in the mood for laughing. Not when it came to Anne’s wellbeing.
“Is that a no?” I asked flatly.
“Shouldn’t you call Clark for help with these matters? I mean, he’s the one who has spent time in such places,” Phillip replied.
“I’m not asking for a recommendation on a new dancer. I need a bouncer.”
“You? I didn’t know you owned the club,” he said sarcastically.
“Why did I call you?”
“I guess that is because you needed my help, again. This is not like you, Andrew. In all these years, you have never come to me. Actually, I don’t think you’ve asked any of us. I take it this has become especially important to you.”
“It has. That land is the last piece I need to move forward with a major development. I have all the blueprints ready. But nothing can move forward until I own that land.”
Phillip said, “I’m not talking about the land. I’m talking about whatever is motivating you to hire a bouncer for a company you don’t own. This Trixi Worth must be something else to have you going to these lengths.”
I associated the name Trixi with Anne’s aunt. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to call her by that name. “She goes by Anne.”
“I would, too. So do you want to tell me about Anne?”
Not really. “I was actually hoping you’d have some answers for me.”
“I found something, but not sure what you can do with it.”
“Does it give Anne the option to sell without losing everything?” I asked hopefully.
“No.”
Fuck. “Then what did you find?”
“It says she must run The Treasured Chest and keep it in the black for the full 365 days.”
“I know. I read it,” I snapped.
“Did you happen to notice no address was associated with the business?”
I did not. But I knew exactly what he meant. “Why the hell didn’t I catch that?”
“It’s my job to write contracts in a way to ensure such loopholes are not there. I’m surprised you have never utilized me for any of your legal matters in the past,” he stated.
“I like my business life separate from my personal one.” This time I needed the person I knew was the best. And I was right. A fact I wasn’t about to state out loud. Phillip was the eldest and had the biggest ego because of it. Someday you’re going to be wrong, and I hope I’m there to see it.
“What are you going to do with this information?”
“I’m not sure yet,” I replied.
“Why don’t you just have her look for another location for her club?” Phillip suggested.
“See, there is one minor problem,” I sighed.
“She has no idea you have a copy of the will?” Phillip asked.
“That would be the one.”
“And that’s not a small problem. Not if you want anything more than just her property, that is.”
“I haven’t given any thought beyond this week,” I admitted.
“And that would be mistake number two. Should we continue this conversation so I can keep track of them for you?” Phillip asked, and I knew he was only half joking.
“I don’t plan on making any more. Thanks for the information. I’ll let you know if I need anything else,” I said before ending the call.
There were more than two mistakes, but I didn’t need to focus on all the things I’d done wrong with Anne. I had a lot to consider before I made my next move, which hopefully I wouldn’t fuck up.
Thankfully, besides standing around and waiting for an issue, working the door at the club was easy. I took Phillip’s advice and reached out to Clark. He said he knew a guy and would have him here in the morning. No name or information provided, but Clark wouldn’t send someone he didn’t trust.
With that off my list, it meant I could spend the remainder of my time at the club doing some research. After I few hours, I realized there wasn’t a single building in Bermoose that would fit the needs of The Treasured Chest. I thought I had located one, but it was too close to a school. Not where you want to put a strip club. I’d need to think about building one from scratch. That meant finding land on the outskirts of Bermoose. It would also mean keeping The Treasured Chest open at its current location a hell of a lot longer.
That wasn’t an option, either. For that amount of time and investment, I could just wait her out a year. I’d need to find the perfect location in town,