CHAPTER 2

SASKIA POV

The mahogany conference table in the law firm of Harrison & Associates was long enough to seat twenty people, but today, only three of us occupied it. The silence in the room was heavy, punctured only by the aggressive tapping of my stepmother’s long, manicured nails against the wood.

"Can we get this over with, Robert?" Victoria asked, not bothering to look at me. She adjusted her designer sunglasses, even though we were indoors. "I have a luncheon at one, and the traffic downtown is unbearable."

Robert, my father’s lifelong attorney, sighed and adjusted his reading glasses. He looked tired. He looked at me with a mixture of pity and hesitation. "Saskia, are you ready?"

I nodded, gripping the edge of my seat. My thighs still slightly ached from the night before, a constant, physical reminder of the mistake I had made in that dark VIP room. My mind kept drifting back to the scent of tobacco and leather, but I forced myself to focus. Today was about my freedom. "Yes, Robert. Please read it."

Robert cleared his throat, opening a thick manila folder. "This is the last will and testament of Arthur Beaumont. To his wife, Victoria Beaumont, he leaves the estate in the Hamptons and a monthly stipend drawn from the family trust."

Victoria sniffed, her lips thinning into a tight line. "That's it? Just the Hamptons?"

"Let him finish, Victoria," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

Robert raised a hand to calm her down. "To his daughter, Saskia Beaumont, he leaves the entirety of Beaumont Enterprises, including all primary shares, the main estate in the city, and the remaining liquid assets of the family trust."

A massive weight lifted off my chest. I almost smiled. I could finally leave. I could pack my bags, buy my own place, and never have to listen to Victoria’s passive-aggressive insults ever again.

"However," Robert added, his tone dropping an octave.

My smile faded. "However what?"

"There is a strict contingency clause attached to Saskia’s inheritance," Robert said, looking directly at me. "Arthur was deeply concerned about your stability after his passing, Saskia. He felt you were too young and reactionary to handle an empire of this size alone."

"I'm twenty-one today," I argued, leaning forward. "I'm not a child."

"According to your father, you are still reckless," Victoria chimed in, a nasty, triumphant smirk appearing on her face. "Go on, Robert. Tell her the catch."

Robert looked back at the papers. "The will states that Saskia cannot touch a single dollar of her inheritance, nor can she take her seat on the board, until she completes a mandatory six-month period under the supervision of a legally appointed guardian."

"A guardian?" I stared at him, completely stunned. "He’s dead, Robert! I don't need a babysitter. Who even has legal authority over a twenty-one-year-old?"

"It’s a conditional trust, Saskia. If you refuse the terms, or if you fail to comply with the guardian's rules during these six months, the entire inheritance—the kumpanya, the money, the houses—will be permanently forfeited. It will all transfer directly to Victoria."

Victoria leaned back in her leather chair, crossing her legs. "Oh, what a shame. But don't worry, darling. I'll make sure the company is well taken care of when you inevitably screw up."

"Shut up, Victoria," I snapped, my hands shaking against the table. I turned back to the lawyer. "Who is it? Who did my dad pick? Let me guess, one of his old, retired golf buddies who I can easily pay off?"

Robert shook his head slowly. "No. Your father chose someone who cannot be bought. Someone who already holds a massive stake in the market and has the power to manage Beaumont Enterprises if you fail."

"Just give me a name, Robert."

"Evander Sinclair," Robert stated clearly.

The name echoed in the quiet room. I recognized it immediately. Evander Sinclair was a myth in the business world—a brutal, reclusive billionaire who had turned his family's shipping and tech empire into a global superpower before he even turned thirty. My father had spoken of him with immense respect, almost fear.

"Mr. Sinclair has already signed the paperwork accepting the guardianship," Robert continued, sliding a document toward me. "The terms are non-negotiable, Saskia. For the next six months, he controls your finances, your corporate schedule, and your living arrangements. The will explicitly states you must reside under his roof."

"I have to live with him?" I stood up so fast my chair scraped loudly against the hardwood floor. "This is ridiculous! It’s like a prison sentence."

"It's six months, Saskia," Robert said gently, trying to soothe me. "If you walk out that door right now and refuse to sign, Victoria takes everything. Is that what you want?"

I looked at Victoria. She was watching me like a hawk, practically begging me to throw a tantrum and storm out. If I left, she won. She would get the money my father worked his entire life for, and I would be left with nothing.

"Where do I sign?" I asked, my voice cold as ice.

Robert slid the pen across the table. My fingers trembled as I pressed the ink into the paper, signing away my freedom for the next half a year.

"Excellent," Victoria said, standing up and smoothing down her skirt. "Good luck dealing with Sinclair, Saskia. I hear he eats people like you for breakfast." She turned and walked out of the room, her heels clicking victoriously down the hallway.

I collapsed back into my chair, staring at my signature on the document.

"He's a strict man, Saskia," Robert warned quietly as he gathered his papers. "But he was your father's most trusted associate. Just follow his rules, keep your head down, and this will be over before you know it. His driver is already waiting downstairs to take you to your apartment to pack your things."

I didn't answer. I just stared out the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the rain start to pour over the city streets.

"I'll see you in six months, Robert," I whispered.