The petrov ledger, p.47
The Petrov Ledger, page 47
She rose and surrendered the chair to her husband. James was silent. He was still stinging from his daughter’s comments about the family. He knew his wife well enough to know this bold stroke meant she had something on her mind. He was right.
Angela never challenged him in public and only rarely did so privately. She had always accepted him as head of the household and the one and only decision maker in the family. Angela tried very hard not to make this a challenge. She gently asked her husband why he questioned their eldest child so.
She knew as well as he did about Mary Jane’s past. She also knew she loved this Timothy Gregory. James had been unaware Angela knew about Gregory and their daughter. Angela, it seemed, knew more about Tag, as he liked to be called, than James did.
There were many areas where James’ knowledge surpassed hers. When it came to business, particularly finance, she was his equal or his better. She had no degree in accounting, but she was as shrewd when it came to managing money as anyone James had ever encountered. She always said she went to the “Caputo School of Creative Finance”. She knew all of her brother’s tricks and she had found another account belonging to Timothy Allen Gregory. She showed her husband the balance sheet.
James’ eyes grew wide as he looked at the bottom line of the account. Gregory had access to just over three billion dollars in this account. He was not after the Lassiter fortune. He had his own money. The account had been set up by Steven Caputo. James questioned why neither Mary Jane nor Steven had mentioned it when he was accusing this Gregory of being solely concerned with Mary Jane’s inheritance.
Angela smiled at her husband. She answered his question with a question. She asked him why it was that he bristled so when the subject of their own marriage was mentioned in conjunction with the business opportunities it opened up for the Lassiter Group and for the Carlucci Family.
James closed his eyes. Angela knew the answer every bit as well as he did. It was the main point he diligently worked to prove to her then and now. He loved her for her. He wanted her to love him for him. It was a point of pride to James that in spite of all of the arranging that went on, he had married Angela for love, not for money.
He knew in that instant his daughter had truly grown up. She merely wanted her father to accept the man she loved for who he was, not what he had. Steven had, too. That was why they had remained silent about Gregory’s true financial situation. James had mucked it up by missing that point.
There were still things about Gregory that indicated caution. He seemed to be spontaneous to the point of being thoughtless at times. He did live in Ohio and therefore knew the Lassiters by reputation. He could still be what James accused him of being. The relationship had started under strange circumstances James still didn’t understand and had progressed much too quickly to suit him. Still, it was not for him to say sight unseen. All Mary Jane was asking was that he be given a chance. It was the least he could do.
He lovingly took Angela in his arms and gave her a gentle kiss. He thanked her for being so smart and for loving him anyway. Mary Jane was still in the living room talking with her uncle. Angela suggested it was not too late. James nodded and took her hand. They went back to the living room together.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
Mary Jane was still in somewhat a state of shock as the company jet took them back to Columbus. In a span of less than two weeks, two men who never changed their minds about anything had changed their minds about the same thing. Both her Uncle Steve and her father had decided Tag deserved a chance. On a selfish level, it meant they were both deciding to trust her judgment a bit more than they had previously.
Last night, after Father stormed into his Den, he had returned a few minutes later with Mother in tow. He apologized for being so quick to judge Tag and promised to give him a chance.
She had accused her Uncle Steve of telling Father about Tag’s recent financial windfall. It was a charge flatly denied. At that moment, she knew and levied a more accurate accusation. Steve had told Mother. He denied telling Angela anything outright, but gave her enough hints that made her look. Angela was a Caputo after all. She had learned about creative finance the same place that the Shark had.
Mary Jane had weakly protested the move. She had truly wanted Tim to be judged on his own merits. She also knew that with Father so firmly determined Tag was after only her money, nothing else would have changed his mind. The important thing was he be given a chance. The important thing was that her opinion mattered to Father. If it took proving Tag was more interested in her than in her money, so be it.
She had called Tag just as they boarded the jet. He would be waiting for them at the airport.
It’s amazing how just a little time away from someone dims them in your memory. I had forgotten exactly how beautiful Mary Jane was. I had forgotten just how good she felt in my arms. I had mislaid the memory of precisely how sweet her kisses were. She brought all that and more back in striking clarity when she came down the small ramp as quick as she dared and raced to me, hugged me, and kissed me.
We had only one more duty to perform before leaving Columbus. I needed to sell my car. I wouldn’t be spending enough time here to justify keeping it and I much preferred a two hour flight to Key West over a twenty-seven hour drive.
