Page 47 of Heart of the West

“Dinner is almost ready. I’m taking drink orders. On special tonight are whiskey sours and Long Island iced teas. We also have German and domestic beer.”

After we take orders, Dustin and I get to work making drinks. By the time we finish, the food is on the table and Effrem calls everyone to dinner.

Chapter 27

Effrem

Dinner goes amazingly well. The only thing wrong with it is I need to know where Dustin and Ruby stand. I plan on asking him at the soonest possible opportunity. After dinner, Gillian and I are going to update Ruby on the divorce. I hope she’s not mad at me for involving Gillie, but I know if anyone can beat Buffet’s legal team, it’s her.

The boys offer to clean up, including Kai.

“If you’ll excuse us. Gillian and I have some business to discuss with Ruby.”

“You do?” Ruby looks at me, surprised.

“Yes. Would you come to my office with us, please.”

Ruby stands up, uncertainty written across her face.

“It’s nothing bad, I promise.”

She relaxes and I lead us to my office. I take a seat on the couch. Gillian takes the chair next to it. Ruby sits beside me. Gillian opens her briefcase, pulls out a laptop and a file.

“Ruby, Effrem brought your papers to me. I took the liberty of refiling your original prenup. Don’t worry, I still have your copy. It’s in the safe of a good friend. Let’s say you’d have better luck getting into Fort Knox.”

I watch Ruby’s face as Gillian delivers the news. I can see surprise at first, then interest. Hopefully, she will forgive me. I’ll ask after Gillian and Dustin leave.

“I also spoke with a friend of mine who is a Fed. Did you know both Willem and Roger are being looked into for money laundering and wire fraud?”

Ruby looks like she’s been slapped in the face. “I had no idea. I thought they got their money from Roger’s great-grandfather.”

“They did. Nearly a billion dollars, but they spent a lot of it. Don’t worry. There’s enough left to give you the half you deserve. We’ll just liquidate their homes and businesses.”

“I, we, don’t have to do that.”

“If the state allowed me to take him for more, I would.” Gillian says. “You deserve that money. Take it and do some good with it.”

I see Ruby’s eyes light up. “I could do many good deeds with that kind of money. What do I need to do?”

“Nothing. Don’t sign anything, no matter how much pressure he puts on you. The moment he has contact with you, let me know. I’m filing a restraining order. I’ve filed to get the case moved out of Indiana. The Buffets have too many contacts in their pockets there.”

“I guess Roger’s plan for the perfect Christmas just went up in flames.”

“That’s my girl.” I blurt out before I was thinking about it.

Gillian looks at me with a smirk and Ruby looks at me with a confused expression.

“I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself, Ruby. You spent twenty years with that jackass. You shouldn’t walk away empty-handed. In my opinion, you deserve that and more.”

“Thank you, Effrem.”

We spent the next hour going over information that Gillian found and questions she had for Ruby. I escort the ladies back to the living room. Dustin and Dalton are talking when we come back. I head over to them.

“Dustin, could I have a word with you.”

“Sure thing. Dalton, stop by the office. I’ll show you what I have. There’s a few not far from here.”

“Thanks, Dustin. I’ll see you early in the morning. I’m used to being up with the cattle.”

---