He opened his briefcase on a marble counter.

He pulled out several sheets of heavy, cream-colored paper.

“Sign here, Mrs. Ellis,” the lawyer said, handing me a heavy gold pen.

My hand shook as I took the pen.

“If I sign this, what happens to the tenants?” I asked.

“You will own the building,” Nathaniel said, his voice quiet and firm.

“You will decide the rent, and you will decide who stays.”

“No one will ever threaten you with eviction again,” Nathaniel added.

I pressed the pen to the paper and wrote my name.

The ink was black and wet on the page.

Vance pressed a heavy metal seal onto the paper, leaving a raised circle in the corner.

“It is official,” Vance said.

Julian watched, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes dark.

“You’re giving away a multi-million dollar property to a cleaning woman,” Julian muttered.

“She kept this place honest when my family did not,” Nathaniel said.

Nathaniel turned back to the lawyer.

“Now, the second matter,” Nathaniel said.

“The trust fund for Ruby Ellis.”

Ruby looked up at the mention of her name, her eyes wide.