AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In the end, I don’t send any of them.
I want to gift the condominium to her because I can. It is already in her name. She simply needs to sign the papers with my lawyer, Jobe and me present. Whatever she intends to do with it is up to her. She can rent it out or live in it. Or do nothing. I simply wanted somewhere for her to stay without anyone intruding on her privacy.
It’s done, and I can’t think about it when I need to focus on why I’m on our private jet to New York. Paul received an anonymous tip that an old college acquaintance is filing an environmental lawsuit against PetroDepend for illegally disposing of hazardous waste into the ocean, causing significant damage to the marine ecosystem. My investors are about to lose a shit ton of money.
It places me in an awkward situation as any contact with this person might be misconstrued as an attempt to influence the lawsuit or gain insider information.
My grandfather and father built Hendricks Capital Management on integrity. I expect PetroDepend management will attempt to silence me. Any unusual movement of stock from their portfolio could attract the attention of financial regulators, increasing the risk if I decide to sell.
I’m not a whistleblower. Yet there’s the risk of backlash from clients and the investment community. We have worked with PetroDepend for five years. Nothing like this has happened before. So, where were the safety indicators? Who fucked up?
I check my folders after sending a brief email to George and Caleb, so they won’t be surprised when I rock into the New York office tomorrow.
There are countless emails regarding the takeover of the Sharks basketball team. Worst fucking timing. My father can deal with all of it.
Jesus. There’s an email from my mother I missed. She needs details on sponsorship and wants me to host the live auction for her gala.
I nominate Jobe.
If everything goes to shit in New York, the gala will be the least of my worries because I won’t be attending. I’ll still be on the other side of the country.
“Can I fix you a drink, Mr. Hendricks?” Heidi has been part of the crew on our jets for the past five years and can read my mood.
“Double. On the rocks. Thanks, Heidi.”
The lawsuit can fuck our company as well as investors, and I’m going to have to tighten my spending so as not to appear shady with our clients. Maybe the condominium for Penny was premature.
* * *
The following morning,heads turn as I walk through the New York office.
“Morning, Franklin,” echoes through the long room.
I close the glass door behind me. George, Caleb, and Lana are the only staff privy to the briefing.
“What’s your plan?” George asks before my laptop fires up.
“There isn’t one until I learn more about the lawsuit. I’m heading out to PetroDepend today and hopefully get answers if they don’t lie to my fucking face. Then there is the public-interest complication. One of the clients Caleb secured years ago is a pension fund that represents many small-time investors who rely on our expertise to secure their retirement savings. Their potential loss is on my conscience. Their retirement funds could fucking evaporate. That weighs heavier than the losses to our company.”
“What can we do?” Lana asks.
“Stay calm and speak to no one.”
My cell rings, and while I said no interruptions, it’s Jobe, so I answer anyway. “What’s up?”
“Penny has a list of what work she wants to happen this week. I want to confirm again she has a green light to do everything?”
The Malibu renovation is the least of my concerns. “Yes. You don’t need to call me about this. Just make it happen. Whatever she needs, get it done, and if she manages it in a smaller time frame, even better.”
“How long are you staying in New York?”
“As long as I need to be here. Why?”
“Because I need the jet. There’s a house in Italy I want to check out.”
“It’s all yours. I can’t see myself leaving here in the next month.”
“What about Mom’s fundraiser?”
