[ Marta is so torn. All she wants is for Ransom to want her, only her. Choose her over the inheritance. He doesn't know how to love her without it. It makes her chest ache, but she understands. She's just not sure what to do. Should she compromise her principals and throw all caution to the wind? Or keep to her word and choose the safe option. She's crushed against his chest. He's a warm, solid weight that she clings to because it feels like she's finally home.
He's touches her so delicately. He handles her like she's the most precious thing he's ever seen. He wants the inheritance, not to keep it all, but to dole it out as he sees fit. Isn't that what she'd been doing anyway. ]
I love you. [ She's still about to speak, but there's a pointed cough. Her lawyer and his stand there looking at them with deep frowns. Suddenly, the rest of the world comes back into focus. Her heart is still thundering in her chest. His attorney speaks first, his tone stern. ]
Mr. Drysdale, why don't we step inside, so we can finally conclude these matters?
[ He wants to kiss her, wants to draw her close and keep her wrapped in his arms, but they’re interrupted and he looks up, eyes narrowed in annoyance. He glares daggers at both their lawyers before a sigh tapers to a quiet huff of laughter. ]
Finally. You say it like you’re not enjoying this process. [ No one is, but his attorney should. ] Okay, we’ve got some changes to make. I wanna add Marta’s name as a beneficiary. Both of us to have equal seats in signing.
[ Marta hates that they're interrupted. She wants to stay in this moment with him. Her lawyer is looking at her in disapproval. He's made it clear several times that her attachment to Ransom Drysdale doesn't behoove her. She pulls back slightly, but his declaration makes her turn her attention back to him. Her eyes are wide with surprise. He'd been so resigned and against it before. He'd been angry. ]
[ They’re all looking at him with shock in their eyes, as if anyone knew him well enough to expect anything from him. Except for Marta, who feels so close, who he’s already told this to yet still asks if he really means it.
He looks at her, an arm still wrapped around her waist. ]
Yeah. [ She thinks he can’t give it up for her, and it’s true, but maybe this way, she’ll know he’s at least willing to share it with her. Harlan had wanted her to have it, no? And maybe this is exactly what needs to happen. They all win. Himself, Marta, Harlan.
But this also ties her to him. ]
Yeah. If this is what needs to happen, then yeah. I’m sure. Are you?
[ Something shifts into place between then. His willingness to put her name right there next to his is huge. He's always put so much weight to it. He hadn't even thought twice to accept it from her. But now, he wants to share it. They'll do it together as equals.
It means the world to her.
His attorney is flustered. He looks from Ransom to Marta's attorney. ]
We won't be able to sign it today. We'll have to completely redraft everything. If you're sure about this.
[ It’s good, he thinks, for what he wants now. Satisfactory. At one point, it didn’t matter if he had her, so long as he had at least some of the inheritance. That’d been the plan when he said he’d help her in exchange for just his cut. He reminds himself that this is the same, just a different version. He can give up half of it for her in exchange, or at least, his best chance of being with her.
It’s not a lot to give up, and he’s out of other options. So he lifts a brow to yet another confirmation, and nods. ]
It will take a few days, Mr. Drysdale. There's a lot we'll need to iron out and reconfigure. [ His lawyer only sounds mildly apologetic. There's something like disapproval in his eyes. Even her own lawyer mirrors it. Both men seem reluctant to leave them alone. It's like they think they need chaperones.
She watches with a frown. There's a growing annoyance within her. They're not children. The lawyers are hired on by them. She's quick to give a nod. ]
That will be fine. Just let us know. [ It's polite but dismissive. ]
[ The annoyance doesn’t show like it does with most others. With her, it’s a quiet, quick thing, polite, with a firm backing. It makes him look down at her, a surprised and amused curl playing at the corner of his mouth. Their lawyers aren’t as amused. ]
We’ll see you in a few days then. [ He nods to his lawyer, then hers, then turns with her tucked under his arm as they leave down the corridor. It wouldn’t be surprising if the receptionist in the waiting area heard their whole heated conversation, but Ransom doesn’t have it in him to be embarrassed about any of it. Instead, he feels a deep seated satisfaction at having her on his side again.
