Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4 — The Legal Envelope
The next morning, Ryan was in his office when the envelope arrived.
I know because Martin called me afterward.
Ryan had been sitting behind his glass desk, surrounded by awards he had not earned and photographs arranged to make him look like a man of legacy.
The assistant placed the legal envelope in front of him.
At first, he barely looked up.
Then he saw the Mercer Development letterhead.
By the time he opened it, Vanessa was already calling me.
I let it ring.
Then Ryan called.
I let that ring too.
Finally, Martin answered on my behalf.
The notice was simple.
The Beverly Hills property was being listed for immediate sale.
All temporary residential privileges would end according to the terms already written in the occupancy agreement Ryan had signed without reading.
Thirty days.
That was all he had.
Ryan stormed into my office two hours later.
No appointment.
No charm.
No control.
“You’re destroying me,” he said.
I looked up from my desk.
“No, Ryan. I’m removing the floor you mistook for your throne.”
His face twisted.
“You gave me that house.”
“I let you live there.”
“I’m your son.”
“Yes,” I said. “That is why I waited this long.”
For a moment, he looked younger.
Almost like the boy who used to run across construction sites with a toy hard hat on his head.
Then pride returned.
“Vanessa is humiliated.”
I leaned back.
“That seems familiar.”
His jaw tightened.
“You’re doing this because of one dinner?”
“No,” I said. “I’m doing this because of every dinner before it.”
May you like
Ryan looked away first.
That told me he remembered.
