Chapter 50: The End

Isaac stood at the head of the conference room table, hands splayed out on its surface. He stared at the assembled board of trustees. Cyril sat at his right hand, the bruising around his eyes fading. To Isaac’s left was Sonia. Her hair was pulled up into a smooth bun. At the opposite head of the table was Lavinia. She sat upright, stacks of papers carefully arranged in front of her.

“In the months since my mother’s… shall we say, untimely passing,” he said. “I have been disappointed in this board’s performance. Its care and dedication to this company has waned.”

Several of the trustees sank back into their seats, not looking at Isaac. Sonia sat forward, trying to initiate eye contact with Cyril, who kept his gaze fixed on his own hands.

“It feels as though your loyalty was to Vivian Astor, not to Astor Industries. And in light of that, I question whether your services are still needed.”

“Sir,” an older man spoke up. “I think there is just some discomfort about the changes you’ve put in place.”

“Such as?”

“Well-” the man faltered.

“The death of your mother was certainly a shock,” said Cyril. “I had been working closely with her for a few weeks before and she was in perfect health.” He smirked. “I feel like the change in leadership itself is presenting a problem for some of us.”

“The issue to me,” started a young man in the back, “Is the new faces you’ve added to the board. Werewolves are usually not welcome in vampire business. I hesitate to even discuss profit margins with a lycan interloper in the room. Not to mention-”

“Not to mention what?” Isaac asked.

“Nothing,” said the young man. “I spoke out of turn.”

“Finish your thought.” Isaac’s eyes flashed and the man shivered.

“You brought a human into our business and that is unacceptable to all of us.”

The room sat in silence for a second. Isaac rolled up his sleeves, stalking up behind the young man’s chair.

“Questioning my actions is one thing. It is only natural to ask for more from your leader, to have issues with why I do things differently than my predecessor. But questioning those that I appointed to this board is quite another. Was any issue raised when Cyril was brought on?”

The man shook his head quickly. “No sir.”

“I did not think so. You only raise an issue about Sonia and Lavinia. Both here, I might add, due to their relationships with my sister and I.”

Isaac turned his attention to the older man.

“Was there any issue when my father sat on this board?”

“Never,” said the older man. “Your father was an excellent addition to the company. It was a shame when he… left.”

“So then why,” asked Isaac. “Are there issues when Arabella and I add our attachments to the board?”

“A werewolf and a human? You can’t be serious, Astor. And in any case, you and your sister’s paramours are not the same as a spouse, an actual member of the family, a stakeholder in the company.”

Isaac moved to the other side of the table, resting his hand on Sonia’s shoulder. “Sonia holds a contract with me. She was promised a place on this board for her special services to this family. Her exit from her family was motivated by that contract.”

Isaac pushed off her chair and walked around the table. He let his hand trail over the backs of the board’s chairs, watching them flinch slightly as he passed.

“And as for Ms. Devon, your only complaint is her unofficial connection to this family as a human?”

He waited for an answer but was met only with silence.

“There is an easy solution for this. Lavinia, would you stand up for me?”

She stood and Isaac took both of her hands. She could feel her heart in her chest, thudding against her rib cage as Isaac looked at her, his icy eyes holding her fixed in place.

“Lavinia Devon, you were brought into this manor under the worst possible circumstances. You were treated miserably. You were threatened, tormented, and trapped. But you maintained your dignity, refusing to ever concede your personhood. The effect you have had on me is immeasurable. You have changed me from my very core, reminding me of my failings and encouraging me to tear down what held me in such a villainous place.”

Isaac dropped down to one knee. Sonia gasped, raising the folder in front of her to cover her mouth. Lavinia tightened her grip on Isaac’s hands, her eyes widening.

“You feel right, Lavinia. You feel right in my hands, by my side. I can’t imagine time apart from you. I want you to be with me, forever.”

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small wooden box. Isaac popped in open and held it out, revealing a thin silver band and a glittering oval shaped diamond.

“Lavinia Devon, will you marry me?”