Page 30 of Tempest

“So, how much is the company worth?” Ivy asked dispassionately.

Garret studied the papers in front of him. “Current revenue for the company is two hundred million, and the total assets of the company are around eight hundred million.”

“I guess you can buy a couple more pairs of those fancy shoes you like,” Colin said sarcastically.

“Maybe you want to upgrade that condo you just bought with your signing bonus.” Ivy shook her head and laughed. “I would’ve traded all of this to have a daddy who was part of my life.”

“Yeah, me too. All this money doesn’t make up for what an asshole he was when he was alive,” Colin responded.

“This is a lot to take in,” Garret said. He stacked the papers and placed them carefully in the folder. “There are the two homes and other personal items that are worth around twelve million. Also, there is a trust that he set up for each of you to be made available when you turn thirty.” He looked down at the documents. “Ivy that gives you one more year before you will have access to the trust and Colin you have nine years. Why don’t you both take some time and let this sink in? We’ll meet in a couple of days and I’ll give you the particulars.”

“Anything we need to do about the company right away?” Ivy asked.

“There is a solid team of people running it, so I don’t think you have to go down now. Your dad called me last month and told me he was having some problems with sabotage at some of the wells. Small incidents that were disrupting production. He characterized it as annoying, but I had a feeling it was more than that. It might be wise to employ the company you work for to run an analysis before you go down and meet everyone. That way you know what you’re walking into.”

Leaning back in his chair, he laced his hands behind his head. “Your daddy updated his will about eight months ago and then again two months ago. He wanted to make sure that there were no loopholes and nobody could get their hands on what he had after he was gone. I thought it was strange at the time because it wasn’t like him to acknowledge his mortality, much less the possibility of it.”

“Do you think he felt threatened, or was he just being his paranoid self?” Ivy asked.

“Hard to say,” Garret responded. “He was a man who held his cards close to the vest.”

Ivy looked over at her brother. “Let’s take a week and analyze the company. That way we know what we’re dealing with.”

I don’t want to be in the oil business,” Colin stated.

“Neither do I,” Ivy responded.

“Nothing has to be done right away.” Garret stood and went around the desk. “I know he could be a mean SOB, but in his way he loved you both.”

“I guess nothing says ‘I love you’ like an eight-hundred-million-dollar company,” Ivy said sarcastically.

“I would’ve much preferred to have him in the stands at one of my games,” Colin added.

Ivy took her brother’s hand and squeezed. “I guess we get what we get and don’t throw a fit.”

She shook the attorney’s hand. “Thank you for everything. We’ll talk and then get together later in the week.”

Colin stood, shook hands, and then stalked out of the office. “I’ll meet you guys downstairs.”

Ryan shook the attorney’s hand and grabbed his card. “We’ll keep you updated.” He placed his hand on the small of Ivy’s back and led her out of the office. “Time for a margarita?”

“Or five,” she responded. “This is hard on Colin. His mama was a sweet woman, but she didn’t know how to protect him from Daddy’s rejection. I was lucky because my mama is strong as flint and she was always in my corner. This money must feel like a crappy last swing at the fence.”

“At least he has you,” Ryan replied.

“Yeah, he doesn’t always see that as a positive. He complains when I tell him what to do. His mama died when he went to college, so I’ve tried to be there as much as I can. I know he wishes I was a little less interested in his life.”

“Maybe that’s what he’s telling you, but deep down he appreciates it.”

“Real deep. We’d have to use some of those fracking techniques that Daddy used to get oil out of rock to get Colin to admit he likes my nosy ways.”

“How are you feeling?” he asked as he took her hand.

“Not that different than Colin. The company is a sad replacement for all the time he never gave us.”

Ryan pushed the button for the elevator and encircled his arms around Ivy. When she leaned into him and let out a breath, he knew that this was a lot harder than she was letting on. The road ahead of them was littered with land mines, and her life had just become complicated, no matter what they decided to do with the company.

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