Chapter 2 - The Setup
The next morning, Graham poured me coffee as if nothing had happened.
He kissed my forehead.
He apologized for being defensive the day before.
"I just hate fighting with you," he lied effortlessly.
I smiled and took a sip of my coffee.
"I hate it too," I said.
Graham sat across from me, looking handsome and entirely predatory.
"Actually," he said casually, "my family’s lawyers asked if we could come into the office on Friday."
"Oh?" I asked. "Why?"
"Just routine estate consolidation," he said smoothly. "Now that we're married, we should probably align our portfolios. It's just paperwork."
I knew exactly what it was.
It was the Mercer Trust.
They were going to try to get me to sign a power of attorney or a joint asset agreement before I realized what I actually owned.
"Of course," I said. "Friday sounds perfect."
Graham smiled, relieved that his naive wife was so cooperative.
He didn't know that I spent the next three days making phone calls.
I hired my father's old law firm.
I contacted the Mercer trustees in Boston, who had been trying to locate me for years.
And I hired a private forensic accountant to look into Whitlock Capital.
By Friday morning, I was ready.
I wore a tailored white suit.
Graham wore his favorite navy tie.
We walked into the glass-walled conference room at Whitlock Capital.
Sitting at the table were Graham's lawyers, his father, and Sienna Bell.
She was wearing an emerald-green blouse.
"Vivian," Sienna said warmly, extending her hand. "So wonderful to finally meet you properly."
I looked at her hand.
May you like
I did not take it.
"We’ve met," I said. "You were in the background of my wedding."
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