A Hundred Chances Is Enough

Chapter 3 Liquidating the Illusions

The jet climbed above the clouds. I reclined the seat and slept until the cabin lights came on over Florence.

Julian would be in his office by now. News of my resignation would make him furious, but he still wouldn’t be worried. His first move had always been money.

By then Julian would have frozen my credit cards, expecting me to call within forty-eight hours. The cards did not matter. The one hundred properties were legally mine.

Warm Tuscan air met me outside the airport. A car drove me through Florence to the artisans’ district.

The old perfumery had dusty windows and a faded sign. Inside, the marble counters were intact beneath the grime.

I walked the narrow room twice, measuring wall space and checking the taps. It could hold a proper workshop. This time, my name would go on every bottle.

My phone vibrated, pulling me from my daydream. It was a secure call from Geneva. My lawyer, Mr. Dubois.

“Evelyn, the first phase is complete,” he said. “The London penthouse and the Swiss chalet sold this morning. We had no shortage of offers.”

I laughed. “Already?”

“Yes. There is a second matter.”

Papers shifted on his end of the call. “Mr. Vance’s legal team sent a cease and desist an hour ago. They claimed duress and sought an emergency injunction against further sales.”

My grip tightened on the phone.

“And?” I pressed the phone closer.

“All one hundred agreements were signed on separate dates over five years. Each one records an unconditional gift. His apologies left us a thorough paper trail.”

I laughed so loudly that a woman across the street looked over.

“They withdrew the injunction,” Mr. Dubois said. “Julian’s lead counsel used a word I won’t repeat when he saw the full list. The sales can continue.”

I hung up and unlocked the old perfumery. The London and Swiss sales would cover the renovation.