Chapter 7 - The Desk at Joyce’s House
Years earlier, Aiden had used a home office in Joyce’s basement while Holland Development’s first building was under construction.
When the company moved downtown, he left behind an old wooden desk.
Joyce had never emptied it.
Alice and Daniel opened every drawer.
Most contained outdated invoices and construction permits.
The bottom drawer was jammed.
Daniel pulled it free.
Behind it lay a thin ledger covered in dust.
Aiden had handwritten account numbers, project names, and early ownership percentages.
Next to Alice’s name was the figure 49%.
Next to a project labeled “Northgate” was a series of arrows leading to a trust abbreviation: MFT.
Madeline Fisher Trust.
The entries continued for years.
Aiden had begun moving individual projects into Madeline’s trust long before Alice discovered the affair.
Daniel photographed every page.
“This connects the old company to the new one.”
“Is it enough?”
“It proves a pattern. But Aiden will claim the ledger is outdated.”
Alice turned to the final page.
A recent note had been added in blue ink.
Transfer remainder after A.H. signature.
A.H.
Alice Holland.
The document Aiden wanted her to sign was not merely a divorce settlement.
It was the final authorization needed to move what remained.
Daniel looked at her.
“He cannot complete the transfer without your signature because the original investment restriction is still attached to at least one account.”
Alice felt the first spark of control return.
“So he needs me.”
May you like
“He needs your hand. He doesn’t need you to understand.”
👉 Alice decided she would let Aiden believe he was about to get exactly what he wanted.
