accounts. They require both passwords and DNA identification.”
“‘Select’ people?”
“That’s right. I don’t know how to access the accounts. I only know who does.”
My brain began to spin out of control. Who would Dad have possibly trusted with this knowledge? I stared across the table at Ms. Long. “Are you going to tell me? Or do I have to guess?” I was suddenly unable to keep the irritation from my voice as a strength from deep inside me surfaced.
“Only one person knows how to access the accounts, but she cannot access the accounts without you.”
“Who?” I dug my fingernails into the wood of the table, bracing for what was coming.
“Alyson Roslin.”
I closed my eyes, bowing my head, and a cold sweat washed over my body. After a deep breath, I looked back up at Ms. Long. “You’re telling me the only way to access my inheritance is through my mother? And you said the accounts require a specific DNA? I’m guessing mine?”
“That is correct. She is also the owner of the other half of the property here in Kentucky.”
My mother and I now co-owned the safe house where I found her two weeks ago. Perfect.
I stared down at a list of twenty or so bank accounts. “How much?”
Ms. Long stared back at me. I studied her. Just when I thought her expression had remained unreadable during this entire reveal, I noticed a slight twitch in her jaw and the tiniest hint of sweat droplets along her hairline. I cocked my head. “How much money is in these accounts?”
Without breaking eye contact, she said, “As of nine this morning, these accounts totaled 3.2 billion dollars.”
The room began to spin. Dark spots clouded my vision. I tried to pull in air, but couldn’t. Pressure closed in around my neck. I couldn’t breathe. Jonas , I managed. Help me . I clawed at my throat.
Jonas pushed through the boardroom doors, but Ms. Long was already at my side. “Miss Matthews, are you okay?” She grabbed a pitcher of water and poured me a glass. “Here.” She tipped the glass against my lips.
I gasped, shoving the glass and her hands away. The glass hit the floor with a thunk, spilling the contents.
Jonas grabbed my shoulders, spinning my seat so that I faced him. “What did you do to her?” he yelled at the lawyer.
“Nothing. I—”
“Apparently not nothing. Lexi…” He squatted before me. “Breathe. In… out…” He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as if to show me how.
Finally, I sucked in. The air stung my throat.
“That’s it. Nice and slow.” Though his voice was calm, his brows knitted together. He sat in the chair beside me, keeping both hands on my knees as I continued to force breaths in and out. “Want to tell me what just happened?”
I inhaled and shook my head.
“You’re very pale. Have you had enough for one day?”
I shook my head again. “I’m okay,” I whispered. “Can you give me one more minute with Ms. Long? Then I think I’d like a break.”
Jonas hesitated, but stood to leave. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
When the doors were closed again, I turned to Ms. Long and swallowed hard. “I just want to know why,” I said in a hoarse voice. I also wanted to know how , but that seemed less important at the moment.
“Why?” Ms. Long repeated. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion.
“Why did my father accumulate so much?”
“Oh.” The lawyer pursed her lips until they practically disappeared. “I’m simply the messenger. I would assume only your mother knows that.”
“My mother?” I stood abruptly, causing my chair to roll backward.
“That’s right. I’m told your mother and father divorced when you were young, but remained very close. Since she’s the one who knows how to access the accounts…”
I didn’t feel the need to hash out family drama in a boardroom, but apparently I was going to be forced to meet with the woman who had deserted me when I was young. I ran my tongue over my parched lips. More questions
“‘Select’ people?”
“That’s right. I don’t know how to access the accounts. I only know who does.”
My brain began to spin out of control. Who would Dad have possibly trusted with this knowledge? I stared across the table at Ms. Long. “Are you going to tell me? Or do I have to guess?” I was suddenly unable to keep the irritation from my voice as a strength from deep inside me surfaced.
“Only one person knows how to access the accounts, but she cannot access the accounts without you.”
“Who?” I dug my fingernails into the wood of the table, bracing for what was coming.
“Alyson Roslin.”
I closed my eyes, bowing my head, and a cold sweat washed over my body. After a deep breath, I looked back up at Ms. Long. “You’re telling me the only way to access my inheritance is through my mother? And you said the accounts require a specific DNA? I’m guessing mine?”
“That is correct. She is also the owner of the other half of the property here in Kentucky.”
My mother and I now co-owned the safe house where I found her two weeks ago. Perfect.
I stared down at a list of twenty or so bank accounts. “How much?”
Ms. Long stared back at me. I studied her. Just when I thought her expression had remained unreadable during this entire reveal, I noticed a slight twitch in her jaw and the tiniest hint of sweat droplets along her hairline. I cocked my head. “How much money is in these accounts?”
Without breaking eye contact, she said, “As of nine this morning, these accounts totaled 3.2 billion dollars.”
The room began to spin. Dark spots clouded my vision. I tried to pull in air, but couldn’t. Pressure closed in around my neck. I couldn’t breathe. Jonas , I managed. Help me . I clawed at my throat.
Jonas pushed through the boardroom doors, but Ms. Long was already at my side. “Miss Matthews, are you okay?” She grabbed a pitcher of water and poured me a glass. “Here.” She tipped the glass against my lips.
I gasped, shoving the glass and her hands away. The glass hit the floor with a thunk, spilling the contents.
Jonas grabbed my shoulders, spinning my seat so that I faced him. “What did you do to her?” he yelled at the lawyer.
“Nothing. I—”
“Apparently not nothing. Lexi…” He squatted before me. “Breathe. In… out…” He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as if to show me how.
Finally, I sucked in. The air stung my throat.
“That’s it. Nice and slow.” Though his voice was calm, his brows knitted together. He sat in the chair beside me, keeping both hands on my knees as I continued to force breaths in and out. “Want to tell me what just happened?”
I inhaled and shook my head.
“You’re very pale. Have you had enough for one day?”
I shook my head again. “I’m okay,” I whispered. “Can you give me one more minute with Ms. Long? Then I think I’d like a break.”
Jonas hesitated, but stood to leave. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
When the doors were closed again, I turned to Ms. Long and swallowed hard. “I just want to know why,” I said in a hoarse voice. I also wanted to know how , but that seemed less important at the moment.
“Why?” Ms. Long repeated. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion.
“Why did my father accumulate so much?”
“Oh.” The lawyer pursed her lips until they practically disappeared. “I’m simply the messenger. I would assume only your mother knows that.”
“My mother?” I stood abruptly, causing my chair to roll backward.
“That’s right. I’m told your mother and father divorced when you were young, but remained very close. Since she’s the one who knows how to access the accounts…”
I didn’t feel the need to hash out family drama in a boardroom, but apparently I was going to be forced to meet with the woman who had deserted me when I was young. I ran my tongue over my parched lips. More questions
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