The CEO's Heiress

Yearling Estate

"Dad!" I called out to my father who was pacing the front steps of our estate. I put the car in it's usual place, put it in park and got out with the keys in hand. He looked up, relief on his face as I came running to him. We hugged, as if he hadn't just seen me the day before, and then stepped back to look at me with that sterness I hadn't seen since my mom's dignoses.

"You better explain yourself little girl." He was using his dad voice now. I sighed and waved in the moving truck that had been waiting for me to get here. I took his arm and led him inside, leaving the door open for the men who were going to be taking my stuff away. At least the stuff I had sent a message to Beatrice to pack up for me. Bea had been my nanny and then personal maid since I was born. I loved her like family, and per her request would be joining me at Cassius' estate. She had to. I needed one member of staff to be on my side over there until I knew I could trust Cassius. He stopped me as we moved aside for the movers who would follow Bea up to my room. "Elena, you stop this right now and explain yourself. First you run off, tell me some half-c****d story about your step-story, make me deal with your guests, and then I had to see on the tv that now you're marrying Cassius? What's going on in your head?"

"Saving this family, my reputation and yours as well." I didn't need to lie. He went stiff and I turned walking into the study which was off the grand entrance of the house. He followed, closing the door as I poured us both a glass. For dad, the most expensive whiskey in his collection, for me some red wine to keep it classy. If he knew how I really drinked, it would kill him. He took it as I walked over to the desk, handed it to him and sat down in the leather arm chair in front of it. "That picture, it was rash. I admit that. It was already being blasted almost the second I sent it. Last night I knew I had to marry, and marry fast. Get the news of my marriage breaking before it even began hidden behind a scandel even bigger. There weren't a lot of choices of men who might marry me before you leave again, so I had to be carefully. The idea came to me when I saw his picture. Not only is he most eligable bachelor, he runs Yearling and that makes him the richest man at least in Colorado. Also, he would have a vested intrest in marrying me, two actually. One, getting the Yearling name attached to ours again in a good way, saving his clinetel and business. Secondly, getting an heir and keeping the business. The engment is purely transactual, but it is going to happen. All I want, is your blessing and for the deal you made to stay in place once I am married."

"You mean that silly thing Gwen made me swear to? That if you don't marry before your 27th birthday i give everything to Mason?" My father set the glass down, twisting up his face in disblief. "Come now, it was just a precusion. I know you'll be married. No need to rush into anything with Cassius."

"Dad, you signed a paper. I watched you. I know you want to love her, and you want ot trust her, but I am telling you she's not good for us. Not good for our business. I can't prove it, yet, but I will do everything to protect this family and business. Mom gave everything she had to make sure you were sucessful and that we both were loved. There is only one way I can be sure your legacy, and mom's, lives on. We already agreed to the marriage, made it public and we will be going through it. I won't let Gwen get to you, or Mason." I downed the wine and stood up from my chair. I placed the glass down, admiring the ring Cassius had picked and didn't look up again. "Do I have your blessing?"

"I loved your mom, bug. So much. She would have given everything to ensure that you were safe, that we were safe. If you think you're doing this to make her proud, of course you have my perimisson. As far as I am concerned the company will be yours." He stood up, coming around the desk to hug me. I sighed in relief and hugged him back. He let me leave a few minutes later, and I ran up the stiars to my room. Firstly, I needed to get out of this dress. Never had I been rushed when I came to an engagment. When Marcus and I had gotten engaged we had to go through a long process. There were picutres, a party, showers, bacholer and bacholorett parties. Today Cassius had already gotten our ring, our engagment photos and made an announcment. What took me and Marcus weeks had had gottend own in a matter of hours. As efficent as it was, I hated being all dressed up for that long. It was not me. In fact there were many photos around of me in sweats and a crop top, hair in a messy clip eatting tacos on the street.

I got upstairs in time to see Bea scolding one of the men for nearly dropping the box of my exotic snow-globes. One from every travel my dad had been on. My prized collection. Of course the most important had to be the one my mom had gotten me from Disneyland when I was six. It was the only time we got to go together, and had started my obession. It was still in it's protectic plastic case. I didn't bother Bea as she followed him out the door to ensure it didn't get dropped. I found the tote labled clothing and grabbed out something I could wear that wasn't going to make me feel sofficated. My phone buzzed as I changed into a black long panted jumpsuit and denim jacket. It was Tomas.

"Hello?" I answered, turning it on speaker while I fixed my hair, make up and found sensable shoes. My boots, so at least I was presentable but I could walk without getting more blisters in my feet.