The Shark, as typical, handled all of the arrangements as my financial advisor and soon we were winging our way back to our tropical paradise.
On the flight south, Mary Jane told me I had been invited to the Lassiter compound to meet her family. She was still not quite ready for that to happen, but, she didn’t think the preparation time would be nearly as exhaustive as it would have been prior to her visit.
She seemed very happy about that and I was very happy for her. I just wasn’t sure our preparation times would match up. It had been a long time since I’d been introduced to the family and this was no ordinary family. This was the Lassiters of Cleveland.
It would happen on her schedule, though. I’d crawl a mile through broken glass for her if she asked. Meeting her family for her sake could not be nearly that painful or bloody. At least, I didn’t think it would be.
The Shark waxed rhapsodic about his plans for his new life in Key West. He was going to find a storefront for the offices of Great White Investments in the area of the old harbor. He was going to find a duplex somewhere so both he and his vice-president would have a place to live. As he spun his tale of the brighter future, we made our final approach and landing at Key West International Airport.
We had just enough time to stop at the Front Street condo before sunset. Mary Jane had insisted I stop calling it “her” condo. She was willingly sharing the place with me. It was “our” condo now. That would take some getting used to, but I did like the sound of it. What it meant was daunting, but I felt up to the challenge.
We wound down from our travels of the day and spoke about the future. I must admit, I had rarely thought of the future before. I knew it was out there, waiting for me. I just never had a clear picture of what it would be. Now, it was staring me in the face and it was so bright it made me squint my eyes.
I had originally come to Key West three weeks ago to meet a girl. I had thought this trip could be a defining moment in my life. That might just be the understatement of the century.
We tabled all further discussion for later and headed to Mallory Square. Ray had never seen a Key West sunset. He didn’t want to miss this one.
A Key West sunset is a lot like Christmas. They are both very pleasant and joyful occasions. They both improve when you can see them through the eyes of wonder. For Christmas, that means children. For a Key West sunset, it means someone who has never experienced one before. I must admit, I watched Ray nearly as much as I watched the sunset. We stood in silence amidst the ever-present crowd.
As the sun began its daily retreat from view, I felt Mary Jane take my hand. We shared a smile. As I looked back to Ray, the eyes I had considered so hard when first we met moistened and softened. I saw a look of wonderment in his eyes.
I’ve seen a lot of sunsets in Key West and I say the same thing after each of them.
This was the best one yet.
EPILOGUE
It’s been six months since I joined the Billionaire’s Club. Something about that still doesn’t seem real. I’ve decided that if it is a dream, I never want to wake up.
Steven “The Shark” Caputo was very glad my spending spree ended within a month or two of beginning.
I followed through and had the Shark track down everybody I had outstanding debt with and paid it off. I did the same for my family and, much to Steven’s dismay a few friends as well.
I arranged for donations of one million dollars to be made, anonymously, to the ten charities I selected.
The Shark talked me down to yearly gifts of ten thousand dollars to the ten people I had in mind. He reminded me that any gift over that amount would have to be claimed by the recipient as income. It still felt good to be able to “share the wealth” a bit.
We have a car now. I talked Mary Jane into a brand new Jaguar convertible. It wasn’t easy, but making it a choice between that and flying lessons and a Cessna to get up to Deerfield Beach made it easier. Between you and me, I’m taking flying lessons on the sly. I’ll bring my lady up to speed later.
I had made good on my threat to buy a big house in Key West for my friends and family to use. I found a five bedroom, six bathroom manse on Eaton Street. It was badly in need of repair. I’m having Steve spend nearly as much on improvements to the place and shoring up the external structure as I paid for it in the first place.
Great White Investments, Incorporated was re-organized to just Great White, Incorporated when Ray found out he had a talent for real estate sales. He got himself licensed and started moving properties. Even in a down economy, he’s moved about five million worth since he got his license.
I must admit, I cheated a bit when it came to getting the job Mary Jane requested me to get. I’m on the board of directors at Great White. The Shark saw several opportunities on the island to financially prop up some businesses and keep them afloat. He allows them to make their own management decisions to a point and takes in a flat twenty percent of the profits for his silent partnership. Old habits die hard.
