Read Online Unmasked (New Adult Romance) (The Unmasked Series) by Anya Karin - Free Book Online

some effort. "It isn't as much of an issue as it's been
made to be, but when Preston Sr. died," he looked around the room, "when he
died, we found out that against what we asked, his will has a clause where
control of the company only reverts to the board if Preston Jr. hasn't managed
to find himself a fertile missus by the time he turns thirty-three."
    Gadsen resumed his pacing. Erwin and Carl followed
his movements. Evette returned to her habitual knitting. Dan licked his lips.
    "So what are we doing? Where do we sit right now?"
    "Well, as of now," Evette let her easy New-England
accent flow slowly, "we are acting as the company's board. Mr. Webb exists only
in an advisory role as heir to the company. When he fulfills the terms of the
trust, full control of the company reverts to him, and we become an advisory
board." She looked around to a room full of nodding heads, a few with
fingertips rubbing foreheads. "Tell me, Mr. Cartwright, how did he come upon
the idea that he should go out and find himself a wife? I thought he was kept
quite isolated from the rest of humanity?"
    "He has, but not for that reason," Gadsen said.
"His scars are substantial."
    "Scars?"
    An uneasy hush descended over the room. No one
spoke, no one moved. Even Erwin Greggs calmed his fidgeting.
    Seconds turned into a minute, and finally,
Evette's knitting needles clicked together again. Slowly, life returned to the
room. One after another, the board members resumed their various movements and
hand wringing and squeaking.
    Gadsen's creased forehead was the perfect place
for him to rub. "Anyway," he said, "that's where we stand. I had no idea that
contract had been held up or diverted or whatever you want to say."
    "Is there really much of anything tosay?
Seems to me the issue will resolve itself. There's no way this woman that he's
fixated on will actually go along with him." Erwin mopped the bald middle of
his head. He only has a few months left, right?"
    Gadsen nodded. "Right. But, you never know how
these things go. Stranger things have happened."
    "They have, yes," Evette said with a smirk. "They
most certainly have. But what say you keep anything like that from happening
this time, alright, Gadsen? I don't think any of us want to do anything drastic
again. Whatever that might be." Her voice trailed off.
    Soon, the only sounds left in the room were her
clacking needles and Erwin's pen scratching on a slip of paper.
    "Just to cover ourselves," he said. "Here is a
list of document boxes that are in storage at the house. Should anything
happen, these need to be, ah, removed from the record. Understand, Gadsen?"
    "I do. I'll do what you say. And I'll find that
contract, whatever it takes. We can't fail again."
    "Oh, we won't, Mr. Cartwright. Don't worry about
that. See that you get all of them."

Chapter Seven
    ––––––––
    "Mail came," Alyssa said, grabbing the handful of
letters, about ninety-eight percent of which looked to be garbage, and pushed
the door open with her foot. "Expecting anything?"
    "No, nothing in particular. Usually all I get a
bundle of crap from Sears and bills from places that refuse to join the new
millennium."
    "Alright then," she handed her dad the mail and
watched him flip through it, then throw all but two pieces in the garbage.
"Tell me if you need anything, I'm gonna go up to my room and finish that book
you told me read."
    "Which one? I gave you a reading list of things
you avoided when you were in school. Or at least I think you did."
    Lys giggled. "Yeah, I found a ratted up old copy
of Dracula at the second hand shop in town. Figured I may as well do
some reading. A well-rounded education can't hurt, after all."
    "That's what they say, for sure." He kissed her on
the forehead and squeezed her shoulder. "Take notes, there'll be a quiz
afterward."
    As soon as she was gone up the stairs, Ryan sat
down on the couch to open the two pieces of mail he saved.
    "Oh good, the bank. Love these guys. Maybe I'll
save this