“Lena sold ten percent of Wade—of the shares I obtained.”
“Ten percent of your shares?”
“No, ten percent overall. When we combine your family’s and what I have left, we still have a majority.”
“What about the Butlers’ stock?”
Van reached for my hand. “Aphrodite also sold.”
“Lena sold her own stock?” I asked.
“No one knows that Aphrodite is Lena. That’s the point of shell companies. When Aphrodite sold and I sold, it created concern. When the court froze your parents’ inheritance including Wade stock, it created a panic.”
“I thought Lena was supposed to be some financial genius?”
He grinned. “She is. She did what I wasn’t willing to do.”
“You weren’t willing to sell. You promised.”
Van’s palm cupped my cheek. “Beautiful, that’s because despite my knowledge and history, to me Wade is you and you are Wade. I couldn’t see what I didn’t want to see.” He smirked. “Tonight, I told Lena that sentimental attachment is wrong in business. With you and Wade, I hadn’t followed my own rules. This plan of hers will most likely work to everyone’s advantage—well, almost everyone.”
“I don’t understand.”
“When I first realized who you were, it rekindled the Butler feud. Lena’s moves will get the Butlers out of Wade permanently and without them reaping financial gain.”
“If this hurts the Butlers, it’s also hurting my family.”
“Your parents can’t sell.”
“Stocks will drop—”
Van’s finger came to my lips. “What goes down also comes up. Aphrodite and I sold our stock to Lena Montgomery, no veils of shell companies.”
My eyes opened wide. “Now the Butlers know Lena is involved.”
“The whole world knows. Marlin was desperate. He thought he had a sale to GreenSphere, but the SEC scared off GreenSphere. Marlin won’t sell to Lena or me. Your parents can’t afford to buy.”
“Who will buy his stock?”
“Marlin went after an investor he hoped would take the risk to get back involved.”
I felt the metaphoric puzzle snapping in place. “Aphrodite.”
“Yes.”
“When is the Butler-Aphrodite deal complete?” I asked.
“Tomorrow or Monday. The attorneys are working on the final touches.”
“You’re saying that Lena will then own forty percent of Wade Pharmaceutical stockholdings, GreenSphere still has five percent, and once we’re married, we will own fifty-five.”
“Once your stocks are transferred to you. Remember, upon our marriage you sold that thirty-nine percent to me.”
“And your assets become mine.”
Van nodded and reaching for my hand, he lifted my knuckles to his lips. “Yes, beautiful. As Mrs. Donovan Sherman, you will own, in conjunction with your husband, fifty-five percent.”
“Mrs. Julia Sherman,” I said, leaning close and kissing his cheek. “Remember, this isn’t 1950.”