Pulling up to the manor, Blair could only glare at the mansion that represented everything she hated from the life she'd escaped.

It was massive, lavish, and everything she had expected... and she despised it before she even stepped out of the car.

The house was a mix on modern and historic, Blair observed, with rounded rooms protruding from the dark stone walls - almost like the original builder wanted it to feel like a gothic mansion reject that belonged on the same street as the Addam's Family's house.

"You don't have to live here," Ezra laughed, shaking his head, "We're just visiting for dinner."

"Why are there other cars parked over there?" Blair asked cautiously, noticing that the long drive that circled the fountain out front in courtyard before looping back on itself had two other cars parked off to the side.

While the house itself exuded all things outdated, the courtyard and surrounding lush gardens were a stark contrast to it. Blair mused internally it felt like the house had been dropped in the center of the world without an awareness of its surroundings.

The drive itself was relatively new, the fountain bubbling and pleasant, and even the blooming flowers in the gardens beyond the estate said 'cheerful' - an amusing contradiction to the architecture.

"Ah," Ezra frowned slightly, noticing them for the first time, "It would appear that my sister and her husband are both here. Judging from the fact that they drove separately, likely rushed here after discovering you would be here."

"Fantastic," Blair breathed, "Diving straight back into the very drama and nonsense I ran away from when I left this world behind. Great. Wonderful. This is my favorite thing."

"You'll be just fine," Ezra laughed, amused at how Blair could face a room of directors and present without breaking a sweat, but complained about inner-family drama and schemes like a toddler complained about broccoli.

"You will be getting me snacks after this," Blair grumbled, only driving the toddler analogy further home for Ezra.

He chuckled, shaking his head at the dichotomy that was Blair Montgomery as he stepped out of the car, nodding to Tim in thanks as he opened the door. Ezra quickly walked around the car to help Blair out just as Blaise opened her door - the picture of a perfect gentleman.

Which earned a smirk and a raised eyebrow from Blair.

"Careful," she muttered quietly so only he could hear, "Don't lay it on too thick or they won't believe us."

Ezra just scoffed quietly with a genuine smile he couldn't quite work off his face despite knowing who was waiting for him just inside.

Blair had that way about her, Ezra thought as he led the way inside, she managed to make people smile without realizing it and make that smile linger just a bit longer than expected.

That was something he was coming to really like about the woman, he realized.

His thoughts were interrupted quickly when the door opened, the same butler that had worked for his grandfather for as long as he could remember nodding at him warmly.

"Hello Jorge," Ezra greeted the old man casually, patting his shoulder fondly as he walked in and removed his shoes habitually, "How are you, old friend?"

"Always the same, young master," Jorge replied with a small smile, nodding politely as Blair and Blaise followed behind, "Please, allow me to take your things."

"You don't have to treat me like a guest, Jorge," Blaise laughed, nodding respectfully without handing over anything.

He needed his jacket - it held his secret stash, among other things. Ezra and his grandfather both were health nuts, and without his jacket, he feared withdraw.

Blair, on the other hand, smiled that professional smile that Ezra recognized from her presentation before handing over her jacket and purse.

He knew that her purse was empty and the jacket pockets were sewn closed.

How did he know? Easy, Blair had spent a full 7 minutes raving about the pockets in the pants she had chosen to Blaise, explaining why his dress could not compare to the clothes she picked for herself because hers were practical.

She'd explained that the purse was empty to make it light, and also apparently as a theft decoy. Her jacket had sewn pockets so it was always flat and professional looking, and it was just long enough to cover the bulges in her pants pockets from her wallet, keys, phone, and a small notepad she insisted she needed to carry at all times.

She had also left a briefcase of actual items, like her laptop, in the car with Tim - brought in case Ezra's grandfather had 'tests that required technical assistance.'

Ezra and Blaise had both laughed at her desperation to be both comfortable and prepared. Naturally it led to a difficult balance with her need to be over-prepared for anything that might happen without having to carry around a suitcase.

Her grumbling had thoroughly amused both men while they waited for the quickly approaching dinner none of them wanted to attend.

"Your grandfather is waiting in the sitting room," Jorge said formally, leaning forward toward Ezra and adding with a quiet mutter, "and your sister is quite fired up. Prepare yourself."

"Thank you, Jorge," Ezra muttered, eyeing the entryway to the sitting room warily, "and this is my fiancé, Blair. Please ensure you treat her as you would me."

"But not as good as me!" Blaise added with a wink, "Can't let anyone forget who the real favorite is around here."

That earned a resigned sigh and amused smirk from the older man, clearly used to dealing with Blaise's shenanigans.

"I'd never dream of playing rival to such a book-worthy bromance," Blair snorted, shaking her head even as she walked away from the three men.

