Braxton Greco

    As the plane glides across the runway I look down at Charlotte, her head resting against my arm. Her soft breathing tells me she's sleeping, finally. During the long flight she only slept the last two hours. She's going to be exhausted, the faint smudge of darkness under her eyes is a dead giveaway.

I've been getting updates regarding the situation, no one seems to think she'd win if the case went to trial.  The accusation against Peter is that he did not have testamentary capacity, or better known as mental capacity.  Meaning that he didn't comprehend what he was signing, which would render the WILL null and void. Since he showed no signs of this to be true, our attorney is racking up people in defense if the case goes to trial, but as of now Probate court will take months to get through. For Brynn to contest under this false hood can only mean she hopes to settle. However, the settlement she's asking for has my back up, 25 million dollars and stock options. I think not. I certainly don't want to drag Peters name through the mud, but the more I think about it the more I want to fight. Brynn thinks she has the upper hand, she is banking on my love for Peter and this company and hoping it will be enough give in to her demands.

I'm sure she has no idea that the leverage she really has involves Charlotte. If by chance this part of the WILL is reviewed and determined to be invalid, then I could potentially lose her. I'm not sure she would stay with me if she was let go of the her obligation to her family and the hospital.

    My options as I see them are to one: Come to a settlement with Brynn, she's not getting any part of the business. Knowing that she needs the money I would be willing to cut her a check to go away without a probationary period. Which I'm sure she'd be receptive to but absolutely no stock in the company. The positive would be to squash any drama and salacious gossip of our founder and former CEO. With a nondisclosure agreement in place I wouldn't have to worry about the case effecting the business. The biggest win would be that I wouldn't have to worry about losing Charlotte or upsetting her with the case going to trial. Its important to her as it is to me that Peter's legacy remain untarnished.

Option two, fight Bryan in court. She'd could ultimately walk away with nothing, which I would love to see. However, the court case and Brynn's accusations could be made public. Therefore ruining the Hensen name and perhaps the business.

Brynn isn't stupid, although she likes to play the part. I know shes aware that to challenging the amendments to Peter's WILL, can end up in a lengthy court-case. Assents could potently be frozen and she wouldn't see any of the money for years if that happened.

I quickly opening my email I read that the validity of the claims. Contesting a WILL is a complex and difficult process. Probate litigation can be costly, time consuming and will surly be emotionally taxing on Charlotte, I don't want to start a life with her only to have this weighing us down. I email my attorney telling him to low ball Brynn with a counteroffer. 5 million dollars cash and a nondisclosure agreement. Its not that I'm unwilling to settle at the 25 million she asked for, but I know in a couple more weeks as this case spends days and hours in the court process she will become more and more desperate. Thats what I'm betting on and I never lose.

Charlotte Hensen

The car ride is silent, both of us are lost in thought or perhaps he's just tired. Not that I blame him, I'm worn out too. I wish I knew what was going to happen with Brynn and her claims against our Grandfathers WILL. The more I think about it the more my head hurts. If she wins and the judge sides with her, what will happen? Does the money go to his three grandkids, the company, Braxton? What about the marriage? Can that be voided as well?

    I glance at him busy on his phone, probably trying to find a way out of this mess. He could potentially lose the company shares and the millions of dollars left to him. I know he says he's wanted me for a while, but he got me. Would he still want me without being forced into it? I wish I could ask him, but I just can't. Its not that I think he'd lie to me, but given options without the threat of loss, people, myself included, we could change our minds. Would he want to be free to choose his own wife? The answer is of course he would. Just as I would've like to have gotten to know him more before committing to a lifetime with him.

I lean my head against the window watching the scenery pass by, as the car pulls up to a tall building I look at Braxton. "Where are we?" I ask.

"My place."

"Oh, okay. I'll talk to you later then? Let me know if you find out more about the case." I tell him as he climbs out of the car.

He leans down from the open door. "You're not coming in?"

Surprised that he would ask me to, I shake my head. "I just want to go home." I tell him honestly.

    I need to sleep in my bed, surrounded by a sense of normalcy. Only if it does last for a night, I'm sure tomorrow I'll never know normal again. I watch his face cloud with anger and irritation but he shuts the door. Not knowing what I did I watch him take his bags from the driver and head towards the lobby doors. I obviously wasn't supposed to want to go home, why would he get so angry about that? He could've asked me to stay with him if he truly wanted me to. I debate opening the door and going after him, but it feels childish. Maybe it was a trick of the light and he wasn't upset. As the driver gets in I shake off the feelings of indecision. He would've asked me to stay if he wanted the company, Braxton doesn't beat around the bush. Pulling into traffic I wrestle with my thoughts, when about halfway home I groan. He wouldn't of taken me to his place first if he didn't want me to stay with him. I'm such an idiot!

Its all these confusing questions about where we'll be after this court case is settled, it has my judgment clouded. I'm already pulling away from him, because I didn't know how to be in a relationship with someone. I should've known he'd want to stay together, but I just assumed that with the contesting of the WILL we'd wait and see what the verdict is. Am I so emotionally closed off I can't connect with the one person I've slept with. What is wrong with me? I lean my head back and close my eyes. I'm exaclty the person I've always been. I thought that I was changing and evolving, that being with Braxton was helping me. Then with a snap of the fingers I'm back to being me. One thing is for sure, he doesn't deserve to be tied to someone like me for the rest of his life. He is worthy of much more than that.