Page 42 of Code Name: Michelangelo

“What?” I asked.

“You’ve known about this for some time, which means you’ve also thought over how you’d feel if and when it happened.”

“You’re right.”

“Has your thinking changed?”

I shook my head. “When I saw Richard, I anticipated this was the reason he was here. I’m honestly stunned he didn’t want to do it in front of everyone.”

“You have a lot to think about. I can head to bed.”

“Are you asking if that’s what I want you to do?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t.” I scrubbed my face with my hand. “I know we need to talk about my misstep earlier.”

“We don’t.”

I sat upright and shifted my body so I was less likely to pull her into my arms the way I was longing to.

“What do you think I should do?”

Her eyes widened. “With the inheritance?”

“Yes.”

“I have no idea.”

“I’ll rephrase. What would you do?”

Penelope thought for several seconds before answering. “You won’t like my response.”

I smiled. “Try me.”

“I wouldn’t be so hasty. There’s a lot of good you could do with money like this, Brand. It doesn’t mean you have to become like your father. You could do things your way.”

I was intrigued by her suggestion. “Give me some examples.”

“To start with, you could do the kind of thing Doc did for you. There are countless statistics about how hard it is for people to make their way in the world after they’ve spent time in prison.”

“True.”

“You could do what the patriarch of another family worth billions did and give it all away. Or however much you wanted to.”

“There are properties that would eventually be mine.”

“It doesn’t mean you have to live in them. I live here because it’s close to the gallery and it reminds me of my grandmother. Well, and the gardens. Who would choose otherwise, right?”

I smiled. “Right.”

“The same with the Butterfly Cottage. When my parents pass away, I’ll most likely inherit their properties—at least my mom’s. I guarantee you I won’t ever want to live in either of her homes. As far as my dad is concerned, he may disinherit me in favor of his next wife, or the one after that, and so on. Anyway, what I’m saying is maybe you should educate yourself on exactly what this entails and what kind of power over the estate you would eventually have before you close your mind to it.”

My mobile rang. “It’s Doc, err, Kade.”

“I know who you mean. You should answer.”

She shifted to get up, but I put my hand on her arm. “This may concern you as well.” I hit the accept button on the screen. “Hey, Doc.”

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