Revenge of the Heir

Revelations

Eric went home that evening with Holly, and was not surprised to see her parents had taken his suggestion and moved into the suite across from him while the construction crews finished with the upgrades on building 9 that he had designed for his penthouse suites. It would be split into 3 units for the top floor, each with its own security system that would be on the same level as at the White House. He had 4 days until they were supposed to be completed, and knew he would be able to reveal himself as soon as it was finished. It was his final line of security, as he had begun the process of transforming it into a secured community.

"Eric, how are you?" Hellen asked as he stepped off of the elevator.

"Glad to be home, could you and Henry come over shortly? There are a few things we need to discuss, and don't be in a rush to unpack just yet. I would hate for you to have to rebox everything in a few days for the final move." he told her as he winked.

"What is it?" Hellen asked as she saw his briefcase and knew he only carried it when he had important papers to bring home.

"A decision that has to be made." he said as he unlocked the door to his and Holly's apartment.

"Give us 20 minutes and we will be over, better let Holly know first." she said as Eric nodded and closed the door before Holly walked out of her bedroom.

"Tell me what?" she asked as she had heard her mother.

"Ask, not tell." he replied as he walked over to her. "Well, something to tell." he added as he hugged her.

"Ok, tell away." she said before she kissed him as she walked into the kitchen.

He could tell that she was already cooking dinner, as he sat at the counter on one of the bar stools. "I met the Voice of the Empire today, and he had an intriguing request from the President." he told her making her nod.

"How long before he wants you to hold your ceremony?" she asked as she added some pasta to the boiling water.

"28 days before it is required, but it necessitates the question I am going to ask." he said as she opened the pan with the sauce that was simmering. He sniffed the air as the smell wafted throughout the room, and his mouth watered.

"What would that be?" she asked as she grabbed a clean spoon and stirred it so he could taste it as she offered it to him.

Eric tasted it from the spoon before she dropped it in the sink and put the lid back on.

"When would you like to hold the wedding? Before I announce who I am? After the announcement? Or we could even use the ceremony itself to a bounce both of us at the same time." he asked her as he watched her work.

She stopped working for a moment before she turned and looked at him. "Your asking if I want to get married in a month? And if I want to use it to announce that you are the Lord of the Heinrich Family and I am your new Lady?" she asked.

He laughed as he looked at her. "Not exactly." he said as she looked at him and raised her eyebrows. "I was thinking more like next week." he said as she slumped back against the counter surprised.

She sat there for a moment as she thought about what he was asking. "He wants you to show you are strong by revealing yourself before the required timeline?" she asked knowing how the Lord's Council worked.

"Yes, he does. I would love it if you would join me, but I will understand if you want to wait. You can have the wedding you want, whenever you want." he said as she stood up.

"It would show the ultimate strength if we used the wedding to reveal us both in a week. Will Congress accept us?" she asked him.

"Congress has already accepted me, after they refused my Uncles. You fulfill all the requirements of a Lady of the Council, and there is absolutely nothing that would prevent you from filling the role." Eric told her as he heard a knock at the door. "Come in." he called knowing it was most likely her parents coming sooner than expected. He was not disappointed when Henry and Hellen entered and came in and sat down.

"Well, what seems to be going on?" Henry asked.

Holly looked at Eric that told him not to say a word yet, as she was still thinking about what she wanted. "Just the powers that be throwing a wrench in my plans." she said as she took a loaf of Garlic Bread out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes while she drained the pasta and added the sauce.

"Oh dear, what is it now?" Hellen asked as she entered the kitchen and began helping her daughter finish dinner.

Holly shook her head as she stopped and looked at Eric. "You just had to go and make this so complicated, didn't you?" she demanded as he smiled.

"You cannot say I didn't try and warn you long before we actually went on that date. I remember several hints when you flirted with me in Freshman year. I believe I said if you ever met my family, the amount of power I would wield would be enormous." Eric replied evenly as he waited eagerly for the spaghetti to be served.

Holly thought back to all of the conversations she had with him over the years, and realized that he had indeed warned her about what would happen should he ever rejoin his family. He told her that his power would cause issues, that would put him in great peril if they ever knew. She had always thought he was joking, and he had faced more than one joke about it while they were in school. He had never allowed them to bother him, and she realized that he had always known. "Ok, so you did try and warn me. I thought it was somewhat of a joke than." she admitted.

"Can someone give me a hint?" Hellen asked.

Holly nodded as she looked at her mother. "What would you say if I told you in a week daddy would be walking me down the aisle in front of thousands of people?" she asked.

