Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Gabe inclines his head with a sly smile as if to say, well played. “Our lawyers believe we have a strong argument that due to Alaine’s brain cancer, she wasn’t competent when she made those decisions. While we can’t contest paternity, there’s a good chance that a court will see it our way and remove you as trustee. I’m here to offer an alternative to a very long, very expensive court battle.”
I feel my hackles rising. “And that would be?”
“The Mardraggon trust is willing to offer you a substantial amount of money right now for Sylvie’s interests. We’ll be glad to leave her a minor amount, which will still provide a sizable yearly income for her and—”
“No.”
Gabe blinks at me. “Don’t you even want to know what I’m offering?”
“Nope.” I shake my head and stand from the desk. “I’m not selling Sylvie’s shares. That’s her winery. She loves that place. It’s her legacy.”
Tipping his head to look at me, Gabe doesn’t bother to give up his seat. “I would have thought you’d want her legacy to be this farm.”
“Who says a girl can’t have two legacies?” I quip, then move around the desk and to the door that leads outside. “Now… if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”
Gabe sighs and slowly rises from his chair, buttoning his jacket. “I think you should reconsider.”
“Not going to happen. That winery is going to stay in Sylvie’s control and if that means I have to work by your side to make it profitable, then I’ll suck it up past the nausea and do it.”
“Ten million dollars,” Gabe says, his face suggesting that the figure should shock me into considering.
“Not interested.”
“Fifteen.”
I open the door and pull it wide. I stare at Gabe with hard, unyielding eyes that say no amount of money will change my mind.
Gabe’s stare turns to stone. “You should know not to fuck with our family.”
“I’m not,” I maintain. “I’m protecting Sylvie. That shouldn’t be a contrary interest to your own. She’s your fucking niece for God’s sake.”
If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve sworn that was pain flashing across Gabe’s face. “I love my niece. Trust me when I say, removing her from the Mardraggons’ business holdings would be in her best interest.”
I don’t know how to take that. I’m truly caught off guard by Gabe’s proclamation of love. I am fairly certain her grandparents don’t love her… not the way a child should be loved. Gabe’s tone tells me that he truly cares for Sylvie.
But I push those uncertainties aside. They have no place in the here and now. “I want you to send me a copy of the trust documents and any other pertinent information regarding the winery. I’ll have my own lawyers look at it. But in the meantime, I suggest you and I set up a meeting where we can go over everything and you can bring me up to speed on how to run a winery.”
Gabe looks like he wants to argue but eventually gives a curt nod. “I’ll have my secretary reach out to you.”
“That will be fine,” I reply. Gabe brushes past me, stepping out of the barn into the April sunlight. He gets no more than a few paces away when something occurs to me. “Sylvie has a dog.”
Gabe turns around, confusion on his face. “A dog?”
“Back in France. She misses him. I’d like to have him shipped here. No clue how to go about doing that but I need someone at the winery who can facilitate that on their end.”
I’m shocked to see Gabe’s face soften and he lets a small smile slip before locking it down. “That would be Esteban. He’s the general manager there. I’ll get his contact information to you. If you run into any issues, just let me know and I’ll do what I can to help.”
I force my jaw to stay locked and not drop open in shock from the genuine offer. Nodding, I say, “I’d appreciate that.”
Gabe doesn’t say another word but pivots on his foot. I watch him walk to a fiery-red Porsche but don’t wait for him to leave before shutting the office door. Scrubbing my hands through my hair, I huff out a sigh of frustration.
Things just got even more complicated where Sylvie is concerned. I had hoped to maintain a strong line to keep my family separated from the Mardraggons, but that appears to be impossible right now.
CHAPTER 14
Ethan
I long ago stopped training show riders, leaving it to my siblings because I have too many other responsibilities running the farm. While I don’t do the actual hands-on teaching anymore, I always attend the horse shows because the Blackburn name is being represented and it’s important that I support our clients who put in so much hard work and dedication to the sport. Not only that, it’s a way to show my appreciation and support of Kat, Trey and Wade.