Swindled

by Mayes, June

  Chapter 37

  The reading of Brian’s will had been planned for three days after his funeral and it crept up suddenly on the sisters. It was once again time to face the music. As they were leaving the house Beth tried to tell David that he could stay behind. This was going to be unpleasant and he didn’t need to sit through it as well she thought.

  “If you think I’m letting you out of my sight, given your perchance for causing trouble, think again,” he said giving her a cheeky grin. He held the door for her as she got in the car. They argued good-naturally for a minute longer but Beth gave into the inevitable when David slid himself into the driver’s seat. Vickie and Scott began to make bets to which ex would throw the first punch and when it came to the full out cat fight which ex would win. By the time Vickie and Scott had clued David into the whole family saga that was Brian’s’ love life, David vowed that nothing could keep him away.

  The sisters had been asked to attend by the legal team and were willing enough to go simply to watch the story unfold first hand. They didn’t expect there to be much in the way of inheritance. By the time they got to the lawyers offices everyone else had already arrived and they were ushered into the boardroom without any delay. With Brian’s three ex-wives, latest girlfriend, Beth, Vickie, Scott and David and a legal team of three, the normally spacious room was full. With all of Brian’s exes in one room, Beth decided she was very pleased David had come. It just felt safer to have someone big on her side. The whole day was bound to end up with violence.

  Tension was already rife in the air between the various loves of Brian’s life. The lawyers murmured to one another while everyone jockeyed for position in the room. There was a smug look from ex-wife number one. She was secure in the knowledge that their divorce papers stipulated that at least half of Brian’s possessions would be hers.

  Ex-wife number two sat bitter and mealy-mouthed. She knew she wouldn’t get a penny from the rotten two timing bastard that had been her husband. Their marriage had lasted three months while the divorce itself had raged on for eight months.

  Ex-wife number three was shooting daggers at Brian’s latest girlfriend. This was the same girlfriend responsible for the break-up of that marriage. The girlfriend sat shifting in her chair. She looked ready to spring for the door at a moments notice. No doubt she knew each of the exes by reputation and was wary of being close to any of the pit bull terriers. If anyone was going to get physically hurt today Beth had a sneaking suspicion that the girlfriend would be first in the line of fire. Beth wondered if she had known about Tina.

  The lawyers, eager to avoid too much more rising aggression, were quick to outline all the legal aspects of the will. They explained that as a last will and testament it was binding. They also explained that it had been updated two weeks before and was airtight. The head lawyer ended on the note that as a legal entity, they were just the messengers. No amount of screaming or shouting would make a difference. It seemed, Beth thought, that the legal team also remembered ex-wife number two and the eight month divorce battle.

  With everything clearly drawn out, the will was duly witnessed and read out. It was simple. It was straightforward. It was shocking.

  Each of his ex-wives and his girlfriend were to be given an equal share of all of Brian’s worldly goods. The total amount of which was nothing.

  Brain Grant, of sound mind and body (though not according to Charlotte) had no funds, no properties and no stock. There was nothing in his name that could or would be passed on to anyone. A share of nothing was still nothing.

  The room was quiet. Beth watched as each of the ex-wives tried to swallow what they had just been told. Between the Botox injections and the strategically styled hairdos there was just a quiver of movement between them all. This, Beth figured, would be equal to a full out screaming tantrum without the facelifts and hairspray.

  Ex-wife number one found her voice first.

  “But David had money, he owned his company. He had properties. Where is all of the money?” she said.

  “I agree. Where is it?” Ex-wife number three chimed in. “He was living the highlife. You can’t tell me that there’s nothing left.” Ex wife number one turned and gave her a look of utter contempt. She sneered so well her top lip practically curled.

  “I believe your prenuptial agreement stated that if the marriage was to cease there would be no remuneration after death,” she said cuttingly.

  “He said he would take care of me,” ex -wife number three hissed back. “He said he would give me everything that you didn’t have your claws sunk into.”

  “But Brian promised me,” interrupted the perky breasted girlfriend. “He said he would take care of me no matter what.” She looked confused and out of her depth. She looked all her 22 years of age. Beth wondered again if the girl had any idea about Tina and the numerous other secretaries Brian had ‘taken care of’. At least the wives had known what he was like and had gone into it with open eyes.

  “Oh shut up,” said wife number two. “You all seem to have talked to him in detail about what you would get when he died. Highly likely he said anything you wanted at the time.” She gave a nasty look to wife number three who was credited with souring Brian’s second marriage. While fooling around with office staff was something all the wives had been aware of, fooling around and finding new wives was really not appreciated. A fine line but a crucial one by the looks of things.

  “Regardless, ladies,” the head of the legal team leaned forward. He was determined to avoid the conversation deteriorating any further. “There was nothing in Brian Grant’s estate to divide and therefore our business is concluded.” He closed his folder and stood.

