“I think they wanted the patents.”
Rebecca spoke slowly.
“And if Ethan permanently transferred them…”
“They’d acquire a hundred-million-dollar asset through a seventy-four-million-dollar company purchase,” Declan finished.
Grace nodded.
“And Ethan?”
Rebecca looked toward the resort.
“He gets paid.”
Grace shook her head.
“No.”
Both of them looked at her.
“He thinks he gets paid.”
That was different.
And suddenly Grace understood why her father had created a reversion clause nobody knew about.
He had not distrusted Ethan alone.
He had distrusted deals where the person signing believed he was the cleverest person in the room.
At 8:40, Grace received a text from Ethan.
COME TO THE VILLA.
WE NEED TO TALK.
She deleted it.
Thirty seconds later:
VANESSA IS GONE.
Grace stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
SHE KNEW ABOUT NORTHSTAR.
Grace showed Rebecca.
Rebecca said, “Do not respond.”
Grace did not.
Then another message.
I THINK SHE WAS WORKING FOR HALE.
