"Huh? We didn’t…I mean, we weren’t even friends or—"
"There was something pulling you two together. Aidan was way too adamant and focused on getting you, and only you, to be the one to sign that agreement." She raised her eyebrows.
"That’s just because he could bribe me with Donald." I winked.
She laughed. "If that’s what you need to convince yourself, you go ahead. But, I will tell you right now, Aidan has been taken with you from the start."
Viola didn’t say much of anything else. I think she was letting it all sink into my thick skull.
Once I got into the house, I decided to talk to Rachel.
~
Aidan
"Mr. Iverson?"
I hit the intercom button on my desk. "Yes, Amy?"
"Mr. Devlin is here to see you."
"Good, show him in. Thanks."
"No problem." Amy disconnected and soon I heard a light knock before my door opened.
"Devlin…" I stood up. "It’s good to see you."
"It’s good to see you too, Mr. Iverson." I raised an eyebrow. "Aidan." I smiled, shaking his hand.
"So, what are we doing today?"
"We are finalizing the contracts for AIS. I have a few other things we need to go over, as well." Devlin kept his face in his black leather brief case as he dug out folders and papers.
"What few more things?" I was a little worried about what my grandfather could have possibly done now. Devlin looked up with a blank professional expression.
"Nothing drastic." He smirked, "Just a couple of things your grandfather left for you." Before I could speak, he continued.
"First, let’s start with the AIS agreements and contracts." He slipped me a folder. "You should read those over and sign in the flagged places; red flag is signature, yellow flag is for initials."
"Can I just do it now?" I furrowed my brow. "You're my lawyer, I assume you looked over these pretty well when you had them drawn up. It would be safe for me to sign."
He cleared his throat.
"Well, um, you can, but you will need Lillian’s signature as well on the final page."
Confusion washed over me. "I don’t—"
Devlin sighed. "Aidan, there are things about your grandfather you didn’t know much about. One of those things would be the fact that your grandmother was vested."
"Yes, the foundation, but Lilli has already—"
"No." He shook his head. "Your grandmother was vested in AIS. She held twenty-five percent of the company."
"What…I—"
"When Isobel passed, it was returned to your grandfather until he remarried. Olivia, then, became the vested party."
"So, my uncles are only vested in twenty-five percent?"
"Henry and Liam hold twelve percent of the company each, leaving you, obviously, with fifty-one percent of the vesting." He paused, waiting for my reaction.
"But…my marriage is only agreed for four years. What happens then?"
"Lillian will remain vested until death."
"Are my uncles aware?"
He was already shaking his head.
"No. They are not aware of Lillian’s vesting. It is held in the securest confidentiality, obviously for her safety."
I nodded. "Okay, well, I will…um…I’ll take this home tonight. You will have them back tomorrow."
"Great." He smiled and then pushed a dark mahogany box toward me. "This is the next thing that I need to go over with you. I am not exactly privy to the contents."
"What is this?"
"The white envelope on top is a letter from your grandfather and inside the box are personal items your grandfather wanted passed to you."
"Okay, is there anything..?"
"No, this is it for now." He smiled and put his hand out to me. I took it and shook. "Give me a call if you have any questions."
"I will. Thank you." He nodded and left my office.
I picked up the dark, heavy, wooden box and carried it over to the coffee table in front of the large, leather couch in my office. Taking a deep breath, I opened the white envelope with my name scrawled in my grandfather’s handwriting.
Aidan,
Since you are reading this, you have accomplished all that I asked of you. I have always been extremely proud of you and am more proud of what you have accomplished. You are a brilliant man who will do the best for AIS and our family. So tell your Uncle Henry to shove it!
I could almost hear him laughing his deep, breathy laugh as I read.
My boy, you lost your parents too early on to truly understand the love that was shared between them. You also never got to experience the love of your Grandma Isobel, and I am forever sorry you didn't. She was an amazing woman, whom I loved till the day I died. She was forever the love of my life and I lost her too soon.
I know that the anger you have surely felt toward me has consumed you, but I also hope that my conditions have pushed you to see the love around you. Hopefully, you have found someone who you love and who loves you the way I loved Isobel.
There is a hidden safe at the mansion that only I know of, your uncles are not aware. In the game room, behind the bar there is a black button under the locked cabinet. Press the button and it will reveal the safe.