Page 15 of Filthy Rich

“Victoria, can you bring me the files for the Blackwater estate? I want everything: property tax records, payroll, employee pension payouts, back through ten years.”

“You want me to request copies through your mother’s office?”

“My mother’s office? No, I want the original files on everything.” Mom retained a separate business office for her own personal interests and private accounts apart from the family holdings. I’d never questioned it before because my father set it all up for her, and it was basically keeping with the status quo after he died. I’d been so overwhelmed since I’d had to step up to take over the bulk of Dad’s business when he got sick, that I’d not paid attention to what seemed insignificant at the time. Funny how the passage of time can change that.

But was a historic property that had been in my family for generations insignificant? It shouldn’t be. My father loved it and I couldn’t imagine him wanting it sold to strangers. He would have wanted his kids to enjoy it with their young families.Families. None of us were even married yet, or had families of our own. But some day we would. My sister, Willow, was the closest in line for kids since she was already engaged. To a guy who taught history at Brown University, and I’d only met one time.One time.Dad sure as hell would’ve met him more than once if he were still alive.Put the family first, Caleb.I decided I needed to get a little more involved with my family.

A pang of regret hit me hard right in the chest as I realized my dad would never know a single grandchild from any of his five children. What kind of legacy was that to pass down if the family estate was sold off before he was barely cold in his grave? Christ, my mother was a piece of work. She’d never said a word to me about it.

“I’ll go down and see Myrna in the file room and she can point me in the right direction hopefully. You know ten years is going to be a lot of files, Caleb.”

“I realize that. Box them by year and have Spence help you get them up here to my office. He can line the boxes under the window.”

“And when Myrna wants to know why we’re emptying her file room?” she asked.

“Good point. Just tell Myrna we need them for an internal audit because the property is looking for a buyer. I don’t want my mom to know, okay?”

Victoria nodded once and that was our code for, “Got it, boss,” which was just another reason why she was an excellent PA. She was all business with no drama, but most of all, I could trust her. “Victoria,” I called her back as she was almost out the door, “did you—did you know Blackwater was up for sale?”

“Yes.” Her dark blue eyes were full of compassion for me. That feeling a person gets when they understand you are the last to know what is really going on, and feel sorry for you. “My parents mentioned it to me a while back.”

“What did they say?” I needed to know.

“That it was a shame for such a magnificent place as Blackwater to go to people who wouldn’t have the connection to the island.”

“Your parents are right.” Blackwater wasn’t going to go to strangers. I knew that much. It might be sold, though…

To me.

“I also need Spence to get the chopper ready for seven tonight, so set that up with him, please. I’m staying with Lucas this weekend and visiting Blackwater for myself.”

“Lucas,” she said quickly, “tell him—please tell him I said…hi.”

That was weird.Victoria always kept her emotions in check, but seeing she’d just lost that careful composure the second I mentioned my brother’s name meant something was going on. Lucas was a touchy subject for a few people. His twin, Wyatt, and our mother were at the top of that short list. I stayed out of it since it wasn’t my battle.

“Will do, Victoria,” I said with a smile—something I rarely gave—but sensed she needed right now. Which just goes to show I’m not always an asshole.

In the car I had time to ponder, and more importantly, todigest, what I’d learned about the Blackwater estate and its management. Much of it didn’t sit well with me, with the most disturbing revelation being the letting go of employees who had no retirement compensation in place. How had that been allowed to happen? I was still in disbelief over what I’d discovered in those files. My father had never been mercenary like that. He took care of his people, and loyalty was alwaysrewarded generously. There hadn’t even been any health insurance. It took some major self-control on my part to keep from confronting my mother, but I managed to hold myself back.

All I could hear was Brooke. “And no job for a woman who gave thirty-five years of her life working for one of those fine west-side mansions before they closed it down and dismissed everyone.” Every ounce of her bitterness justifiable. Mrs. Casterley deserved so much more than what she’d received. It was now on me to fix it.

“Isaac, take me to Harris & Goode on Hereford Street.”

“Yes, sir. Will you be wanting Starbucks as well?”

“Not this time. I need to engage the services of an interior designer.”

It was just after five o’clock on a Friday so traffic was all jacked up. People were hurrying to get a head start on the weekend and to beat the rain, which couldn’t decide if it wanted to piss down or not. Isaac stopped at a red light on the corner of Massachusetts and Newbury, and in the twisting mass of humanity crossing the street...I saw her for the third time in my life.

Brooke.

Brooke whose last name I didn’t even know yet.

Beautiful Brooke walking full-on in my direction, toward what I guessed would be the Convention Center T stop. From there she would take the train to get off at Aquarium, where the ferries transferred people and cars to the different outlying stops: Cape Cod, Provincetown, and Blackstone Island being the main destinations. I had a perfectly clear view of her, too.

I didn’t have to worry about being caught staring because of the window tint. Thank fuck for window tint.

So I enjoyed every second of her walk across the street right in front of me, from her approach, to her passing the car, to her retreat.

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