Chapter 61

Valerie kept twirling her pen, not even bothering to look up. Everett picked up smoothly where Skyler's words trailed off. "As the saying goes, even between brothers, money should be kept clear—and the same goes for fathers and daughters. "The property deal involves a huge sum. My client is just a young lady with little real-world experience. Without a professional looking out for her, if she were to be taken advantage of, it would make everyone look bad." He nudged the pen back toward Skyler. "Having a lawyer present avoids disputes later. Mr. Woodward, surely, you wouldn't want to see a father and daughter dragged into headlines over a single house." Skyler felt a prickle of unease. Something about this went deeper than appearance. Valerie was young, and young people cared most about immediate benefit. Compared to an old house in the suburbs, a two-billion-dollar cash transfer would serve her far better. Yet, Everett never once mentioned the payout, insisting instead on making