Chapter 2

2.

Three days later, I stood before the iron gates of the Sullivan Estate.

The black gates were three stories high, with a massive "S" forged into the intricate metalwork. Two security guards in black uniforms stood at the entrance, radios clipped to their belts.

A row of luxury cars was parked nearby―Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, Maybachs. The windows were tinted, but I could see shadows moving behind the glass as I passed.

Lucian Rhodes was waiting for me. Gray shirt, gold-rimmed glasses, and a leather briefcase.

"Miss Sullivan. Please, follow me."

"Call me Mavis."

"Of course, Miss Sullivan."

He wasn't listening.

We walked through the first courtyard―landscaped gardens, bamboo thickets, and a koi pond. The water was so clear it looked blue, and the bottom wasn't lined with pebbles, but with shards of antique porcelain. When the wind blew, the surface shattered into a thousand blue fragments.

Then, I saw them.

Seven people were sitting in the grand hall. Six adults and one elderly man. The old man sat in the center on a carved mahogany chair, while the others were spread out in a semi-circle. Every eye snapped to me the moment I crossed the threshold. It wasn't curiosity―it was the look of hunters sizing up new prey.

"This is Mavis Sullivan," Lucian said, stepping aside.

Silence followed for five long seconds.

A woman in a Chanel suit was the first to speak. "Why is she dressed like that?"

She looked me up and down―jeans, a white T-shirt, and sneakers. The sole of my right shoe was peeling off, making a slapping sound against the floor with every step.

"Mavis Sullivan." The old man in the chair spoke. His voice was low, but the room went instantly quiet. "I am Silas's brother, Sebastian Sullivan. These are your grandfather's relatives."

He pointed them out one by one. "Sterling Sullivan―son of your grandfather's eldest brother. Next to him is his wife, Lenore. Stanton Sullivan―son of the second brother, and his wife, Portia. And Seraphina―your grandfather's niece."

Seven people. Six "legitimate" relatives. And then there was me.

Sebastian pushed a folder across the table. The paper slid across the mahogany with a dry sound, like a snake shedding its skin.

"This is your grandfather's will."

I picked it up. The terms were crystal clear―forty-two percent of the shares go to Mavis Sullivan. The remaining fifty-eight percent is distributed into a family trust, managed by a family committee. The members of that committee were the seven people in this room.

In other words―they controlled fifty-eight percent. But the controlling power belonged to me.

"Is there a problem?"

Sterling was the first to speak. He was about forty, with perfectly slicked-back hair and a Patek Philippe on his wrist that cost ten times my annual rent. "Mavis. You might not understand this, but managing a stake this large involves complex decisions and transactions. We suggest―"

"Suggest what?"

"That you delegate your voting rights to the family committee."

Seraphina chimed in. She looked to be in her early thirties, with makeup so flawless it looked like a mask. The curve of her smile was calculated―just enough to seem friendly, but not enough to make you think she actually liked you.

"We will take care of you. A monthly allowance of two million dollars. You can live here at the estate and never have to worry about a thing―"

"I refuse."

Seraphina's smile vanished. Sterling sat up straight.

"Mavis―"

"I said―I refuse," I repeated, standing up.

"Mr. Rhodes. When does the will go into effect?"

"Within sixty business days after the probate is finalized."

"Good."

I turned to walk out. As I reached the door, Sebastian's voice echoed from behind me.

"Mavis Sullivan."

I looked back.

"Your grandfather had one rule―to inherit the Sullivan fortune, you must pass the family test."

"What kind of test?"

He gave a small, thin smile. A single wrinkle crinkled at the corner of his eye. "Survival."