Chapter 10
Just as I expected.
Three days later, Vivian dug something up.
She didn't track me down, but she did uncover the investment terms for BVI Holdings from the past few years. According to the agreement, that investment meant 35% of Grant International's shares belonged elsewhere.
So, the company Edward always thought was completely his. It turns out, over a third of it wasn't his at all.
Vivian was freaking out.
She called a lawyer that very night, desperate to find out who this mysterious shareholder really was.
The lawyer spent three days digging and finally discovered that BVI Holdings' registered agent was a law firm in Harbor City.
But to dig any deeper, they'd need a court order.
"Edward, who is this shareholder? You seriously don't know?" Vivian demanded.
Uncle Bert said Vivian was practically screeching that night.
Edward was freaking out, too. He called over a dozen people, trying to track down the middleman who'd handled the investment for him years ago.
The guy had already retired, and all he said was, "Mr. Grant, the investor back then told me don't look into it unless you really have to. It's for your own good."
"What do you mean, for my own good?" Edward demanded.
"Just what it sounds like," the guy said.
The call ended.
Edward spent the whole night in his study, smoking one cigarette after another.
*****
The Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting was on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month.
It was held at the Capital City Convention Center, and all the top one hundred business leaders in the country were there.
I wore that navy blue coat, with a black dress underneath. Simple, but the fabric was top-notch.
Frank drove me right up to the entrance.
"Ms. Harrington, Edward's here too. He brought Vivian with him," Frank said.
"Got it," I replied.
As soon as I got out of the car, a bunch of reporters swarmed the entrance. Camera flashes went off in my face.
"Ms. Harrington! Over here, Ms. Harrington!" they called out.
I gave a quick nod, didn't even pause, and headed straight inside.
At the check-in desk, my name tag was in the first row: Evelyn Holdings,Evelyn Harrington, CEO.
Edward's name tag was in the fifth row: Grant International Holdings, Edward Grant, CEO.
There were more than forty companies between the first and fifth rows.
As soon as I sat down, Mr. Weston, who was sitting next to me, leaned over and asked, "Evelyn, I heard your ex-husband's back?"
"Yeah," I replied.
"With his new girl?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said.
Mr. Weston clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Men, huh?"
"Mr. Weston, you're a man too," I teased.
"Hey, I'm not like that! I'm scared of my wife," he shot back.
I couldn't help but laugh.
During the opening speech, I spotted Edward in the fifth row, his gaze locked on me the whole time.
He definitely noticed me.
I knew he'd seen me. After all, the host announced my name first when introducing the guests.
"Ms.Evelyn Harrington, CEO of Evelyn Holdings. Last year, Evelyn Holdings pulled in over eighty billion dollars in revenue, with a market value of two hundred and twenty billion dollars, and has stayed in the top ten private companies for five years straight"
As the applause broke out, I stood up and acknowledged the crowd with a quick nod.
Every eye in the room was on me.
Even Edward's.
I didn't turn to look at him, but I could just imagine the look on his face.
Evelyn Lane.
His ex-wife.
The woman he thought was just stuck in Southside Residences, surviving on the thirty three thousand dollars he wired her every month.
Two hundred and twenty billion dollars. That's her net worth.
During the coffee break, Vivian came looking for me.