Chapter 11 - THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Richard Sterling had spent thirty-one years cleaning up family disasters.
Affairs.
Lawsuits.
Bad investments.
Political scandals.
He had become so good at making problems disappear that eventually he stopped seeing people.
He saw liabilities.
Leo was a liability.
Not personally.
Financially.
Richard walked into the room and closed the door.
Liam stared at him.
“You altered my son's DNA report.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel's trust is badly written.”
Thomas laughed bitterly.
“Badly written for you.”
Richard ignored him.
“If Leo's claim activates, eleven percent of Sterling Capital moves outside the voting structure controlled by the family board.”
Liam frowned.
“Leo is family.”
“A one-month-old child cannot vote shares.”
“His trustees can.”
Richard looked at Avery.
“And according to Daniel's trust, his mother controls those votes until he turns twenty-five.”
Avery went cold.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Richard almost smiled.
“A woman with no financial training would suddenly control a block worth billions.”
Liam stepped closer.
“My wife has an MBA.”
Richard's smile vanished.
“From a state university.”
Avery stared at him.
There it was.
The same contempt.
Different face.
Same disease.
Liam's voice became quiet.
“So this was never about protecting me.”
“No.”
“Or the family.”
“I am protecting the company.”
“From Avery?”
“From unpredictability.”
Thomas shook his head.
“You sound exactly like your father.”
Richard's face tightened.
“Be careful.”
“No.”
Thomas stepped forward.
“I spent twenty-nine years being careful.”
Richard looked at him.
“You were paid well.”
Liam moved before Avery could react.
He grabbed Richard by the lapels.
“Don't.”
Avery touched Liam's arm.
“Liam.”
He released his uncle.
Richard straightened his jacket.
“You see?”
He looked at Avery.
“This is what happens when emotion replaces discipline.”
Avery laughed.
Richard turned.
“You think I'm emotional?”
“You're holding an infant who controls nearly five billion dollars.”
“No.”
Avery adjusted Leo's blanket.
“I'm holding my son.”
Richard stared at her.
“And that's why you'll lose.”
Avery smiled.
Richard frowned.
“You've spent your entire life around people who want money.”
“So you assume everyone does.”
She stepped closer.
“You never bothered to ask whether I wanted Daniel's shares.”
Richard's expression shifted.
Liam looked at her.
Avery continued.
“I don't.”
Richard blinked.
“What?”
“I don't want four-point-eight billion dollars.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I don't care what you believe.”
Richard stared at her.
“Then sign them back.”
Avery smiled.
“No.”
His face hardened.
“Why not?”
“Because you tried to steal them from my son.”
She looked at Liam.
“And because if Daniel wanted Leo protected from men like you, maybe he knew exactly what he was doing.”
Richard's calm finally cracked.
“You have no idea how this company works.”
“Then teach me.”
“You wouldn't last six months.”
“Maybe.”
Avery's voice remained calm.
“But tomorrow morning, I'm still Leo's trustee.”
Richard stared at her.
“And tomorrow morning, you won't be chairman.”
Silence.
Richard looked at Liam.
“You wouldn't.”
Liam shook his head.
“I won't have to.”
Thomas stepped forward.
“My eleven percent.”
Avery looked at him.
Thomas smiled faintly.
“Technically, the transfer isn't complete until the trust administrator certifies Leo.”
Richard's face drained.
Thomas continued.
“Until then, I still vote the shares.”
Liam understood.
“So vote.”
May you like
Thomas looked directly at Richard.
“With pleasure.”