All three of whom had various emotional reactions to her statement, but all ended with them chuckling quietly.

The moment Blair walked into the room she paused, her eyes drifting through the room that screamed 'I'm wealthy and I like leather' before landing on the elderly gentleman who sat beside a half-played game of chess. His legs were covered with an old quilt, but tucked in to prevent it from interfering with the wheels of his chair.

He sat straight-backed and his dark eyes flashed the moment Blair walked in the room, earning a raised eyebrow but no other reaction from the woman.

Before a single word of greeting could pass between the two, though, Sofia was already speaking.

"Ah, he really did bring her," Sofia mused, drawing Blair's eyes and attention toward the woman.

Blair guessed they were around the same age, based on the knowledge that Ezra was a few years older than both of them.

"Her has a name," Blair noted, tilting her head mockingly, "and you must be the sister. He was right, your voice really is quite grating."

Blair's eyes traveled then to the plump man beside her before adding, "and you must be the husband she drags along for her schemes. Richard, I think it was? You two look just as sleezy as I imagined."

Sofia gasped, gaping at Blair in clear shock at her audacity before flushing red and sputtering, "H-how dare you! You- you nobody! Grandpa, you can't seriously consider someone so ill-mannered as a face for the company!"

"Oh he will," Blair said confidently, a knowing smirk on her face, "and you're a grown-ass woman, Sofia. Fight your own battles. Your grandfather is old and tired, he doesn't need your drama."

Sofia prepared to launch into a full tirade at that, but froze when a single word echoed through the room.

"Blair."

The old man's voice sounded warm - very different from its usual sharpness. The tone alone made the very air freeze in place, as if unsure of how to react.

"Jackson," Blair said softly, turning and walking up to old man.

Casual. Warm. Like two friends greeting each other after a long time apart.

The entire room went still.

Ezra and Blaise, who both stood just behind Blair, were already shocked at how Blair and Sofia's exchange had gone. They had known Blair was nervous about making a good impression, and she had specifically said she was going to avoid confrontation.

Imagine their surprise when Blair dove head-first into it with the woman after only the slightest provocation instead.

Now, though, everyone else in the room had slack jaws and were frozen stiff as they watched Blair walk toward Jackson.

Though neither of them had eyes for anyone else in that moment.

"I see you're as sharp tongued and feisty as ever," Jackson hummed approvingly, leaning back slightly in his wheelchair.

He was clearly trying to take in the sight of her, almost like a she was his own grand-daughter and he needed to see if she was doing well.

"You wouldn't have me any other way, you old coot," she chuckled fondly, sitting across the chess table from him casually in a chair not meant for her - moving a piece without hesitation on the board.

Everyone around inhaled sharply. No one was allowed to touch the game he'd set up a couple of years ago - a game he'd insisted he would finish when the right partner arrived.

Jackson stared at the board, taking a deep breath as if he were preparing himself for battle, before moving a piece cautiously.

The two of them ignored everyone in the room, intentionally oblivious to the chaos their actions were causing.

"You look good," he nodded approvingly, his eyes flicking up from the board, "Getting older yourself. Thought you were going to be young forever?"

His eyes lingered on the leg she favored when she walked in, not having missed the signs of her struggle.

"Still younger than you," she shrugged with a scoff, moving another piece, "so that's still winning. And stop looking at it. I broke it recently, but it's fine."

She looked around the room briefly then before returning her gaze to him with a raised eyebrow, "You failed to mention your... family."

"Minor details," he dismissed with a wave of his hand, glaring at the board and ignoring his frozen family members around him.

Blair snorted.

"I wouldn't want to claim some of them either," she mused, eyeing Sofia briefly and ignoring how the woman's face flushed with anger, "So I can't blame you, I suppose."

He laughed then, a genuine laugh - something no one else in the room had seen since his wife was alive.

Sofia's red face drained of all color.

That laugh alone... that meant something. No... it meant everything.

"What happened to that boy you were so fond of?" he asked curiously, moving a piece a bit more confidently than the last one before sitting back with a furrowed brow.

"Caught him cheating," she sighed, sitting back and crossing her legs after moving her piece quickly, "in the act. Balls deep. Dumped him on the spot."

His face darkened and he didn't move toward the game as he processed her words.

"Do you want me to take care of it?"

That voice sent shivers through the others in the room, because they had no doubt that Ryan was done for if Jackson said the word.

Instead, Blair leaned around the table and smacked his thigh lightly, a small, fond smile blooming on her face.

"You can't take care of everything for me. I handled it. He's not in my life anymore."

"Good. And someone has to," he huffed, a flash of rage not missed in his eyes.

Blair didn't comment on that part, redirecting entirely.

"Well, turns out someone has volunteered for that role," she teased, nodding toward the still-frozen Ezra, "I think I leveled up, don't you?"

--

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