Chapter 117
[Rose's POV]
The morning light filtered through the heavy curtains of my bedroom at Magnolia Estate. I reached for my phone on the nightstand—7:15 AM. Early enough for what needed to be done.
I pulled on a simple cashmere sweater and slacks, twisted my hair into a low bun, and made my way down the grand staircase to James's study. The house was quiet except for the distant sounds of kitchen staff preparing breakfast.
James's study door stood slightly ajar. I knocked twice before entering.
"Come in," his voice called.
He sat behind his mahogany desk, already dressed in one of his impeccable three-piece suits despite the early hour. A man who'd built an empire didn't waste time sleeping in.
"You're up early," he observed, setting down the financial report he'd been reviewing.
"I need to speak with Jennifer Parker." I crossed to his desk and picked up the secure line phone. "It's about the show."
James's expression sharpened. "What about it?"
"Carter changed the rules mid-competition." I dialed Jennifer's direct number from memory. "That kind of decision requires either network approval or significant financial motivation. I want to know which."
The phone rang twice before Jennifer's crisp voice answered. "Sullivan executive office."
"Jennifer, it's Rose Evans."
A brief pause. "Miss Evans. How can I help you?"
"I need you to run a confidential investigation into Carter's financial records for the past six months. Bank accounts, wire transfers, any unusual deposits or payments. Use the highest security clearance protocol."
"Understood. May I ask what we're looking for specifically?"
"Potential bribery or conflict of interest related to American Dream Star. The timeline change benefits certain contestants and disadvantages others. I want to know if money changed hands."
"I'll have a preliminary report ready by tomorrow morning."
"Good. And Jennifer—this stays between us, James, and Christopher. No one else."
"Of course. I'll be in touch."
I hung up and turned to find James watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read.
"You think Carter's dirty?" he asked.
"I think Carter's too comfortable making last-minute changes that throw the competition into chaos. Either he's incompetent or he's being paid to manipulate the results." I leaned against the edge of his desk. "I intend to find out which before the finals."
James nodded slowly. "You're thinking like your son now. Like me."
"Come," James said, standing. "Let's have breakfast. The others should be awake by now."
---
We entered the dining room to find Christopher, Alexander, and little Lily already seated. The morning sun streamed through the tall windows, casting geometric patterns across the polished table.
"Rose!" Lily chirped from her booster seat. "You're sleeping late now all the time!"
Alexander choked slightly on his orange juice. Christopher's expression went rigid.
"Lily," Christopher said sharply. "That's disrespectful. Apologize to Great-grandmother Rose immediately."
The four-year-old's eyes went wide. Her lower lip trembled.
"It's alright, Christopher." I moved to Lily's side and gently smoothed her hair. The child flinched slightly before relaxing into the touch. "She's just being honest. Children should be encouraged to speak their minds, not taught to hide their thoughts behind false politeness."
I crouched down to Lily's eye level. "I have been sleeping later than usual, haven't I? That's because I've been working on some very important things. Sometimes grown-ups need extra rest when they're preparing for big challenges."
Lily's face brightened. "Like my dance recital?"
"Exactly like that."
Christopher opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it. Good. He was learning when to let me handle things my way.
I took my seat between James and Alexander. Alfred appeared with a silver coffee service and began pouring.
"Christopher," I said as he cut into his eggs benedict. "How are things with Lauren?"
His fork stilled. Every person at the table went quiet.
"I've ended it completely," he said after a long moment. His voice was steady, matter-of-fact. "Blocked her on all platforms. Changed my phone number. Had security escorted her from the building when she showed up at Sullivan Tower yesterday."
"And you're certain this time?" I took a sip of coffee. "No more second chances? No more letting her manipulate you through Madison?"
"I'm certain." He met my eyes directly. "I've spent the past week reviewing surveillance footage from the past six months. The lies, the manipulation, the way she used my daughter to—" He stopped, jaw tightening. "I was a fool. I won't be one again."
