Chapter 13 - The Harmless Cousin
Julian looked nothing like a villain.
That bothered Grace most.
He was forty-two.
Soft-spoken.
Well dressed without being flashy.
He entered the library carrying flowers for Eleanor.
“I heard about what happened.”
Eleanor didn’t touch them.
Julian smiled at Grace.
“And you must be Grace.”
“You know who I am.”
“Half the country knows who you are.”
He nodded toward the television.
The viral video was playing again.
Grace crossed her arms.
“What do you want?”
“To help.”
Adrian laughed.
Julian looked genuinely wounded.
“You think I filed the board petition.”
“You did.”
“I supported it.”
“Same difference.”
Julian turned toward Grace.
“My cousin has spent years believing ownership makes him untouchable.”
Adrian stepped forward.
Grace raised a hand.
“Let him talk.”
Julian smiled.
“The Blackwood company destroyed your father.”
“Your father helped.”
The smile disappeared.
“I never knew Victor.”
“Apparently everyone in this family has that problem.”
Julian studied her.
“Thomas’s shares belong to you.”
“Yes.”
“Tomorrow you can save Adrian.”
Grace said nothing.
“Or you can make sure neither Blackwood nor Sinclair controls this company again.”
Adrian frowned.
“What are you offering?”
Julian looked at Grace.
“Chairwoman.”
Silence.
“You vote with me.”
“Adrian is removed.”
“We restructure the board.”
“Then you take Thomas’s seat.”
Grace almost smiled.
“You think I want your palace?”
“No.”
Julian stepped closer.
“I think you want justice.”
That word was carefully chosen.
He knew exactly where to press.
Grace looked at Eleanor.
At Adrian.
At the empire that had protected people responsible for her father’s death.
Julian continued.
“Why save them?”
Adrian’s expression remained unreadable.
Grace appreciated that he didn’t beg.
Julian placed a folder on the table.
“Read it.”
Inside were police reports from Thomas’s crash.
Photographs.
Witness statements.
And an internal Blackwood memo.
The memo authorized destruction of Thomas’s employee files.
Signed by Eleanor Blackwood.
Grace looked at her.
Eleanor didn’t deny it.
Julian whispered.
“She buried him.”
Grace closed the folder.
Julian walked toward the door.
“Tomorrow at ten.”
He stopped.
“Your vote decides everything.”
After he left, Adrian looked at Grace.
“If you vote me out, I won’t fight you.”
Eleanor stared at her son.
“Adrian.”
He shook his head.
“She deserves the choice.”
Grace looked at him.
“What would you do?”
“If my father had died because of this family?”
May you like
He paused.
“I’d burn the company down.”
