Page 8 of Standing Still

“Susan, Acer states that although he knows you didn’t want anything from him, he has left you five thousand dollars. He says if you don’t take it, he’ll haunt you.”

Susan laughs slightly at the comment and nods. She’s in her sixties and has been dating Acer for nearly three years. Although it was a very loose relationship, they were comfortable with each other but never lived together. I wouldn’t expect him not to leave her something.

Stephen runs through a few more things. Acer didn’t have much besides the house and his savings.

“Finally, we come to the business, George Fishing and Charters,” he says, reading the paperwork. His nose twitches slightly and Larry shifts in his seat. It’s the first sign that something isn’t right.

I sit forward in the chair and Elle glances over at me. She now knows the reason I’m here is for the business. She’s not cared to take anything else. I’m confident this won’t be an issue either, but given the lawyers’ actions, now I’m not so sure. And I can’t think what the hell could be the problem.

“Acer has left you both the business. Fifty, fifty partners and,” he clears his throat. “If you don’t accept taking it together equally, he has requested the business be sold to Day Away Fishing.”

I don’t realize I’ve got up until everyone turns to me and I blurt out. “What the fuck?”

Chapter Five

I step out when Ben has a small meltdown, saying I needed to use the bathroom. No one seems to notice, instead focusing on Ben’s reaction.

I’m already fully aware, both by his presence and the talk I had yesterday, that he’s been working with and even running dad’s business, for a while now. Dawn told me dad slowed down a lot recently, his illness making it hard for him to do such a manual job.

Ben stepped in and Dawn admitted it had done wonders for the company. He’d brought in new investors to help. They’d picked up some more clients they supplied to and the charter, taking tourists out on fishing trips, was doing well.

It is clear he is expecting to be gifted the company. In all honesty, I’d been glad. What the hell am I going to do with a fishing business? My intention would have been to sell it. I still have that chance now. Whoever these Day Away Fishing people are, sounds like they’re ready to buy.

If I do that, where does it leave Ben? So I get why he’s losing his shit in there. He will know exactly what I think about keeping thecompany or having any further ties to this town. And I’ve been more than ready to release everything.

Those stipulations dad made though… They ruin everything.

What on earth was he thinking doing that? It made more sense to give it to Ben, to let him take over and keep the business, maybe not in the family, but with the men he’d no doubt employed for years.

In the bathroom, I place my bag on the counter and quickly google Day Away Fishing. They are a huge national company with fleets of boats, a flashy website with smiling executives and tons of photos of people enjoying their charters. One thing they’re not is a commercial fishing business. It means it will wipe out everything my father built over his entire career, and a money grabbing tourist attraction will take its place. Everyone there will lose their jobs.

What a damn asshole. How could he do this? Not just to me, but Ben and his employees, too? Is this his way of forcing me back into Mystic? Not that it would work that way. I could easily allow Ben to do the running of the company and go back to New York.

Susan is a mystery too. She clearly meant something to him. She is an odd duck, but the kind that intrigues me. She has a kind face, a soft smile, and the small laugh she gave when she heard what dad left her made me believe she genuinely cared about my father. She also gave me a kind smile when she arrived. I’m sure she will want to talk to me, and I’m not wholly against the idea. Ben though… that is a different story.

He has not changed. Much. He hates me and the reaction to dad’s stipulations only proves that.

The door opens and the snooty receptionist sticks her head in. “They need you back in there,” she says with a sniff.

I roll my eyes and slip my phone into my purse, then follow her back into the conference room. Ben is still on his feet, Larry and Stephen watching him pace. The typist, Angela, I think her name is, is watching everything with wide eyes. Susan is reading a book.I eye her for a moment and am shocked to see it is one of mine. She glances up and winks at me. Everyone else turns to me when I come in.

“We can draw up papers to hand it all over to Ben,” I say, sitting back down and crossing my legs. I have some experience in dealing with lawyers and contracts.

“Afraid not,” Larry says. “It’s very clear what your father wanted.”

I look up at Ben. He’s staring out of the window, a frown on his face. In my absence, he’s clearly already been told this. I let my eyes roam his face, seeing how much he has changed since I last saw him. The thick beard suits him. It’s as dark as his hair and his eyes. I get the feeling he doesn’t wear a suit often, but he made the effort today, and it looks good on him. He fills out that jacket nicely. I can see the definition of his arms.

Crap, not important right now.

“Well, I’m more than happy for Ben to handle the day to day. I can be a silent partner. We can just catch up maybe twice a year to go over things?”

Larry shakes his head again.

“What? Why?”

“He’s stipulated that you need to be here at least fifty percent of the year.”

“I can’t do that. I have a life in New York.”

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