” Ivy chirped.
I frowned and tip-toed away to grab my coat before my parents called for me and gave away the fact that I’d been there.
How callous could Ivy be? Both of them, really. I might not agree with grandfather’s decision regarding my trust, but he was still alive and would hopefully see positive results with the alternative therapies. Counting on his death to take away my home was just horrid.
Still, now I had real concerns. I loved my grandfather, despite his outdated mindset, and hoped he’d live a long time anyway, but now my financial interests were also tied to him beating the cancer.
Somehow that made me hate Ivy even more. Her greed put a tarnish on my honest desire for grandfather to live.
Still, it was for the best that I’d heard her little outburst. I now knew that she and aunt Evelyn were scheming something, and it gave me a bit of time to prepare.
∞∞∞
~March~
I stared at the competing emails, feeling a lead weight growing in my stomach.
Gabe,
Thank you for asking your grandmama and I to visit when I’m feeling better. I think a summer beach trip might just be what we need. We’ll let you know when we plan to take you up on it.
