"Judd's son and Owen's daughter," Leni murmured. "Getting back what was stolen from them."
Felix heard her. Slowly, he turned to face Ben. Their eyes held in a long look and FeUx was the first to look away. His glance passed over the twenty men and women who were strangers to him. They were all against him. So was his father. He'd been so sure, when Owen died, that he was finally free of his long shadow. But Owen had dominated the afternoon.
And so had Judd, Felix thought involuntarily. After all this time, it was as if Judd had come back, to eclipse Felix Salinger.
Hatton was asking the people in the room if they would support Thomas Janssen and Ben Gardner at the head of the company, but Felix paid no attention. His thoughts were a whirlpool, sucking him down. If I hadn't fought his will, none of this would have happened. No, it wasn't the will; it was
Inheritance
before that. If Vd told them about the letter . . . No, it was even before that. If Td let Judd keep his puny little company . . . But it was there for the taking; I couldn't ignore it. And it wasn't puny; it was growing. It's still making money for us. He had no right to it anyway; he wasn't strong or smart.
It doesn't matter; none of it matters; it's done. I don't believe in looking back; the past is irrelevant. I have to get clear and think of what to do next.
But in the wild churning of his thoughts, no ideas came to him. He heard the sounds of voices, but what he saw was Judd's son with his arm around Felix's daughter, pregnant with their second child. Ben Gardner, president of Salinger Hotels, father of Salingers, someday head of the Salinger family . . . The thought filled his throat like bile.
His glance moved past Ben and Allison and then, before he could stop himself, he was looking at Laura, meeting her eyes. He saw the look in them, and his color rose in rage. Pity. This bitch, who came from nothing, who stole and connived and lied and fucked her way into this room, was pitying him!
He had to get away. He couldn't think straight. He had to get away from all of them, not have to look at them. Then he could think of what he'd do next.
Without a backward glance, without a word, he walked out of his library, down the stairs, and out of the house. He'd go back to Boston, to his own office, where he belonged. And then he'd think of what to do next.
In the library, the conversation had stopped when Felix walked out the door. The family was subdued, and most of them were not sure how to feel: they were used to Felix, he'd been running the company for as long as they could remember, but it really was time for a change, and it would be better for everyone if he made it easy for them, instead of starting a bruising family fight.
After a moment, Paul said musingly, 'The last time we all got together to hear a document read, Laura left the house. This time it was Fehx. There's a nice synmietry in that."
"But I think we ought to leave," Laura said. "He should have the privacy of his own house to come back to. Can we go on with the meeting somewhere else?"
Judith Michael
"We can adjourn to my apartment," Paul said. "If it's all right with Ben."
Ben grinned at him. "I haven't been elected yet. We should ask Thomas."
Thomas shook his head. "No one has elected me, either. Asa? As vice president, would you agree to adjourn to Sutton Place?"
"I think you should make the decision on your own." Asa's voice was hoarse, and he cleared his throat. "I don't think I should hang around. I'm sort of the past, you know? I went along with Felix all these years; he scared the shit out of me—of course, you all knew that—and I never quite knew why. It's not good to dislike a brother; it poisons a family. It poisoned all these years for me when I felt like a notfiing. I think I'd like to retire. Maybe Carol and I can get to know you all in new ways if we're out of the company. I think that's what I'd like to do. So I can't decide about adjourning the meeting."
"Yes, you can," Paul said gently. None of them had ever heard Asa say so much without stuttering, and they all were smiling at him for his triumph. "We need you. And the board hasn't accepted your resignation yet."
So Asa made the decision, adjourning the meeting for half an hour, to continue at Paul's Sutton Place apartment. Everyone stood up, gathering jackets and purses and briefcases, and, one at a time, they came up to Laura and apologized. As they passed by, on their way out the door, it was almost as if she and Paul were in a reception line, greeting the Salingers, and being welcomed back.
Ben and Allison kissed Laura and left the room. Leni put her arms around Paul and Laura. "It's a good family, isn't it? Even with its problems. I'm so glad we're all a part of it."
Then Laura and Paul were alone in the library. Paul held her, and she lay her head against his chest. A sense of right-ness filled her, wiping away the last vestige of the fear she had had since childhood of being an outsider. No longer, she thought. Now I belong.
Beside her, Owen's desk gleamed in the light of a small desk lamp; his letter rustled in her hand. / hope, when you find
Inheritance
your own triumphs as a wise, strong, very lovely woman, you will be able to deal with your past and make it part of your Juture.
In her memory, she saw the love in his eyes when he looked at her; she could feel his hand upon her hair. And then she saw his broad smile.
/ knew you could do it, he said.
jikokaoH
America's New Sensational Novelist
Judith Michael knows what you want to read. She burst on to the scene with her bestselling novel DECEPnONS. bringing us every woman's ultimate fantasy...to live another woman's life for just a little while. She swept us away with P0SSE:S-SIONS. a sophisticated, poignant novel of love and illusion, loyalty and betrayal, society and family. And now Judith Michael brings us into the seductive, secretive world of PRIVATE AFFAIRS.
PRIVATE AFFAIRS
61968/$4.95 DECEPTIONS
63671/$4.95 POSSESSIONS
63672/$4.95
POCKET
Simon ft Schuster, Mail.Qrder Dept JMP books
200 Old Tappan Rd., Old Tappan, W.J. 07675
Please send me the books t have checked above. I am enckjsing S (piease add 75( to cover
postage and haxJIng for each ordei N.Y.& and N.Y.a resklents please add appropriate sates tax). Send check or money order-no cash or CaCs ptease. AUow up to six weeks lor deHvery. For purchases over $10.00 you m^ use VISA: card numbo; expiration date and customer signature must be inckjded.
Name. Addrea
OV SUta/Op
VBACanlNa ExpiDate.
SJ^MU* 755
£
J o
I
u 2
o
sz Q.
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR: Judith Barnard and Michael Fain-thetwo halves of
"Judith Michael"-are husband-and-wife writing partners.
Each of their novels-Inheritance , Deceptions. Possessions and Private Affairs -has been a national bestseller.
The couple divide their time between Chicago and Aspen.
This book made available by the Internet Archive.
Table of Contents
Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Pages
Back Cover
Inheritance Page 76
