Grant stood back, not wanting to appear as the orchestrator of this meeting. This was Max’s show, and as far as he was concerned, Max could take some of the heat for what the wives were about to be told. He was certainly paid well enough for it. Still, it was impossible to stay put when Tara was the first through the door. He reflexively propelled himself toward her. Perhaps it was the promise of her embrace, the chance to distract himself with her perfume.
“Tara. Looking gorgeous, as always,” Grant said. It wasn’t merely a requisite compliment. She looked so beautiful he could hardly think straight—exactly why he needed to keep her at arm’s length.
“Thank you.” Delivering a skeptical smile, she steered him into a corner. “I’m guessing you didn’t tell Astrid and Miranda?” she muttered under her breath.
“I never intended to. That’s Max’s job. Not mine.”
Her sights narrowed on him, seeming suspicious. “So why tell me at all? Why not make me wait?”
He didn’t have a good explanation, other than the fact that he’d needed to unburden himself from the secret. The funeral had been overwhelming. “We’ve known each other for a long time. I couldn’t keep it from you.”
“What do you have up your sleeve, Grant?” she asked in a whisper. “Are you planning on disputing this part of Johnathon’s will?”
“No. Of course not. I’ll explain it all as soon as Max has said his piece. I promise you it’s nothing bad. This is a windfall for you, right?”
“I certainly never expected anything from my ex-husband. Max made sure of that in the divorce.” She cast a look over her shoulder.
“You’re on my side, right?”
“Yeah. Sure.” She surveyed the room. Astrid and Miranda were noticeably not speaking to each other. “In addition to being on my own side, of course.”
That wasn’t exactly the answer Grant had wanted. Now he had to hope that money would speak the loudest, and he could get what he wanted—primary control of Sterling Enterprises.
“Ladies, let’s go ahead and get down to business,” Max said. “Please. Have a seat.”
Miranda and Astrid were already occupying two of the chairs in front of Max’s desk. Tara took the third, which was in the middle. It was a fitting spot for her. Grant saw her as the bridge between everyone here. Astrid still wasn’t speaking to him, as she had rightly figured out that he’d known all along that Johnathon had kept his new marriage a secret from her. But Astrid needed to fall in line at some point. Grant knew things about her relationship with Johnathon that he was certain she wanted kept private.
Grant didn’t bother taking a chair, instead leaning against one of the bookcases near Max’s desk. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, his pulse picking up again.
“So, as you three likely know, all of Johnathon’s personal assets have been left to his wife, Miranda,” Max began.
Astrid noticeably shifted in her seat. “Then why are we even here? Did you bring us here to insult us?”
Max peered at Miranda over the top of his reading glasses. “You’re here because Johnathon’s ownership of Sterling Enterprises was shifted into a separate trust after he and Miranda got engaged. He wanted his fifty-one percent stake of the company to be equally divided between the three of you.”
Astrid gasped. Tara pressed her lips together tightly, but didn’t say a word.
“Excuse me?” Miranda blurted. “How did I not know about this? How am I just finding out about this now?”
Grant had worried about this sort of reaction, but he kept his thoughts and emotions to himself.
Max held up both hands in an attempt to calm the situation. “The business was already a separate entity when you married. It’s in your prenuptial agreement that Johnathon’s disbursement of his shares of the company were at his sole discretion.”
“And he told me I was getting everything.”
“Unless it’s on paper, I know nothing about that. But I can tell you that he left a note, which he asked me to read.”
Now it was Grant’s turn to object. “Hold on. I didn’t know about a letter.”
Miranda pointed at him accusatorially. “But you knew about the rest of it?”
“Not until the day we lost Johnathon. I assumed it would all go to you, I would become CEO, and that we would simply move forward in a partnership between the two of us.” He turned to Max. “You never told me there was a letter.”
“I’m following Johnathon’s wishes. He wanted this read to the wives. I didn’t really see how it was your concern. Honestly, I’m not sure you should be in the room right now.”
“Grant should stay,” Tara said. “He was Johnathon’s right hand. And he’s still going to be CEO. Nothing will change that.”
“This had better be good. That’s my money. That percentage of the company is rightly mine.” Miranda crossed her legs, and then her arms, in a huff.
Max pulled the letter from an envelope, unfolded it and began reading. “Dear Miranda, Astrid and Tara, I’ve asked Max to read this in order to explain my decision to leave my shares of Sterling Enterprises to the three of you. For Miranda, I realize this might come as a disappointment, but I believe that the fortune I have left behind will last far beyond your lifetime. I know I have provided well. As for Astrid and Tara, the truth is that Sterling never would have become what it is today without their help and support. They shared in some of my success during our marriages, but the company has really taken off since Astrid and I divorced. It only felt fair that everyone share in it. Miranda, you have my undying love and devotion, but I have never stopped caring for Astrid and Tara. They will be a part of me forever, as will you. I hope you can all understand that my heart led me to this decision. It might seem unusual, but it makes perfect sense to me. All
