Page 167 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

I look up at her. “What retrospective?”

“Blackwell’s opening its archives for a long-form project on the family and the company,” Claire explains.

“The antitrust years, the restructuring afterward, where the business is now, and what happens when the next generation eventually takes over. Richard Blackwell’s founding years are part of it, but Julian and Adrian are obviously central.”

I look back down at the packet.

I already know more about the years in between than I want to.

The investigation lasted well beyond the first headlines. Federal regulators, European authorities, depositions, hearings, document productions, restructuring agreements. Julian testified publicly more than once. I watched enough of it to know when he looked exhausted beneath the controlled expression he wore for cameras, and enough to know when the worst of it finally began to ease.

Blackwell survived.

More than survived.

The company’s valuation recovered, then climbed far beyond where it had been before the investigation. Their California operations expanded aggressively, particularly in Silicon Valley, and the R&D arm became one of the most closely watched divisions in the industry.

I never went looking for Julian.

I never had to.

His face has been in business coverage for seven years.

Claire folds her hands on the table.

“Blackwell considered several publications. We made the final shortlist because of the work we’ve done on founder families and private empires. They confirmed us yesterday.”

“That’s great,” I say, because professionally, it is.

Mark leans back in his chair.

“We originally had Daniel Mercer in mind for the lead.”

I look between them.

“Then Daniel should do it.”

Claire’s expression shifts slightly.

“That was the plan.”

I know where this is going before she says another word.

“No.”

Claire exhales. “Sophie.”

“No.”

Mark looks at Claire, then back at me.

“You haven’t heard the rest.”

“I don’t need the rest.”

Claire keeps her voice even.

“Someone pulled the internal archive from the last major Blackwell profile. Your name came up.”