Chapter 8
Vee
“I want to stay here like this forever,” I said, lying on the floor, covered by a blanket.
I was positioned between Fin’s long legs, my head resting on his chest, and a roaring fire in front of us.
After my shower, I’d chosen soft pajama pants and a sweatshirt.
My stomach was filled with the delicious salad Fin assembled using the kit he’d bought and adding a variety of items such as vegetables, tofu, and almonds.
He too had a salad, but his included slices of medium-rare fillet.
We each had our second glass of wine on the nearby coffee table. However, my gaze was set on the flames, reminding me of the sky earlier in the evening.
“Don’t think about what comes next,” Fin said. “Let yourself rest.”
His words vibrated his chest and resonated through the condominium.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“What do you have to be sorry about?”
“I wanted you to get to know Dad. I was ready to tell him about us this morning. If only I’d asked to meet him—”
Fin hugged me tighter. “Don’t do that, Vee. Nothing about what happened could have been prevented with the words…if only.”
Pressing my lips together, I craned my neck and peered upward. “There are some things I haven’t told you.”
“Do you want to tell me?”
I nodded as my focus went back to the flames. “I need to think about them and talking would help. The only other person I could talk to about these things is Leigh, and while I trust her, I’m not sure about her parents—Aunt Rachel, I am. It’s Uncle Darin…” I shook my head. “I’m rambling.”
Fin leaned forward and kissed the top of my head. “Talking is good. As for your family, I don’t truly understand the dynamics. From what I recall, your mom left when you were young.”
“Very.” I exhaled. “Not my favorite subject. However, for what’s happening, my mother is irrelevant.
Dad did the best he could. When I was very young, there were nannies, but from the time I was school-age, it was mostly Dad and me.
Aunt Rachel was close. She tried to fill in where she could.
” My cheeks lifted with a weak smile. “Honestly, Dad didn’t leave many gaps.
He never made me feel like I was second. Until Daphne.”
Fin caressed my arms. “Spend your time with the memories of your good relationship.”
The guilt returned. “I wish I had told him about you.”
“What about your uncle and cousins? Did I sense some issues during my contract renegotiation meeting?”
Issues.
“Royce Beasley, general manager and no relation, has never thought of me as a significant part of the Coopers. Uncle Darin and Grant fall under that category too. Being the oldest grandchild of Grandpa Carroll, Grant feels he’s entitled to the team.
” I sat up and turned toward Fin. “Grandpa Carroll left the entirety of the franchise to Dad, even though he divided his estate with Dad’s sister, Aunt Rachel. ”
Small lines appeared near Fin’s blue eyes. “Why did he cut her out of the franchise?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “I asked her this morning.”
“This morning?”
“I know. Bad timing. I hadn’t given it a lot of thought until now.”
“Because you’re worried your dad would cut you out?”
I shook my head. “I found out tonight as I was leaving Daphne’s that Dad’s last will is over twenty years old.
Outdated, according to Dad’s personal attorney, Joseph Eads.
According to Mr. Eads and Uncle Darin, Dad was on the verge of changing his will.
He and I talked about it. He said it could wait until after the season. ”
Fin’s forehead furrowed. “I don’t understand. Is the old will bad?”
It was hard for me to form the words, the ones that I’d been thinking about since I left Daphne’s house—or where she lived. “The old will leaves everything, the estate and one hundred percent of the franchise, to me.”
Fin’s eyes opened wide. “And the will is how old?”
“Over twenty years.”
“Your dad left everything to you when you were only fourteen years old?”
I shrugged. “Cammy, the Coopers’ head of legal, said a more recent change had happened with the team, but as for his estate, yeah.
Mr. Eads said when the will was written, Dad was still burnt by my mother.
He was about to marry or had just married Daphne.
They didn’t have a prenup.” Another shrug.
“I didn’t know anything about that stuff at the time.
Anyway, Dad wanted to be sure the Coopers stayed within the family.
He also didn’t want Daphne to try to take my inheritance. ”
“Fuck, Vee, you’re—”
“Screwed? Over my head? Overwhelmed? Pick one or come up with something better.”
Fin reached for my hands. “You’re the sole heir to billions.”
“I don’t know about billions.”
“I do. I researched different teams before deciding on the Coopers.” He reached for his phone from the table.
As he did, I seized the stem of my wine glass and took a hearty drink.
“Here,” he said, reading his phone. “Your grandfather purchased the Coopers for twenty million dollars in 1978. Today, the Coopers and, according to this website, your father, have an estimated worth of six billion dollars.”
I closed my eyes and groaned.
“I’m not saying that a random internet search is the best way to determine the value of your father’s estate, but I would presume it’s relatively close.”