James set down his cup with a satisfied clink.
"Good," I said simply. "Then I'm lifting your financial restrictions effective immediately. Your access to the Sullivan accounts and trust funds is restored."
Christopher blinked. Alexander's head snapped up from his pancakes.
"I—thank you," Christopher managed. "But I want you to know, these past weeks have taught me something. The money, the accounts, the unlimited spending—none of it matters compared to making the right decisions. Wealth is just a tool. I lost sight of that."
I studied him. He meant it. The man who'd let Lauren manipulate him through material leverage now understood that power came from judgment, not bank balances.
"I'm glad you've learned that lesson," I said. "Don't forget it."
Lily kicked her feet happily, oblivious to the weight of the conversation. Alexander pushed his food around his plate, clearly thinking.
"What about me?" Alexander said suddenly. "When do I get my allowance back?"
I turned to face him. "Do you want to go to college?"
The question seemed to catch him off guard. "I... I don't know. I mean, I'm supposed to, right? That's what Sullivan heirs do."
"That's not what I asked. I asked if you want to."
He set down his fork. For a moment I saw something raw and honest cross his face—the same expression I'd seen last night when he admitted he was afraid of making the wrong choice.
"No," he said finally. "I don't want to go to college. I'm not like Christopher. I'm not going to graduate from MIT at nineteen or get an MBA from Harvard. I hate sitting in classrooms. I hate studying theory."
"Then what do you like?"
His eyes lit up. "Business. Not the academic side—the real side. I love watching market trends, analyzing consumer behavior, figuring out what makes people want something. I've been following Sullivan Entertainment's projects for years. I understand instinctively why some campaigns work and others fail."
"Why haven't you said this before?"
"Because Grandfather built this empire through education. Christopher runs it because he's brilliant. I thought I had to follow the same path or I'd be..." He trailed off.
"Worthless?" I supplied gently.
He nodded.
"You're not worthless, Alexander. You're wasting your potential by forcing yourself into a mold you don't fit." I leaned back in my chair. "I'm going to give you an opportunity to prove what you can do."
His whole body tensed with anticipation.
"I'm giving you one hundred thousand dollars as seed capital."
Alexander's fork clattered onto his plate. "What?"
"This isn't allowance money," I continued. "This is your first business capital. I want to see what you can build with it. What you can create. Whether you have actual business instinct or just talk."
"I—you're serious?"
"Completely. But there are three conditions." I held up three fingers. "First, everything you do must be legal and ethical. No shortcuts, no bribes, no exploitation. Second, you submit monthly financial reports and project updates to Christopher and me. Third, you take full responsibility for every decision. If you fail, you fail on your own. If you succeed, the success is yours alone."
James watched us with an unreadable expression. Christopher looked thoughtful.
Alexander stared at me like I'd just handed him the keys to the kingdom. Then his face hardened with determination.
"I won't let you down," he said. "I'll show you I can build something real. Something valuable."
"I know you will." I smiled. "You're a Sullivan. You have empire-building in your blood. Now go prove it."
The rest of breakfast passed in lighter conversation. But I could see Alexander's mind working, already spinning plans and possibilities.
As we finished eating, Alfred cleared the plates. I stood to leave, ready to head to the studio for another day of rehearsal.
"Rose," James called after me. "A moment?"
I turned back. Christopher and Alexander herded Lily toward the playroom, giving us privacy.
"You're good at this," James said quietly. "Managing them. Seeing what they need."
"I'm their great-grandmother. It's my job."
"No." He shook his head. "It's more than that. You have a gift for understanding people. For knowing exactly how to push them toward their potential without breaking them."
"I've had practice," I said simply.
James smiled. Then his expression turned serious. "The investigation into Carter—be careful. If you're right about bribery, you're dealing with people who don't follow rules."
"I'm always careful."
"I know. But let me help. If this goes wrong, I want to be there."
I squeezed his hand. "I will. I promise."