The Philanthropist's Danse (10 page)

“Yes.”

“Mrs. Elliot votes aye.”

“Mr. Dennis Elliot?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Elliot votes aye.”

“Mrs. Caroline Smith?”

“No.”

“Mrs. Smith votes nay.”

“Ms. Elizabeth Freah?”

“Yes.”

“Ms. Freah votes aye.”

“Mr. Frederick Hagood?”

“Of course not.”

“Mr. Hagood votes nay.”

“Mrs. Winifred Tremethick?”

“Yes.”

“Mrs. Tremethick votes aye.”

William tallied the results, nine votes to two. He looked at Freddie, who was already rising from his seat. “I know. You’ll call me. I’ll be in my room.” He buttoned his suit coat, smiled at the group with a look that suggested he would happily gut any one of them like a fish and left with his head held high.

An excited buzz echoed through the room. Bethany, Philip and Junior smiled widely, and gave each other congratulatory looks. Relief was all over MacLean’s face. Bethany thanked Dennis for his vote, and he accepted her gratitude with a smile, but no comment. She thought he showed more class than his wife had earlier.

Caroline Smith was unhappy. She had tried to leave Hagood’s diminished group at the last recess, but he bribed her with the promise of an extra million dollars on top of whatever she took from Thurwell’s fortune. He’d said he could secure another vote to make them safe, so she had accepted his offer. She had been dreaming of the riches she would enjoy, but either Hagood had lied or his other vote had betrayed him. Now she was the only person left at the table who had voted against the family twice.

She needed to save herself to survive the next inevitable vote. She looked at the recently vacated chairs of the Judge and Freddie and felt close to despair. If the next motion was to remove her, it would be nine to one against. She needed to change two minds, fast. She saw Janice Elliot smiling and knew what she needed to do. If Smith had any hope at all of making it through the day, it was with the Elliots. But how to persuade them to keep her in the game?

W
illiam informed the group he needed some time to organize the aftermath of their votes. He had not expected Hagood to be so easily outmaneuvered, it was out of character for the ruthless businessman. Bird needed to get to his safe and open a yellow envelope.

The dying philanthropist had considered many scenarios that might arise from the group’s deliberations, including the possibility that Freddie Hagood would be tossed aside without compensation. Thurwell had left a stack of sealed yellow envelopes with handwritten instructions for his lawyer. Each could be opened only if the circumstance described on the envelope occurred.

William had no idea of the envelopes contents, only the conditions that required him to open each one. One envelope concerned Freddie Hagood and Bird needed to read what the Old Man had to say immediately.

$

Caroline was relieved when the lawyer called another break. She needed time to speak to the Elliots. She looked for the housekeeper and was alarmed when she did not see her. She stood and turned to head to the lobby but was startled to find Janice standing behind her. “We need to talk.”

Smith nodded, and they left to find a place to talk privately. As soon as they were seated, Caroline wasted no time. “You can see where this is going, they are going to get rid of everyone who’s not family.” Janice waited for Smith to reveal her intentions before saying anything.

“They tossed the Judge and Freddie aside . Who’s to say I’m not next? Or you and Dennis? We can’t let them get rid of anyone else without a share. Do you agree?” Janice thought for a moment. She had the same concern, but not to the same degree. She and Dennis had voted twice in support of the family, Smith had not. The housekeeper saw Smith was impatient for a reply. “I agree things cannot continue as they are, but I don’t believe Dennis and I are immediately threatened, unlike you.”

Smith opened her mouth for a retort, but Janice held up a finger and quieted her. “However, if you were voted out, the family would be tempted to do the same to the rest of us. So I agree, we have the same interests, at present.”

Smith realized she needed to revisit her appraisal of the housekeeper. She had thought of Janice as a simple servant with no grasp of the situation, but she had been wrong. Janice had worked out the problem, through cunning or guile. Caroline needed to be careful. If Janice suspected she and Dennis were to be used, it could end badly for her. They were the two votes that could keep her in the money, perhaps the only ones she could get. Janice knew she needed to keep Smith in the group, but she did not have to give away her support freely. “I guess you want Dennis and I to vote against the family, if they try to remove you?”

Caroline nodded, but Janice had more to say. “My question to you is why would we? If we support you, we have to vote against the family. That may not be good for us. We need the money, Mrs. Smith. We don’t have high-paid jobs. So why should we risk our future for you? You never said one word to Dennis or me when you called at Mr. Thurwell’s home. We didn’t matter, except if your coffee was cold. So, Caroline, why should we risk anything for you?”

