“Why should we listen to this?” Henry faced the lawyer across the polished boardroom table.
“I think you’ll find your father’s—”
“Malcolm. Don’t call him my father.”
The Everest Group had always been Malcolm Devonshire’s life. Of course, now that he’d turned seventy, it was no surprise that the old man had gotten in touch with him and his half brothers. He probably wanted to make sure that his life’s work didn’t end with his own death.
Geoff was the eldest of the three of them. Henry couldn’t really say much about the other men. He didn’t know either of his half brothers any better than he did their biological father. Geoff’s very aristocratic English-looking nose betrayed his place in the current royal family.
“Mr. Devonshire is dying,” Edmond Strom said. “He wants the legacy he worked so hard to create to live on in each of you.”
Edmond was Malcolm’s…butler, Henry thought. Or maybe man of affairs would be more apt.
“He didn’t create the legacy for us,” Steven said. He was the youngest.
“Well, he has an offer for the three of you now,” Edmond said.
Henry had actually met his father’s lawyer and personal assistant more times than he had his father. Edmond had been the one to deliver Christmas and birthday presents when he’d been younger.
“If you would all please sit down and allow me to explain,” Edmond said.
Henry took a seat at the end of the conference table. He had been a rugby player and a pretty good one to boot, but that had never gotten him the one thing he’d really craved—Malcolm’s acknowledgment of him. He couldn’t explain it any better than that. His own father had never recognized any of Henry’s accomplishments. So he had stopped looking for it and gone his own way.
Which didn’t explain why he was here now. Maybe it was simple curiosity about the old man.
Edmond passed three file folders across the table, one to each of them. Henry flipped his open and saw the letter his father had written to the three of them.
* * *
Geoff, Henry and Steven;
I have been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. I’ve exhausted every avenue to try to prolong my life and have now come to believe I only have six months left.
None of you owe me allegiance, but I hope that the company that brought me into contact with your mothers will continue to prosper and grow under your leadership.
Each of you will control one of the divisions. You will be judged on the profit you make in your segment. Whoever shows the best acumen for running their segment will be appointed CEO and Chairman of The Everest Group.
Geoff—Everest Airlines. His time as an RAF pilot and traveling the globe will serve him well.
Henry—Everest Records. I expect him to sign the music groups he’s already helped make their way up the charts.
Steven—Everest Mega Stores. Hopefully his genius for knowing what the retail public wants will not fail him.
Edmond will monitor your progress and make reports to me. I would have come to speak with you today, but my doctors have confined me to my bed.
I have one caveat. You must all avoid scandal and focus on running your segment or the deal is off, regardless of profit. The one mistake I made in my life was letting my personal life distract me from my business. I hope the three of you can benefit from my mistakes and I trust you will accept this challenge.
Yours,
Malcolm Devonshire
* * *
Henry shook his head. The old man had just said he considered their births a mistake. Henry had no idea how Geoff and Steven would feel about that, but it ticked him off. “I’m not interested.”
“Before you turn down Malcolm’s offer, you should know that if any of you opt out, the money that was put in trust for your mothers and for each of you will be forfeit upon his death. The company would retain it all.”
“I don’t need his money,” Geoff said.
Henry didn’t either, but his mother might. She and her second husband had two sons they were raising. Though Gordon made a decent wage as head coach for the London Irish, they could always use a little extra, especially since they’d have to pay for university for those boys.
“May we have a moment to discuss this alone?” Steven asked.
Edmond nodded and left the room. As soon as the door closed behind Edmond, Steven stood up.
“I think we should do it,” Steven said.
“I’m not so sure,” Geoff said. “He shouldn’t put any stipulations on his will. If he wants to leave us something, so be it.”
“But this affects our mums,” Henry said, siding with Steven as he gave this more thought. Malcolm had broken off all contact with his mum once she was pregnant. That had always bothered him. He’d like to give her something of Malcolm’s…the thing that Malcolm had prized more than any of the actual living people who’d been in his life.
“It does affect them,” Geoff said, leaning back in his chair as he thought it over. “I see your point. If you two are in then I’ll do it, as well. I don’t need his approval or his money.”
“Me, either.”
“So we’re all in?” Henry asked.
“I am,” Geoff said.
“I think he owes our mothers something on top of child support. And the chance to turn a bigger profit than he did? Now that’s something I can’t resist.”
Chapter 1
Astrid Taylor had started working for the Everest Group exactly one week ago, and her job as it had been described to her had sounded…like a glorified nanny but it paid well and that was all that mattered right now. She was to be an assistant to one of Malcolm Devonshire’s sons.
Her experience as an executive assistant for legendary record producer Mo Rollins had ensured she’d get the job with Everest Records. She was glad they hadn’t asked too many questions about her dismissal from her last job.
“Hello, Ms. Taylor, I’m Henry Devonshire.”
“Hello, Mr. Devonshire. I’m happy to make your acquaintance.”
Henry held his hand out to her and she shook it. He had big blunt hands with neatly trimmed square nails. His square-jawed face sported a nose that looked as though it may have been broken more than once. Only fitting since he’d been a first-class rugby player until an injury sidelined him. He was still lean and athletic looking.
“I need you in my office in five minutes,” he told her. “Bring everything you have on Everest Group Records. Financials, groups we have signed, groups we should drop.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Devonshire,” she said.
He paused on the threshold before entering his inner office and smiled at her. “Call me Henry.”
She nodded. Dang it, he had a perfect smile. The kind that left her feeling utterly gob smacked. Which was ridiculous. She’d read the reports in the tabloids and gossip magazines—he was a player. One with a different girl every night, she reminded herself.
“Please, call me Astrid,” she said.
He nodded. “Have you been working here long?”
“Only a week. I was hired to work specifically with you.”
“Good, then you won’t be torn about who is in charge,” he said.
“No,