Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 126098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
They took her to the ground floor, past the check-in desk, and down the long hall to an area of the hotel that guests never saw. She was ushered into the conference room where it seemed the entire Dugan clan was assembled to greet her. Or do battle. Which for them was the same thing.
Abby spotted Lucian Hilliard, who was head of legal for the Canyon as well as the Dugan family’s private attorney. He smiled warmly at her, in direct opposition to the chilly reception the others were giving her. But then Lucian Hilliard had been overseeing legal operations for the Coral Canyon before any of these people had been associated with the resort. Before Mick Dugan’s widow had gotten her claws into him and certainly before the Dugan heirs, Kyle and Gillian, had been born.
She took a vacant seat next to Hilliard and set her purse down on the floor.
“Abby,” Kyle said by way of greeting, and also as a cue to start the meeting.
“Is this a short trip, Abby?” Claire Dugan interrupted, her sharp gaze boring into Abby from across the table.
Abby smiled, unruffled. “Just a weekend getaway. For my friends.”
Claire’s face remained passive. “Yes, we’d heard you’d taken a job up north.”
Abby didn’t bother to reply. The Dugan family surely knew everything about her from where she lived to what toothpaste she bought and where she bought it.
“Well,” Claire announced, usurping the central role from her son. “I, for one, would like to congratulate you on your new job. Mick was always very supportive of his employees and their families. Since you’re here for a visit, we’d like to offer you-”
“Ten million dollars,” Abby finished for her.
There was no sense in dragging this out any longer than was necessary, was Abby’s way of thinking. Plus, while the Dugans might appear to be a comical mix of a trophy wife past her prime, a grasping, laughably inept son, and an air-headed daughter, Abby knew looks were deceiving. Claire Dugan had as much to do with the operation of the Coral Canyon as her son and her daughter, while not the brightest of progeny, certainly could hire an army of lawyers who were.
Claire gaped.
“Abby-” Kyle scoffed as though she were being childish.
Abby picked up her purse. “We’re in Vegas,” she declared. “Let’s gamble.”
She pulled Nicolette’s envelope out of her purse and set it face up on the table, close enough that Hilliard could see the letterhead. She tapped it casually.
“For 10 million dollars, I will sell you this envelope. But if you’re feeling lucky, let’s open it and let the chips fall where they may, so to speak.”
Claire snorted, which was highly unladylike, but Abby was wise enough not to comment. “It’s surely not the only copy.”
Abby shook her head. “No. I’m certain Nicolette has her own copy. But she can do nothing with it. Not without me. And I’m also certain Mr. Hilliard here has brought along a waiver that I’m supposed to sign relinquishing any claim I might make for a sum of....” Here she looked at Hilliard, who cleared his throat. He was clearly embarrassed by the Dugan’s paltry offer.
“One hundred thousand dollars,” he told her.
Now it was Abby’s turn to scoff. “We all know I’m worth much more than that.”
“Bitch,” Gillian seethed.
Claire held up a hand to silence her daughter.
“Ten million,” Abby repeated. “Or we open this envelope. And I book myself for an extended stay.”
Gillian stormed out and Kyle looked like he might kill Abby rather than agree to that amount. Claire finally sighed and nodded to the lawyer. None of the Dugans stayed in the room, as though they couldn’t be bothered to be associated with Abby for longer than absolutely necessary.
Hilliard smiled at her and produced a different sheaf of papers from his briefcase. Apparently he had anticipated that Abby wouldn’t be going down without a fight. He filled in the appropriate numbers and called the casino floor to issue a cashier’s check.
As they waited he loosened his tie. “You should stay, Abby.”
Abby returned the smile, but shook her head. “I can’t. This is not my town, Mr. Hilliard.”
Undeterred the old man said, “It could be.”
“Vegas killed my father,” Abby said, somewhat wearily. “It killed Mick, too.”
Hilliard sighed and nodded, his Old Vegas eyes showing that he understood that while the death certificates might say “Pancreatic Cancer” and “Heart Disease” it was years of trying to keep your soul relatively clean in this dirty little town that eventually did both men in. Abby silently wondered how long the old man in front her had left, and whether he thought it had all been worth it.
Twenty minutes later Hilliard handed her the check and offered her a heartfelt handshake.
Abby returned the friendly sentiment and headed back upstairs.
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
As Abby entered the suite, Tex stood up from the chair he was lounging in. She tossed her purse on the couch and kissed him.