Chapter 131
NO ONE SAID a thing for a moment, until Camilla Bronson chimed in: “It could be to your benefit, Jen, Thom. We announce the profit-sharing deal a month before Saigon Falls debuts and the public will think you’re saints.”
First Jennifer and then Thom Harlow nodded.
“Smart move,” I said. “Term three: financial control of Sharing Hands, including the endowment fund, will be turned over to an independent and impartial trustee, who will manage it the way it is supposed to be managed. In this case, that trustee will be Cynthia Maines.”
All eyes turned to the Harlows’ former personal assistant, who said, “I feel like I have a lot to make up for.”
Sanders looked ready to argue but said, “We agree. Anything else?”
“Yes, one last term,” Justine said before staring at Thom Harlow. “The Harlows will sponsor Anita Fontana, Maria Toro, and Jacinta Feliz for US citizenship. The Harlows will also pay Ms. Fontana a sum of three million—”
“What!” Sanders thundered.
“Three million dollars,” Justine insisted, “and guarantee that Ms. Fontana will be given unrestricted access to her son, Miguel, and to Malia and Jin. The cook and the maid will receive a million apiece.”
This last exchange caught the Harlow-Quinn team completely off-guard.
“Wait a second,” Camilla Bronson said. “Miguel’s Anita’s—?”
“Deal,” Jennifer Harlow said.
“Excellent doing business with you,” I said, standing up and pocketing the check Terry Graves had given me. “Once Ms. Maines assures me that all the money you siphoned from the orphans’ fund has been repaid in full, I’ll cash this, use it to fund pro bono work.”