The three young women to whom she’s been talking abruptly turn at my entrance and keep their attention focused on me as I stroll in.
Mom has the same dark hair as Kevin and me, but her eyes are green rather than the gray that we both inherited from our father. She’s still a striking woman with a perfectly maintained feature and a slim build. As the head of a fashion house she serves it well, at least as far as image goes.
Right now I couldn’t give a damn if she had three heads and had started the next Microsoft.
“I would say it’s a surprise to see you, but I suppose I should have expected a visit.” She rises up to greet me with a smile that’s deceptively amicable. She actually has the nerve to come over and place both hands on my arms then reach up to kiss me on the cheek.
“Cut the bullshit, Mom.”
She sighs and turns to the women who are still there. “Ladies, a moment please.”
Their eyes have been on me the entire time and stay there as they make their exit, turning to each other at the last moment to smile and giggle.
“Young girls are so easily impressed,” she says, looking after them with an unamused air.
“Well, thank you for the vote of confidence, Mom.”
“As though you need it,” she says, giving me a wry hint of a smile. “If only they knew what a curmudgeon you actually are.”
“It hasn’t affected my social life any.”
“I’m sure,” she says raising a cynical eyebrow.
“Enough small talk. What the hell is up with this challenge to my guardianship that you’re suddenly pulling out of your ass?”
“You always did have a way with words, Archer.”
“I also have some of the best attorneys in New York. Honestly, do you think you’re actually going to win this thing?”
She heads back to the chair behind her desk and settles in as casually as anything, as though nothing I’ve just said affects her in the least.
“I will if I manage to get guardianship over Stuart. From there, it will be easy to take over your duties as guardian over the estate.”
“And just why would you want either of those things?” I ask suspiciously.
She looks at me then gives a heavy sigh. “Has it occurred to you that maybe I am actually interested in the well-being of my grandson, Archer?”
“Why no, Mom, it hasn’t.”
She just purses her lips at me. “Well, as a matter of fact, I am.”
“That’s a startling confession, considering you didn’t seem to show too much interest in Kevin and me, growing up.”
The edges of her mouth turn down and she looks away. “I realize that I wasn’t the world’s greatest mother, Archer,” she ignores the snort I give, “but I think with Stuart I can make up for that. He’s the only….”
The smirk on my face fades a little as I actually hear a sniffle.
She turns to me and straightens up. “He’s the only reminder I have of my son. I would like to do for him what I couldn’t for Kevin and you. I also want what’s best for him.”
“It doesn’t hurt that his estate contains half of a billion-dollar company.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Leave it to you to boil everything down to money.”
“Well, that is what you are challenging me on…his money.”
“I’m challenging you on raising him properly. When was the last time you even visited him?”
“That’s completely irrelevant to—”
She laughs before I can finish. “Oh Archer, you’re making this too easy, and I thought Simone was going to be the low hanging fruit here.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that all my lawyers have to do is ask you any basic question about your own nephew and the court will be more than happy to let me have control over everything. After all, I have raised two very successful sons and, as you can see, I also have a head for business.” She waves her hand around her office space.
I feel my anger and irritation grow, mostly because she actually has a point.
“Do you even know what his favorite food is? What food he hates? His favorite color?” As I rattle off the same barrage of questions Simone posed to me just last week, it occurs to me that in the short time I’ve had with Stuart, I’ve learned most of the answers.
She gives me an odd look as though she’s staring at a complete stranger.
I relax, getting my thoughts together. This entire situation with Stuart has thrown me off my game. I’m getting far too emotionally invested and it’s causing me to slip up.
“Tell me Mom, how exactly do you plan on being the attentive guardian while running a company? Or do you plan on packing Stuart up and sending him off to boarding school like you did with us?”
She settles back in her chair and smooths her skirt down. “Like I said, I fully plan on making up for where I…faltered with you and Kevin.” She turns to me with a taunting smirk. “And what exactly do you plan on doing with him if you gain guardianship of him.”
I’m far too experienced in dealing with competitors to let my face show any hint of surprise. “What do you mean by that?”
She gives a small laugh. “Oh Archer, I know you better than you think. Don’t tell me you haven’t already gotten the ball rolling on taking over guardianship of Stuart yourself?”
“I am perfectly content handling his estate.” I give her a sly smile. “After all, that is where I excel.”
She just stares at me with an unreadable smile. “I was hoping we could do this amicably, Archer. After all, I think it would be a good thing for you to be actively involved in your nephew’s life, and yes, I may even need to turn to you for advice with the estate. This doesn’t have to be war, you know.”
“You declared war when you had me served with papers this morning, Mom.”
She stares at me for a moment then sighs. “If that’s the way you’d like to go about this then…I suppose I will see you in court, Archer.”
“I look forward to it, Mom,” I say through my teeth, then walk out.
I ignore the curious looks of her staff as I storm out to the elevators. My mind is already prepping for battle. Priority number one is building my army.
