The Card He Thought She Would Never See
Chapter 04 - The Card He Thought She Would Never See
Laura returned to the villa long enough to pack one suitcase.
Evan arrived ten minutes later, still wearing resort clothes, hair damp from the shower. He looked less ashamed now and more controlled.
That frightened her.
"We need to talk rationally," he said.
"You had six months to be rational."
He ignored the remark. "Canceling the wedding publicly could damage the company."
"My company?"
"Our future."
Laura zipped the suitcase.
"There is no 'our.'"
Evan moved in front of the door.
Not aggressively. Just enough to make the gesture clear.
"You can't make financial decisions tonight while you're emotional."
Laura looked at him until he stepped aside.
"You mean I shouldn't make financial decisions until you finish whatever paperwork you've been hiding."
For the first time, Evan lost color.
Laura noticed a leather folio on the desk behind him. She recognized it as the folder he had carried to investor meetings all week.
A corner of a document stuck out.
She walked past him and pulled it free.
It was a draft amendment to the operating agreement of Bennett Coastal Holdings.
Her name was at the top.
So was Evan's.
The amendment would have given him temporary transaction authority in the event Laura became "unavailable or medically incapacitated."
Her signature line was blank.
"What is this?"
Evan exhaled hard. "Estate planning. Dana knows about it."
Laura took a photo with her phone.
"Then she won't mind me asking her."
"Laura—"
"Move."
This time, he did.
Outside the villa, Laura sat in her rental car and called Dana again.
She sent the photo.
Dana's response came less than a minute later.
"I have never seen this document."
Laura closed her eyes.
"Can he do anything with it without my signature?"
"Not legally. But that's not the question I'd be asking."
"What question?"
May you like
Dana's voice dropped.
"I'd ask why a man marrying you in three days has already prepared for the day you can't control your own company."
