As soon as Edward left the room, Anne looked at Buffy. "You may let her speak, Lizbeth." Buffy stepped away from Tiffany and resumed her seat next to Sebastian on the couch.
"You have ruined everything, like always. You were supposed to let Philippe take over the holdings but you held on so tight until he lost interest. He wouldn't have gone on that trip if not for you. Now you keep hanging on, Kathryn should be the heir and you bring in this, this," her hands flew into the air in frustration. "Now, you have destroyed my marriage and left me with nothing. How am I supposed to live?"
"Ah, that is the real question. As to my dear son, he was no more interested in Mertuil Industries than he was in you after Kathryn's birth. He was on the trip with his mistress. The accident was that an accident. Several other people died as well, including the young woman he took with him. As far as Kathryn being my heir, it simply was never true."
"What?" Kathryn shrieked, her eyes staring straight into her grandmother's.
"You and your mother assumed it was so. It didn't matter that I had never said or done anything to make you believe it. Lizbeth has always been my heir. She has known it since she was a child because I told her. If for some reason, she were unable to inherit the holding would have gone to a third cousin in France. He is a fine young man but not my first choice."
"Even if she wasn't here, I wouldn't have gotten everything," Kathryn asked, bewildered.
"You have a respectable inheritance from your father, Kathryn. But to answer your question, no, you wouldn't have inherited everything. If you had shown some better qualities, I might have offered you a seat on the board. But your actions have made that impossible."
"But I didn't do anything. You said so yourself. Mother set Edward and me up. What have I done, grandmother?" She blinked rapidly causing tears to pool in her eyes.
"You are very good, mon chère. I am not what is it you called me, ah, mai oui, a doddering old cow." Kathryn glared at Sebastian. "Do not blame Monsieur Valmont. He has been a perfect gentleman throughout this whole ordeal."
Kathryn laughed, "Gentleman, oh, really. Did he tell you why he is dating you precious Lizbeth?"
"Yes, Kathryn, I did. All of it, your part and my part," Sebastian answered her.
Her face lost all color and she went still as she looked at him and the rest of her audience. "I was just upset and angry, grandmother. I never thought he took me seriously. He even forced himself on me." There was a small quiver in her voice now.
"Give it up Kitty-Cat," Buffy said in a bored voice.
"You shut up. This is your entire fault. She never would have known anything if you hadn't showed up. I hate you."
Anne looked at her granddaughters and wondered how they could look so alike and be so different. "I already knew, Kathryn. The drugs, the men, the women and the lives you have destroyed. I've tried to help the ones I could along the way."
"What do you mean? How? I don't understand." Kathryn felt her whole world tilt on its axis. She thought her heart stopped beating a time or two as she listened.
"You can't do the things you do so blatantly and think no one notices. Do you think I don't know what goes on in my own home? Whenever you would visit, I knew everything you did. If it happens on Mertuil properties, eventually, I will learn of it. All Mertuil properties." Her voice stressed her point causing mother and daughter to become even paler.
"Do you think I didn't know what you went to Europe for, especially Switzerland? Unfortunately, your mother is as inept as always. She chose clinics more like spas than real treatment facility. If you had gotten some real help, you wouldn't be so far out of control as you are now." Anne shook her head. She picked up a magazine from her desk and thumbed through it. "A friend at Vanity Fair provided an early copy of an article about Manchester. It is centered completely around you. Imagine my surprise, dear girl, when instead of reading about your scholastic achievements, it was about your peccadilloes, I mean, really Kathryn, grooms." Anne put a note of scorn in her voice.
Kathryn assumed it was her choice of partners and the bad press. "Grandmother, it was just one time and I was vulnerable." She tried to make her voice sound meek.
"Dear girl, no one can be vulnerable that often and with that many people." Anne shook her head and Buffy gave a soft snort. "Let me see, I have marked them all. Here it is - Ronald Watson, Stephanie Palmerson, Court Reynolds, Sven Haroldson, ah too many to read. Do you recognize any of these names? Oh, here are the grooms from the school, Tim, Scott and John. Here you can see the article yourself."
Kathryn's hands shook as it took the magazine from her grandmother. Her eyes skimmed over several names and places. Her heart pounded in her ears as she read the first paragraph. The caption read in bold letters - 'THE PRINCESS BITCH' and a picture of Kathryn had a caption following it.
She looks sweet and innocent but lock your doors people.
Kathryn Mertuil is one of the cruelest women in New York,
possibly anywhere and she is only 17. Imagine what she can
do when she grows up. She blackmailed teachers for grades,
and then had sex with three grooms at once after beating her
fine Arabian mare brutally with a whip and that was all
before 3:00.
She looked at the byline, there it was - Tonia Stevens. Kathryn quickly skimmed the article but everything was there. All the schemes, drugs, everything she had done for the last four years. When it got to the part about her with the three grooms and then her exploits with Sven and friends, she thought she was going to be sick. Tonia called her the Gotti of the Silverspoon Set. That Kathryn used sex and drugs interchangeably for power and amusement.
"You can't let them print this. Think of the Mertuil name. It will reflect just as badly on you and Buffy," she reasoned. Kathryn's eyes filled with real tears but they were from anger and fear.
"Ah, mon cher, but I can. There isn't a door in the city that will be closed to us. But you, chère, that is a different story. Especially, since your mother will no longer be welcomed anywhere."
