Chapter 4

Morwen must have really thought she'd won.

The very next day, she docked Graham three months' pay.

Then, in Ron's name, she fired the head of finance in charge of the family's main accounts and replaced him with her own brother, Vesper.

On his very first day, Vesper Locke transferred out five million euros.

He said it was an advance for a partnership with the Locke family.

The accountant didn't dare challenge him, but quietly sent me the bank receipt.

I only glanced at it.

"Let him move it."

The accountant panicked.

"Miss Colin, that's five million!"

I tapped the screen.

"Print every document related to this and send it straight to Silas, our lawyer, as evidence. He'll know what to do."

The accountant hesitated, then caught on.

"Got it."

That afternoon, Morwen sent people to clear out my studio.

She said it got good light.

It would make the perfect nursery once she and Ron had a baby.

Graham called me, his voice trembling with anger. "Princess, now she's taking over your studio too."

I was picking out new paints with a friend, perfectly calm.

Only a few days earlier, I'd still had some reservations.

After all, Ron had run my businesses for ten years.

As long as he remembered his place, I would've simply thrown Morwen out, no matter how foolish she got.

But now, it wasn't that simple.

That evening, Ron came to me himself.

He was carrying a new document.

"Sorrel, I've been thinking.

"Going through the renewal process with you every January first really is a hassle."

He set the contract in front of me.

The term of appointment had been changed to indefinite.

I looked up at him.

Ron spoke as if it were obvious. "When you were little, your grandfather spoiled you, so playing along with your little ceremony was no big deal.

"But you're 24 now.

"A family as respected as ours can't keep following such a childish rule.

"I'll go through the stamping ceremony with you one last time tomorrow.

"After that, let's drop it."

I smiled and asked him, "Do you really think I stamped it every year just to make myself happy?"

Ron got a little impatient.

"What else?

"Sorrel, think about it.

"For ten years, the Don has put all the power in my hands.

"Everyone knows who the real heir is."

Just then, Morwen walked in.

When she saw I wasn't reacting, she exchanged a look with Ron. Then she stepped close and whispered in my ear, "Sorrel, you'd better think this through.

"We're being nice about this for old times' sake.

"If you keep refusing to do as you're told, don't blame us for what happens."

Her face was cold and vicious, like a snake about to strike.

"Everyone in the family takes orders from us now.

"We could even make certain people disappear without anyone noticing."

I looked at her for a moment, laughed softly, and closed the contract.

"All right.

"Tomorrow, January first, I'll call a family meeting and say it in front of everyone."

Ron visibly relaxed.

"That's more like it." Morwen hugged me sweetly, her cold fingertips brushing my throat.

Once the two of them were gone, Vincent came out of the next room.

He held two boxes.

One held the underboss's seal Ron had used all year.

The other held the Colin family seal.

"Princess, it's already December 31st.

"By the rules, Ron's term as underboss ends at midnight tonight."

I nodded.

"Are all the underboss candidates here?"

"They're all waiting at the hotel."

Before sunrise on January first, cars lined the drive to the old Colin house.

Every capo from around the world, everyone who ran one of the family's businesses, and several respected family members had come.

Ron arrived late.

He clearly hadn't expected such a turnout. He even joked, "Sorrel went all out with the ceremony this time."

Morwen was on his arm.

"We're finally getting rid of an old rule. The more people here to see it, the better."

When they came in, Ron took his usual seat, first on the left.

Morwen, however, went straight for the seat at the head of the table.

Vincent stiffened.

I stopped him with a look.

Once Morwen was seated, she smiled at me.

"Come on, Sorrel.

"Stamp this contract today, and nobody will have to waste time playing along with you every year."

Not a single capo in the room laughed.

Ron seemed to sense something odd, but he brushed it off.

He put the contract on the table.

"Let's start."

Then, out of habit, he held out his hand to Vincent.

"Bring me this year's list of capos in every territory so I can stamp it."

Vincent ignored him.

Ron frowned.

"Didn't you hear me?"

Only then did Vincent stand, but he didn't hand Ron the list.

He picked up Ron's underboss seal in both hands and carried it over to me.

"Princess.

"Ron's term as underboss ended at midnight last night.

"By the rules, the underboss's seal comes back to you."

The smile froze on Ron's face.

Morwen didn't even try to hide her frown.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Vincent didn't even look at her.

More than 100 capos and family members stood at once across the reception hall.

The capo at the front bowed to me.

"Princess, please review last year's books from every territory before choosing this year's underboss."

That was when Ron finally looked shaken.

He shot to his feet and looked at me.

"What do you mean, choose this year's underboss?"

I didn't answer.

I picked up the family's appointment roster and turned to the page for this year.

The space after Ron's name was empty.

I looked up at him.

"Didn't you always think the stamp was just a formality?"

Ron's lips moved.

I put the family seal back in its box.

"Good.

"This year, we're skipping that formality."