Chapter 5 - NENAH LEARNED WHAT SHE OWNED
Nenah wanted none of it.
That was her first response.
Arthur sat across from her in the small café.
Jonas nearby.
“You may own six percent of Kincaid Consolidated.”
“No.”
Arthur blinked.
“No?”
“I don’t want it.”
“It may already be yours.”
“Then sell it.”
Jonas almost smiled.
“You sound like Reed.”
Nenah’s face hardened.
“Do not.”
He stopped.
Good.
She had driven seven hours away to become nobody again.
Now apparently she owned a piece of the family whose leader had just chosen someone else.
Cruel joke.
Then an attorney arrived.
Independent.
Not Kincaid counsel.
Jonas had arranged because Reed specifically refused to send his own lawyers.
That mattered despite her anger.
Attorney, Leah Moreno, explained:
Trust created by Evelyn.
Shares placed for Nenah.
Identity chain obscured after Evelyn’s death.
Marshall became acting trustee.
He voted shares.
Received trustee fees.
Legal if beneficiary unreachable and court allowed.
Except evidence suggested he intentionally kept her unreachable.
That changed everything.
Nenah stared.
“How much money?”
Dividends accrued.
Some reinvested.
Some trust expenses.
Estimated current value:
$18 million.
She laughed.
No humor.
“I have thirty-six dollars in my backpack.”
Leah nodded.
“The contrast is substantial.”
Then:
“You do not need to claim anything today.”
Good.
Choice.
Nenah asked:
“Did Reed know?”
“No.”
She believed that.
Maybe.
Then Leah showed document.
Marshall filed annual beneficiary-search affidavits.
Every year:
Unable to locate.
But three years ago Nenah worked inside Kincaid Manor.
Impossible.
He had knowingly lied to court.
That was fraud.
Then another report.
Nenah’s payroll name:
Nenah Blake.
Same Social Security number.
Marshall could have found her instantly.
Yet continued claiming beneficiary missing.
Worse:
Trust dividends partially funded North Gray Advisory.
The shell Carolyn found.
Marshall had used Nenah’s own money to finance political manipulation designed to force Reed into marriage.
Nenah went silent.
Everything that drove her away had been funded partly by her.
Then Reed called.
She stared at phone.
Did not answer.
Again.
No.
Third time stopped.
Text:
I know enough now to know I owe you truth before apology. I will not come unless you ask.
Nenah read twice.
Then deleted nothing.
Did not reply.
That evening another message arrived.
From unknown number.
Photograph of Nenah entering café.
Current.
Text:
THE TRUST BELONGS WHERE IT HAS ALWAYS BELONGED.
Her blood went cold.
Marshall had found her.
Jonas saw message.
“Leave.”
Nenah shook head.
“I’m tired of leaving.”
That sentence changed something.
They contacted local police.
Documented threat.
Moved temporarily to secure hotel selected with her consent.
Then Nenah called Reed.
He answered before first ring finished.
“Are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me there?”
Long pause.
“Yes.”
Reed drove north himself.
No convoy.
Jonas already security.
When he arrived, Nenah opened hotel door.
They looked at each other for first time since engagement night.
Reed said:
“I’m sorry.”
Nenah answered:
“Not yet.”
Fair.
Then:
May you like
“Tell me everything.”
And Reed did.
