long, set with silver that gleamed under the crystal chandelier. The entire Ba

at the far end, nea

e glass. "Attention, everyone. A toast. T

le. She swirled her red wine, her eyes locking onto Cressie. "Let's

cruel laughter wen

. He didn't scold her either. He just cut his steak, th

er plate. She hadn'

th cigar smoke and brandy. Ellsworth caught Cre

ollow

lamp on the mahogany desk. The family lawyer, A

sit. He leaned against the edge

k document across

Cressie asked,

hild will be a Banks. You will have visitation rights, of cours

ually. Like he wa

the papers. Dissol

en crying, begging him to reconsider, to think of t

had died in an ele

pen lying on the document.

e said. Her voice was s

ow. "You're in no positio

d. "Not a payoff. I want legal control of the restructuring proc

ound. "You? You want to play CFO? You have

ep the baby until she is weaned. Full physica

gged. "It's reasonable, Mr. Banks. Cour

s hair. He looked bored. "Fine. Whatever. J

uring rights so she could funnel money to her father. He had no

hesitate. She signed her name with a

Not Banks. She sig

the papers

aback by her speed. He had expect

it?" h

said. She stood up.

e study, leaving the

tairs, she heard voi

ria again. "God, imagine having

se. She didn't pack clothes. She packed her diploma. She packed the framed photo o

e stripped off the expensive, ill-fitting dress Ellsworth had bo

d. "But first, we are going to burn

opened her laptop. She typed into the searc

. "Yes, Jolie. It's done. She signed..

hear him. She w