Free 31 Ways to Catch a Billionaire by Ann King Page A

head. “Very well. But please let me know if you
require assistance in this area. And regarding your grandfather’s
conditions…I’ve seen worse in wills. You’d be surprised.”
    “Well this is not other people’s wills we’re talking
about…this is our family’s estate.”
    “Very well.” Duke seemed too tired to argue further and
Carlos could tell he was way past retirement. A good man but really pushing the
working years.
    Carlos stood by the window looking out as his brothers
talked amongst themselves. He really didn’t get it. Why would his grandfather
make such a condition to his will? Okay, he got it that his uncle was nothing
but trouble. A disgrace to the family. An irresponsible playboy bachelor who
squandered his fortune, gambled with money he no longer had and ultimately
disgraced the Kincade family name by his tabloid appearances with run ins with
the law. He was later found dead in a hotel bathroom after he overdosed on pain
killers. Later it was ruled out as a suicide. It caused a scandal for the
Kincade’s public image. The owners of one of the world’s largest upscale
retailers listed in the Forbes list of the wealthiest families during the last
decade alone. His father, John II, wasn’t any better.
    Carlos was always the outcast in the family. The different
one. He was darker in complexion than his fair skinned brothers and his dark
grey eyes contrasted to their blue eyes. He was the illegitimate son.
    He couldn’t help but feel this was quite a coincidence. With
all the pretense of brotherhood from his siblings he knew how they really felt
about him and it didn’t faze him one bit—until now. His father had an affair
with the Italian maid, his mother, while married to Mrs. Kincade. He’d always
been made to feel different from the rest. He’d grown up trying to be twenty
times better just to be considered equal. He’d worked hard in the company just
to prove his worth and changed the vision and increased the company’s profit line
in addition to pleasing customers in an unconventional way. Now on the verge of
one of the largest risk ventures to bring the Kincade empire to another level,
he could possibly lose it all—with all his hard work. He’d been responsible for
pulling Kincade Department store into the twenty-first century and beyond.
Macy’s couldn’t compare to it now. Now this ridiculous will stipulation when it
was a known fact that he was a sworn bachelor, he couldn’t help but feel this
was some sort of set up. He just didn’t believe in marriage. Period.
    Later, his father was killed in a plane crash…with another
mistress at his side.
    So much for family values.
    Carlos swore he’d never get married while growing up. He
just didn’t believe in happily ever after. Shoot, he didn’t exactly have any
role models in that area. Being single and working hard in the corporation
meant more to him…until now. He really didn’t want to lose his place in the
business or his inheritance. It would undo everything he’d ever worked for.
    Damn it! He was the Kincade Corporation. He had to
think fast. Maybe there was a way around this ridiculous little clause in his
grandfather’s will.
    His jaw clenched at the thought of what he would do. There
was always a way around things and this would be no different.
    “By the way,” Duke said after clearing his throat, “part of
the stipulation of the will is that if for any reason you contest the will…you
get nothing.”
    “Nothing?” Carlos shot back, stunned. He felt fire course
through his veins. His brothers also looked up from their conversations as if
they’d seen a ghost. The atmosphere in the lawyer’s office turned frigid,
tense.
    “Nothing,” Duke whispered as he looked down, regret in his
eyes, as if he, too, thought that particular condition of John Kincade’s will
was harsh.
    Carlos’s jaw clenched, every muscle in his body tensed up.
He felt his blood run cold.
    Nothing? We’ll see about