Hellen gasped as Henry leaned against the countertop. "What prompted this?" she asked.

"How long before your ceremony must be held?" Henry asked.

"28 days from today, the more time I leave on the clock the stronger it will appear I am." Eric answered as her father nodded.

"How is this going to effect my family?" Henry asked him.

"Both Penthouses will be ready in a few days, and security has been increased here as much as can be done without broadcasting our location. Each contains safe rooms that can be used, and security will be such that only residents, or guests of residents can gain entry. There are several teams that provide roaming coverage, and if you would like I will get a team for you and your wife. How much you join the politics of my family will be up to you." Eric told him honestly.

Hellen looked at him and nodded as she turned back to her daughter. "I would say do what makes you happy, and if he will make you happy for years to come. I think the two of you need to have a serious conversation about your future together. No hiding things from her." Hellen said as she turned to Eric. "Be serious with her, no jokes." she said as she hugged her daughter.

Henry looked at Holly, and nodded. "If this bonehead makes you happy, I will do what I can to make his lot easier. If that means joining the Heinrich Family, so be it." he said before he and Hellen walked out.

"What exactly is it that we would do as Lord and Lady?" she asked him as Eric walked over to a painting that she had looked at often. It was huge, and she loved the different features of it.

Eric sighed as he grabbed the file he had put in his briefcase and set it on the counter as she served the pasta. "The reason they require Military Officers is because technically we are Generals in the Army. My family also has several Naval Fleets and Air Force Divisions. The other side of that is the research and other companies needed to support the expenses and improve upon them. My Grandfather had the belief that the cutting edge wasn't required, and as such my forces are a little behind the times. My financial position however will allow me to overcome that, quickly if I can hire the correct people.

"We are however also expected to be in the public domain, showcasing that we are in command of the entirety of our families. Most of them have never met me since my parents perished 15 years ago, and question if I am able to do what is necessary." Eric told her as she set the plates down on the counter before she walked around.

"How many of the families will support you in the family?" she asked him as she sat down and poured them a glass of wine.

"Most likely the 24 lower houses, and perhaps half of the upper. There will most definitely be 6 that oppose me as they are responsible for the deaths of my parents. They however do not realize I have been waging a financial war against them for many years, and stand to make a large sum of money because of their downfall." Eric told her before he took a bite out of his garlic bread.

Holly knew that if that much of the family would support him, it should make him appear very strong within the family. "What will happen if you ascend unmarried?" she asked him.

"Depends on if I am eligible or not. If I am it will cause a furor as women attempt to get me to choose them whether they are eligible to be a Lady of the Court or not. If I am not, it could refocus attention to you. They might attempt to eliminate you and take your place. Revealing both of us at the same time could eliminate some of that unpleasantness, as it would show that we are together in how we move forward. We will of course have to have additional security, but that is going to happen one way or another." Eric told her honestly as he considered possibilities.

"How would it happen if it is our wedding?" she asked him.

"Congress and the President would be invited as is required, and they would vote the day before. If they approve it, we would be given the go ahead. The Lord's of the other families, the families that make up my family, and your guests would all be invited as well. It would serve as our announcement to the world we are in command of the family. We may have to have a battle with my Uncles to actually take control of the family, but if I can get the support of the other families it won't be a full on war." he told her knowing that he would enjoy it if it were a true battle. It would allow him to show just how ready he was to command the troops that were now under his direct command.

Holly sighed as she looked at him. "Your family..." she said simply as she shook her head before she looked at him. "It seems my wedding is going to be a big Ceremony that has a lot more meaning. Inform the President to hold his vote and get our approval for next Friday at noon." she said as she dug into her own plate of food. She had 8 days to plan and prepare her wedding. "How much do I get to spend?" she asked him with a smile.

"How much do you want?" he asked her knowing it would likely cost far more than she planned.

"35 Billion should cover it." she said with a smile as she surprised him. "I think I have an idea of what I need to do for our wedding Ceremony." she said as it was ironically his parents wedding that had given her the idea for the dress. "Do you have anything of your parents?" she asked him with a devious smile.

Eric actually didn't know the answer to that, as he had not explored the various properties that he had inherited. "I have no idea." he said as he tried to remember just where it was he had grown up. The problem was he clearly remembered atleast 4 separate houses that his parents raised him in depending on the time of year. "I am not even sure how I would find out." he said as he actually did think of one idea.

"See if you can find out quickly, or atleast who I might want to speak with. I am looking for something in particular, and I believe it would be something your mother would have kept." Holly said as she took another bite.

"I will make the call first thing in the morning." Eric said knowing she wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.