The holding company controlled significant interests in three environmental technology businesses.
Two had already gone public.
The third was preparing to.
There were properties across four states.
Private equity positions.
Investment accounts.
Partnership interests.
Marcus placed the conservative value near $500 million.
“Conservative?” I repeated.
He didn’t smile.
“Yes.”
Terrence had started building much of it years before we met.
After we married, he restructured almost everything.
“He wanted you to have unquestioned authority,” Marcus explained.
“Did his family know?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Marcus took off his glasses.
“Terrence believed the Washington family had a habit of seeing value as something to acquire rather than something to create.”
He paused.
“He didn’t want them acquiring what he had built.”
I thought about Eleanor.
Howard.
Chloe holding her phone over my muddy suitcase.
“What do I owe them?”
Marcus looked at me.
“Legally?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing.”
The prenup protected Washington family assets.
Terrence’s private estate was completely separate.
I nodded.
“Then I know what I want to do.”
I began restructuring the companies.
