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Regarding them as though they had both lost their minds, he said, “Having a kid, and keeping its conception a secret, is that important to you?”
The question sounded like a prelude to extortion. Laura wouldn’t have been surprised if at that point he’d demanded twice the amount they were offering. But when Foster said, “Yes, it’s that important to us,” Burkett chuckled and shook his head, as though finding such an ideal incomprehensible. Obviously he had never felt that strongly about anything or held anything that dear. Not even his career.
“Well, it’s not like I want a kid,” he said. “In fact, since puberty I’ve been damn careful to guarantee that I didn’t father one. So you can relieve yourself of the worry that I’ll show up someday to claim him. Or her,” he said, addressing that to Laura.
“What about the confidentiality issue?” Foster asked.
“There is no issue. I get it. I keep my mouth shut. We run into each other by accident, I look right through you with no recognition whatsoever. For a million dollars a year, I can lose my memory. Like that.” He snapped his fingers. “One thing, though.”
“What?”
“What happens if you…if I outlive you?”
“Laura would uphold our obligation to you.”
“What if she’s not around?”
That was one question they hadn’t anticipated. They’d never considered the possibility that he would survive both of them. She and Foster looked at each other, and she knew they were thinking the same thing. If Griff Burkett outlived them, they were leaving their child and heir vulnerable to extortion, financial as well as emotional. They had agreed that their child would never know how he came to be. They would let him assume, as everyone else would, that Foster had fathered him.
“That’s a scenario that hadn’t occurred to us,” Foster admitted.
“Well, now that it’s occurred to me, it needs to be addressed.”
Laura said, “By that point in time, you would be extremely well off.”
“You’re well off now,” Griff retorted. “You wouldn’t enter into a contract with a contingency as important as this left unsettled. Would you?”
He was right, but she was reluctant to concede the point. “I’m sure that over time we can work something out.”
“Un-huh. Not over time. Now.”
“He’s right, Laura. The timeliness is critical. I’m proof that our lives can change in a heartbeat. It’s better that we resolve this issue now, rather than leave it dangling.” Foster thought on it for a moment, then said, “Unfortunately, every solution that comes immediately to mind would involve paperwork, and it’s essential that we avoid that.” He spread his arms, palms up. “Griff, either you’ll have to trust me to come up with a workable solution, or—”
“When?”
“I’ll give it top priority.”
Burkett frowned as though that weren’t good enough. “What’s the or?”
“Or, what I’m reading from you is that it’s a deal breaker.”
Laura noted that he didn’t have to think about it for long. “Okay, I’ll trust you to work something out. After all, you’re putting your trust in me, and I’m the convicted felon.”
“I’m glad you’re the one who cited that, Mr. Burkett.”
Laura had spoken before thinking, but she didn’t regret saying it. He’d needed to be reminded that the risk they were taking far outweighed his. He moved nothing except his eyes, but she felt their angry impact when they
connected with hers.
“You mean so you wouldn’t have to,” he said. “So you wouldn’t have to point out that if anybody in this room is untrustworthy, it’s me.”
“Laura meant no offense, Griff,” Foster said.
Continuing to hold her stare, he said, “No. Of course not. None taken.”
But she knew he didn’t mean it, just like he knew that she had meant what she’d said.
“Risk on both sides is inherent to any business partnership.” Foster spoke from experience. He was also an excellent mediator, who always tried to defuse a disagreement before it got out of hand. “I think shared risk is a positive thing. It leaves everybody vulnerable to some extent and keeps everyone honest.” He turned to Laura. “Anything else?”
