Chapter 4 - BEFORE THE FIRST DATE
Ryan followed Emily to Arthur Wynn’s office.
She nearly locked him outside.
Arthur stopped her.
“Let him talk.”
Ryan sat across from Emily.
Madison was not there.
That mattered.
Emily placed the recorder between them.
“What did you know?”
Ryan rubbed his hands together.
“Your grandmother owned more land than you thought.”
“How much?”
“Four hundred and twelve acres originally.”
Emily frowned.
“She sold most of it.”
“No.”
Arthur looked up.
Ryan continued.
“She leased sections. She granted easements. But ownership remained complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
“There are mineral rights.”
Emily stared.
Arthur leaned forward.
“What kind?”
“Natural gas.”
Silence.
Ryan said, “A geological survey twenty years ago estimated the southern tract could be worth tens of millions if extraction became commercially viable.”
Emily looked at Arthur.
“Did Grandma know?”
Arthur looked genuinely shaken.
“Not from me.”
Ryan continued.
“Blake Development knew.”
Emily’s anger returned.
“So Madison targeted you?”
“At first, her father approached me.”
“When?”
“Before I met you.”
Emily felt the room tilt.
“How long before?”
“Three months.”
She stood.
“Our first date wasn’t an accident.”
“No.”
The answer hurt more because he did not soften it.
“You married me for land.”
Ryan looked at her.
“I met you because of the land.”
“That is not different.”
“It became different.”
Emily laughed.
“You cheated on me.”
“Yes.”
“You forged my signature.”
“I signed documents I believed you would eventually approve.”
“That is called forgery.”
“I know.”
At least he did not hide behind language.
Emily asked, “Why tell me now?”
“Because Madison is going to destroy both of us.”
Arthur said, “Explain.”
Ryan revealed that Blake Development was overleveraged.
The company needed the Miller’s Ridge project to secure refinancing.
Without Emily’s southern tract, the entire development could collapse.
“Then let it.”
Ryan shook his head.
“It isn’t only Madison’s company.”
“What does that mean?”
“Calloway Development guaranteed part of the debt.”
Emily stared.
“You tied our finances to hers?”
“Yes.”
“You idiot.”
“Yes.”
Ryan looked exhausted.
“If Blake collapses, I collapse.”
“That sounds like justice.”
“And the lien on your house becomes harder to fight because creditors will attack everything.”
Arthur interrupted.
“Unless the signatures are proven fraudulent.”
Ryan looked at the recorder.
“That recording doesn’t prove who forged them.”
Emily leaned closer.
“Who did?”
Ryan hesitated.
“Madison’s father handled the paperwork.”
“Grant Blake?”
“Yes.”
Arthur’s expression changed.
Emily noticed.
“You know him.”
Arthur said nothing.
“Arthur?”
The old attorney looked toward the window.
“Your grandmother knew Grant Blake.”
“How?”
“His father once owned part of Miller’s Ridge.”
Ryan stared.
Emily asked, “What happened?”
Arthur exhaled.
“There was a lawsuit.”
“Over the land?”
“Yes.”
“Who won?”
“Your grandfather.”
Emily felt another secret opening.
“Fairly?”
Arthur did not answer.
That was answer enough.
Her phone buzzed.
A photograph from an unknown number.
It showed Emily entering Arthur’s office.
Taken minutes earlier.
A message followed:
YOU SHOULD NOT TRUST THE OLD MAN.
Then another photograph arrived.
Arthur Wynn, thirty years younger.
May you like
Standing beside Grant Blake.
And Emily’s grandmother.