Chapter Eighteen
“So what exactly are my chances here? Give it to me straight.”
I look at the Family Law attorney that Mike has recommended, Hope Fenwell, who specializes in exactly my sort of problem.
“Well, most judges do like to have the same person in charge of both the estate and the person, so your case is already an unusual one. However, considering the amount in the trust, the current set up is understandable. I’m sure any judge will see the wisdom of keeping you in charge of the trust and estate.”
I relax only a little, waiting for the “but” to come. Sure enough, she follows up with the bad news.
“On the other hand, your mother does have a lot working in her favor when it comes to both the estate and your nephew. One, she has experience of being a caretaker on her side.”
“Seriously?” I blurt out.
Hope gives me a direct look. “Can you pinpoint any situations where she was neglectful or abusive?”
I just press my lips together, feeling the ache in my jaw begin to throb as it hardens in frustration.
Hope nods as though that answers that. “Any court is going to look at the fact that she raised two mentally, physically, and emotionally sound, not to mention quite successful, men and see that as a bonus. The fact that Kevin also seems to have raised a seemingly normal child without any issues is also an indirect point in her favor.”
The fact that my mother gets any credit whatsoever in how Kevin, I, or even Stuart has turned out is laughable.
“Mike tells me that you plan on eventually challenging Simone Parker for guardianship over your nephew?”
I snap my head his way and he just nods.
Hope gives me a placating smile. “We’re both your attorneys, Mr. Bennett. We’re here to help yo
u, and only you, get what you want. My job during this initial meeting is to, as you put it, give it to you straight. As such, I need you be straight with me as well.”
I calm down a bit, my respect for her going up a notch or two.
“Okay, yes, I do plan on challenging Simone for guardianship over Stuart.”
“You haven’t told her or anyone else yet, have you?”
“Of course not.”
“Good,” she nods. “We should keep it that way. As far as Simone or anyone else is concerned, you’re only interested in doing what’s financially sound for your nephew’s sake right now.
“As for actually getting guardianship over Stuart, to be frank, your mother has a much better chance than you do. There is evidence of several visits with him. She’s also been pretty regular with birthday and Christmas presents.”
“I’ve given my nephew gifts,” I say a little more defensively than I intend.
“There’s a difference between gifting shares of stock and buying LEGO sets and toy cars, Mr. Bennett,” She says, giving me a patronizing smile. “Your mother seems to have taken into account your nephew’s actual wants and wishes. As for Simone, regular interaction is a huge point in her favor.”
“Perhaps we can get to the part where you two solve this issue for me instead of pointing out my failings as an uncle,” I say testily. “That is what I’m paying you for.”
Hope remains perfectly placid. “Yes, you are. So let’s work on that.”
I try to relax my body, working my jaw to loosen it. Getting emotional won’t help things.
“You and Simone Parker have a common interest, fighting your mother in her challenge to your respective guardianship roles. The one thing that works very much in both your favors is that Kevin and Bette both named you two as guardians. That weighs very heavily with the court.”
She squints, giving a considering look. “What doesn’t work in your favor is that you, to put it bluntly, suck on paper when it comes to being Stuart’s guardian over his person.”
I feel my muscles tighten, then force them to relax. Right now I need a little blunt talk.
“On the other side of the equation, Simone sucks on paper when it comes to being guardian over the trust and estate. Fortunately, she hasn’t challenged you on that…yet.”
That thought sends a wave of dread through me. Simone, controlling half of Bennett Financial? Sweet Jesus.
“Now, we have your mother, the best of both worlds, challenging you both. She has the added benefit of trying to combine guardianship over the person, trust and estate under one umbrella which, as I stated, the courts prefer. It creates a less tension-filled environment for the child.”
I search her face looking for the accusation there. Perhaps it’s my own guilt speaking to me. I feel a tiny hint of it as I consider the effect this “tension” between Simone and I may have on Stuart already. Hopefully, this meeting will solve that.
“Let’s get to the point here,” she says and leans in closer. “You and Simone Parker need to create a united front. No fighting, no arguments, not even the occasional snide remark. Whatever she decides to do as far as raising Stuart, short of actually causing harm to your nephew, you need to agree with. You also need to get her to agree to any financial decisions you make, no questions asked.”
I can feel my eyes itching to roll at allowing Simone free rein over Stuart.
“I know,” Hope says, as though reading my thoughts. “For now you need to, at least mentally, forget about challenging her for guardianship. That can come later.”
“Fine.”
“There’s more,” she continues. “I’m sure you’re not the only one who has been…gathering evidence here. Your mother is a smart woman. I know the attorneys she’s hired and they are thorough, very thorough. No doubt they’ve already been accumulating evidence against both of you.”
I sit up so rapidly I nearly shoot out of my seat. My mind races as I review each and every interaction I’ve had with either Stuart or Simone. I relax just a bit when I realize that most of those replays in my head—brunch, the park, even, in a certain way, her silly Manhattan Wake—paint us both in a surprisingly favorable light.
