Chapter 5 - THE OTHER TRANSFER
I stepped into a quiet service corridor and called my financial adviser. “Stop tomorrow’s transfer,” I said. He did not argue. He had known Frank. He only asked whether I wanted the suspension temporary or final. “Final,” I replied. “And pull every pending instruction connected to Jackson’s wedding file.” When I returned to the ballroom, a young waiter discreetly approached me and said he had overheard Natalie in the bridal suite laughing about shaving my head and promising her maid of honor that “the old witch will pay for her own funeral once the money clears.” I thanked him and went to find Judith, who had just arrived with Martin.
Martin’s expression told me the story had grown worse. During the adviser’s review of the gift trust documents, a second pending file had surfaced—one submitted late the previous night through a private banking portal using attached signature pages from Jackson’s wedding packet. It was a separate transfer instruction moving not only the $120 million gift reserve, but also the controlling voting shares in Frank’s memorial holding trust and the Lake Geneva house into a newly created entity called NW Future Holdings. The managing member listed on the formation papers was Natalie. Jackson’s signature appeared on the transfer authorization. Martin said the signature page looked lifted from another document and digitally attached. “If Jackson signed this knowingly, he’s a fool,” Martin said. “If he didn’t, your future daughter-in-law just tried to steal the heart of the family estate.” Judith held the folder and said quietly, “Then let the toast do what the law will finish.”
