Rise (Rise & Fall Duet #1) - Grahame Claire Page 0,57
sure was dramatic effect. I petted Muffy with sporadic strokes.
“Spit it out,” I growled.
“You bought it and have the paperwork. Problem is Titan Title never followed through with the transaction with the insurance company.”
I grabbed the back of my neck and squeezed. “Are you telling me I’m about to be left holding nothing but a bunch of worthless pieces of paper?”
“All I’m saying is this is going to be more of challenge. Lucky for you, I like it that way.”
In this situation, I’d have preferred a slam dunk.
“What about Whitley’s contact? The expert in real estate law?”
“Dixon? He’s the one who figured out about the title insurance.”
At least the team wasn’t sitting around doing nothing.
“I’m still locating files.”
“If you send over one more, I’m pretty sure Whitley’s assistant is going to put out a hit on you.” Zegas’s laugh was deep and throaty.
“Has he met you?” I fired back.
“Oh, he despises me. I hire a bodyguard if he comes to the office with Whitley. I refuse to be alone with the man.”
Muffy pawed at my leg. I hadn’t realized I’d stopped petting him. And when I didn’t resume fast enough, he nudged me again.
“What are my rights as far as my assets? Can they freeze them without notification?” I was fine for now, but I’d need access to them soon.
He laughed again, this time the sound bitter. “It’s the federal government. They can do whatever the hell they want to.” A rustling came from the other end of the line as if he’d shifted in a chair. “I hope you’ve got something stashed away. Who knows how long it will take them to unfreeze them. And I don’t work pro bono.”
I opened my mouth to tell him to send the bill to my father, but thought better of it before I did. Zegas and Whitley had helped my brother. They appeared to be working in my favor as well. But I wasn’t sure what their relationship was with Father.
“Relax, Hollingsworth. I’m working on your money too. That’s in my best interest.”
“I’m glad to know where your priorities are.”
“You might have more of a stick up your ass than Elliott. I can’t imagine a conversation between the two of you.”
Concise. To the point. No wasted words on frivolous subjects.
“Hopefully, you’ll never be privy to one.”
Zegas laughed once more, though I didn’t see the humor.
“Look, I usually try to stay out of family shit. But you should know that your father calls me no less than twice a day for an update on your case. He seems more concerned than you.”
If Zegas thought this information would surprise me, he was sorely mistaken.
“Give him enough to keep him happy without divulging anything of consequence.”
“That’s exactly what I’ve been doing. Glad we’re on the same page.”
“It’s best to handle him delicately.”
He made a noncommittal noise. “I assume you’re aware of his relationship with Hal Mercer.”
“They’ve been friends for years. That’s why we did so much business with Titan.”
That was the nature of the world we played in. Connections were almost the most important aspect.
“Why did you stop?”
I fingered Muffy’s ears. “I felt it was an area we could capitalize on if we started our own title division at Hollingsworth.”
“Did you get any pushback from Samuel?”
Was there any other way when it came to my father?
“Yes. Eventually, after he saw the potential, he agreed.”
The issue hadn’t been an all-out war between us, though I’d fought harder for that than anything else I could recall when it came to the business. I’d showed him concrete expenditures, high and low profit projections, and one day after months of stringing me along, he agreed.
“Were you aware Hal and your father had a falling out?”
For a man who claimed not to have made much ground on my issue, he certainly knew more than he’d let on.
“I am, but I don’t know over what. It seems natural when a longtime customer and friend takes his business elsewhere, there’s bound to be disagreement.”
A pen tapped on his end of the line. “I need your tax returns for as far back as you have.”
“Why?” I had no issue giving them to the man. It wasn’t as if he could advertise my personal business to the public without consequence. But I failed to see how the information was relevant to my property dilemma.
“You said when the agent came to arrest you, the charge was securities fraud and tax evasion. I want to dig through the tax element first . . . unless you