Noelle stepped away and returned to her seat, gathering up the ledgers.

She had nearly reviewed them all. If Laurence was free over the weekend, they could visit the secondary residence and settle the accounts with Stuart.

Laurence, on the other hand, did not return to his own chair. Instead, he leaned against the front of his desk, holding his glass in his right hand.

"Come in," he said in a low voice as he took a slow sip of water.

The office door opened, and his secretary walked in. He s