to her uncle. Together they held controlling interest.
Although her uncle inherited part of the company, he wasn’t happy she controlled the rest of the estate. Sofia’s paintings alone were worth millions, and Uncle Anthony wanted them. He’d sell them for easy cash when his penchant for gambling got out of hand.
The other assets were property and trusts and financial accounts her grandfather amassed over his seventy years on this earth. Her grandparents had left her in charge of everything, knowing their oldest son would either squander it away or mismanage it until nothing was left. The only thing he had control over was the company. Because he answered to the board, and the other executives did the majority of the work, her uncle sat back and collected his sizeable paycheck and did as he pleased.
Most of the time he just liked to make her life miserable, because he felt like she’d stolen his birthright. After all, she was just a woman. What did she know about running a company and managing an estate the size of the one her grandparents left behind?
She didn’t care about the money. She cared that it allowed her to have nice things and the education she’d promised her grandfather. She had the money left to her by her parents. She didn’t need to have her grandparents’ estate too. In fulfilling their wishes, she’d managed to find her own way of making money that allowed her to dabble in the business world and use her artistic ability. She loved creating her books and getting them published. It was her way of honoring both her grandparents and her parents.
She stood on deck and surveyed all the boats in the harbor. Her ship was so large it had to remain anchored away from the docks. Captain Finn finished launching the zodiac and hollered for her to hurry up. She looked around the deck one last time and out to sea and silently said her goodbye.
She’d take short trips, but it wouldn’t be the same as living on board and being out to sea for months. She promised herself she wouldn’t let time slip away before she set sail again. She realized that was her grandmother’s intention for the trip. Marti had let five years slip away. It was for a good reason, taking care of her grandmother, but life had gone on for others while hers stood still.
She wouldn’t let it happen again. She had plans. Unfortunately, those plans couldn’t begin until she met with the lawyers.
Chapter Six
* * *
MARTI MADE HER way past all the boats and down the branching docks. The rain pelted her head and shoulders, soaking through her overcoat and drenching her hair. Water slid down her neck from the hair plastered to her face. Not the day to forget her umbrella on the dining table and remember it halfway to shore when the sky opened up. Too late now.
She caught a glimpse of something down the long pier and turned to investigate the strange sight. Suspicious, she wondered what a man dressed in a suit was doing out in this storm.
Without a second thought, she walked down the pier and casually leaned her back against the railing while she stood next to the obviously distressed man. The wind sent sheets of rain down upon her head and against her back. She braced herself against the wind and looked up over her shoulder at the man standing on the second bar of the railing, leaning over into the wind.
“Nice day, don’t you think? Personally, I love a good storm. The rain washes away the grime. Makes the day seem fresh. I’m Marti, by the way,” she shouted over the storm to the old man.
In his seventies, pale and frail, his suit was expensive, like he worked in an executive office. A definite distinguished look about him, he reminded her of her grandfather with his air of superiority, strength, and wisdom. She sensed he also had a kind heart beneath the disillusioned look on his face and in his eyes.
“You shouldn’t be out in the rain like this, young lady.”
The reprimand surprised her, as did his no-nonsense tone.
“I don’t suppose it’s a good idea, but I do love a good storm. I just got back from a long trip and I have a meeting to get to, but I thought I’d join you. You look like a fellow storm enthusiast.”
“I’m just . . . Oh hell, I’m being stupid.” With a deep frown, he continued