I’m the liaison between Great White and those businesses. I spend my days going around to the various places that have drawn our investments and ask them if they need anything. I’m the guy they call if they want to make changes. The Shark is the final word, but I get my say, too.
Steven Caputo has come to value my opinion. He still doesn’t think I have a lick of sense when it comes to money. He trusts me for my perspective on how changes to the business will be perceived by the public. It’s a good relationship and, fingers crossed; it’s been a profitable one so far.
We heard from Major Vasilov about a month ago. Dmitri Petrov will be in prison for the rest of his life along with the rest of the Bezbozhnaya Troitsa.
Natasha Kirova was back on the street after paying a healthy fine and promising to confine her future nude escapades to the comfort of her own home.
The news on Olga was not so good. After making restitution, three of the five men she had scammed declined to file further charges. She was found guilty on the two counts of fraud. She was guilty of escape and flight to avoid prosecution. The accessory charges in the six murders had been dismissed. There just wasn’t enough proof of her direct involvement. He had overestimated the sentences as well. Olga was sentenced to a total of six years in prison. That meant she would be out in three, most likely. We would definitely have to keep an eye on her. The FSB had frozen and seized every account of hers they could find. She was a Petrov. I didn’t doubt for a second there were accounts that had been cleverly hidden away.
Stan’s memorial service had taken place about two weeks after I had officially moved to Key West. The Shark flew us up on the company jet. I met his parents. I met his girlfriend. They told me I was not to blame. They told me I had not pulled the trigger. I didn’t tell them, but that was exactly what still bothered me. I let him kill Stan and somebody else had taken care of Crazy Eddie. Then, I hadn’t pulled the trigger on his accomplice either. They had forgiven me. They hadn’t thought there was anything to forgive. I was glad they didn’t blame me. Now, I just needed to work on not blaming myself.
Mary Jane and I have made two trips already up to Cleveland. She says I should be encouraged I got a second interview, most guys didn’t. Her brother and sister hate me. They call me “that Tag person”. They are positive I mean to screw them out of their inheritance. Her father is warily cautious of me. I really don’t think we’ll ever be close. We’re just too different. We do have his daughter’s happiness in common. We both want that. Maybe that’s enough of a common bond. We’ll see. Her mother hasn’t made up her mind about me. She’s more worried about the grandchildren I’ll produce than with anything else about me, though. I keep telling her the Gregorys have always been good breeding stock. I have a bruise on my shins from Mary Jane’s kicks to shut me up as badges to mark every time I said that.
In complete contrast, my mother fell in love with Mary Jane on first sight. We’ve been up to Deerfield five or six times and mom and my step-dad are making plans to be the first guests in the “Friends and Family Hotel” when the repairs are done. It’s pretty clear to both Mary Jane and me that if anything goes wrong with our relationship, it will be considered to be my fault. I truly think that should Mary Jane and I split up she and mom would stay in touch. I think mom might forgive me, eventually.
As to our relationship, we still haven’t said the words. But, we love each other as much as any two people who never say the words have ever loved each other. We try very diligently to let our actions speak louder than words ever could.
Neither of us is exactly sure where this “thing” will lead us, but we are sure as hell enjoying the ride. The crazy train rolls on.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank all my friends and family for bearing with me through the process of writing and publishing The Petrov Ledger. Your support made this possible.
The Petrov Ledger was born out of a desire to write about two of my favorite cities on the planet. Key West and St. Petersburg are a part of me and I hope my fondness for those cities shows.
This is, of course, a fictional tale, but I tried very diligently to make sure the geography is correct and you’d see what the book says you would if you went to the sites mentioned. If I erred, I apologize.
As far as I know, pirate telephone lines do not really exist. It was a way to keep Mary Jane’s search for Olga interesting to her and you, dear reader.
I also tried to make sure the Russian language was used accurately and correctly. If it’s not, I’m sure I’ll hear about it.
The history in The Petrov Ledger is accurate as far as names, dates, and places go. The meaning of the historical events is strictly up to the character having the remembrance of said events.
A big thank you goes out to Gwen for pointing out to me that I have a bad tendency to overuse words that don’t really belong in a sentence. You may edit my work anytime, lovely lady.
I need to thank Nati for being absolutely nothing like Olga.
Most of all, I have to thank you, the reader, for making it this far and for taking a chance on a work of fiction from a first time author. I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed telling it.
JWP
J. William Phipps, The Petrov Ledger
