The Owner of the Yacht

PART 2 — THE PAPERS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

“Put everything back where it belongs.”

My voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough to make the workers stop.

Preston laughed.

“Who do you think you are? You can’t order people around here.”

I looked at him calmly.

“Actually, I can. You’re standing on my property, moving my belongings without permission.”

Vivienne stepped forward, her expression turning icy.

“Adrian, stop this nonsense. Your father has already agreed that Preston can use the house.”

“Then he should have checked the property records first.”

I pulled out my phone and made a call.

“Mr. Collins? This is Adrian Mercer. I need you to send the property ownership documents to my father’s house immediately. Also, notify the moving company that no personal property may be removed without my authorization.”

Preston’s smile disappeared.

“You’re calling a lawyer over a few boxes?”

“No. I’m calling my lawyer because someone is trying to take possession of a house they don’t own.”

Vivienne scoffed.

“Your father practically raised you. How dare you threaten this family?”

Before I could answer, my father appeared in the doorway.

“What’s going on?”

Preston immediately changed his expression.

“Adrian is throwing a tantrum because we wanted to use the Newport house.”

Dad looked at me.

“Son, why can’t you just let your brother enjoy something for once?”

I stared at him.

“Brother? Dad, Preston isn’t my responsibility. And neither is his wedding.”

My father frowned.

“Don’t be selfish. He’s starting a new life.”

“So am I. I bought that property six years ago, and I have every right to decide who lives there.”

Dad looked confused.

“You bought it?”

I nodded.

Before he could respond, a black sedan pulled into the driveway.

My attorney, Michael Collins, stepped out carrying a leather briefcase.

He greeted me before turning toward my father.

“Mr. Mercer, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. The Newport property is registered under Adrian’s holding company. Your son is the sole owner.”

He placed several documents on the porch table.

Vivienne picked them up and quickly scanned the first page.

Her face changed.

Preston snatched the papers.

“That’s impossible!”

Michael remained calm.

“The purchase price was four million eight hundred thousand dollars. The property has never belonged to your father.”

My father looked at me in disbelief.

“Where did you get that kind of money?”

I almost smiled.

“From the business I built while everyone thought I was fixing old boats.”

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then my phone rang.

It was Daniel, my operations director.

“Mr. Mercer, we’ve completed the review of the Fairchild reservation.”

“Go ahead.”

“The initial deposit cleared, but the remaining balance hasn’t been paid. Mr. Preston also requested several additional services without authorization.”

I glanced at Preston.

“What services?”

“Helicopter transfers, premium catering, additional security personnel, and a private fireworks display. The total outstanding balance is now $178,000.”

Preston went pale.

I continued listening.

“There’s another issue, sir. Mr. Preston has been introducing himself to the Fairchild family as the owner of Meridian Crown.”

I looked directly at him.

“Thank you, Daniel. Send me the complete report.”

When I ended the call, Preston stepped forward.

“Don’t you dare interfere with my vacation!”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Your vacation?”

“That yacht is booked for my wedding celebration!”

“Interesting. Because I own the yacht, the company operating it, and every crew member assigned to it.”

Vivienne looked at me as if she had never seen me before.

My father slowly sat down.

“Adrian… what exactly have you built?”

I closed my briefcase.

“Something I stopped asking this family to understand a long time ago.”

Then I walked toward my pickup.

Behind me, Preston shouted:

“You can’t ruin my future just because you’re jealous!”

I stopped briefly.

“Preston, I don’t need to ruin your future. You seem perfectly capable of doing that yourself.”

And I drove away.

But the biggest surprise was still waiting for them.

Because the Fairchild family was about to discover that the man Preston had been pretending to be was standing much closer to them than he realized.