Chapter 12 - Twenty Percent
Evelyn laughed.
It was not amusement.
It was disbelief escaping the wrong way.
“No.”
Adrian handed the document to federal counsel.
“Authenticate it.”
The attorney examined seals.
“This appears legitimate.”
“No,” Evelyn repeated.
Adrian looked at her.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because your father didn't give me twenty percent of your company.”
“Apparently he did.”
“Why?”
Lena answered.
“Restitution.”
Evelyn turned.
“For what?”
Lena looked at Adrian.
“Arthur believed the company indirectly benefited from Richard's crimes.”
Adrian understood.
Money stolen from subsidiaries had sometimes boosted divisions before being washed through foundations.
“He couldn't expose Richard without destroying Wexler Holdings,” Lena continued. “So Arthur created a trust.”
“Twenty percent is billions of dollars,” Evelyn whispered.
“Yes.”
“I don't want it.”
The lawyer blinked.
“Ms. Marlow—”
“I said I don't want it.”
Adrian studied her.
“Why?”
“Because my father died. Money doesn't make that balanced.”
“No one said it did.”
“Then why would I take it?”
“Because Arthur wanted the company to answer to someone harmed by it.”
That stopped her.
Adrian continued.
“Not compensation. Power.”
Evelyn looked back at the trust.
Voting shares.
Board rights.
Oversight authority.
Arthur had not simply left her wealth.
He had left her leverage.
A seat at the table.
The ability to prevent what happened to Seeds of Hope from happening again.
“I don't know how to run a corporation.”
“Neither does half the board.”
She almost smiled.
The trust became public through court filings.
Media descended.
Headlines transformed Evelyn overnight.
CHARITY WORKER INHERITS BILLION-DOLLAR STAKE.
FROM MOCKED GUEST TO WEXLER POWER PLAYER.
WHO IS EVELYN MARLOW?
She hated every headline.
Especially ones that used photographs from the gala.
The moment Vanessa pointed.
The moment Adrian stood.
People turned humiliation into entertainment.
Adrian offered to shut reporters out.
Evelyn refused.
“I've spent too much time being hidden.”
Her first press statement lasted three minutes.
She stood outside Seeds of Hope.
No designer makeover.
Same cream cardigan.
Different floral dress.
“I did not become valuable because a legal document says I own shares,” she said.
“My father was valuable before anyone powerful cared that he died. The families who come through these doors are valuable before donors photograph themselves helping them. Money can fund dignity. It cannot create it.”
The clip spread everywhere.
Wexler stock stabilized.
Public opinion shifted.
And Adrian fell a little harder.
Richard's trial approached.
His defense team targeted Evelyn aggressively.
They claimed Thomas had been blackmailing the company.
They claimed Arthur created the trust to silence her family.
They claimed Evelyn manipulated Adrian romantically to gain control.
That one made her laugh.
Until strangers online began saying the same thing.
Gold digger.
Opportunist.
Ugly charity girl trapped a billionaire.
The old cruelty returned wearing new clothes.
Evelyn stopped reading comments.
Mostly.
One night Adrian found her staring at them.
He took the phone.
“Give that back.”
“No.”
“Adrian.”
“Your phone is being stupid.”
“The phone isn't writing them.”
“Then humanity is being stupid.”
She laughed.
Then looked at him.
“Does it bother you?”
“What?”
“What people say.”
“No.”
“That fast?”
“Yes.”
“They think I'm using you.”
“I know you aren't.”
“They think you only noticed me because you felt sorry for me.”
“I didn't.”
“They think—”
Adrian kissed her.
When he stepped back, Evelyn blinked.
“You keep interrupting arguments that way.”
“It's efficient.”
“My line.”
“I own twenty percent less of the company now. I have to steal something.”
She laughed again.
Richard's trial began Monday.
Margaret testified.
Charles testified.
Vanessa testified.
Ben testified.
Dr. Grant testified.
Helena testified.
Then Evelyn.
Richard watched her walk toward the witness stand.
No smile.
No intimidation.
Just cold hatred.
The prosecutor asked about her father.
Her charity.
The kidnapping.
The metal box.
The ring.
Evelyn answered clearly.
The defense attorney stood.
“Ms. Marlow, you now stand to become extraordinarily wealthy because of this case.”
“The trust existed before I knew about it.”
“But you benefit.”
“I also lost my father.”
“Please answer.”
“I did.”
The courtroom grew still.
The defense attorney tried another approach.
“You developed a romantic relationship with Adrian Wexler.”
“Yes.”
“During this investigation.”
“Yes.”
“Convenient.”
Evelyn looked directly at him.
“For whom?”
The prosecutor hid a smile.
Richard did not.
After court, Adrian waited in the hallway.
“You were terrifying.”
“Good.”
“My board should be worried.”
“They should.”
“We're definitely keeping the twenty percent.”
“Don't push it.”
Then a court officer approached.
“Mr. Wexler?”
“Yes?”
“We need you inside.”
“Why?”
“The judge received a new defense filing.”
“What filing?”
The officer lowered his voice.
“Richard Wexler claims Arthur's trust is fraudulent.”
Adrian frowned.
“Based on what?”
“He says Arthur wasn't legally competent when he signed it.”
Evelyn's stomach dropped.
The officer continued.
“And they have a witness.”
“Who?”
The courtroom doors opened.
Dr. Grant was escorted inside.
But he wasn't the witness.
An elderly woman entered behind him.
Adrian stopped breathing.
May you like
“Grandmother?”
Arthur Wexler's mother had been presumed dead for eleven years.
