“It was all true. Skylar Butler hurt me, but he’s not the only one. I’ve allowed it. I’ve let others run my life for too long. I’m only twenty-four years old. My shares of Wade will remain under my father’s oversight until I marry. I’m not in a hurry to do that, Van.” I laid my hands out on the table, noticing my ring-free finger. “Besides, the idea that I have to marry to receive control of my shares is archaic and misogynistic. If I wanted, I could fight the will in court. Times have changed since my grandfather died.”

“You could, but that will take time. Marlin Butler had immediate plans for Wade Pharmaceutical. I slowed those plans down with the purchase of the shares I bought this morning, but if you leave your shares under your father’s control and Butler manages to connive your father into doing something unexpected, your family could lose everything. Butler currently has twenty-five percent.” Van shook his head. “Did you wonder how I was able to acquire twenty-one percent as fast as I did?”

“Yes...no.” I took a breath and released it. “I should have wondered. I haven’t exactly been thinking straight.”

“I was able to move fast because I have people working for me who constantly watch for instabilities in the market, in industries, and in businesses of all sizes. They watch for weaknesses that could lead to opportunities. Wade Pharmaceutical as well as other small pharmaceutical companies has been on our radar for some time. As I’m sure you’re aware, recent pharmaceutical developments regarding patents, fast-tracked approval, and the government trying to regulate the prices of medications have all worked together to create a volatile environment. Your father is right about the bigger companies wanting to dominate the market. In most cases they do. Their size alone gives them the advantage. The twenty-one percent of Wade I just purchased was lined up for acquisition by Marlin Butler through multiple investment brokers.” Van looked at his watch. “I would suspect that very soon, your ex-future father-in-law will realize I outbid him and stole the nest egg he planned to fry. His deals were interestingly timed.”

My thoughts were now on Wade Pharmaceutical, the company my great-grandfather founded. In this short time, Van was telling me more than I’d ever gotten from my father or my grandfather before him.

“What do you mean, interestingly timed?” I asked.

“The sales were scheduled to go down at the end of business on December 30th. He’d placed a marker and paid a hefty fee to keep the deals hidden until then.”

“December 30th? Skylar’s and my wedding was supposed to be on the 31st, New Year’s Eve.”