"You go and get engaged and you don't even call me? b***h!" He wasn't being serious, but I did flinch. I hadn't even thought of calling him. Making one last adjustment, to the neckalce Cassius had bought me, I picked up the phone and put it to my ear.

"Well, I was going to invite you over to Yearling Estate tomorrow so we could talk about throwing together a wedding in three weeks, but if your mad at me..." He gasped over the phone, squaled, shouted the news to Andrew, and came back to phone hyper as ever. I laughed whlie he squaled and started throwing out ideas. "Take it easy! I don't even know the budget yet. I will call you tomorrow, you can come over, and we will get started. This is going to be all consuming, just so you're aware. It's going to be the biggest event of the year."

"Yeah, sure. I have to get my vision boards. We want to make this so much better then the first one. Think about colors, and I need to go make a wedding dress appointment. We need something to put that first one to shame. I have so much to do, Andrew! Don't make plans!" He hung the phone, I laughed and sat on the bed looking over the tabloids. As expected the picutre of me and Marcus was front and center, but most already had the news of my engagment to Cassius ready to break the news.

"It was announced today by Cassius Yearling, that in the light of his nephew's actions against Ms. Edgington, he will be marrying her instead. We have tried to get some statments from her ex-fiance, and the blonde he had with him today, but he refused to comment. However, it was caught just twenty-minutes ago that he was kicked out of his mansion, his car was repod and all bank accounts frozen. Maybe the most eligable bachlor is in fact a man of his word? Sorry girls, it looks like this is one fish that has been hooked. Stay turned for more news on the engagment of the year, the wedding of the season, and the couple now gripping everyone's heart." The woman on the video winked at the camera before it went black. I barely noticed the movers as they loaded my stuff. I was far to busy stalking social media for any news about what the people thought. Most of it involed sympathy. A lot of sympathy and I hadn't seemed to loose any followers. That was good.

"Ms. Edgington? Are you ready to go?" Beatrice asked from the door, and when I finally looked up I realized my stuff had all be moved out. That was fast. Of course, Bea had already had everything packed up from when I was supposed to move in with Marcus. Nothing had really been unpacked, except the wedding dress that was hanging in my closet.

"MOM!" The sound of Madison's voice made my lip turn up in a sneer. I stood from the bed, walked over to the dress, and nodded to Bea. She led me down the hall, and down into the main staircase. Madison nearly ran into me, but I caught myself, only to shove the dress into her chest. "b***h! What did you do that for?"

"I figured since you're pregnant with Marcus' baby, you'll want to make sure and keep our family name safe. This was my mom's, but you're gonna need something fast. Your big news is gonna spread, like wildfire. So as your sister, I am going to do you the solid of giving you my dress. It might still fit you, maybe not. It was made for someone a whole size smaller than you are now. Wow, baby weight already showing. I can't wait to meet my niece or nephew. Don't worry, Cassius and I will make sure our gift is the best and biggest. Have a happy life, Madison. I know I will, as the matriarch of the Yearling family." She had grabbed the dress as I shoved it at her again, but before she could reply I was already halfway down the stairs.

"Pregnant? What?" I smirked to myself hearing Gwen and my father scream at the same time. In our family there was two things you didn't do, get pregnant before you were married and steal. Of which Madsion had now done both. I tossed my hair over my shoulder and sauntered out while my family flipped s**t on Madi, who had broken down into tears.

"Elena!" Marcus' voice sent chills down my body, and I instently went for my keys where my paper spray sat. He stormed towards me, and I prepared to spray. Thankfully he noticed and stopped several steps away. A drakness in his eyes I was now familier with. He wanted me dead. That was alright, I knew the feeling. "You need to listen to me. We can still get married. Fix this without bringing my uncle into it. Just tell him you want to marry me instead."

"Didn't you hear? You are getting married." There was hope beind his eyes now. He perked up, straightening. I burst into laughter and crossed my arms, still holding the spray where it could be whiped out fast. "Oh, not to me. God, never again. No, to Madison. See in my family if you get her pregnant, you marry her and take responsiblity. Pull out your tux, you're gonna need it. Of course, it won't be as glamerous as mine will be, but at least you'll be a man. See you at the babyshower, Mr. Year...wait you were exiled. Is it Mr. Devin now then? Are we using our bastared mom's name instead? No? Well, I have to get home, let me know what you decide."

"This isn't over, Elena!" He must have known I would use my weapon, because he didn't chase me. I only laughed and walked to my car.

......................