Janice was pleased with herself. She had never cared for Smith. She had seen the way the career woman tried to get the Old Man to notice her. A button carelessly undone on her blouse, darker lipstick, her flirty laugh and light touches. Smith was like a lot of women in the Old Man’s world, they wanted money and influence, and they’d earn it on their backs if they had to. Janice had tried to seduce Thurwell once, to no avail. But she was always aware of attempts by other women. Women like Caroline Smith.

Thurwell had insulated himself from temptation with his arrangement with Betty Freah. There wasn’t a social climber or would-be wife that didn’t hate the whore for it. Smith understood the unspoken question. “Okay Janice. What do you want?”

“I want a million dollars, in addition to whatever share we get. If you agree, you’re safe. They need eight votes, and they can’t get them without me and Dennis.” Smith listened as the cunning housekeeper laid out her demands. Janice had anticipated that she and her husband might be approached for their votes and had prepared for this conversation. Caroline had no choice and the women shook hands on their deal.

$

William retrieved an envelope from his safe. The scrawl on the front was plain enough, ‘
For Freddie, if he gets nothing
.’ He slit the dark yellow envelope and read the short note. He was stunned by what he read, but he was also obedient to his late employer. He reached for the telephone and dialed Hagood’s extension.

Hagood answered immediately. “Bird? Is that you?” William opened his mouth to tell Hagood the news when the other man took the breath from him. “How much do I get Bill?” The lawyer read the number out. “How did you know you’d get anything Freddie?”

Hagood chuckled. “You don’t need to concern yourself with the how or why Bill. Your job is to do what you’re told. And you’ve been told to pay me, right?” Bird confirmed his instructions. He was shocked the Old Man wanted his rival to be rewarded with a large settlement. “It says I’m to process your payment when the others are done, and shares are decided. You are required to remain at the mansion until it’s over, I’m afraid.”

He heard Hagood grunt assent and continued. “It says there are some conditions to this money and that you know some of them. You have me at a disadvantage Freddie, it seems I don’t know as much as you.” Hagood laughed, and Bird wondered if he was being laughed at. “You have no idea how much I know Bill. You’d do well to remember that. I’ll be a good sport and stay up here in my suite. The pay is worth a few days of my time. Have Jeremy send up a good bottle of champagne, I feel like celebrating.”

Hagood hung up, and Bird stared at the phone with a bemused expression. He was still astonished as he called Jeremy with Hagood’s order. The major-domo could tell something was wrong, and asked if the lawyer was okay. He said he was fine, but his mind was a jumble of unanswered questions. He had no idea why the Old Man would want to reward his rival. He had not understood why the man had even been invited. Now he realized Hagood always knew he would get some money, as if it was guaranteed. Bird had questions but unless Freddie felt like explaining he may never get answers.

He slipped the handwritten note back into the envelope and placed it back in the safe. He needed to reconvene the group. There was plenty of time for further discussion before dinner. He didn’t think the group would need an evening session if they continued as they had started. Bird assumed they would attempt to wrap up the business today and avoid the midnight penalty. He hoped it would be over soon, for all their sakes.

$

Junior sat with Bethany and Philip in the dining room where they sipped tea and discussed their successes. Larry sat with Camille one table away and chatted about her transition from Parisian to New York life. Junior suspected Larry was flirting with the French girl, and it looked as if she was flirting right back.

Junior shook his head in disbelief as his brother finished a thought about Caroline Smith. “She’s voted against us twice, it’s obvious she made a deal with Freddie. Why should we care about her? Let’s dump her like we did the Judge and Freddie. I bet we can get rid of the Elliots for cheap too.”

Philip stopped talking as soon as he caught Bethany’s sharp look. He heard the housekeeper’s voice behind him and his face reddened as he realized Bethany’s warning had come too late. “How cheap do you think we might be, Mr. Philip? I’m especially interested, since that’s my future you’re talking about.” Bethany stepped in quickly. “I think Philip was only suggesting your share would be smaller than ours. He just worded it poorly, right Phil?”

Her brother nodded, he had no idea how to extricate himself from the moment. Janice looked unconvinced and stood with her arms folded. It made her appear stern, but she did it to stop her hands from trembling with fright. Bethany offered Janice a seat at her side, which she accepted after a sufficiently dramatic pause. Philip stuttered anything that came to mind, his voice as small as it was when he was a boy. “I’m sorry Janice, really sorry. I really didn’t mean anything by it, you know.” Junior told him to shut up and compounded the image of Philip as the little boy who messed up.

Janice ignored Philip and turned back to Bethany. “I came to talk to you. To all of you.” There was anger in her voice, but she controlled it. Bethany took the role of spokesperson, just as she did for her father’s business whenever the shit hit the fan. She used her kindest voice but was careful not to sound condescending. “What did you want to say Janice?”

