A Different Life—What If?, page 1
A DIFFERENT LIFE—WHAT IF?
A MARTINIERE MULTIVERSE NOVEL—A DIFFERENT LIFE BOOK ONE
JOYCE REYNOLDS-WARD
Copyright © 2022 by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Cover art by Kostia777, purchased from Depositphotos, design by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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CONTENTS
1. That Excellent Grant Candidate
2. A Crucial Interview
3. Family Complications
4. Dinner At The Belvedere
5. Intimate Betrayal
6. Horsing Around
7. Negotating Across The Generations
8. Shared Shadows
9. Consequences
10. The Language Of Roses
11. Early Stages
12. Sisterly Disclosures
13. Boundaries
14. Mindy
15. Things Blow Up
16. Martiniere
17. A Very Martiniere Occasion
18. New Life Together, New Challenges
19. Revelations
20. Cry Havoc
21. The Dogs Of Corporate War
22. Even More Changes
23. Raising The Ante
24. Countdown To Trouble
25. Face To Face
26. Into A Future
About the Martiniere Multiverse
Newsletter
Books and Publications
About the Author
CHAPTER 1
THAT EXCELLENT GRANT CANDIDATE
APRIL, 2029
GABE
Gabriel Martiniere sprawled on the living room couch in his half-sisters’ Corvallis condo, studying the four files projected in front of him. Oregon State University was the last stop in his assigned series of interviews to determine the finalists for the Martiniere Grant. In part, this scheduling was due to a desire to spend the weekend with Louisa and Justine afterward, but it was also because Dr. Asa Green’s agricultural robotics program was one of the finest in the United States.
Saving the best for last.
Meanwhile, his cousins were surveying elsewhere in the world. But as a high-level Martiniere male heir born in the United States—North America was Gabe’s assigned interview area.
And the competition to become the Martiniere-in-waiting, second in charge of both the privately-held Martiniere Group and the far-flung, enormous Martiniere Family, came down to this year’s Grant recipients. The quality of the prospects that Gabe and his cousins discovered—and hopefully recruited—to advance the Martiniere Group’s famous agricultural technology programs, would make that final determination.
Gabe scratched his freshly-shaven chin as he considered his line of questions. He was oh-so-close to becoming the Martiniere-in-waiting. The right Grant candidate could put him over the top—yes, Jeff Swait was good, but if he had a second, equally good if not better candidate—two candidates capable of winning Grants would clinch the position.
“Deep thoughts, Gabie?” Justine, the sister he shared a father with, entered the kitchen, still in her pajamas and robe.
“Just reviewing today’s interview candidates.”
“Ooh. Let me look.” Justine poured herself a cup of coffee and picked up the carafe to top off Gabe’s cup. “Unless this is super-secret Martiniere boy business.”
Gabe snorted. He didn’t approve of the Group and Family structures that adhered to the old French Salic Law, excluding women from major leadership positions. Thankfully, most of his cousins who would eventually become Group and Family leaders agreed with him. And the ones who didn’t—
“As if the Martiniere Grant candidates are super-secret from Family, especially my sisters,” he said. “Besides, I figure you and Weeza know some of these people. I’d appreciate your insights.”
“Hmm.” Justine returned the carafe to the coffeemaker and sidled in beside Gabe. “Let me see. Oliver Reed, ag economics.” Her major, bolstered by a minor in accounting. “Smart, but soft-spoken. Tends toward the Chicago school of economic thought, so a conservative; politically leans toward the Honest Republicans. Not an innovator.”
“Noted.” He wanted innovators.
“And he’s a bit of an ass.”
“Definitely noted.” He didn’t need anyone who might prove to be difficult.
“Linda Coates. Ag robotics,” Justine mused. “Under other circumstances, she’d be an excellent candidate. How many can you choose, Gabie?”
“I’ve already selected an ag robotics guy, Jeff Swait, from the University of Arkansas. He’s developing a biobot targeting moisture retention in a particular strain of dryland rice. Agronomy and robotics combined. Any candidate from either category needs to be stellar.”
“Linda’s not your woman, then.” Justine chewed her lip. “Perrin Buhler is agronomy and he’s not that stellar. Nice guy. But.” She pointed to the last file. “Ruby Barkley. You want stellar, Gabie, she’s your woman. She’s the under other circumstances I meant. Linda is good. Ruby’s better. And they’re good friends. If you could take them both—”
“Unfortunately, I can’t. Tell me more.” Gabe leaned back and sipped his coffee. He had already fingered Ruby Barkley as his first choice—not just his own opinion. When the cousins had reviewed potential finalist candidates in Paris last week, with Cousin Arthur and Uncle Gerard, heads of the French Martiniere subsidiaries that dominated the Martiniere Group, Arthur and Gerard had prioritized Ruby Barkley. She showed a pattern of innovative bot design in various competitions that intrigued Arthur—and her background in the arid plateau country of Northeastern Oregon might translate well to the Southwest Asian markets the Group sought to develop, especially in the area of Ukraine post-war recovery. That interested Gerard.
