The Wife He Couldn't Buy

d outside Blackwood Tower, wondering whether comi

glass walls reflected the morning sun, and the people entering through its revolving doo

ked down

e heels. Her natural curves had never been something she needed to apologise for, and she refus

er handbag and

e receptionist. "I'm here t

gers paused ove

ave an ap

wed her t

fter a brief conversation, she looked up with an expression that

ood will s

ried Amara to the

d, a man in a charco

Ben

a is

expecting you.

otographs of buildings that looked more expensive than ent

tant knoc

here,

d he

ped into t

ket. He was taller than she had expected, with dark hair, sharp features, an

y tailored black s

d, his eyes s

es of a man accustom

nnett,"

lackw

ase,

w why you conta

ross his face. It migh

usiness. I can

husband and telling me not to trust you. Forgive

ked toward

the clause in your

wasn't qualified

u belie

eyes n

standard business strategy, or

st time, Ad

xpected, and anno

ng that someone has underesti

hing in common. Now

on his desk and tur

records, shareholder agreements, and

eaned f

n Ben

her mother's sig

d above the page w

is t

iginal ownership record

ver involved in J

ved long before Julian

at oppos

private investors. Your mother held voting rights through a trust. Those

died the

s, but the dates were unmistakable. Some of the tran

asn't

tion I've been t

lieve you're helping

N

so quickly tha

olving the company's ownership structure. Your husband's lawyers are tryin

ant me to

ablished before the a

makes your acqui

held he

ave a very exp

lmost l

sn't pretendin

ent these documen

uld h

you d

N

hy

rds relating to your mother without authorisation. Yesterd

moved th

accusin

to this investigation. And someone is trying to make

sat

usinessman trying to manipulate her

bility that someone had been

want from me,

olded hi

er left anything else behind-letters, documents, co

ve anything

caref

was young. I kept a few photographs and persona

de certain you n

harder than she

he signature on t

rs. Whatever secrets she had car

enly interested in something A

st

. Until then, I won't sign anything, and I

't attempt

s your

d towards

Ben

ooked

more thing yo

her s

t for tomorrow evening. He's planning to i

ting of humiliation, but

them a happ

announce that the acquisition of Benn

it is

he voting rights attache

ent, neit

ara und

marriage. He was trying to erase her clai

ns if I ref

l could

you

d collapse

tudie

bly comfortable

t negotiation to a

offer in exchange

se from h

pendent investigators to trace the trust. Access

uld you dema

ng the legitimate owners

ing e

s a fraction long

ou haven't

answer unsettled her more

ebt she owed him. Adrian Blackwood was a stranger, and she had

lawyer," she said. "I'll d

r en

e door before

ma

time he had use

tu

about the trust. If he realises how much you know,

oncern, Mr

s ad

ll consi

g him the satisfaction

ooked at her-not at her clothes, not at her body, and not as th

er as though her q

experience around a man she

-

through the small box of belongings s

lace, and several envelopes filled with letters she had re

about a

about

a photograph sh

building Amara didn't recognise. Both were smi

d the photo

s handwriting

ppens, find Ri

the nam

d Blac

n's f

make sense of i

li

go to voicemail,

do you

you been?"

tell me what I'm qual

le

s voice

oken to Adri

stomach

ou know a

arefully. Stay

hy

idea what your mother

all e

ared at

hing about their history. And Adrian had offered to hel

the photograph

er mother's death, the pas

or someone had de

other side, someone knew