The housekeeper paused again. She was enjoying the family’s discomfort. Her timing could not have been better. She had arrived just in time to hear Philip’s indiscretion and the family was put on the back foot before they even realized they were in a negotiation. "I have information for you. Information that will save some of your precious money.” She shot a look at Philip, and he blanched under her direct glare.

Bethany nodded. “I’m sure we’d be grateful for any information you have.” She was not prepared for Janice’s frank reply.

“A person has offered money for our votes. For Dennis’s vote and mine. This person wants a share of your father’s fortune, and they want Dennis and I to help them get it.” Junior swore a nasty epithet before remembering his sister’s earlier admonition and he immediately apologized to Janice. She waved it off, she heard worse every day of her life.

Bethany knew where this was going. “This person would be Caroline Smith?”

Janice did not acknowledge the guess. “I want guaranteed money before I tell you anything more. Dennis and I were loyal to your father, but we’ve lost our jobs and our home, so this is as serious for us as it is for you. We want a fair settlement or we’ll take our chances and our votes elsewhere.”

Junior balked, suddenly furious. “That’s goddamn blackmail. You can’t demand to be paid to tell us something we might find out ourselves, you ignorant bitch.”

Janice shrugged. “As you wish. Good luck keeping your inheritance.” She stood and walked toward the lobby, but slower than her usual pace. She smiled when she heard Bethany hiss at her brother, followed by the scrape of a chair and the rapid click of heels behind her.

Bethany caught her by the arm. “Janice, wait. Junior’s an idiot, but you already know that, right?”

The housekeeper allowed herself a small smile. “I do know, but I’m serious. Dennis and I have nothing left. Our apartment is gone with our jobs. We have to get enough money to be comfortable.”

Bethany was relieved her brother had not entirely ruined another chance for the family to take control. “How much have you been offered?”

“Five million. A guaranteed payment for both votes instead of a share in God knows how much or little your father left.” Bethany was shocked to hear how much Smith offered. She was clearly a threat they had to remove. “We’ll double it. You’ll get no percentage, but the ten million is guaranteed. Now, tell us about Smith.”

Janice took Bethany’s offered arm and walked with her back to the family. She knew they needed her. Not as a servant any more, now they needed her. She felt giddy, and wondered if the feeling was power. If it was, she suddenly understood how people who possessed it always wanted more. Janice had their rapt attention as she told a tale of Caroline offering cash for the Elliot’s votes. She lied about the amount and she exaggerated Smith’s intentions, but she and Dennis would be rich, so she didn’t care.

She saw the family was worried about Smith and her plan. They realized if Janice and her husband sided with the Foundation’s CEO, they could have a lot of expensive trouble ahead. The housekeeper decided to take full advantage of their fears. “Ten million dollars is a fair price for our votes. But I want a bonus. If we join forces with Smith against you, we can stall progress for as long as it takes you to agree to share the fortune equally.

It’s in your interests to reach a quick settlement, so I want another two million dollars for each penalty we save you. In five days, all the money will be gone unless we agree how to share it. If it ends tonight, no penalty is incurred, and you pay me another ten million. If it ends tomorrow, I’ll get another eight million.” Bethany drew a deep breath. Janice demanded a lot, but she knew if they refused it could easily cost them more than twenty million dollars. She looked at her brothers. They looked shocked but offered no objections. Bethany forced a smile and agreed to Janice’s terms. Junior didn’t like it at all. He thought it was too much money for a couple of votes, but could say nothing.

For the second time that day, he had surrendered the right to speak because of his temper. Janice was ecstatic. If they could pull off an agreement tonight, she and Dennis would have a fortune, twenty million dollars. Her head swam and she puffed up with pride as the family swallowed theirs and made her feel important.

Philip brought them back to reality. “So we dump Smith at the next vote. Then can we decide percentages and get on with our lives?” Janice nodded, but she had to get to Dennis to make sure he did as he was told. She couldn’t afford to have his ignorance mess up her brilliant deal. She excused herself and hurried off to find her husband.

$

William was walking back to the conference room when he saw Janice exit the dining room in a rush. She beat him to the conference room and headed directly to her husband, Dennis. He wondered what her hurry was and saw Caroline also noted Janice’s hasty entrance.

Caroline looked pleased when she saw the Elliots whispering together. The lawyer guessed the three of them had made a deal to protect each other against the aggressive family. Bird was still shocked by the sizeable payout to Freddie Hagood. The fortune the others were fighting over was to be reduced by Freddie’s settlement, but they would never know it.

He wondered if Bethany realized Smith was working against the family, but he could not interfere, his role prohibited it.

$

William brought them to order and handed control back to Larry. The group was spread out around the vast table after Jeremy’s staff had removed two chairs. They remained in the same order as before, but both the table and the room seemed larger.