PTE

o those who are willing

Papers scattered like dead leaves. Her father's favorite pen-the one

e screamed, h

still, watching her with the cold calculation of a

bed a crystal paperweight,

s voice dropped to

You'll hit me again? Go ahead. Sh

w. For the first time, she

vultures on the board care about you? They're already circling. Already making

he paperweight. It smashed against the wall be

isten to me very carefully. William Dray arrives in two weeks. You

rying to break free. "I'd

led against the desk, catching herself. "Your parents d

ere a match

g him with both hands. "You didn't even cry at their funeral!

as she struggled. "I'm doing what needs to be do

never have sold m

h years of buried resentment. "He had every opportunity to make this company great, and he wasted it on sent

still, sta

spered. "You hated him

When he spoke again, his voice was back to that terrible c

what

his hand on the handle. "William Dray will be h

f I re

ad prepared. Severe depression. Delusions of persecution. Inability to make rational decisions due to traumatic grief."

e were pages of medical letterhead, diagnosis codes,

is fraud. Th

"Dr. Morrison is a close family friend

bas

hink very carefully

osed with a

-

ken glass and scattered papers. Her reflection stared bac

still molded to his shape. The familiar scent

e over, and I know yo

d been wrong about so many things. Wrong about h

her being re

led her from

ice was soft through the door

er eyes. "I'

't eaten i

id I'

er eyes taking in the destruction-the shattered paperweight, the

down the tray and pul

lly, Kat

shaking with grief and rage and fear. Everything she'd been

. "They're really gone, an

ed her hair. "I k

ry some man I've never met. He says

ace hardening. "That man has always b

oked up

wering her voice. "Your father changed his will three weeks before the accident. Made sure ev

Kate's mind raced. "Wh

this very room. Your father told him-" She

ll

lanning, and it won't work. Thi

-

days e

on the floor, the phone still lying beside her. The w

ere no s

ents we

her name, shaking her shoulders, but her mind refused to proce

e late-night talks with her mother.