Chapter 7 - THE LAWYER'S EXTRA PAGE
Emma’s attorney, Sarah Lin, found Richard’s mistake.
Not the signature.
The fee schedule.
Buried near the back of the continuity package:
Special Family Trustee Counsel:
Hale & Reed LLP.
Annual administration fee:
1.25 percent of assets under supervision.
The baby’s trust block was worth tens of millions.
Richard’s firm could earn millions over eighteen years.
Emma stared.
“He put himself in the guardianship.”
Sarah nodded.
“Technically his firm.”
Lucas read the page and went silent.
Margaret looked genuinely surprised.
That mattered.
“You knew nothing about this?”
“No.”
Richard defended it.
“Complex trusts require administration.”
“By you?” Lucas asked.
“I drafted the structure.”
“Exactly.”
Richard tried the respectable argument.
His firm already knew the family trust.
Continuity required expertise.
The fee was market-comparable.
Maybe.
But he had designed the emergency that created the job.
Margaret turned on him.
“You told me this protected control.”
“It does.”
“You did not tell me you were being paid from it.”
Richard’s expression changed.
For the first time, the conspiracy split.
Margaret’s motive had been control.
Richard’s motive included money.
Emma watched them argue.
Then realized something.
“Who first suggested that I might be declared incapable after childbirth?”
Silence.
Margaret looked at Richard.
Richard looked at the papers.
May you like
Emma understood.
The language had begun with him.