Opening my eyes, I searched Fin’s stare. “Does this make you want to stop whatever we have going on? Or does this make you…I don’t know, only want me for the money?”
His laugh filled the air. “Neither.”
“Neither?”
Fin leaned forward and took hold of my hands. “I’m not a billionaire, but money will never be an issue for me. So for the record, I’m not looking for a sugar mama. And as for running, I did that once. The reason was the opposite of what’s happening now.”
“I’m talking to you?” I tilted my head.
“Yes, Vee. We’re talking. My offers from before stand. I will be next to you, behind you, or holding your hand. It’s not like you just won the lottery.”
I shook my head, remembering Dad on that table.
“It is more like you inherited a lot.”
“A lot,” I repeated.
His eyes narrowed. “What was your dad going to change in the new will?”
“According to him, he was going to give me fifty-one percent of the Coopers.”
“Controlling interest.”
I nodded. “Thirty-nine percent would go to Uncle Darin and Aunt Rachel to be later divided between Grant, Philip, and Leigh.”
“That’s only ninety percent,” Fin said.
“I said the same thing to Dad. He said Daphne wanted a percentage.”
“And none of that is in writing?”
Pressing my lips together, I sighed. “Mr. Eads said he drafted the changed will. Dad never signed it.”
“What is Mr. Eads suggesting?”
“He’s suggesting I agree to split the Coopers the way Dad had intended.”
“And his estate?”
“I honestly don’t know. I would assume Daphne would get the house and land.”
“Who knows about the wills?” Fin asked.
“The attorneys, Uncle Darin, Aunt Rachel…well, I’m not sure what Daphne knows, but the rest of the family is well informed. Uncle Darin isn’t happy.”
“How do you feel?”
“Talking to Joseph Eads made me think I should get my own representation.”
“You don’t think he’s looking out for your best interests?”
“I don’t know, Fin. I wish I didn’t have to think about any of this until after Dad’s funeral.”
“Why do you have to?”
Sighing, I stood and slapped my palms against my thighs. “My family is…they can be intense. It took hours for us to agree on the funeral plans. Getting agreement on billions in assets will be impossible.”
Fin stood, meeting me chest to chest. “Vee, agreement isn’t necessary. As of sometime this morning, you are the sole beneficiary of Reid Hubbard’s last will and testament and the sole owner of the Coopers.”
My eyes opened wide. “What about us? Does the change affect your contract?”
“I don’t think so. I can have Jackson investigate it in the morning.”
I shook my head. “Please don’t. I don’t want Jackson knowing more than my family.” I tilted my head. “How were your meetings?”
“Somber. Tilson told us all to go home and mourn. Then to come back on Wednesday ready to beat the Raiders.”
Taking a step closer, I wrapped my arms around Fin’s toned torso. “I’m going to miss the time I spent with the players.”
“Why? Keep doing it. You’re in charge.”
“I have a lot to learn about being in charge. I always assumed I had another ten to fifteen years for on-the-job training with Dad.”
Fin reached for my chin and lifted it. After a soft kiss, he smiled.
“Maeve Hubbard, you will succeed at whatever you set out to do. The players and coaches are one hundred percent behind you. The staff at Maker’s Mark and Crystal Light love and respect you.
It seems to me that the only resistance you’re worried about is from within the executive offices. ”
“There’s a lot to be concerned about. I may have learned a little about play calling, but there is so much more I don’t know.”
“Who does?”
“Everyone…my family. We all have our strengths. Together we’re stronger.”
Fin inhaled, his chest pressing against my breasts. “Then keep everyone together. They have worked with your father without owning interest in the Coopers. If you choose to honor his original will, you aren’t changing anything.”
“Other than it’s me at the top.”
Fin’s lips quirked. “You’re amazing on top.” He tugged at my hand. “Come on. I don’t have to go into Maker’s Mark tomorrow, but I bet you do.”
“I do.”
“I’m going with you.”
“I could argue.”
“You could,” he agreed. “I plan on winning.”
“That’s why you were the right pick for our team.” I lifted my phone and wine glass from the table. After finishing the wine, I entered the passcode on my phone. My momentary smile faded. “Oh shit. I turned off the volume.”
“Did you miss any messages?”
Scrolling, I saw that I’d missed many. There was a missed call from Preston, but that wasn’t what garnered my attention.
“Two calls from Uncle Darin. He left a text message.” I looked at the time stamp.
“Shit, this was over two hours ago.” I read the message.
“Autopsy results are in. Answer your phone.”
I looked up at Fin. “It hasn’t been twenty-four hours.”
Fin shrugged. “I’m not sure how it works. Maybe they fast-tracked it?”
“It’s after ten. Should I call?”
“If you don’t, will you be able to sleep?”
I shook my head and hit the call button.