Chapter 3 - The Property They Wanted
Rachel owned no property.
At least, none that David knew about.
Her apartment was rented, her car was financed, and she had never discussed buying real estate. The only property connected to the Morgan name belonged to her late grandmother, Evelyn Morgan.
Evelyn had died two years earlier.
She had lived in a deteriorating house on fifty-six acres outside the city, land the family believed had little value. Rachel’s father had inherited the property but avoided selling it due to unresolved zoning issues.
Six months before Rachel met David, her father transferred the land to Rachel.
He had asked her to keep the transfer private until legal disputes surrounding the boundary were settled.
David knew Rachel’s grandmother had owned land.
He did not know Rachel now owned it.
Or so Rachel had believed.
She removed the acquisition plan from Brenda’s folder.
“What is this?”
David stared at the page.
“My mother handles investment opportunities.”
“Why is my family name on it?”
“It could refer to another Morgan.”
“My name is listed directly underneath.”
David stood.
“Give me the paper.”
Rachel stepped back.
“What property are you planning to acquire?”
“You’re overreacting.”
“Then explain it.”
David moved closer.
For the first time, Rachel saw calculation replacing affection in his eyes.
“It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“What kind of surprise requires ownership percentages?”
“A development opportunity.”
“On my grandmother’s land?”
His silence answered her.
Rachel felt the room tilt.
“How do you know I own it?”
David’s jaw tightened.
“Your father mentioned it.”
“My father has never met you without me.”
“He said something at the engagement party.”
“He did not.”
David reached for the paper.
Rachel pulled it away.
“Did you search my records?”
“No.”
“Did your mother?”
“No.”
“Then how did you know?”
David turned toward the window.
“My family has contacts.”
The statement was intended to sound impressive.
Instead, it sounded like a confession.
Rachel folded the acquisition plan and placed it inside her purse.
“I’m taking this to an attorney.”
David spun around.
“You can’t take private family documents.”
“My name and property are on it.”
“It belongs to my mother.”
“Then she can explain it to my lawyer.”
David moved between Rachel and the apartment door.
The gesture lasted only a second.
Then he stepped aside.
But Rachel had seen it.
The instinct to block her.
The same instinct he would display six weeks later when the engagement ring rested on top of the authorization form.
Rachel left without another word.
She drove directly to Olivia’s apartment.
Olivia read the acquisition plan while Rachel called her father.
Thomas Morgan answered on the fourth ring.
“Rachel? Is everything all right?”
“Did you tell David about Grandma’s property?”
“No.”
“Did you tell anyone in his family?”
“I’ve barely spoken to them.”
“Has anyone contacted you about purchasing the land?”
Her father hesitated.
“A development company sent an offer last month.”
Rachel sat upright.
“What company?”
“I don’t remember the name. The offer was too low, and the land isn’t mine anymore.”
“Did you tell them I own it?”
“I told them to speak to the legal owner.”
“Did you give them my information?”
“No. I assumed they already had it.”
Rachel looked at Olivia.
“Dad, find the offer.”
“I may have thrown it away.”
“Please find it.”
Thomas heard the urgency in her voice.
“I’ll look now.”
While they waited, Olivia searched the address of Hale Strategic Consulting.
The company had existed for three years.
Its listed director was David Hale.
Its registered agent was Brenda Hale.
Its financial statements were unavailable.
Olivia searched the name of the development company that had attempted to purchase Evelyn’s land. Without the offer letter, they had no exact company name, but several recent zoning applications appeared near the property.
One involved a proposed luxury medical complex.
Another involved a private access road.
The third involved mineral extraction rights.
Rachel stared at the map.
Her grandmother’s property sat at the center of all three proposals.
Thomas called back.
“I found the letter.”
“Read me the company name.”
Paper rustled through the phone.
“Northstar Urban Holdings.”
Olivia typed the name.
The company’s registered office matched Hale Strategic Consulting.
Rachel closed her eyes.
May you like
David had not fallen in love with her and later discovered the property.
His family had created the company three months before David met her.
