Page 40 of Undefeated Love
“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind. Right now, all I need is one dollar from you.”
Top handed the attorney a well-used one-dollar bill. Barry placed it in the folder then extracted several papers.
“Please sign here. It’s the receipt for the one dollar.” He slid a single sheet over to Top.
“Rather silly for one dollar. I trust you if you’re just borrowing a buck.” Top glanced over the sheet and signed the bottom.
Barry set that single sheet in the folder with the dollar and announced, “You’ll get a copy of this when we’re done.”
Top glanced at Alex with questions in his eyes. He had no idea what was going on either.
Next came out several sheets of legal paper backed with blue. Alex knew exactly what that meant. Whatever was on those sheets was going to be legally filed or had been already.
“James Cooper, I need you to initial each page and sign the last page with your legal name. In exchange for the one dollar you just gave me, you are now the legal owner of a house in Tysons Corner.” Barry rattled off the address.
“What the hell?” Top mumbled.
Alex remembered the address. It had been burned into his brain. “Remember the safe house where you stashed Katlin when you kidnapped her from the hospital?” Alex explained. “Katlin just gave you that house.” He managed to grin. “Gina loved that house.” She’d commented on everything she liked about it several times while it was just her and Alex caring for Katlin.
“I know she liked it, but it’s in a really nice neighborhood. By nice, I mean expensive. That house must cost a fortune. I love Katlin as if she were my own daughter. Actually, I’ve known her longer than I have my own daughter. Even though I do well here and get an okay amount from my Marine Corps retirement, Gina and I can’t afford to buy that house.” Top looked slightly embarrassed.
Barry picked up the one dollar. “Top, this one dollar bought the house. Katlin wanted to give it to you but legally in the state of Virginia, money has to change hands. She and I agreed on one dollar.”
Top chuckled. “That’s certainly going to fuck up everybody’s home values.”
Barry grinned. "Don’t you worry about that. That’s not how much it will get filed for. Consider it legal magic.” He pointed to where Top needed to initial and sign. “Katlin really wanted you and Gina to have that house.”
“I guess we’ll need to put our house on the market immediately.” Top slid the signed papers back to Barry.
“Actually, no.” The next papers in that pile were shoved to Top. “Guardian Security will be purchasing your house.” Barry pointed to the amount on the front page. “Since one of their often-used safe houses has been sold, they are replacing it with your house.” Barry grinned. “I told you, legal magic.”
Alex couldn’t hold back the smile. Katlin was so good at buying and selling houses. She’d done it for years, increasing her fortune.
As soon as Top finished signing the legal forms, he glanced at Barry, then to Alex. “Damn, she thought of everything.”
Barry straightened in his chair. “Excuse me. As her personal attorney, that’s my job. But Katlin is an extremely intelligent woman who knows what she wants. As her attorney, I can advise her, but she always has the final say. Then I have to do whatever she asks of me.” The lawyer let out a breath and sat back in his chair with his eyes closed. He shook his head, blinked several times then sat up.
“Top Cooper, that concludes the business I have with you today.” Barry stood and held out his hand. After shaking, he handed him a brown packet. “Keys to your new home are in here. Guardian will pay for your move. Once you’re out of your existing home, Guardian will go in and do some remodeling needed to make it into a safe house, so please tell Gina, don’t bother cleaning anything.”
Top headed toward the door then looked back at Alex. “Boss, I’m taking the rest of the day off. I need to show my wife her new house.” His grin spread ear to ear. “And I’m quite sure she’s going to want to express her gratitude to me.”
As soon as the door shut, Alex stared at Barry. “Do you know where Katlin is?”
“No. She arranged all this via a video call two weeks ago.” Barry put the completed papers back in his briefcase and centered the next pile in front of him. “I wasn’t kidding earlier when I said please don’t shoot the messenger.”
“Is Katlin selling me a house?” Alex asked half-jokingly.
“No, this company.”
Alex shot out of his seat, sending the wheeled chair flying backwards. “No fucking way.” He paced ten steps. He’d always thought of Guardian as his but there was a comfort in knowing he had partners. Although Katlin owned nearly half, same as him, she’d always been the silent partner. There had always been a comfort in knowing that this multimillion-dollar business wasn’t completely his responsibility. Before he’d known that it was Katlin, he’d often sent messages to his unknown private partners asking for advice, and sometimes permission. Even while he and Kat had visited their offices during her TBI recovery, he’d enjoyed discussing the company’s future with her.
The company tied them together.
He turned around and retrieved his chair. Sitting back down, he asked, “What if I don’t sign the paperwork?”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s already done and filed. These are simply your copies. Katlin transferred her percentage of ownership to you.” Barry looked sheepish. “I still maintain my three percent.”
“So, what you’re telling me is that you and I own all of Guardian Security.”