  “Miss Grant and Mrs Stephens may I ask that you and your partners remain for a moment regarding another matter?” he asked dismissing everyone else from his attention. Suddenly in the spotlight, the women of Brian’s past turned and looked in unison at the four sitting quietly at the end of the table. If looks could kill, there would have been blood shed and each of them would have been maimed. Beth moved a little closer to David.

  Chapter 38

  Once the room cleared all three of the lawyers seemed to sigh in relief. The ex-wives were all muttering about contesting the estate and dragged their heels trying to find out what more the lawyers might say to Brian’s family. Everyone in the boardroom stayed quiet until the door was shut and there was no chance of being over heard. The head of the legal team took a deep breath and looked at Beth and Vickie.

  “This is an unusual situation,” he said pausing and then continued, “Simply put two weeks ago Brian moved the last of his properties, his fortune, his shares and his homes back under the name of the Trust which was set up by his mother. He basically made himself a poor man and transferred it all over the last few years. This was unprecedented. Until that time only the barest minimum was kept in the Trust.” The lawyer paged through a document.

  “Were you aware that Brian had a Trust? One set up by his mother Alison Taylor?” he asked looking up from his paper work to eye the sisters. He waited for them to respond.

  “Yes we did know about Brian’s Trust,” Beth said as Vickie nodded.

  “Did you know about the provision in the trust should the heir pass away?” he asked watching them.

  “No,” Vickie said looking at Beth and back at the three lawyers. Scott leaned forward and David raised an eyebrow. This was an interesting development.

  “At the time she set up the trust, Alison Taylor named the child or children of herself and her husband Charles Grant as the benefactor/s. In this case, Brian Grant inherited until such time as his death. At his death, the Trust reverted back to Alison Taylor’s original bequeath. The bequeath states that should no such child or children survive, the trust must then go to the children of herself or her husband, Charles Grant.” The room grew silent. Beth and Vickie sat shocked.

  “Why would she do that? She couldn’t have known that our father would remarry and have children. Or that sh
e wouldn’t be around,” Beth said confused.

  The lawyer placed his glasses down on the table. “It was very clear at the time of creating the Trust, Alison Taylor was aware that her cancer had returned. She lasted eight years more but it was an uphill struggle. Alison must have known that she might not survive. She would have been aware that her husband might remarry.”

  “But surely she would have assumed that Brian would have survived and would inherit?” Scott asked.

  “When she set up the trust it may have been her intention to have that trust provide for any additional children her husband would have as well as Brian,” the lawyer sitting to the right of the senior partner answered. It was the first time he had spoken. All three lawyers looked decidedly uncomfortable and were nearly fidgeting in their seats. For top barristers this was the equivalent of jumping up on a bar and doing a pole dance as far as Beth was concerned. There was more here then met the eye.

  “What do you mean?” Vickie asked. She also looked suspiciously at the legal team.

  “When Brian came of age to inherit, he took the Trust originators to court. He wanted to clarify what he felt was a clerical error when the Trust was created,” the lawyer paused. “Basically, he set out to ensure that there would be no provisions given to the two of you.”

  “Why?” Beth asked. “We wouldn’t have asked for anything from the Trust. It was created for Brian by his mother. It didn’t have anything to do with us.”

  “Originally, the trust read that the benefactor/s would be the child of herself and / or her husband,” the senior partner answered. “Brian challenged it in court saying that Alison would not have been aware of other children. He ascertained that his mother had meant the child/children she had at the time. Not the children of his father and another woman.”

  “He won the case and the wording was legally changed. It made clear that Brian was the benefactor unless he died and the Trust would then revert to any other children your father may have sired,” the other lawyer concluded.

  “Was that legal, to change the wording of the Trust?” Scott asked.

  “There was no challenge to Brian’s claims.” The lawyer responded “Charles Grant was aware of the dispute but made it clear that he was not going to contest the situation.”

  “That makes sense,” Beth said to Vickie. “Dad wouldn’t have wanted to turn Brian against the family. Well any more then he already was,” Beth was also aware that the original will was what Brian had shown to Michael. That was why their accountant was so sure they had money. That sneak. Everything was starting to fall into place. She looked at her sister and could see that Vickie had also figured it out.

  Much of the rest of the meeting passed in a blur. It was hard to get their minds around everything that was happening. In a week from being heavily in debt to slightly successful lingerie developers to wealthy trust fund babies. It was a lot to take in.

  Chapter 39

  “Becoming trust fund babies isn’t nearly as much fun as it sounds,” Beth said with a sigh as she put down yet another document that the lawyers insisted they sign.

  “If I see another lawyer or another lawyer’s office this week I’m going to scream,” Vickie agreed looking grumpy. “Really loudly,” she added as she leaned back in her chair rubbing a hand over her very large belly. The last few days had been filled with a mess of legal papers and lawyers offices. There was apparently a lot to sort through, the sisters weren’t impressed. Once again they were cleaning up Brian’s mess.

  “On the plus side though,” Beth said. “With the rent from Brian’s properties and the allowance we get from the trust fund, we can shop as much as we want.”

