By the time LaShaun went back to the living room, Momon Odette and Devin were chatting like old pals. A stack of legal papers was laid out on the coffee table. Momon Odette sat in a high back upholstered chair. She waved a hand at the documents, but didn’t look at them.
“I knew you would come up with the right solution. Clever young man.” Momon Odette gave him a regal nod of approval.
Devin accepted her praise with a tilt of his head. “Thank you, Mrs. Rousselle, but that’s why you’re paying me.”
He started to go on but stopped when he noticed LaShaun standing in the door holding the tray. He rose quickly and approached her.
“Let me help you. That looks heavy.” Devin took the wooden tray from LaShaun. After LaShaun handed him the china cup and served her grandmother the cup of tea, he examined the tray.
“That is a beautiful piece. May I?” Devin pointed to it.
“Certainly,” Momon Odette replied with a smile of indulgence.
Devin removed the small sugar and cream pots on the tray, putting them aside on the table. Then he lifted up the tray turning it around to get a full view of all sides.
“Fabulous. I know at least three antique dealers and two museums that would love to get their hands on this,” Devin said, almost as thought talking to himself. He seemed to take in every detail of the tray.
With raised sides painted black, the center of the tray inside had a pattern of tropical flowers painted. Carved parrots in vivid green and red served as feet on all four corners.
“I’m sure they would,” Momon Odette agreed with a short laugh. Her eyes gleamed as she watched Devin.
LaShaun watched him then switched her gaze to her grandmother. Momom Odette seemed to take pleasure in watching the young legal shark covet her possession. LaShaun knew her grandmother was an astute judge of character. No doubt she had chosen this attorney because his greed for fine things could be used to her advantage. Her grandmother gave her a quick wink.
“I’ve never seen anything quite like this. Each of these parrots is carved with such detail. The colors are still quite vivid.” Devin seemed to have forgotten.
“Brought over from Haiti by my grandmother’s great-grandfather. It is made from acacia and teakwood.” LaShaun walked over to join him. When she reached out for it Devin seemed reluctant to let it go. After a second he handed it to her.
“One of a kind,” he murmured.
“The artist signed here- Osjami,” LaShaun continued. “We believe it was made in Cuba and was a gift to our family. My ancestors spoke out against slavery in Cuba, which ended some twenty years after the Civil War in this country.”
“Fascinating.” Devin ran his blunt manicured fingers over the tray one last time then set it down again.
“To business then,” Momon Odette announced with nod to the lawyer.
“Of course,” Devin replied. His gaze lingered on the tray a moment longer then he turned to her. “Have you prepared your family as we discussed?”
“They know I’m making preparations for a future when I’m no longer in this life.” Momon spoke in a placid tone. “Sensible given my age and ill health.”
“Yes,” Devin said and sat down in one of four large chairs. “Specifically you explained the way the trust has been set up?”
LaShaun suppressed a smile. Devin, in typical lawyer fashion, recognized Momon Odette’s response had not answered the question he asked. He waited patiently for Momon Odette to try again. LaShaun could not resist putting her grandmother on the spot.
“Not I, but then I’ve only been home for a little over twelve hours. My uncles and aunt may know all about this trust.” LaShaun sipped coffee from her china cup.
“Well, that’s the purpose of this meeting, Mr. Martin.” Momon Odette waved a hand as if to say it was no big deal.
“Ahem, if you don’t mind me saying this,” Devin began and then shot a sideways glance at LaShaun. When she gave a small shrug he plunged ahead. “This is a substantial change from the previous will. In my experience taking family members by surprise without some preparation is— “. Well, things can get volatile at times in families.”
“Don’t fret, Mr. Martin. LaShaun will make sure you don’t get hurt,” Momon Odette said, her lips twitching in amusement.
“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Devin said. He looked at LaShaun. “Though I’m sure the lady is more than capable.”
LaShaun returned his smoky topaz gaze. This Devin was a distraction she hadn’t counted on. Slick is what Ree had called him. LaShaun felt a familiar tingle down her spine. His sexy eyes promised pleasure with a dash of risk thrown in. Maybe she had grown tired of playing it safe. Not that she had to give in to the old tendencies. She would have to be careful if she climbed into this baby’s playpen. She had a feeling Devin was unscrupulous. Still his smile pulled LaShaun in like a strong vine that had wrapped itself around her body. She smiled back.
“I will do my best to take care of you,” LaShaun said.
“I look forward to that,” Devin murmured. In an instant the sensual smoky gaze cleared and he was back to business. “Mrs. Rousselle, are you sure this is what you want to do with your property?”
LaShaun pushed down the old urges to give in to her wild side. His comment brought her back to the business at hand. “What have you done, Momon?”
When her grandmother didn't answer Devin cleared his throat. "Very unique, but perfectly legal. She put most of her assets in a revocable trust. You and your cousin Ms. Rita Rousselle are the co-trustees upon Mrs. Rousselle's death. Distribution of the income from various properties and investments has certain stipulations."
LaShaun had run out of patience. "What exactly are these 'stipulations'?"
"Go on." Momon Odette waved a hand at him in regal fashion. She picked up her cup of coffee and sipped from it, a placid expression on her face.
"Quite simply stated the named beneficiaries have to prove they can be trusted. The payments are depending on them meeting certain goals. And of course paragraph twelve makes it even more interesting. I've never created such a trust or will as this. I'll bet these documents could be written up in law journals later." Devin picked up one set of legal-sized documents and looked at them. He seemed pleased with his own work.
"Goals?" LaShaun took the papers from his hand to read over them.
As the implications of the legalese sank in LaShaun scowled at her grandmother. Momon Odette studied the contents of her cup as though she found the dark liquid intensely interesting.
"Oh this is going to be written up alright. It's going to written up in the newspapers when all hell breaks loose," LaShaun snapped.
Episode 5