Besides, Dr. Green had highlighted Barkley as one of his special candidates.
There was one huge problem, however. Barkley was older than the others, and she wasn’t a junior yet—normally, unless the recommending department supervisor designated a candidate as special, they needed to be juniors, with the Grant financing a senior project.
Ruby Barkley was twenty-three and still a sophomore, four years younger than Gabe. She had a history of irregular college attendance—though that could also be explained by her family circumstances. Orphan, raised by grandparents with failing health. High grades except for two terms, when she dropped out.
“Weeza and I know Ruby,” Justine said. “She works at Lora Smith’s barn.”
“I saw that in her bio.” Another point that caught his attention. Gabe and his sisters had ridden with Smith when she was based in Los Angeles—former Olympic medalist in eventing. Additionally, Lora had bailed Gabe out of a very dark time in his life. A positive factor for Ruby Barkley, because Lora Smith didn’t hire idiots, even if all Barkley did for her was muck stalls and feed horses. Unlikely, given Barkley’s background. “What does she do for Lora?”
“She’s pretty damn good, Gabie. First one up on Lora’s greenies. Lora doesn’t ride them herself anymore—that’s what Ruby does.”
Gabe raised his brows at that. “Thoroughbreds or warmbloods?”
“Both.”
“Hmm.” A talented horsewoman, capable of managing both the sensitive and the powerful horses in Lora’s training program.
Well, Barkley was a rodeo queen, and impressive in that arena as well.
First runner-up Miss Rodeo America. Miss Rodeo Oregon. A fistful of other rodeo crowns, as well as a competitor in barrel racing and breakaway roping. Ruby Barkley was part of a world that intrigued Gabe—most of his equestrian experience involved riding jumpers and eventers, but he was curious about rodeo.
“She’s also concerned about Weeza and her horse,” Justine continued.
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” Justine rolled her eyes. “Ruby’s doing most of the lessons with Weeza, and she’s a good instructor.”
“What’s her concern?” Though Gabe thought he knew, from Weeza’s history with horses.
“You know Weeza and her attraction to difficult horses. At least Midnight adores her when she handles him on the ground. Not a mean bone in his body, but he’s an aggressive jumper with a lot of scope, more than Weeza should be handling, and she’s gonna get hurt. Ruby tried to talk her out of buying Midnight, and spends time schooling him before Weeza gets on.”
“All right,” Gabe sighed. Just as he thought. Weeza being ambitious and overestimating her ability again. “Good thing you told me to bring my boots, so I can warm him up for her tomorrow, hmm?”
“I didn’t want to make a big deal about our riding there, especially since I knew Ruby is a Martiniere Grant candidate—wasn’t sure if she was a finalist.” Justine raised her brows. “Good morning, Weeza.”
“What’s up with Ruby?” His other half-sister, Louisa, the one with whom he shared a mother, joined them. She was already dressed for the day.
“Martiniere Grant finalists. She’s one of Gabie’s interviewees,” Justine said.
“Oh, goody!” Louisa grinned as she poured herself a cup of coffee. Then she leaned against the kitchen counter, her expression becoming more solemn. “Before that. Gabriel, I have urgent news best heard from me rather than other Family members—or the media.”
There were several things this could be, and none of them good since his sister called him Gabriel, not Gabie, the nickname both sisters used for him.
Gabe tensed. “I’m assuming it’s not that great.”
Louisa frowned into her coffee cup before looking back up. “It’s Mindy.”
Gabe winced at the mention of Miranda Cathcart-Rogers, his ex-girlfriend. Mindy had dropped him for cousin Joey, the other half-brother of his sisters.
“Has she discovered the dark side of Mr. Sexually Exciting and Innovative?” It was all Gabe could do to keep his tone even and not bitter.
“It seems that perhaps Joey is a bit too exciting and innovative for Mindy’s tastes.”
“I wouldn’t know. I blocked her from every damn piece of social media I could think of.” That was after Gabe caught Mindy screwing Joey in their apartment, in their bed, six months ago. Followed by the epic argument, the dramatic breakup, the gossip media. “What happened?”
“Mindy walked in on one of Joey’s orgies. Just last night.”
Justine flinched. “How bad?”
“The worst.”
Gabe and Justine’s eyes met, their lips tightening, shared memories immediately coming to mind.
“I suppose Daddy-fucking-dearest was also part of it,” Justine snapped, giving voice to Gabe’s thoughts.
Louisa nodded. “And, unfortunately, your father went after Mindy.”
“I hope to hell she filed assault charges,” Gabe growled.
“It’s Mindy. What do you think? Of course not. She messaged me begging to have you call her, Gabie. She wants you back.”
“Nope,” Gabe said, popping the p. “How long before she decides once more that I work too hard, travel too much, and care more about the Family and the Group than her? All she’s interested in is the prestige of dating Gabriel Martiniere. Not about me. Gabe. The real person. She chose Joey. I warned her about him when she started showing an interest in Joey last summer, but she chose him.”
