Chapter 8 - FRIDAY
Friday was four days away.
Adrian sat beside Lily's bed until she fell asleep.
He watched her breathe.
Every few minutes, she reached for his sleeve even while dreaming.
Noah sat on the floor.
"Were they going to take her?"
Adrian refused to lie.
"It looks like they planned to."
"Why not me?"
The question came with guilt.
Adrian moved beside him.
"Because none of this is about who matters more."
Noah stared at his hands.
"Vanessa says Lily is worth more."
Adrian's stomach tightened.
"What does that mean?"
Noah shrugged.
"She said Lily has Claire's special shares."
Adrian froze.
Claire had inherited founder stock from her father.
When she died, half went to Noah.
Half to Lily.
But Lily's portion had an unusual clause.
If she lived outside the United States for more than six months under a legal guardian, voting control could temporarily shift to that guardian for tax management.
A loophole.
Tiny.
Obscure.
Dangerous.
Lowell had drafted the trust years ago.
Adrian called him.
"Did Vanessa know about the foreign-residency clause?"
Silence.
"James."
"She asked about it."
"When?"
"Last year."
Adrian stood.
"Last year?"
"She said she was planning an extended family stay in Europe."
"And you told her."
"Yes."
Adrian almost hung up.
Then Lowell said, "There's something else."
"What now?"
"Claire wrote a side letter when the trust was created."
Adrian stopped.
"What side letter?"
"Instructions if anyone ever tried to remove the children from the country."
"Where is it?"
Lowell's voice dropped.
"It disappeared from my office two months ago."
Adrian closed his eyes.
"Who had access?"
"Me. My assistant."
May you like
A pause.
"And Owen Mercer."
