You Want My Grandma’s $8 BILLION Inheritance DREAM ON! SCUMBAG, Watch Your Empire COLLAPSE Overnight! Chapter 21
The appellate court upheld the original verdict.
Alex was transferred to a New York State prison to begin serving his sentence.
The day the news broke, the last remaining shareholders of Langford Properties issued a joint statement announcing that the company would enter bankruptcy liquidation.
Langford Properties, once valued at twelve billion dollars, officially became a cautionary tale in New York’s business history.
As for me…
I used $1.8 billion from my grandmother’s estate to buy back Grant Hotels Group.
It cost me nearly seven hundred million dollars less than what I’d sold it for.
After Julian finished handling all the paperwork, he shook his head with a smile.
“Ms. Grant, you’re the calmest client I’ve ever represented.”
“Thank you, Julian.”
“I only did my job.” He adjusted his glasses. “You, on the other hand… never lost your composure. Not once.”
I didn’t answer.
It wasn’t that I’d never fallen apart.
—
I’d just saved every breakdown for the middle of the night, when I was alone.
There were nights when I’d stare at the ceiling, thinking about that cup of tonic.
Thinking about the pain of six failed IVF treatments.
Thinking about the way Alex had wrapped me in his arms, looking into my eyes and whispering, It’s okay.
I’d cry.
Silently.
I’d press a pillow over my face and cry until I had nothing left.
But when morning came, I’d wash my face, put on my makeup, and keep doing what needed to be done.
That was what my grandmother had taught me.
She used to say,
“Cry if you need to. But when the sun comes up the next morning, your eyes had better be dry.”
Now…
The sun had risen.
And my eyes were dry.
On my first day back as the owner of Grant Hotels Group, I stood at the top of the company’s headquarters, looking out over the city below.
—
New York.
I was born here.
I grew up here.
I was deceived here for seven years.
And here…
I won everything back.
My phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Evelyn Grant?” The man’s voice was deep and composed, touched with a faint accent. “My name is Sebastian Lang, founder of Star Capital.”
Star Capital.
One of the largest private equity funds in the Asia-Pacific region, managing more than three hundred billion dollars in assets.
“Mr. Lang. It’s a pleasure.”
“I heard you reacquired Grant Hotels Group.” His tone remained calm. “I’ve always had an interest in the hospitality industry. Would you have time to meet?”
“What would we be discussing?”
“A partnership.”
—
I looked out at the ocean beyond the skyline.
“Next Monday. Three o’clock. Grant Headquarters.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
After hanging up, I set my phone on the desk.
A new story…was just the beginning.
The End