I Was The Fake Heiress—Then Found Real Heir Was My Ex Chapter 04
I Don’t Need the Ashford Fortune
For several seconds, Preston didn’t move.
Simon did.
He took the microphone from my father.
“Thank you.”
His voice was calm again.
The same voice he used in boardrooms.
“I appreciate the Ashford family welcoming me.”
People smiled politely.
Then Simon continued.
“But I won’t be taking the position of heir.”
The room went dead silent.
My father stared at him.
I stared at him harder.
Simon looked at me.
“Daphne was raised for Ashford Holdings.”
He spoke as if the matter were obvious.
“She knows the company, the board, and the family better than I ever will.”
He handed the microphone back to my father.
“The position is hers.”
I grabbed his sleeve.
“Are you insane?”
He lowered his head.
“No.”
“You just gave up one of the largest family holdings on the East Coast.”
“I already have a company.”
“Simon—”
Someone behind us suddenly said his name.
“Simon Vale?”
An older banker pushed through the crowd.
His face changed the second he got closer.
“Mr. Vale. I didn’t know you were in New York.”
Then another person recognized him.
And another.
The whispers changed.
Vale Capital.
London.
Private equity.
Billions.
My father turned slowly toward Simon.
“You said you owned a small investment firm.”
Simon looked completely serious.
“I do.”
I laughed.
“His definition of small is eleven billion dollars under management.”
My mother nearly dropped her glass.
Preston looked like he might be sick.
Simon leaned toward me.
“Closer to twelve now.”
I stared at him.
“Of course it is.”