Chapter 2 - The True Name of the Empire
Nathaniel rushed over, his face flushed with irritation at being publicly ignored in front of the city's wealthiest patrons.
"Mr. Whitmore, I believe there's a misunderstanding. This woman is no longer associated with the Ashford family."
"She was just asked to vacate the premises," Nathaniel sneered, casting a dismissive glare in my direction.
"Whatever minor probate allowance Charles Bennett left her can be settled through our low-level claims department next week."
Samuel slowly turned to face Nathaniel, his silver eyebrows arching with icy amusement.
"Minor allowance, Mr. Ashford?"
"I was not aware that seventy-one percent of Ashford Global Holdings was considered a minor allowance."
A collective gasp rippled through the ballroom like an electric current.
Margaret Ashford staggered backward, clutching her pearl necklace as if she were suddenly struggling for oxygen.
"Seventy-one percent?" Nathaniel repeated, his voice cracking into a high, hysterical pitch.
"That's impossible! My father founded Ashford Global thirty-five years ago!"
"Your father was an operations manager who ran a bankrupt logistics firm on the Chicago riverfront," Samuel answered without flinching.
"Thirty-five years ago, Charles Bennett provided the entire initial capitalization under a twenty-five-year convertible debt indenture."
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Samuel gestured to the lead attorney, who unlatched a briefcase and produced a thick, red-bound legal dossier.
"Your family never owned this enterprise, Nathaniel. You were merely hereditary stewards operating under the Bennett Legacy Trust."
