After He Gave My Wedding Away, I Built My Empire novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: Not Forgiven

Colin was waiting in the dark of the loading bay at five minutes to midnight, with his jacket off and his tie loose.

I had told Hattie to park the van across the street with the engine running.

I had not told Caleb, but the light in his office was on, and I knew he would be at the window.

"You came," Colin said.

"You said you'd sign."

"I will." He pulled a folded packet out of his shirt. "Four releases. One for you, one for Linnea, one for each of the others. I drafted them myself this afternoon. They give the shares back."

"Drafted them yourself," I said.

"I'm a lawyer's son, Cassandra. I can write a release."

His hands were shaking so badly that the pages rattled.

"What happened to you?" I asked.

"She's moving everything onto me."

He said it fast, and I could tell he had said it to himself many times.

"After Saturday, I'm the trustee of record on four trusts and the only signature on every transfer. She's having me sign a personal guarantee at the reception. If anyone ever sues, it's me. She has a corporate lawyer ready to explain I acted alone."

"You did act," I said.

"I know."

"You put your hand on my wrist in a chapel and told me to think about the lease."

"I know." His voice broke. "I know what I did."

I looked at him, at the man I had meant to marry, and I waited to feel something large.

What came was tiredness.

"Why do it?" I said. "Four times. Why?"

"She hired me when I was twenty-three and my father had just lost his firm. She paid his debts." He gave a wet laugh. "You know that story."

"I do."

"She was the only person who ever said I was good at anything." He wiped his face with the back of his wrist. "Then she told me what I was good at."

"Colin."

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