And somewhere else in the city, an empire created partly from her talent had continued expanding.
“Does Margaret know about the trust?”
“Yes.”
“Nathan?”
Martin’s expression became difficult to read.
“He has known about its existence for years.”
The room seemed to tilt underneath me.
“Everything?”
“Not everything.”
“What doesn’t he know?”
Martin closed the folder.
“That is exactly where you need to be extremely careful.”
“Why?”
“Because there is another condition in the trust.”
“What condition?”
He looked straight at me.
“If Eleanor’s descendant legally marries an Ashford heir before asserting the restitution claim, control over the recovered shares becomes subject to a family voting agreement.”
My mouth went dry.
“What does that actually mean?”
“You would still legally own the shares.”
“But?”
“Your voting rights could be controlled by the Ashford family board.”
For several seconds, all I heard was the quiet hum of the heating system.
Then the pieces began fitting together.
Nathan finding me.
Nathan investigating me.
Nathan arranging to attend the charity event.
Nathan proposing.
Margaret’s determination to make sure the wedding happened.
Their urgency.
The gown.
The missing handkerchief.
“If I marry Nathan before claiming the shares…”
Martin nodded.
“The financial value would remain yours.”
I barely managed to finish the question.
“But control stays with them.”
L’histoire n’est pas encore terminée. Sélectionnez « Suite » ci-dessous pour découvrir la suite.
