Chapter 19: The Offer

Tobias's POV

Margaret sent her car for me at six.

The driver stood at the end of the gatehouse path with the door open and did not say a word.

I told Laurel first, in front of Joy, with my coat already on.

"Her study," I said. "I'll be an hour."

"Take the folder," Laurel said.

"I have it."

Joy looked up from her homework.

"Is Grandma going to say sorry?" she asked.

"Not tonight," I said. "Eat your dinner."

The study was the way I'd left it.

My father's pipe stand was on the desk, and the safe stood open behind it, with the top shelf bare.

Margaret sat in his chair in the black dress from the board meeting, and her tea had gone cold in the cup.

She had not turned on the big lamp.

"They voted him out," she said. "My son."

"I was there."

"You made that motion possible."

"The red tie made it. I told them what I knew."

She picked up a pen and turned it over.

"I've thought about what I can offer you," she said. "Not a sale this time. The company."

"You offered me the company on Sunday."

"I offered you your office. This is the company."

Her voice was flat.

"Chair of the trust. President. My seat on the board, when I step down in the spring."

"What do you want for it?"

"Leave her."

I waited.

"Laurel," Margaret said. "End it before the shareholders meet, and let the papers see you do it."

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