The drive to the estate took me nearly thrity minutes outside of town. It made sense. Cassius liked his privacy, and so had his brother before him. Marcus' father liked riding horses, and having property to do that. I missed Mr. Yearling. He had been so kind, and loving. He had even made sure his sons would understand family over everything. I thought that was how Marcus had been at least. One of the comments on the post asked how I had gotten over Marcus so easily. So much so I was happily moving on without thinking of him. The truth was, as heartbroken as I was, that picture was the best damn thing that could have happened to me. It made me realize that I didn't love him as as much as I thought I had. He had just been so convenet. So there. Was I marrying for love like my mom had? No. Was I going to make Marcus pay? Yes. Was this marriage worth it? Hell yes. For so many reasons, but above all, I would finally be in the power position and Gwen would pay for it.

I pulled into the gates as the Movers were unloading the truck under the watchful eye of Bea who had instead on driving with them. She barked orders, and I only smiled as I got out of my car. I parked it in a random place beside one of the sports cars, and got out. To my suprise Cassius was waiting for me as I stepped up onto the stair landing leading inside. He had both hands at his back and stood tall, looking at the men as they move in and out of the house. His gaze darkned as I neared, taking in the change of clothing and the romper that was currently hugging my hips and making me look slightly taller than my usual five-foot four stature. I blushed under his gaze and tucker hair back behind my ear in that flirty way I once had with Marcus. I might have been trying to seduce this man, but he wouldn't need to know why yet.

"Ms. Edgington, welcome to Yearling estate. I presume you have been here before?" Cassius asked. I curled my lips in, sighed heavily and nodded. It was much nicer then I remembered. A lot of new building, and restorted architecture, had been added. He nodded once more, move to check the time on his watch and cleared his throat. "I will show you to your room, get ready. We have a party to attend tonight in the ballhouse."

"Ballhouse? I asked knitting my brows as I tried to think about what he had just said.

"It's just as it sounds. A small building that has a kitchen and will be used to host balls, parties and more. Come." He didn't give me time to ask, a party for what or what the hell he needed a whole house as a ballroom for. I followed him, almost trotting to keep up as his strides were at least his body lenght at six foot three. "I will make this fast, so listen, I don't like to repeat myself. This is the foyer, the main entrance. To the left are sitting rooms, offices, and the day room. To the right is the kitchen, breakfest hall and dinning hall. To the back is my study, and the staff quarters. I have three rotations of staff, it's a lot of people to know, so don't bother to learn names. I also have a lot who rotate in and out, so don't be alarmed if there is someone new aronud. I have added your Beatrice to the roster, and she will be paid well. Right, there are three bathrooms on this floor for public use, but we should almos tnever host partiest inside. I don't like a dirty house. Up the stairs on the second floor are our rooms. This way, to the east hall. My room is the last room on the left, yours is directly across from mine on the right. Until said day we decide to marge them, this is where you will stay. Paul's room is in the west room. Every room has it's own bathroom, and we have two public bathrooms on this floor. Above us are more guest rooms and the library. We will have dinner preciesly at eight in the morning, it will be the only real time we have to talk execpt for dinner which is at nine every night. My job requires a lot of my time. Your time here is yours free to do with. I only ask you abide by these two requets. Should you need a snack, get hungry, anything, simply ask the cheif on call to make something. Ring the bell and someone will get it for you. Are there any questions?"

"Um, no. I got it. Meet you for breakfast and dinner, use the ballhouse for parties, don't get use to the staff and ask cheif to make me food. Pretty much exactly how I have lived, except for more staff of course. We don't have that many. Um as for the wedding, I have what was left over from Marcus' and I's wedding. It's about three hundred thousand, but I need a ballpark number on budget?" He walked me to the my door, opening the door and let me while I ramble don about money.

"Spend whatever you desire, Elena. This was your idea, and your idea to make everyone see us for something good. If you want to spend a million, it's only change to me. Now, I have three important calls. Get dressed, I left you something on the bed. Also, you will ned to go shopping. Mrs. Yearling has to make a statment everyday. See you in three hours." With that Cassius was gone. I huffed, let out a breath and looked around my room. It wasn't muc different from mine at hime, except in red and gold instead of purple and black. Four poster bed, dark wood of cours,e with match nightstands, trunk, and dresser. A tv set up, desk and vanity set up and a walk in closet where Bea came out of to grab another tote of clothing. I walked over, sat on the bed and looked around the room once more.

"Well, welcome to your new home Elena. Guess you better get used to it, Mrs. Yearling. This will be your life...for as long as you and Cass are married. Oh sweet sweet revenage...and we have only just started." I smiled to myself and laid back against the bed laughing.