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"Hello?"

"Miss Hardwick, it’s Michael Roth"

He was the attorney I’d hired to review my contract with Jackson "How can I help you, Mr Roth?"

"I received a copy of the trust documents from Mr Boudreaux’s attorney"

"Oh Yes, um, well Mr Boudreaux and Ithe contract you reviewed" I sighed "Mr Boudreaux doesn’t want to e, so the contract is void at this point"

The attorney’s pause was so loaded I iht in my hand He said, "But the trust isn’t"

I yawned, scratching al counsel before signing the trust documents?"

Oh dear There was an accusation in his tone I wasn’t in the state of mind to deal with a peeved attorney "Wellno," I ad was a little rushed--"

"The trust isn’t linked in any way to the e contract," he interrupted iet irritated with the conversation "Mr Roth, you’ll have to speak English I haven’t had ?"

Aifted you a million dollars"

I frowned This didn’t"No, that can’t be right The trust is part of the e, there’s no money"

Mr Roth started to speak slowly and patiently, as you would to a child or so a trust in the e contract, Miss Hardwick As far as the contract is concerned, the trust doesn’t exist There was only a stipulation that a payment in the amount of one e, but it never specifically spelled out how that payment would be made This trust I’ve just reviewed"--I heard the sound of rustling paper in the background--"is ironclad It’s irrevocable You are the sole trustee No one else has access to the money That million dollars is yours, married or not"

I rolledout of your behind I know you graduated froree on the wall behind your desk, but you’ve got this all wrong Jackson Boudreaux would never make such a stupid ree He wouldn’t It was intentional"

Mycame out

"Of course if you don’t believe o dinged byCongratulations, Miss Hardwick You’re a millionaire"

I breathed, "I’, his voice a distant drone inelse he said I stood in the kitchen, blank with shock, until the house phone rang and jolted me back into reality I disconnected the call with Mr Holt, as still talking, and picked up the phone on the wall

"Hardwick residence," I said, co He had to be Why on earth would Jackson do a thing like that?

"Bianca," said Trace

Hisfroot so

He chuckled It was an ugly sound, full of malice "What, I can’t call to payto pay his respects He had other business on his oing to tell you this one more time, Trace Stay away from me"

"Or what?" he snarled "You’ll have Jackson Boudreaux buy up the whole block instead of just the one building?"