Page 69 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“Because no one comes to a library anymore,” Liam told him, putting the folder he was carrying on the table. “I need your signature on some documents, please.”
“What documents?” Finn looked at the top page;Property Valuation.“That’s a rather thick file.”
“It has everything I need to buy Gladstone Acres for you,” Liam told him, pulling out a fancy gold pen.
“You’ve even brought the fancy pen.” Finn looked at Liam suspiciously.
“I love this pen.” Liam looked at the gold pen with his name engraved on it. “Your father gave it to me when I graduated college.”
“And you tell me that every time you bring out the pen for me to sign something,” Finn pointed out. “I think the last time I used it was to take full custody of my kids.”
“No, you used it to transfer the deeds to my house to me,” Liam reminded him.
“No.” Finn shook his head. “You used the platinum pen my father gave you when you graduated college again.”
“Well, I didn’t know if I wanted to be an attorney or an investment banker,” Liam defended his choices.
“No, you just wanted degrees from Harvard and MIT,” Finn stated.
“Should we not have this conversation again?” Liam looked pained and handed Finn the gold pen. “I need you to sign the following documents for me.”
“First, you need to tell me what the heck is going on and why I’m signing…” Finn moved the top page. “Power of Attorney?” His brow crinkled as he looked at Liam curiously.
“Oh!” Liam said. “You haven’t been told. Understandable, I guess, because of everything that happened.” He looked at Finn. Liam was only an inch shorter than Finn, but he was leaner and faster when it came to running or ducking. “King Titus called me to his house right after the dinner. He wanted to discuss an alternative plan: Harriet’s mother.” He raised his eyebrows. “Who seems like a nice, sweet lady, but there’s a Harriet on steroids underneath that exterior.” He let out a breath and shook his head. “You think it’s hard to say no to Harriet…”
“Liam!” Finn folded his arms and looked at his friend impatiently. “You were scared by a sweet lady from an older generation, is what you’re trying to say. So just say that.” He shrugged.
“I wasn’t scared!” Liam said indignantly. “I was a bit intimidated, is all.”
“That’s still scared,” Finn pointed out. “So what did Harriet’s sweet, gentle mother have to say?”
“You know, I hope I’m there when you find out who sweet Lady Julie Joyce really is.” Liam raised his eyebrows. “I’m really going to enjoy that.”
“Okay!” Finn snorted and glanced at the pile of documents. “I’d like to get back to Harriet before she’s released tomorrow.”
“Right,” Liam said. “Julie, who got wind of our plans—I think she must’ve tortured them out of King Titus—picked so many holes in them that they seemed like bad Swiss cheese.”
“Oh?” Finn said in surprise. “I take it she’s taken over the mission?”
“Correct,” Liam confirmed. “In fact, we now answer to Lady Julie Joyce for all things about Gladstone properties and her daughter, apparently.” He looked at Finn. “Well, you have to answer to her on that front.”
“Liam, why am I signing all these documents?” Finn rifled through them.
“Because you’re not going to Greece,” Julie Joyce made them jump.
“Didn’t you close the door?” Finn asked Liam accusingly.
“I did.” Liam nodded, lowering his voice. “I warned you. She’s like a ninja Harriet on steroids.”
“You left out the ninja part,” Julie told Liam with a grin, and Finn was struck at just how alike mother and daughter were.
“How long have you been standing there?” Liam asked her.
“Long enough,” Julie told him, walking into the office and closing the door as silently as she’d opened it.
“What Liam was trying to tell you is that Titus’s plan wouldn’t work.” Julie walked around Daniella’s desk, taking the lead. “The bank manager is one of Gloria Gladstone’s admirers, shall we say. While he’s been as good as he can by holding off sales and keeping the Joyce’s at bay, he’s being put under pressure to take Gladstone Acres.”
“So he’d know who you were, especially if they could trace the money back to the Joyce family,” Liam added. “Lady Julie…”
