Mogul Read Online Free PDF Page B

she was simple and direct, and yet still successful and
competent. “It’s very nice to meet you,” she said as she took a
seat behind a large desk, “although I certainly wish the
circumstances were different.”
    He nodded as he sat across from her in a
plush chair. “Likewise,” he agreed.
    “I’ve spoken with the Wilkes’ attorney and we
both believe that it can be settled quickly and quietly with
cooperation on both parts. But I’m afraid it will come at
significant cost to you, especially with what they’re asking.”
    He gulped. “Which is?”
    “Five million,” she stated simply as she
linked her fingers on her desk. “Since Baylee is so young and will
likely need significant medical care for the rest of her life, they
want to be sure that her needs are covered.”
    His mouth fell open. “That’s a bit much,
don’t you think?”
    “Apparently they want some money to meet
their own needs as well. They like the doctors here in Los Angeles,
and they like the facility itself. In order to care for her
properly, they would need to relocate from Florida to California,
and this poses significant financial hardship on the family.”
    “So I pay it and they go away.”
    “That’s the offer,” Ivy said. “But you should
be aware that if Baylee should succumb to her injuries, they want
the right to come after you with criminal charges. They won’t sign
anything stating otherwise, especially if your counter offer is
lower.”
    He sighed. “You’d have to talk to my
accountant,” he said as he tried to do the math in his head. Once
their second album took off, he hadn’t thought much about the nuts
and bolts of his finances. He knew that much of his fortune had
been invested, but he had blown quite a bit during his
self-destructive phase the year before. He always thought the money
would keep coming in with each new album and supporting tour. Only
now, thanks to the situation with Holly and Julian, he wasn’t sure
he’d be recording anything in the near future. And he certainly
wasn’t willing to tour with Andy pregnant with his child. This was
his other, and main, financial commitment. They needed a bigger
house in a safer environment, and he needed to provide for his
baby. That need outweighed any other, despite how guilty he felt
about Baylee’s condition. He wasn’t sure if he could write a check
for five million dollars even if he wanted to. “I was thinking one
million and they’d be satisfied. What they’re asking…” he trailed
off.
    She nodded. She had already crunched the
numbers with his accountant, and proposed a counter offer of 2.5
million, which was available for them immediately.
    The Wilkes were not budging.
    “So what now?” he asked.
    “If you can’t or won’t pay what they’re
asking, then they will likely sue. We go to court and fight. It
could prove quiet lengthy and you would be hard pressed to find a
judge sympathetic to your situation. Their lawyer is going to paint
you as a reckless celebrity who doesn’t think the rules of society
apply to you. You got off legally with a slap on the wrist, and
you’ll ultimately have to settle anyway – only with the added cost
of a trial and all the lawyer fees.”
    “So do my best to settle,” he filled in the
blank.
    “If you want to go on with your life, then
yes.”
    He thought about Andy and their future. He
wasn’t about to let her go and he wasn’t going to let her down.
He’d find a way.
    Within an hour he was in Graham’s office.
    Graham had returned to work at the beginning
of February. He had limited mobility on crutches, which he used
whenever he had a business meeting. Otherwise he used his chair and
had Maggie nearby to assist him. She didn’t say much, and often
left the office when he discussed business with his clients, but he
was reassured by her presence just in case he had rushed coming
back to work too soon.
    He wasn’t surprised to see Vanni. Ivy
Cunningham was an attorney on his payroll so he