Page 50 of Secret Crush

Peter took in a breath as if he'd held it the entire time the lawyer read. He smiled at last. "I figured. I'll have the money drawn up for you, Vicki. And John, there is always a place for you in Morgan Enterprises, if you want it."

Vicki shrugged her shoulders as she stood up to go. "Doesn't matter, Peter. Right now I want to open my dress shop, but thank you."

John pushed his chair back to get up as well. Alice followed him, happy this was over.

"It's not done," the lawyer then said. They all readjusted their seats. The other lawyer held his pen like his life depended on it. "If Peter ends up childless, the remainder upon his death should go to John's heirs. If neither of my sons has children, then the remainder should convert to the designee I left in my lawyer's files that is only to be opened on these conditions."

John sat straighter and asked the lawyer, "Who would Dad leave everything to if we all wind up childless?"

Peter leaned in his chair like he too wanted to ask, but then he straightened. "Doesn't matter."

John turned to him and argued, "Yes it does."

Peter glanced at Vicki and the closed his eyes. "No, it doesn't. This doesn't matter at all."

John shook his head, clearly upset with his brother. He whispered to Alice, "I'm going to find out."

Her mind raced. "How?"

John pushed his chair back again, ready to leave. "Dahle, I don't want to be here anymore."

Alice followed. "Agreed."

Peter's fingers tapped on the table as he clearly considered this a threat of some sort. "If the money and company are mine, then it's mine to do with as I see fit at my own death."

"Legally, that's true." The lawyer sat up straighter. "Your father just wanted you to know he had a plan."

Peter leaned back in his chair as if satisfied he'd won the argument as he said, "I don't care what my father intended. I'll still leave the company to a pet monkey if I want to and he doesn't get a say from the grave."

"You don't have a monkey." Vicki placed her hand on his.

"I might when I get older. I told him I'd never have an heir."

John stood and the tension in his body snapped. He pressed his hands on the table and shook his head. "That's what you focus on? As long as you get the money and the company then who cares about everyone else? Aren't you curious who Dad would leave his fortune to?"

"You didn't ask about the six hundred million dollars, which are probably half-siblings." Peter stood and leaned on the table as if they were opponents. "And so we're clear, I'm already investigating a few people who are probably our family as well. Dad used to take me to a woman's house. She had children our age. Whoever Dad designated doesn't matter. The money is ours. The House of Morgan continues through whatever children we have."

The lawyer shrunk in his chair. "This part is unenforceable."

There was no way to enforce Dad's wishes, but John's shoulders hunched and Alice could tell he wanted to know who was next on their father's list. "You are unbelievable."

Peter leaned closer, ready for a fight. "It's my life, John. I worked too hard for this."

Alice glanced at Victoria for one second who nodded at her, indicating they could talk later. She grabbed John's arm and tugged him toward the door. "Let's go."

He stared at Vicki and Peter, then took her hand. His hands shook with his emotion, but he said nothing. They walked out in silence.

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