  “That is nice,” Vickie agreed nodding and shifting in her seat. ‘Of course getting to the shops is proving to be a little problem at the moment.” Vickie was more then ready for the baby to arrive, the extra weight making no position comfortable for her for very long. Beth smiled at her fondly. She was pleased, despite all the complaints about the paperwork, because life had just fallen into place over the past few days. To be honest, Beth thought, after she considered it, the biggest issue the sisters faced now was that there was too little time to actually get out and enjoy their new found wealth.

  “Hey it could be worse,” Beth said in a bid to cheer her gloomy sister up.

  “Oh this should be good,” Vickie said with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

  “There’s always internet shopping,” Beth replied giving a cheeky grin back at her rather rotund twin. Vickie picked up one of the pillows from the couch she was sitting on and tossed it at her sister, laughing.

  Life was getting into a routine. Scott was working a great deal of hours to collect time off for when the baby arrived. He and Vickie decided that he would keep working despite the windfall from the Trust. It was important they decided, that Scott maintained his own identity and he enjoyed his career. Scott and Vickie were happy with the safety net of money but even happier that they had their own identities within the marriage.

  David was also working a great deal of the time. His retirement, while officially initiated, was still in its final stages so there were the occasional events he had to turn up to. He was also getting more immersed in his business. David and Pete seemed to be taking the business world by storm. They were very much in demand and, between the actual projects and development work, David was a very busy man. Beth loved it.

  Beth loved having him come home from being out working in the day. She loved that his hours were flexible so sometimes he would be back for lunch and work from home. Other times he would leave later so they could enjoy a morning together. Their relationship got stronger with each passing day. Whatever the time of day or night, when David got back from work Beth would be swept into an embrace. Inevitably they would find themselves in compromising positions. It was an easy life and one that both of them seemed to thrive.

  *

  David hung up the phone satisfied. They got the deal. He leaned back in his chair and watched Pete who was sitting on the other side of the desk.

  “So they’re going for it?” Pete asked with a raised eyebrow. He was leaning back in his chair with his ankle resting on his right knee. There was no doubt in his voice.

  “Yup they’re going for it,” David said giving Pete a contented grin. David never had a doubt in his mind that it would work. A snicker made him look toward the built in shelves to the left of his office. Thomas was leaning up against them doing his best suave and debonair. They had all gathered in his office for this call. Once the deal came through their business would be in the green.

  “Did you have any doubt, Pete?” Thomas asked Pete as they watched David grin smugly back at them.

  “What that our illustrious partner wouldn’t be able to convince some poor hapless sod that he should hire us at full price? Nope, no doubt at all,” Pete agreed with a laugh.

  “The fact that the guy is a manic rugby fan didn’t help at all of course,” Thomas said looking at the ceiling in mock despair.

  “Hey what ever works,” David replied with an even wider grin.

  “Even with this deal we are going to be tight on money.” Thomas said moving closer to the desk to perch himself on the corner. He adjusted the cuff of his suit so that the mandatory inch of shirt sleeve showed underneath.

  “We’ll make it,” David replied shortly pulling the papers on his desk toward him. He didn’t want to talk about it. Thomas was a phenomenal numbers man but this one particular issue cut just too close to the bone. David didn’t want to discuss it, didn’t want to even think about it.

  “Maybe, probably but we’re overextending,” Thomas said seriously ignoring David’s attempt to put an end to the conversation. “Between the money we’re spending on new development projects and the stuff we’re already doing, we’re tight until some of the clients start paying us. We need the extra capital.”

  “I can dissolve a few of my bonds or sell some stock,” David said lifting a shoulder. He paged throug
h folder from his desk ignoring both Thomas’s raised eyebrow and Pete’s grin. Pete was sitting back in his chair happily watching Thomas and David fight it out. This had been an ongoing discussion for the past week.

  “Why don’t you just pursue a case against the estate,” Thomas asked sounding mildly exasperated.

  “It’s not important. I have plenty of money,” David replied shortly.

  “They have plenty of money,” Thomas insisted turning to look even more closely at David.

  “So have I,” David replied in a matter a fact tone of voice, looking back up at his friend. He really didn’t want to discuss it or his motivation for feeling the way he did.

  “But some of their money is your money,” Pete said reasonably, entering the foray. Both he and Thomas were watching David closely, their faces serious. David couldn’t understand why they just didn’t get it. Why couldn’t they leave it alone he wondered?

  “Everything I have is Beth’s. Nothing else matters,” David said knowing he was fairly roaring as he stood, finally frustrated that they were pushing the issue so strongly. He froze. What?

  “Uh huh,” Thomas said with a grin. He glanced at Pete and they exchanged a nod both standing up and heading toward the door.

  “About time you figured it out,” Pete said with a snicker as he and Thomas left. David picked up a paperweight from his desk and threw it toward them but they managed to shut the door in time. It fell with a clatter harmlessly to the floor as David sank into his chair again. He could hear the bark of laughter from his friends as they left him to think about what he just said to them. Had he meant what he said? Yes, without a doubt, David realised. He would willingly give her everything, no questions asked.