The leather chair creaked as Jack sank into it, the cushions so plush they threatened to swallow him whole. Elias settled behind his mahogany desk, a fortress of polished wood between them.
"Tea?" Elias lifted a porcelain pot.
"No, thanks." Jack's fingers traced the chair's armrest, feeling the butter-soft leather. A world away from the frayed fabric of his couch back home.
"Sleep well?" Elias poured himself a cup, the amber liquid streaming in a perfect arc.
"Like a rock." Jack shifted, the leather squeaking. "Different from my old mattress. Pretty sure this one didn't have any springs trying to stab me."
A ghost of a smile crossed Elias's face. "And the room temperature? The staff can adjust it."
"It's fine." Jack glanced at the wall of books behind his grandfather. "Everything's... fine."
"Good." Elias set down his cup, the porcelain clicking against the saucer. "I trust Ms. Hart has been helpful in acquainting you with the estate?"
Jack's chest tightened at the mention of Lily. "She's been great. Professional."
"Indeed." Elias's eyes narrowed slightly. "Well then, shall we discuss more pressing matters?"
Jack stared at the thick envelope Elias slid across the desk. Gold leaf embossed the school's crest on heavy cream paper - a shield with crossed swords and what looked like a crown.
"What's this?" Jack picked it up, the paper weight alone screaming money.
"Your enrollment papers for The Gilded Academy." Elias's voice carried the same tone he'd probably use to announce the weather. "You start tomorrow."
The words hit Jack like a physical blow. "Tomorrow? I can't just-"
"You can and you will." Elias raised his cup again. "Your uniform has been ordered. The staff will have it pressed and ready by morning."
Jack's fingers tightened on the envelope. "I have a school. Friends. A life."
"Had." Elias set down his cup. "That life is behind you now. The Gilded Academy shapes the future leaders of this country. My grandson will not waste his potential at some public institution."
"You can't just-"
"I can. And there's more." Elias pulled another document from his desk drawer. "We've arranged a suitable match for you."
Jack's stomach dropped. "A what?"
"An engagement. To Elisabeth Thornfield. Lawrence's daughter - you've met her, I believe. Quite the fortuitous encounter at the tower."
The room spun slightly. Elisabeth's face flashed through Jack's mind - her careful poise, her quick thinking during their escape. "You're trying to marry me off? I'm sixteen!"
"The engagement will be announced at your eighteenth birthday gala. The wedding can wait until you've completed university." Elias's tone remained maddeningly calm. "Elisabeth is an excellent choice. Beautiful, well-bred, already familiar with our world. The merger of our families will strengthen both bloodlines."
"Merger? Bloodlines?" Jack stood, the chair scraping back. "We're not horses being bred for racing."
"Sit down." Steel entered Elias's voice. "This isn't a negotiation, Jackson. This is your future being secured. The Gilded Academy will give you the education befitting your station. Elisabeth will provide the social connection you need. Together, they ensure your place in this world."
"My place?" Jack's voice cracked. "My place was in Ashton until yesterday. Now you're planning my whole life like-"
"Like what? Like a grandfather ensuring his grandson's success? Like someone who understands what it takes to maintain power and influence?" Elias stood, matching Jack's stance. "Everything I built, everything this family represents, it all hinges on careful planning. On strategic alliances. On maintaining our position."
Jack's hands shook as he gripped the envelope. "And what about what I want?"
"What you want?" Elias's laugh held no warmth. "What you want is to save your mother. What you want is to never worry about money again. What you want is power to protect those you care about." He leaned forward, palms flat on the desk. "I'm offering you all of that. The price is accepting your responsibilities as my heir."
The words hung between them, heavy as chain links. Jack thought of his mother in the medical wing, receiving treatment that could save her life. He thought of the poverty they'd left behind in Ashton. He thought of Elisabeth's quick smile during their adventure, now twisted into something calculated and cold.
"The car leaves for school at seven-thirty." Elias sat back down, dismissal clear in his tone. "Don't be late."
Jack stumbled into the hallway, the heavy oak door swinging shut behind him with a muffled thud. His head spun. The envelope crumpled in his grip, gold leaf flaking onto his fingers. School. Marriage. Heir. The words tangled together, a noose of expectations tightening around his neck.
The corridor stretched before him, its polished marble floor reflecting the warm glow of wall sconces. His reflection fragmented across the surface - a boy in borrowed clothes, caught between worlds.
"Jack?"
He looked up to find Lily approaching, her dark uniform crisp against the mansion's opulent backdrop. Her steps faltered when she caught his expression.
"Are you okay?" She closed the distance between them, concern etching lines between her brows. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"More like my future." The laugh that escaped him sounded hollow. "Apparently, I'm starting at The Gilded Academy tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Lily's eyes widened. "But that's so sudden."
"That's not even the best part." Jack held up the crumpled envelope. "I'm also getting engaged. To Elisabeth Thornfield. You know, because every sixteen-year-old needs an arranged marriage on their plate."
"Elisabeth Thornfield?" Lily's voice caught slightly. Something flickered across her face - too quick to read - before she smoothed her expression. "That's... quite the match."
"Match." Jack pressed his back against the wall, letting his head thunk against the expensive wallpaper. "Like we're show dogs being bred for pedigree."
Lily glanced toward Elias's closed door, then touched Jack's arm gently. "Come on. You shouldn't be standing here."
The warmth of her hand anchored him, pulling him back from the edge of panic. He let her guide him away from his grandfather's study, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.
"I don't know how to do this, Lily." The words spilled out, raw and honest. "Yesterday I was worried about bus fare to visit my mom. Now I'm supposed to be some heir, going to this fancy school, getting engaged to a girl I barely know?"
"One day at a time." Lily's hand squeezed his arm before dropping away. "That's all anyone can do."
Jack looked at her - really looked at her. Past the uniform, past the professional mask she wore. Her eyes met his, steady and warm. For a moment, he wanted to tell her everything - his fears, his anger, the way his chest tightened when she smiled.
But the weight of the envelope in his hand reminded him of the new barriers between them. Heir and servant. Different worlds.
"I should go check on my mom." He straightened, forcing his shoulders back. "Thanks, Lily. For... you know."
"Of course." She stepped back, professional distance sliding into place. "Would you like me to show you a shorter route to the medical wing?"
"No." Jack pushed off from the wall. "I think I need the walk to clear my head."
Lily nodded, understanding in her eyes. As he turned to leave, her voice stopped him.
"Jack? For what it's worth... I think you're stronger than you know."
He didn't turn back, couldn't bear to see the mix of compassion and distance in her expression. Instead, he walked away, the envelope crushed in his fist, trying to ignore how the warmth of her touch still lingered on his arm.
Behind him, the corridor stretched empty and silent, a gilded prison of his grandfather's making.