The gold emblem.

The trust documents I had never examined closely enough.

And a question that had become much more important than the seat Aaron ordered me to surrender.

Who actually controlled Prescott Technologies?

I didn’t know.

But by the end of that day, I intended to find out.

PART 2 — MY FATHER’S LIBRARY

The family estate stood beyond a long stone driveway outside Austin.

I had grown up there, among tall trees, old books, and furniture my parents insisted was too valuable to replace even when it became uncomfortable.