“That, too.”
“Has your brother realized yet that you weren’t part of the suit?”
Ryan’s grin turned to a wince. “We had a rather uncomfortable phone call after he finally took the time to read it. He told me that once he won the suit, he would do everything in his power to make sure I didn’t get anything.”
“Then he’s really not going to be happy when the dismissal is handed down.”
“I believe that’s what would be called an understatement. But I don’t care anymore. I’ve followed him around for too long.” He glanced at Susan. “I have a better sibling role model now.”
“I couldn’t be prouder of you,” Stone said. “If you’re really interested in pursuing the law, I am pretty sure Woodman & Weld would take you on as an associate. There’d be no special treatment, and you’d work a lot, but you’d learn a lot, too.”
“That’s very generous, Mr. Barrington. I’ll think about it.”
“Shall we move on to the good news now?” Stone asked.
“Please,” Susan said.
Stone motioned to the envelopes. “Inside is a proposed asset division between your father’s heirs, meaning the two of you.”
“And Oliver Humphrey College,” Susan said.
“About that. In exchange for promising not to sue them or talk to the press about their connection to your father’s death, they will renounce the one hundred million dollars he left them.”
“That’s surprisingly reasonable,” Ryan said.
“They’re hoping to brush this under the rug as much as possible,” Stone said.
“While that’s fine by me, and I’m sure Susan, too”—he looked at her and she nodded—“I do see a problem.”
“I thought you might. You mean your brother.”
“Exactly.”
Since Aaron would no longer be an heir, he would not be included in any settlement with the college and therefore would be free to sue them himself.
“Itisa problem, but it’s notyourproblem,” Stone said. “And I have a feeling that once Aaron realizes he won’t be getting any inheritance, he might be open to working out a settlement directly with them.”
“He’ll have to find a new lawyer to handle that for him.”
“See, youarelearning from your mistakes,” Susan said.
Stone knew they had been spending a lot of time getting to know each other and was happy to see that they were bonding well.
“I guess that leaves one last thing,” Stone said.
“What’s that?” Susan asked.
“Notifying you that, as of yesterday evening, the value ofyour father’s estate has increased to two point four billion dollars.”
Susan stared at him, frozen in place. “I—I can’t even process that number.”
“Remember, that’s what Charley Fox is for,” Stone said.
“Right. We’re going to meet with him as soon as the estate is settled.”
“Both of you?”
Ryan grinned. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt to find someone new to look after my money, too.”
