Chapter 18 - The Master Plan
"You set this up from the very beginning," I said, stepping toward the stage with absolute composure.
Arthur chuckled softly, tapping his silver cane against the polished hardwood floor of the castle ballroom.
"My family helped fund your grandfather's trust thirty years ago, Evelyn," Arthur explained with cold, calculating pride.
"When Julian met you in New York, it was no accident. We wanted to merge the Sterling shadow accounts with Vanguard equity."
"Julian's mother was a distraction... a foolish, greedy woman we used to keep Julian dependent and compliant."
"We allowed you to strip him of his pride in New York so he would finally grow up and return to his real family legacy!"
Julian stood up, looking at me with a complex, unreadable expression in his eyes.
"Evelyn... I didn't know about my grandfather's plan until three weeks ago," Julian claimed, taking a step toward me.
"He paid off all my debts, restored my position, and gave me ten percent of Sterling Global."
"We don't have to be enemies, Evelyn. We can combine Vanguard and Sterling to build an empire for Maya!"
May you like
I looked at Julian, then at Arthur Sterling, feeling a sharp laugh bubbling up from deep inside my chest.
"You think I'm afraid of your shadow accounts, Arthur?" I asked, looking the old billionaire dead in his eyes.
