Chapter 31

• As Valerie began meticulously poring over each section with her characteristic prudence and attention to detail, Marcus quietly withdrew an ornate wooden box from the depths of his desk drawer. He watched her focused disposition with undisguised paternal fondness as she initialed and signed in all the requisite places, clearly familiarizing herself with every legalistic nuance involved.
• "You've been preparing for this moment your whole life, even if you didn't fully realize it until now," he pointed out, tone taking on a more pensive timbre. "Your grandfather raised you to be ready - to have the backbone and savvy to shoulder the full weight of the Ashford empire. I can only imagine how tremendously proud he'd be to see you willingly accepting that solemn obligation now."
• Valerie paused in her studious examination of the paperwork, Maurice's words giving her pause. She lifted her eyes to meet the elder's warm, wrinkled gaze keenly. "You really believe that? That he had such faith in me?"