Chapter Two

Ashton had saved Nina's life lots of times, once when her father died and left them drowning in debt. Now she was supposed to watch them lower him into the ground like he was just another name in an obituary.

St. Patrick's Church was super crowded. Every seat was filled with people in fancy black clothes, wiping away tears with expensive handkerchiefs. They seemed to be acting sad because they felt like they had to be. Nina sat in the front row between her mom and sister Jade, wearing the same black dress she'd worn the day before, before everything fell apart.

Before Ryan. Before the world revealed itself as a the cruel joke it actually was.

Nina stared at Thomas's casket, it probably worth more than her car, and she felt the tears she thought she'd exhausted drop again.

Thomas would've listened to the whole pathetic story about Ryan and the girl, then probably said something wise and kind that would make her feel less stupid for loving the wrong person.

But Thomas was gone, and she was alone.

The priest droned on about a man he'd probably never met. Nina barely heard it. She was remembering Thomas differently, the way he'd shown up to her college graduation when her own mother couldn't afford the trip. The way he'd called her every Sunday just to check in, never asking for anything in return.

He'd been family when family was supposed to be blood. Now he was just a body in an expensive box.

"We should go," Her mom murmured as people began filing out. "The lawyer called this morning. Said you need to attend the reading of the will."

Nina blinked through tears. "What? Why?"

"He wouldn't say." Her mom said gently. "Just that it was urgent."

The law office was the kind of place that made you feel poor just walking through the door, all glass and steel and people who looked like they ate gold for breakfast. A receptionist in head-to-toe Chanel directed them to a conference room where a dozen strangers already sat around a table that probably cost six figures.

"Ah, Ms. Grant." A silver-haired man in a suit that screamed old money stood, extending his hand. "Am Lucas Reid, Thomas's attorney. Thank you for coming."

Nina shook his hand, suddenly aware of every eye in the room tracking her movements. "I don't understand why I'm here."

"You will." He gestured to empty seats. "Please."

Across the table sat a woman who looked like she'd been rich since birth, she was probably sixty-something, with bone structure that came from generations of excellent genes and better diet. Two men in their thirties flanked her.

Nina's phone buzzed. She glanced down.

Ryan: You need to get your stuff out by tonight or I'm tossing it.

Her jaw tightened so hard it hurt.

"Now that everyone's present," Lucas began, opening a thick leather folder, "we can now start with Thomas Ashton's last will and testament. I'll summarize the key factors."

Nina half-listened, still processing the text. Still seeing Ryan between the girl's legs. Still hearing his voice telling her she was not enough.

"To my sister, Iris Ashton, I leave my estates and the amount of fifteen million dollars."

The elegant woman nodded like she'd expected exactly that.

"To my nephews, Daniel and Derek Ashton, five million each."

The two men barely reacted. Clearly, they'd wanted more.

"And to my goddaughter, Nina Grant..."

Nina's attention snapped up.

"...I leave thirty percent of my shares in Hale Corporation, including the board seat and full voting rights."

Silence crashed through the room like a bomb.

Nina stared. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Thirty percent of Hale Corporation." Lucas slid a folder across the polished table. "That places your inheritance at approximately two hundred and thirty million dollars."

The words didn't make sense. Couldn't make sense. Nina's brain stalled somewhere between "thirty percent" and "million."

"There has to be a mistake," she managed. "I've never even heard of that company. Thomas never mentioned..."

"WHAT?" Derek shot to his feet, face purple with rage. "Uncle Thomas left some random girl more than his own family? This is insane!"

"Derek, sit." Iris's voice was quiet, but her eyes never left Nina.

"Thomas was exceptionally specific," Lucas continued smoothly. "He believed Ms. Grant would bring necessary changes to Hale Corporation. He also left this for you." He handed Nina an envelope.

Her hands trembled as she tore it open. Thomas's handwriting blurred through fresh tears.

My dear Nina,

If you're reading this, I'm gone, and you're very confused. I've watched you build yourself from nothing. Watched you sacrifice, struggle, and never complain. You remind me of who I was, hungry, brilliant, and far too kind for the world you're about to enter.

Hale Corporation is my legacy. Now it's partly yours. The board will see you as an outsider, a threat, a child playing with sharks. Prove them wrong.

Trust no one. Question everything. Don't let them smell blood.

You're stronger than you believe.

All my love,

Thomas

"This is garbage!" Daniel stood now too. "We're contesting this. There's no way..."

"The will is ironclad," Lucas cut in. "I have documentation proving Thomas was of completely sound mind. You're welcome to try, but you'll lose."

Nina couldn't breathe. Two hundred and thirty million. A company. A board seat.

"When does this take effect?" she whispered.

"Immediately. In fact..." Lucas checked his watch. "There's a board meeting tomorrow morning at nine AM. Your presence is demanded. Hale Corporation is at a crossroads. The decisions made in the next few weeks will determine the company's future. Your thirty percent gives you considerable power, Ms. Grant. People will want your vote."

"People like who?"

Iris laughed, soft and dangerous. "People like me, dear. I own twenty-five percent. My sons each own ten. The remaining twenty-five is split among various board members and investors." Her eyes glittered. "Your thirty percent makes you the largest single shareholder. Congratulations. You just became the most important person in the room."

Derek's jaw tightened. "She doesn't know anything about running a company. She's an accountant, for God's sake."

"A very good accountant," Nina's mom spoke up suddenly. "Nina graduated top of her class..."

"It's fine Mom. I don't understand." Nina sank into her chair. "Why would Thomas do this? Why me?"

"Because he loved you," Her Mom said softly, tears in her eyes. "He saw something special in you, Nina. He always did."

Lucas gathered his things. "Your godfather was a brilliant man, Ms. Grant. Brilliant and strategic. He didn't make decisions lightly. If he chose you for this, he had his reasons." He paused. "One more thing. The board doesn't know about you yet. Tomorrow will be... let's say, eventful. Be prepared."

After he left, Nina sat in silence, staring at the folder.

Inside were financial reports, board member profiles, strategic plans, a whole world she knew nothing about.

Tomorrow morning. A room full of sharks who didn't know she existed.

She opened the folder and started reading.

Time to learn how to swim.