Save the Date (Modern Arrangements, #1) by Sadie Grubor
Dedication & Special Thanks:
To my husband, as always, thank you for putting up with the neglect while I spend time with my many characters and laptops.
Special thanks to:
-My work wife – Glenda – for taking the early journey into this story with me.
-My mother for always making me feel like I can accomplish anything.
-Monica, thank you, thank you, thank you. As always, you make my words read so much better.
Blurb
AIDAN IVERSON III, old money wealthy and blatant playboy, has never felt the need to be with one woman. Why, when he has the looks, money and a family name to rule the nightlife? And, when it thoroughly aggravates Grandfather?
LILLIAN SNOWE, do-it-yourself overachiever, has a plan to keep her father healthy and living in the home where he raised her. But, how can she, when the hospital bills are piling up, the bank wants their money and she is hundreds of miles away from home?
From the moment they meet, Aidan would have to be blind not to feel an attraction, especially with Lilli's work attire and feisty humor.
When illness, death, debt and a mutual friend, bring these two together, feelings are hurt and someone is insulted. It takes determination, sneaky actions and cockiness to secure the deal. But, even with an iron clad marriage agreement and pre-nup in place, there are those who would seek to destroy the spark threatening to engulf our couple in a happily ever after.
So, Save the Date, because you are cordially invited to the seduction of Lilli Snowe.
Prologue
Growing up in New York is just like growing up anywhere else, but growing up an Iverson in New York, was not something most could relate to. As an Iverson, there were as many open doors as there were open hands.
My grandfather, Aidan Iverson Senior, started AIS while married to his first wife, Isobel. After her death, even after remarrying, he built AIS into a multibillion-dollar company. My father, Aidan II, only child from Grandfather’s first marriage, and my uncles, Liam and Henry, worked vigorously at AIS. They learned everything from Grandfather, becoming executives in the company. Father, being the golden son, was second only to Grandfather.
Grandfather often preached of love, marriage and Iverson heirs. It was beaten into my head for as long as I could remember. Being the third Aidan Iverson and the male heir to the golden son, I was an instant commodity to grandfather. He never hid his favoritism, often creating tension within the family. Where my father reveled in the favoritism, I didn’t enjoy the backlash.
One evening, while I stayed with my grandparents, my parents attended an AIS sponsored charity event. The police arrived to my grandparents’ home at an ungodly hour. I remember coming down the large staircase of my grandfather’s Manhattan mansion seeing Grandma Olivia collapsed in a chair sobbing and watching my grandfather cry for the first, and only, time in my life. That was the night my parents were murdered. I was ten.
My parents, Aidan and Eliza Iverson, had arrived at the townhouse we lived in, only to be greeted by what the police believed was a robbery. Both of my parents were shot, but not before they were forced to open the home safe, and not before they abused my mother.
The grief that washed over the family after that night was detrimental. Grandfather became colder and more adamant about family loyalty and heirs. Where morning conversation would fill the breakfast table, now there was silence. Every time Grandfather’s eyes landed on me his brow would furrow and a scowl would form. As a ten year old orphan, it felt as if he hated me.
Each day that passed without finding the people responsible for my parent's death, became one more Grandfather grew harder and pulled further away from the family. Uncle Liam and Henry took over daily operation of the company and tried to run things on their own. It was four months before they located the group of former AIS employees who committed the crime.
Grandfather was never the same. The media’s attention and coverage of everything played a part in keeping his demeanor in the cold zone. When Grandfather finally resumed lead chair of the company, I was taken in by Uncle Liam and his wife Viola. Vi was pregnant at the time and due at any moment with a baby girl.
Maggie arrived ten days after I moved into their Manhattan home. It was after her birth that my grandfather started showering his full attention on me, his golden boy or prodigal son.