"What! Why not? I'm still a Mertuil," Tiffany blustered.
"No, you are not. You will return to your maiden name or choose another. I care not which but you will trade on my name no longer," Anne's voice was hard and quiet.
"How are you going to get me to agree to that? It will take a lot of money." Tiffany's eyes gleamed thinking of getting her hands on a real hunk of Mertuil money.
"No, it will cost me nothing. If you do not wish to go to jail you will sign whatever papers I give you."
"What do you mean? Edward isn't pressing charges."
"But I can and will. If not for this, then for your theft of articles from my homes. I have all the documentation I need for that, Tiffany." Anne's voice raised only a small amount but it sounded more like a booming voice that vibrated throughout the room.
The older blonde wilted at that. How could the old bat even notice she has so much stuff what's a few baubles here and there? "How am I supposed to live?"
"I don't care. Go back to what you were before you married although you a little long in the tooth."
"But, I have nothing. No money, nothing."
"That isn't my concern. You shouldn't have gambled if you couldn't afford to lose, Tiffany. Now leave my home. Go to the town house and start packing. Don't even think of taking anything but your clothes. You will be watched. Papers have already been drawn up for you to sign. My lawyer is waiting for you in the other room. Sign them before you leave." Tiffany stormed out of the room slamming the door behind her.
"Do I have to change my name too, grandmother? I won't go down without a fight. All those people in the article will go down with me."
"If you mean your sordid little pictures and movies, chère, they are no more. They were delivered just after you arrived here tonight. Now, sit down and listen to me carefully. You will be going home to pack. You will not be returning to the city. I have found a clinic for you in Germany. They will help you to get clean. Once you do, if you would like to attend university, we can arrange that for you. If not, you can try to find something to do in one of the European branches of the company."
"I'm banished from the city, never to darken your door again, because of her," Kathryn sneered.
"Get over yourself, Kitty-Cat. You did all those things not me. If you weren't high as a kite right now maybe this would be getting through."
Kathryn moved to strike Buffy, who spun and punched the other girl in the face. "You just don't listen do you, Kitty-Cat. I've warned you several times, I hit back."
"Grandmother, did you see what she did to me?"
"Oui, Kathryn, you might want to get some ice before that swells shut. If you don't do as I say I can make sure you don't come into your trust until you turn thirty. As it is, your behavior will determine how soon and how much of the funds are within your control."
"You can't do that. Daddy left that money for me. He wanted me to have that. To have what is mine." Kathryn's voice shook for real this time.
"You are mistaken. Your father did not provide for you. You are merely inheriting what your grandfather and I set up for him. But of course, if you do not want it," Anne left the subtle threat linger in the air between them.
"No! I mean, no, I want it. I will do what you want. I never liked the city anyways. Europe is more my style. People are more chic, more accepting."
"Very good, chère. There are some papers for you to sign as well. If you go against this agreement, the trustee can either revoke the trust or extend its maturity date. Do we understand each other, Kathryn?"
"Perfectly, grandmother." Kathryn turned and left the room.
"Nana, how does it feel?" Buffy looked at her grandmother. Now that it was all over, she worried it was too much for her.
"I feel, how do they say it, chère? Oh yes, I feel like I'm walking on air. I am sorry about Edward. Something tells me that he will attend all the holiday gatherings as well. I am happy for you and Sebastian, ma petite. What are your plans for the holiday break?"
"He has some delicious plans for making up for any time we have had to be apart." Buffy smiled a dreamy smile. "Nana, I think that we should sponsor scholarships to Manchester. There are two brilliant minds in Sunnydale that we should help nourish. Plus, don't you think the Smithsonian could do with an expert from the British Museum? I know with all the artwork that we own personally and charities that we support. I think that someone with such an eye for detail and a wealth of knowledge at their fingers would be an asset to the museums but also to Mertuil Industries as well."
Anne looked at her granddaughter closely then slid a glance over to her lover. She saw that he already knew which pleased Anne immensely. "Ma petite, would this perhaps be a small red-headed girl and her boyfriend whose hair color depends on the day of the week. And oh say, perhaps a British Librarian at your old school?"
Buffy nodded, "I hope you won't be angry with me, Nana. I already sent the paperwork through for Willow and Oz. Everything is almost ready for Giles to have his own branch with the Museum."
Anne started laughing which startled Buffy and Sebastian. "Nana, are you okay? Are you upset with me? I can undo anything you want. I'm sorry; I know I should have asked."
"Hush, ma petite, I only laugh because we think so much alike. Your friends have already accepted their scholarships and will live with us. Mr. Giles also has accepted his new appointment as the head of antiquities for the museum and should be here before the holiday season begins in earnest."
Buffy squealed and ran to her grandmother to hug and kiss her. They mumbled to each other in French.
She walked back over to slip her hand into Sebastian's. "I believe someone promised to me his undivided attention for the entire break. So, buddy you had better pay up or I am going to sick my Nana on you."
Sebastian glanced over to Anne who only winked at him. He smiled at her charmingly and threw Buffy over his shoulder. "Well, I am trying to improve my reputation, I wouldn't want anyone to say that I lied to you." Buffy's laughter rang down the hallways as Sebastian carried her up the stairs.
"Ah, ma petite, you are ready to share your heart again. Enjoy, my love, enjoy all that life and love has to offer you."
The End.