My Family Sold Me For $7 Million. I Owned Their Building Chapter 10
Sunlight flooded the steps outside Monroe Holdings.
Security guards were stretching barricade tape across the entrance. A gray canvas had already been draped over the company’s sign.
I stood at the curb and made a video call to Grandma.
She answered after two rings.
She wore an aggressively red tracksuit and enormous sunglasses. Behind her stood the old maple tree in the center of town.
“Did you finish it, sweetheart?” Her voice boomed from the phone with enough force to wake the county.
“It’s done.”
I turned the camera so she could see the sealed building.
“The company is bankrupt, and Richard is in custody.”
Grandma snorted.
“Good. Your grandfather lost his mind when he trusted that man with the family businesses. If he hadn’t transferred the important assets to you before he died, Richard would have squandered every last one.”
She lowered her sunglasses and inspected my face.
“Did they hurt you? If anyone touched you, I’ll drive that Cullinan to Manhattan and put it through their front door.”
I laughed.
“I’m fine. They couldn’t even take one old feed sack away from me.”
“That’s my girl. The paperwork for the South Harbor donation is moving. I had the mayor help the children’s home with the permits. They can break ground on the new school next month.”
Grandma pushed her sunglasses back into place.
“When are you coming home? My friend Mabel still wants to introduce you to her grandson.”
“In a few days.”
I ended the call and drew a deep breath.
Without the Monroe family’s schemes fouling the air, even Manhattan smelled cleaner.
Daniel brought the car around.
“Where to?”
“My apartment.”
Before he could pull away, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom stopped in front of us.
Ethan got out of the passenger seat and tapped on my window.
I lowered it.
“Mr. Hawthorne would like to know whether you’re free for dinner tonight. He wants to discuss renewals on several of the buildings you own.”
Ethan handed me a black card edged in gold.
I accepted it and glanced at the shadowed figure in the back seat.
“I’ll discuss business. I do have one rule. I don’t drink during negotiations. Coffee is fine.”
The rear window lowered halfway, revealing Adrian’s composed face.
“Perfect. I know a private roastery with a sealed tin of Panama Geisha beans that arrived this morning.”
There was a genuine hint of a smile in his eyes.
“Will you join me, Ms. Monroe?”
“Send the address to Daniel.”
I raised my window.
Our car merged smoothly into traffic, leaving Monroe Holdings behind.
At the next light, I saw two familiar figures.
Diane stood in the heat with several battered suitcases, trying to hail a cab. Chloe crouched beside the curb in a wrinkled dress, sobbing.
Richard was nowhere to be seen. He was probably in an interview room explaining his contracts.
Yesterday, they had been a wealthy family looking down from a mansion. Today, they had nowhere to sleep.
Daniel checked the rearview mirror.
“Should I call them a car?”
“No.”
I closed my eyes.
“They chose their road. They can walk it.”