Page 133 of A Dirty Business
“Hmm. Yes. Straight to business. I have heard you are not like your uncle. That’s a refreshing surprise. Your uncle, he could tell stories for hours before getting to the point.”
“And your point for this phone call is ...? I am still waiting.”
“I feel I may have a surprising proposition for you.”
Ashton snorted, not caring if he was heard or not.
“Am I to presume that is Ashton Walden in the background? His grandmother is from Argentina?”
Ashton’s eyes cooled. He leaned forward as I extended the phone toward him, and he spoke into it. “My family lineage is none of your business. How about that?”
“On the contrary, I feel that those of us who are in this business are in it because of our grandparents or the grandparents of our grandparents. Everything has history and lineage.”
I pulled the phone back to me. “And your family does not have the history that ours does.”
“No. You’re correct. We’re relatively new, but I have a great respect for those—”
“What’s yourpoint, Worthing? You’re making me regret letting your cousins return to you, alive and intact.”
“Yes. See. That’s why I’m reaching out to you for this proposition. I’ve learned that you and Ashton both have your own businesses. Legal businesses. You are both thriving in your own fields. I’ve seen his records myself, and your uncleisdying. He has brain cancer, and if my sources are correct, he was first told about the possibility the very day he first told you he was having medical problems. Now, I’m sure there’s a reason he has waffled back and forth. Denial. Negotiation. Anger. These are all common stages for grief when given the sentence that he was given. Am I correct in what has been reported to me?”
Who the fuck was this guy’s source? My uncle’s medical records?
“What is your goddamn proposition? I’m to assume you are the new head of your family?”
“Yes. And to the point. As always, you remain true to your reputation. My proposal to you is this: When your uncle dies, let me take over the handling of all the family business. You, in turn, will be in charge of my money. You can invest it how you see fit. You can remain in your very legal businesses—which I can’t help but wonder if that will help your woman as well, considering her career choice—but you’re in charge of the money.
“The name in your city, and it isyourcity, will remain the West Mafia, because you will be handling all of the financials. I love your city. You have beautiful hospitals and doctors here, but think of us as a franchise. We’re coming in, taking over handling the actual work, but everything flows upward to where you would be: at the top. And with your blessing, we will work hand in hand alongside the Walden family because unlike yourself, the Walden uncles have no interest in stepping away from the business, as is their right. They’ve fought long and hard for their place in your city, but you, as I’m hoping one day I might consider a friend, have interests that lie along the legal world.
“What say you, Mr.Tristian West? Would you like some time to consider the offer? Time to also do your own research? Because while your initial instinct is to turn my offer down, Itrulyhope you do not do that. I also hope you do not judge me based on your meeting with my two cousins, who, though I love them, are imbecile human beings. They are very much considered the ‘brawn’ of our family genes, whereas I myself inherited the looks, some brawn, and the brains.
“Also.” His voice went serious. “I went to Cambridge, and I’m hoping that when you look into me, you’ll see the similarities between yourself and myself. Both raised to succeed in the civil world, but both with family that has pulled us into their world. It’s certainly a plight that we find ourselves in, isn’t it?”
Ashton’s eyes were narrowed, his head down, as he listened to the call. When Nicolai was done speaking, he raised his head, but I couldn’t get a read on what he was thinking.
“I’ll take your proposal into consideration.”
“It’s been my pleasure, Tristian West. Until we meet in person.”
I ended the call. “What do you think?”
“I think”—he was still eyeing the phone—“that you will do what you will do. You’ll research. You’ll get all your answers, and then you will gamble based upon that research of where you want to put your money, like the good Wall Street best friend I know.”
I grunted because he was right. Though itwasa tempting offer.
“He said brain cancer.”
Ashton’s face went somber. “He did. That would explain a few things.”
It would indeed.
CHAPTER SIXTY
JESS
I was on the phone with Kelly when Trace walked into his place.
I’d been waiting with his team, but something had happened, and they’d driven me without him. As soon as I’d walked inside, Kelly had called, and for the last hour I’d been talking her down.
