Empire of Desire(Empire #1)(16)

I place a forefinger to my lips. The last thing I want is for Gwyneth to wake up and have another meltdown. So I motion at Aspen to follow me down the hall. Once we’re out of view and earshot, I tell her about the situation.

She leans against the wall and crosses her arms over her dark blue tailored jacket as she listens to every detail with keen interest. If there’s anything I’m sure that Aspen will always have, it’s her attention to detail.

“So this leaves only you at the head of Weaver & Shaw,” she says when I’m done.

“He could wake up.”

“You don’t believe that, Nate.”

I don’t. I’m practical enough to know that we’ve probably lost him for good. But admitting it out loud is similar to punching my own gut, so I don’t say it.

“How about his little princess?” she asks, and even though she’d normally say it in a condescending manner, she doesn’t now.

Aspen has never shied away from going for Kingsley’s throat, proving to have a temper that matches her red hair. She usually doesn’t agree with his reckless ways since she’s more methodical, like I am.

And he’s never liked the fact that she earned her place as a senior partner and he couldn’t kick her out if he wanted to. Not that I would let him. Aspen is an asset to the firm and she’s been a pillar in my life ever since I stole her from another firm and convinced her to join me and Kingsley in our new endeavors.

I lean against the wall and cross my ankles. “What about her?”

“With Kingsley gone, she’ll be in over her head. Surely, you know that his stepmother will use this chance to strike in court.”

“We’ll represent Gwyneth and keep things as they are.”

“Even if you personally take the case, there’s no way Susan will come out of this empty-handed. Gwyneth can’t touch her inheritance or trust fund until she’s twenty-one. That’s a whole year for Susan to demand the house and shares of the firm. She’ll have a leg to stand on, too, since Kingsley made his father’s will null and void. Because he used his father’s money for Weaver & Shaw’s capital, she can sue for her husband’s shares that Kingsley inherited. Not to mention that she’ll be up against a girl who can’t touch her money yet. And before you suggest it, yes, we can stall in court, but considering all of Susan and Kingsley’s legal battles in the past, I say Gwyneth doesn’t stand a chance. She doesn’t have her father’s legal experience, revenge spirit, or ruthlessness. She’ll be eaten alive by Susan.”

I want to disagree, but I can’t. Aspen is right. Kingsley’s lawsuits against Susan were fueled by pure spite. He hated her and was out to destroy her. Gwyneth doesn’t share her father’s feelings about Susan, so even if we represented her, there’s no telling how it would go.

Not to mention that the fight could last forever and would cause her emotional damage in the long run.

“Susan could take shares of the firm, Nate.” Aspen insists on that point, staring me in the eye. “The same shares Kingsley inherited from his father are up for grabs now that the will has no standing in court.”

“Like fuck she can.”

“Exactly. Which is why you need to take the whole matter in your hands.”

I pause, recognizing the glint in her eyes. “What are you suggesting?”

“In a few days, we can have the doctor announce that Kingsley isn’t likely to get his functions back. We can’t process his will since he’s not dead, but thankfully, he already signed documentation that makes Gwyneth the executive of the estate in the event that he gets incapacitated. As soon as she has control of his assets, make her sell the shares to you.”

“What?”

“She trusts you and wouldn’t question you. This is the best solution to keep the firm out of greedy hands. If you have a crushing majority instead of the fifty percent you own, then Susan wouldn’t even dare to go against you or demand anything.”

“Are you hearing yourself, Aspen? You’re telling me to gain full ownership of Weaver & Shaw at the expense of taking advantage of my friend’s only fucking daughter.”

She throws a dismissive hand in the air. “She’s still a kid and knows nothing about managing a law firm. You can return it to her later if she proves herself worthy, but we both know she’s only an inexperienced pre-law student who barely understands how the world works. You can’t possibly be thinking about leaving anything in her hands, are you?”

“No, but I’m not betraying King’s trust either.”

“He’s in a coma, Nate.”

“Which makes me more of a lowlife if I stab him in the back.”

“You’re not. You’re simply protecting both your assets.”

“By taking advantage of his state and using his daughter?”

“Yes.”

“No, Aspen. That option is out of the question and that’s final.”

Her brows furrow but soon return to normal. She knows me better than to argue with me on this. I might be a bastard, but I have my own set of principles that nothing and no one would touch or change.

“What are you going to do then, Nate?”

I release a breath, loosen my tie, and focus on my train brain. That’s what my father called it, a train brain, because once it’s moving, there’s no stopping it or reversing. Not for any reason.