Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Sinclair
All heads in the conference room turn toward the entrance when a man wearing a floral print button-down shirt, green shorts, and flip-flops walks in.
I stare at him, certain that he’s mistaken this law office for a beachside resort, but the look on Mr. Wismer’s face tells me that the floral shirt guy is supposed to be here.
He extends a hand to the lawyer. “Hello again, Mr. Wismer.”
“It’s great to see you, Mr. Harkins.”
They share a quick shake of their hands before Mr. Wismer pats him on the shoulder. “Please call me Bryce. Denia would have wanted you to.”
I’ve known Jameson’s grandmother all my life, and I can back Mr. Wismer up on that statement. Denia Sheppard wasn’t into formalities. She treated almost everyone she met as family, especially if you did anything kind for her.
She always said that she wished she had a granddaughter just like me. It was one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received, and now that she’s gone, I’ll hold tightly to those words and my memories of her.
“Bryce it is.” The man in the floral shirt smiles. “I see almost everyone is here.”
“Almost?” Jameson grumbles under his breath.
I’ve never been part of the reading of anyone’s will.
Even though I inherited money from my grandpa’s estate, I was too young at the time of his death to be included in any of the pomp and circumstance of settling his estate.
My parents took care of that and overlooked my trust until I turned twenty-five a few months ago.
That sum is currently sitting in an investment account while I sort through what I want to do with it.
I didn’t expect to be included in Denia’s will, but I suspect she may have left me a necklace I admired. It’s a large sapphire that hung from a tarnished silver chain. I only spotted her wearing it once, but it struck me as something special, and I told her as much.
She smiled and assured me it would have a place around my neck when she was gone. Just the thought of that had brought tears to my eyes, and now it’s reality.
“Aristo Harkins is an old friend of Denia’s,” Mr. Wismer explains to me. “He went to college with Carrick.”
Carrick Sheppard was Jameson’s grandfather. He was also the co-founder of Carden Confectionaries. The company was launched decades ago, just a few months after Carrick and Denia wed. It’s since grown into a global venture employing tens of thousands of people.
Holden approaches Aristo. “It’s been years, Aristo. It’s good to see you.”
“You as well, Holden.” Aristo smiles. “Your grandmother said you grew up to be a fine young man. She wasn’t wrong.”
“Don’t let his looks deceive you,” Jameson grumbles.
Aristo lets out a hearty chuckle. “Denia also said you two would strangle each other if given a chance. She wasn’t kidding.”
Jameson drops his gaze to the floor without so much as another word.
Aristo approaches me. “You, lovely Miss Morgan, are exactly as Denia described you. I don’t suppose you remember me?”
I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I don’t.”
He pats my forearm. “It’s been years. I believe you were eight or nine when we met. I moved to sunny California with my wife a few months later. The brutal New York winters weren’t for us.”
I smile. “It’s good to see you again, sir.”
“Aristo,” he gently corrects me. “I’m glad you came today. We’ll get started soon. Denia invited one more guest to this party. We’re waiting for them.”
“Who?” Holden asks before anyone else can.
“Maybe it’s your wife,” Jameson snaps over his shoulder.
“Shut the hell up about her,” Holden volleys the words back.
“It’s Monique,” Aristo interrupts the brothers’ testy exchange.
That spins Jameson around to face all of us again. “Monique? Grandmother’s former assistant?”
“That’s the one.” Aristo nods. “Her former assistant and current CEO of Carden Confectionaries.”
Jameson rakes a hand through his hair. “What the hell are you talking about? Holden is the fucking CEO.”
Holden’s gaze drops to the floor as Monique Hantam strolls into the conference room dressed all in red.
“I’m the fucking CEO,” she says sharply. “You’ve missed a lot since you left, Jameson. Sit down and buckle up because your world is about to be turned upside down.”
I sit in a chair next to Holden since I want to avoid Jameson at all costs.
Even though I feel sympathy for him because he lost his grandmother, it doesn’t change anything that happened between us in the past.
With any luck, after Denia’s will is read, I can walk out of here with the necklace and my pride intact.
I won’t have to see Jameson again before he leaves Manhattan to go to wherever the hell it is that he calls home now.
Mr. Wismer stands at the head of the table. He draws in a deep breath. “I think we can all agree that Denia Sheppard was a force of nature.”
Heads bob up and down as Holden whispers. “Damn right she was.”
I reach over the squeeze his forearm. Jameson’s older brother has only ever been friendly and supportive of me. Even though I have two older brothers, I’ve always viewed Holden as a bonus brother.
Holden pats my hand and offers me a soft smile.
His eyes are the same color as Jameson’s.
His hair is too, but he’s now sporting a few strands of gray mixed in with the brown.
Other than their fierce love for their late grandmother, those physical features are all the Sheppard brothers have in common.
“I’m going to hand the floor over to Aristo.” Mr. Wismer gestures to his left to where Mr. Harkins is sitting. “Denia asked him to take on a very important role before she died.”
“What role?” Jameson asks impatiently. “I don’t understand any of this. Why is Monique the CEO, and where is Finella?”
I know by the tremor in his voice that he’s overwhelmed. I heard it when his grandfather died, and the day our friendship ended.
As Aristo stands, he clears his throat. “Denia had a living trust and kindly asked me to be the trustee.”
I glance at Jameson to find his brow knit in confusion.
Holden tenses next to me. “I see.”
“She left something substantial to each of you.” Aristo’s gaze wanders the table, stopping to take in each face. “Let’s start with control of the company.”
Jameson lets out a frustrated noise. “Let me guess. That goes to Holden and his missing wife, Finella.”
Aristo turns his attention to Holden. “Are you going to tell him, or should I?”
Holden looks at his brother. “Finella and I divorced six months ago.”
Jameson pushes to his feet. “What? That’s not possible.”
“It’s possible,” Monique interjects. “Holden stepped down as CEO the day he filed for divorce. I’ve been the temporary CEO since.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Jameson’s gaze volleys between his brother and Monique. “Why didn’t Grandmother tell me?”
“We’re telling you now,” Monique says gently. “As I said, Jameson, there’s a lot for you to learn, so take your seat and let’s get to it.”