He looks at her when they’re in the elevator, a pleased smile playing across his mouth when he tugs her close, dropping his forehead to hers, then dipping his head to kiss her. It feels so right. ]
[ They leave their lawyers behind. No doubt they're processing the new turn of events. Marta is too. Everything has happened so fast. One moment they're arguing and the next, he wants her name right there with his. He keeps her tucked close to him under his arm. It feels like it's where she belongs.
When they're in the elevator, she looks up at him. Disbelief and happiness shine in her eyes. She laughs softly as he kisses her. She curls her finger in his sweater. She can't help but ask again to be sure. ]
You know I don't care about the inheritance. It's you I want. All I wanted was for you to want me back.
You wanted me to want you back the way you want me. [ It's an underhanded sort of protest, where he agrees and disagrees at the same time. The wry tone laces through his voice as he pulls her close.
But he needed to see it to want her back, and as soon as she gave up the inheritance, he understood. She loves him, truly, loves him. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-05-02 01:40 pm (UTC)He's touches her so delicately. He handles her like she's the most precious thing he's ever seen. He wants the inheritance, not to keep it all, but to dole it out as he sees fit. Isn't that what she'd been doing anyway. ]
I love you. [ She's still about to speak, but there's a pointed cough. Her lawyer and his stand there looking at them with deep frowns. Suddenly, the rest of the world comes back into focus. Her heart is still thundering in her chest. His attorney speaks first, his tone stern. ]
Mr. Drysdale, why don't we step inside, so we can finally conclude these matters?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-02 06:41 pm (UTC)Finally. You say it like you’re not enjoying this process. [ No one is, but his attorney should. ] Okay, we’ve got some changes to make. I wanna add Marta’s name as a beneficiary. Both of us to have equal seats in signing.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 12:37 am (UTC)Ransom. Are you sure?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 01:24 am (UTC)He looks at her, an arm still wrapped around her waist. ]
Yeah. [ She thinks he can’t give it up for her, and it’s true, but maybe this way, she’ll know he’s at least willing to share it with her. Harlan had wanted her to have it, no? And maybe this is exactly what needs to happen. They all win. Himself, Marta, Harlan.
But this also ties her to him. ]
Yeah. If this is what needs to happen, then yeah. I’m sure. Are you?
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 01:43 pm (UTC)It means the world to her.
His attorney is flustered. He looks from Ransom to Marta's attorney. ]
We won't be able to sign it today. We'll have to completely redraft everything. If you're sure about this.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-03 05:51 pm (UTC)It’s not a lot to give up, and he’s out of other options. So he lifts a brow to yet another confirmation, and nods. ]
Alright. Then you know what you need to do.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-04 12:33 am (UTC)She watches with a frown. There's a growing annoyance within her. They're not children. The lawyers are hired on by them. She's quick to give a nod. ]
That will be fine. Just let us know. [ It's polite but dismissive. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-05-04 02:19 am (UTC)We’ll see you in a few days then. [ He nods to his lawyer, then hers, then turns with her tucked under his arm as they leave down the corridor. It wouldn’t be surprising if the receptionist in the waiting area heard their whole heated conversation, but Ransom doesn’t have it in him to be embarrassed about any of it. Instead, he feels a deep seated satisfaction at having her on his side again.
He looks at her when they’re in the elevator, a pleased smile playing across his mouth when he tugs her close, dropping his forehead to hers, then dipping his head to kiss her. It feels so right. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-05-04 01:07 pm (UTC)When they're in the elevator, she looks up at him. Disbelief and happiness shine in her eyes. She laughs softly as he kisses her. She curls her finger in his sweater. She can't help but ask again to be sure. ]
You know I don't care about the inheritance. It's you I want. All I wanted was for you to want me back.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-27 09:10 pm (UTC)But he needed to see it to want her back, and as soon as she gave up the inheritance, he understood. She loves him, truly, loves him. ]
Does this prove it? Do you believe me now?