He frowned, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room.

“Were you expecting someone else?” Arthur asked, his voice suddenly guarded.

Nathaniel sat behind his desk, his hands folded neatly on the leather blotter.

“Just some visitors who brought back my wallet,” Nathaniel said smoothly.

“Now, tell me about Brindlewood, Arthur.”

Arthur took off his coat and draped it over the back of one of the leather chairs.

“One of the tenants is causing trouble,” Arthur said. “An eviction that should have been simple.”

“She’s claiming she has rights to the property.”

“Some old nonsense about your mother’s will.”

I held my breath, my fingers digging into the fabric of my skirt until my nails bit into my skin.

Nathaniel didn’t blink. He just stared at the man who had been his trusted associate.

“Is that so?” Nathaniel asked, his voice deceptively calm.

“Yes,” Arthur said, leaning over the desk. “We need to handle this quietly before it gets to the press.”

“I need your signature on a transfer of deed to move the property to an offshore subsidiary.”

“It will protect the Graves name from any… unpleasantness.”