AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Neither did I.
CHAPTER 56
KATE
We sit facing each other across my desk.
“Are you doing OK, honey?” I ask. “You haven’t changed your mind about the publicity shoot, have you?”
“I want to do the photo shoot with you,” she says. “But I’m worried about Tish. What she’ll do to you and to the office.”
“She won’t do anything to me. Wouldn’t dare,” I say.
“I hope you’re right,” she says. “Mom, I know Dad hurt you, so much.”
“Thanks for saying that. You’re right. We built a full life together. Family. Business. He threw it all away,” I say.
“But you were the last person he called, ever. I have the proof on his phone. He still loved you,” she says.
“Maybe, but there was a lot of damage done.” I swivel my chair back and forth. “All of this is a moot point. It’s the past. We need to get going. We need to move forward.”
“Mom, one last question. Why did you use the name Mabel to communicate with Dad?”
“Oh, that. You know Tish wouldn’t allow your father and me to talk directly, and there was a lot we needed to cover, with the IPO and everything.”
She nods. “I get that. But why the name Mabel?”
“It was a nickname, from when we first met. I know, sort of sentimental.”
“Tish knew it was you, despite the name,” Ashlyn says. “You really got her fired up, that’s for sure. Maybe on purpose?”
“No. I was just helping Dad through the stress of the IPO. If she read into things, what can I say, honey? Makes me look smarter than I am,” I say.
I can tell Ashlyn is about to ask more questions when a text lights up my phone. It’s from Bob.You are right. Mary Loveless and Sarah Byrne will admit, for a price, they never witnessed John sign anything. Congratulations. We have an attorney taking their statements now. Handwriting expert agrees John’s signature is a fake, too. We have enough to take to the judge and get this thing invalidated.
“Yes!” I leap out of my chair.
“What is it, Mom?” Ashlyn asks.
“We found our crack in the will. The witnesses were phony, and they’ll admit it. The handwriting was faked. It’s over,” I say.
“That’s great news!” Ashlyn says.
Jennifer knocks on my office door. “Ready?”
“More than ready,” I answer. Glad for the diversion. “Come on, Ashlyn. Let’s go show the world who’s boss.”
The world should know Kate Nelson is holding all the cards.
CHAPTER 57
TISH
I’m pacing back and forth in my kitchen. The same kitchen I can’t wait to off-load onto some unsuspecting new owner. The heating and cooling guy was here earlier and disconnected the thermostats from the app. He says they’ll work like regular ones now, thank god. The tech guy Chris called should be here any minute to unlink the music system from that app. I’m getting my damn house under control.
The real reason I’m pacing, truth be told: I’m lonely. Nobody at work will talk to me. I don’t have any friends. I need to start playing tennis. Stat. And what was stupid Kate saying about owning most of EventCo? I don’t understand. I need to find a way to scare Kate some more. I like it when she’s afraid of me. But no one at EventCo would tell me where the lame photo shoot was, and mostly, it seemed, they were laughing at me.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s a message from Uncle George.We have trouble, sugar. They bought off our witnesses. Better fold up the con. Move on.