The last words Mindy had said to Gabe before he left her for good had been you’re boring and never here, Gabie. How do you expect me to stay entertained when you’re always working?
Unfaithful as a girlfriend—unfaithful as a spouse. No. He’d seen enough of that lifestyle in the two years he spent in his sperm donor Philip’s house. And after sixteen years of growing up under the guidance of Philip’s older twin Saul, who passionately loved his wife Angelica, Gabe’s mother, the casual infidelity exhibited by Philip and his late wife Renate wasn’t something Gabe accepted. He wanted love and respect in a relationship, not transactional and what can you do for me this week?
No more, Gabe vowed to himself, as he had ever since he left Mindy. He would not replicate the life of his damned sperm donor.
If it took him forever, he’d find someone who loved him as much as his mother loved Saul. Someone he could love as deeply as Saul loved Angelica.
“Gabie.” Louisa’s voice held a concerned note. “You okay? You zoned out there for a moment.”
Gabe shivered. “Just—remembering.” The sad thing was that he had entertained the possibility that Mindy was the one. He had spent several nights drinking with Saul and pouring out his heart after this last breakup. Saul, though actually his uncle and Philip’s older twin, was more his father than Philip could ever be.
Forget about Mindy right now.
She was a distraction and a liability to his campaign to become Martiniere-in-waiting. Though—Gabe supposed he’d better do something about Philip. His biofather facing potential criminal charges could pose a problem for Gabe’s future goals. Philip had been defanged from any real power in the Family and the Group—but he was still capable of poisoning his biological son’s prospects. Especially since he was going into politics with that damned Real Truthers political party. Rumor had him planning a Presidential campaign.
That was a subject to take up with Justine later, since Philip was their father. Much later. Maybe tomorrow.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.” Genuine regret filled Louisa’s voice.
“I appreciate finding out from you rather than someone else. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Louisa crossed the room to look over Gabe’s shoulder. Her tone changed. “So. The Grant prospects—and you said Ruby’s on the list? Excellent.”
“What do you think about her?” He was happy to change the subject. Louisa’s field of study was ag media. Her input would give him an idea about who might be most media-friendly. Promotion was an important part of the Martiniere Grant.
“Well, she was the Miss Rodeo America first runner-up the year she competed,” Louisa said. “I’ve not seen her videos, but given that Ruby’s financials are pretty damn tight, I’d say she had something going for her above and beyond horsemanship and appearance in her competition for rodeo crowns. Level-headed. When she wants, she can project a presence. Pretty dedicated to anything she chooses to do. And she’s a damn good instructor.”
Gabe hesitated. Was it a good time to ask about Louisa’s latest horse? Probably not. “Cousin Artie and Uncle Gerry like some of her bot design competition work.”
“So is the decision today?” Louisa asked.
Gabe nodded. “I’m bringing the winner or winners and their significant others to dinner at the Belvedere—along with Dr. Green and—I hope both of you.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Justine said.
“Same here,” Louisa echoed.
“Bringing someone?”
“Donald, of course,” Justine said, a smile sneaking onto her lips at the mention of her fiancé Donald Atwood. “He’s flying in this afternoon.”
“And Ginny for me,” Louisa said.
Gabe raised his brows. “Are you and Ginny getting serious, Weeza?” Virginia Westley had been frequently escorting Louisa to Martiniere functions over the past year. He wasn’t sure how he felt about Ginny. Too focused on society for his taste, but on the other hand, she made his sister smile. Weeza needed that in her life. Too many of her relationships had gone bad—just like his, but for different reasons. Weeza didn’t have the shadows hanging over her that he and Justine shared. Thank God.
“Maybe,” Louisa said. “And what about you, Gabie?”
He laughed, hollowly. “My job is to pay for the whole thing. Dr. Green’s my date, if anyone is.”
“Poor Gabie,” Louisa sighed. She kissed his brow. “And I have to rush off. Early class. But don’t you worry. Tine and I will find you someone.”
Another hollow laugh. “Don’t waste your time, Weeza. I work too hard and travel too much for any woman’s interest. At least according to Mindy.”
Louisa shook her head and left.
Justine glanced at him, her lips pursed, brown eyes hard and glittering. “Damn, that bitch really did do a number on your head, didn’t she, Gabie?”
He shifted uneasily. Justine in this mood was too reminiscent of Philip.
“I was a fool. Expected too much. I don’t know that any person can put up with what I’ll have to do should I become the Martiniere-in-waiting.”
Justine exhaled through her teeth. “That’s bullshit, Gabie. You don’t work any harder than either me or Donald. Not every woman demands every second of your attention.”
“Yeah, but—“
“No yeah buts, Gabie.” She pressed her lips together, shaking her head. “My best brother deserves to have someone who cares about him. Who loves you for who you really are. And that person is definitely not Miranda Catherine Cathcart-Rogers.”
“No, but she was a reasonable compromise. I thought.”
“A reasonable compromise like my mother Renate was, when our fucking father couldn’t have Angelica? No, Gabie. You saw where that led, for both of them. You deserve someone who loves you.”
