Page 10 of Billion Dollar Dispute

With his eyes narrowed, he taps his index finger on the armrest. “You know, when I started out, it wasn’t easy. I had to take risks, make sacrifices. It wasn’t just about money; it was about strategy and grit.”

I nod, sensing where this is going, but wait for him to continue.

“You want your inheritance?” he asks, his voice firm now. “Here’s what I propose.” A slow smile forms on his face as he pauses again. “Take a failing business and turn it around by your thirty-fifth birthday.”

I blink, processing the challenge. Six months. That sounds easy enough… But before I can let his words sink in, he continues.

“But no cash injections,” he adds. “Work with what’s there. Get your hands dirty. Understand the day-to-day.”

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “And if I fail?”

“You can try again,” he says. “When you turn forty.”

Forty. That feels like a lifetime away.

“Your brothers are successful. I know you're smart, and I want you to understand what it was like for me when I started. It’s tough, and without money, it’s even rougher.”

“Can I choose any business to help?”

“How about one you’ve been pitching to acquire anyway?” Dad suggests.

I mentally go through the list of businesses I’ve been considering for acquisition, the names and details flashing through my mind. Which one could I help save instead?

“One that you don’t really want,” he adds.

I tap my chin, thinking of the businesses I’m struggling to acquire. “Like an event planning business?”

“Perfect!”

I think about the woman who owns it. Jemima. Her avoidance of my calls makes it clear she won’t sell me the business.

But this plan gives me what I want, and I can offer her what she needs.

I rub my hands together. It will be a challenge to get her to agree…but surely, she’ll take the help. I won’t stop until she does.

“Keep me updated.”

I sense he wants to keep tabs on me.

Maybe due to a lack of trust, or just to ensure I follow his rules. The pressure of it weighs on me like I’m constantly living under the shadow of his expectations, having to prove myself. It’s frustrating, but I’ve learned to accept it, for now.

“Do you want to watch the basketball game with me?” he asks, shifting on the sofa.

“I’ll watch the first quarter, but then I need to get to work. I’ve got a business to save.”

Dad chuckles. “Your cocky attitude reminds me of myself. I was the same at your age; nothing would stand in my way.”

I grin at that piece of knowledge. It feels like a small but significant shift in how I see my dad. Until now, I’ve always viewed him through the lens of his success, thinking I could never quite measure up. But in this moment, it’s like he’s seeing me in the same light he once saw himself in. Hungry and driven.

He grabs the remote and changes the channel, and I ease back into the sofa. We don’t usually spend time together like this, but since he retired and handed over Lincoln Media to Evan so he could travel with Mom and care for Grams, our relationship is shifting for the better.

I look over at him. I’m glad I came today. I can’t wait to show him how I transform Recaredo Events. I imagine how proudhe’ll feel, knowing I’ve earned my inheritance through hard work.

Chapter 4

Jemima

“Harvey Lincoln is onthe line,” my mom calls out from the office, her voice calm yet urgent.

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