“So right now our number one priority is to make sure that you, Simone, and Stuart look like the perfect happy family.”
I heave a frustrated sigh and settle back into my seat. “That may be complicated. She isn’t exactly my number one fan, and as far as I’m concerned the feeling is mutual.”
“Then, you need to get over yourself.”
I give her a sharp look.
“You wanted straight talk,” she says giving me a direct look. “You have to play nice with her, and convince her to do the same.”
“And this is going to work?”
“It may,” she says noncommittally.
“I don’t deal in ‘may’ Ms. Fenwell. ‘May’ is for people who lose. I don’t lose.”
She sighs then turns to Mike. He just raises his eyebrows with a knowing smile. She turns back to me with a thoughtful look.
“How committed are you to preventing your mother from gaining guardianship?”
“I don’t half-ass things.”
“There may be a way that even the courts couldn’t argue with. It’s tricky though, and you’d have to be convincing.”
“Just tell me what it is.”
They look at one another once again, then she turns back to me and tells me her plan.
Chapter Nineteen
I wasted no time getting in touch with Simone. It was like a band-aid, best to pull it off at once and get the damn thing over with. Either I’d convince her, or I wouldn’t.
Screw that, I’d convince her if it took everything I had.
I press the button to her apartment and I’m surprised to find CoCo answering.
“Come on up!” he chirps. One second later I hear the buzz allowing me access.
When I finally make it to her apartment, I hear the music on the other side, not nearly as loud as the first time I was up here. Is she having another party?
I knock and wait. This time the door is answered for me and CoCo leans against it, with pursed lips, looking me up and down.
“Hello DILF,” he teases, before laughing and slapping me on the chest. “I’m just playin’ with you.”
I frown as I walk in. I certainly wasn’t expecting an audience for this meeting, but Simone is sitting on the sofa with Vanessa, both of them looking intently at her laptop which is sitting on the coffee table. Before I can wonder where Stuart is, I hear his laugh coming from the kitchen.
“Just one second,” Simone says, without looking up from the screen.
“They’re working on a memorial site for Kevin and Bette,” CoCo whispers to me.
“If you happen to have any photos of Kevin you’d like to share, it would be nice,” Simone says, finally gracing me with her full attention.
I take note of the way she stressed one particular word, ‘happen.’ As though she fully expects that I don’t have any photos of him in my possession. Now that I think about it, I don’t. Any photos from our younger days right up through college are most likely with my mother and I certainly wasn’t in the habit of taking selfies with him as an adult. It irks me that she’s already figured this out about me. I’m sure she has a million photos of her with Bette.
A tiny hint of a smug smile appears on her face before she returns her attention to the laptop. “Stuart is in the kitchen with Beau, if you’d like to visit while we finish up here.”
Again, there’s an undertone of disapproval in her voice, as though visiting with him hadn’t crossed my mind. Frankly, I’m so preoccupied with what I came to discuss, it hadn’t.
God, how this woman gets to me. How the hell am I going to go through with what my attorneys suggested when she drives me this crazy?
I make my way to the kitchen, now wondering who the hell Beau is. When I get there, I recognize the face as that of the neighbor who butted in during our hal
lway argument at her Manhattan Wake. He and Stuart at her little table folding what looks like origami.
“I did it!” Stuart says proudly, holding up a paper crane that looks like it wouldn’t be able to fly to save its life.
“Good job!” Beau says cheerfully.
Stuart sees me and instantly that gap-tooth smile appears. “Look what I made, Uncle Archer! It’s ori—origani?” He turns to Beau with a questioning wrinkle in his brow.
“Origami,” he corrects.
“Looks good,” I say.
That alone causes the smile to double in size, which brings one of my own to my lips. He returns to the stack of paper in front of him to try and make another. I watch as he focuses hard on folding exactly the way Beau shows him step by step. His tongue is pressed between his lips and when his brow furrows in concentration, I note how grown up he looks for being so young.
I think about the Knickerbocker School, now wondering what Kevin would have to say about it. He’d probably kill me for sending Stuart away like that.
Then, I note the head of purple hair, still in that ridiculous faux hawk. Kevin would actually probably get a kick out of that.
Before I can think on it any more, I hear Simone behind me.
“You wanted to talk?”
“Let’s step out into the hallway,” I suggest, leading the way before she can object. Thankfully, I hear her following me.
Once we’re alone with the door closed, I study her before beginning. Today she’s wearing a white pair of those cropped pants that end just below the calves and a blue and white check shirt that she’s tied at the waist. I get a brief, tiny glimpse of the smooth skin of her stomach, as she crosses her arms over her chest again. She’s barefoot and I can see that her nails are still painted that same shade of pink from the party.
“So, what’s this about?”
I’ve gone through several scenarios in my head regarding how to pose this to her. In the end, I’ve decided that getting straight to the point is the best policy.
Archer~Ex-Bachelor_Ex-Club Romance Page 9