Prologue, Kate 1982 and Book One, Jamie 1883-1906: Chapters 1-3 Summary

Kruger-Brent, Limited is a company a thief started in the 1880s. It became an international conglomerate under the control of his daughter. More than ninety years have passed since the company's birth. Kate Blackwell is celebrating her ninetieth birthday and begins to look back on the beginning of the company as she looks forward to its future under the guidance of her great-grandson, a nine-year-old musician who has no intention of becoming involved in the family business.

In the prologue, Kate Blackwell is attending her ninetieth birthday party at her house in Maine called Cedar Hill House. Kate listens to the people around her talking about her as though she is a saint. She feels this is ridiculous because they know little about the truth behind the...