“We’re still establishing that, Mrs. Sutter.”
I studied the bank transfer.
**$6,000,000 — CEDARLINE CAPITAL OPERATING ACCOUNT.**
The receiving account belonged to a company I’d never heard of.
**ASHCROFT DEVELOPMENT GROUP.**
I looked at my attorney, Daniel Pierce.
“Find out who owns it.”
Daniel nodded.
“Already working on it.”
My hands began trembling.
I had spent forty years building something I hoped would outlive me.
And apparently, the people closest to me had been quietly dismantling it.
***
My name is Gloria Sutter.
I’m seventy-one years old.
I founded Cedarline Capital with my husband, Henry, when I was thirty.
We started with two small rental properties and a secondhand desk in the spare bedroom.
Henry handled construction.
I handled financing.
When contractors laughed at a woman asking questions about property values, I learned enough about their business to make them regret underestimating me.
When banks refused our applications, I found other lenders.
When our first investment nearly failed, I sold my jewelry to keep the company alive.
