“I know what you told me. It’s the same thing Fran told me yesterday when she called me after the board meeting.”

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

“Oh,” Addison said, hanging her head.

“But today in the car while we were going to get Robert, Fran told me something else. Something you don’t know.”

“Such as?”

“After you walked out of the meeting, the board went after Fran. They sacked her and threatened to get her disbarred because of her part in our...in our marriage of convenience.”

Like a deflated balloon, Addison sagged in her chair. “Oh, Jesus Christ, no.”

“Unfortunately for the board, Fran knows a bit more about Kane Holdings and its bylaws than anyone gave her credit for...including you.”

Addison’s head snapped up. “What do you mean?”

Joanna gave Robert a quick glance before she continued. “It seems that while they were going after you, Fran was spending her time rehashing what she remembered about the company's bylaws. Apparently, she knows them backward and forward.”

“Yes, she can almost quote them by section and article. It was truly aggravating at times.”

“Well, I don’t think you’ll find it aggravating any longer,” Joanna said, her eyes creasing at the corners. “It seems that the article following the one stating that you had to be married by the age of thirty-six is all about what happens if the president is found to be unable to continue their position...for whatever reason.”

“Okay...?”

“Fran believes it was written to protect the company in case the person in charge fell ill or became incapacitated or perhaps died without a will, but what it states is that if you, for instance, are found unable to continue as president of Kane Holdings, your stock isn’t absorbed by the company. It’s handed down to your heirs.”

Addison sat straight in her chair. “One more time?”

“Sweetheart, Sheridan and Robert are now the majority stockholders of Kane Holdings.”

“Are you serious?” Addison said as a smile began to form.

“Yes, and since Sheridan and Robert are a little too young to take the helm, and as their parent, you’d be their proxy and represent the majority stockholders of Kane Holdings, the board decided to cut their losses. They voted this morning to keep you as president and CEO of Kane until the time comes for one or both of our children to take your place. It seems they’d prefer to have you on their side, rather than you turning AK Investments into a force to be reckoned with. Oh, and the board also reversed their decision regarding Fran and won’t be taking any legal action. Again, they know they’d be facing your wrath and, well...we’ve all been there.”

Addison had listened intently to every word Joanna had said, but when the last slipped from her lips, Addison laughed. “My wrath, eh?”