The Last Option
Chapter Thirty: Sharing the Spoils

That afternoon Louis and Rebecca couldn't wait to celebrate. Sitting on the comfortable furniture in the hallway of Nathan's mansion, they toasted the dismissal of the filiation case that Phil Wilcox tried to bring to trial. "This is all yours," Louis told her, as she watched everything around her.

"I must admit Nathan's taste wasn't so bad," she said. "Although due to the characteristics of some things, it was most likely that Norma had chosen them. Today a woman came to do the cleaning, saying she does it three times a week. She had a poor face that scared me. Nathan wasn't used to hiring regular cleaning or kitchen staff for them, not a gardener or security personnel; just imagine: such a big house without servitude!".

"Nathan wasn't given to eccentricities like that, Rebecca," Louis said, taking a swig of champagne. "He never wanted to show off even though he tried to help a lot of people."

"But it is a disappointment! If he had wanted to help people he would have had a permanent staff here paying a salary every month, don't you think? The only regular I think was the driver, right?"

"Yes, only the driver, who by the way has already been discharged from the hospital. They have not sent the company the invoice for the expenses for his operation."

"If they do, pay it and try to make all the arrangements so they recognize his time with Nathan, plus compensation for what happened to him. I don't want him to sue me for more money." "Are you going to fire him? I think due to his condition you cannot do it, it would be counterproductive."

"That's why I tell you to compensate him and arrange his work time well. I'm not going to need him anyway."

"I understand he was only with Nathan for a few months."

"Better yet, the compensation won't be much then."

"Okay, I'll have the company accountant fix everything."

They were both silent for a moment, although they both had the same thought at that very moment, neither wanted to bring it up, until Louis decided to do so. "What about the baby?" He asked finally. "What will you do about him?"

She looked at him with an offended face.

"What do you think I'll do? Nothing! That boy isn't Nathan's son. Period! I will forget that he exists and so will you."

"But he will still be a latent threat to your interests, and I don't think Phil Wilcox is going to be quiet."

"But didn't Sizemore tell you the judge rejected his request and told the person who has him to recognize him as his son? I don't see what the problem is."

"Yes, Sizemore said that, but-"

"Don't tell me you believe everything that Phil said in court! Do you think that child is really Nathan and Norma's son?"

"Don't get upset, Rebecca, but everything points to yes."

She was furious again and struggled to contain herself for a few seconds. As fast as she raged at her explosive character, she controlled herself. She had that knack, which Louis admired in her. "And what do you think I should do then?" she asked, already controlled.

"In your place I'd replace out who has the baby and keep an eye on that person to make sure they don't try to make him Nathan's heir again. Sizemore heard in court the name of the person who has it but didn't pay attention, the very stupid one. "But that would always be living with that concern in my head, and you know I'm not one of those who hangs out on things, not even that. Isn't my style."

"Well, it was just a suggestion."

"I don't think they will do that again, if a judge has already refused to bring it to trial, the others will too. I'm already taking possession of the inheritance and everything Nathan owned. They will have nothing to fight shortly." "The judge rejected the request because he was an acquaintance of mine, Rebecca, and he owed me a favor. Remember that."

"Well, maybe you want to do that for me. You also want no one to take Nathan's place in the company in the future. Money wise, of course. The two of us would still be the only owners."

Louis made a face as if to think what he had proposed to Rebecca, but deep down he already had that purpose. He would take care of replaceing out who has the baby and where he is to keep an eye on them and maybe do the same thing he did. with Nathan. He could not risk sharing the company with anyone else.

He only agreed to share it with Rebecca because she did not want to interfere in managing it. If she had accepted Nathan's position in the company and decided to run it like her brother did, she would also be his enemy. Luckily for her, she was not interested in anything about running or managing the family business.

"I'll do you that favor, cousin, but just to make sure they won't try anything else against you. Or against us, as the legitimate and sole owners of Southern Hilltop Gold. I don't like the idea of sharing what we have earned with anyone else." "Thank you, cousin. I can always count on you."

"You're welcome, cousin. By the way: what will you do with all this? With everything that belonged to Nathan?"

Rebecca looked around her once more, sipping another gulp of champagne.

"I don't know, maybe I'll sell it all," she said dismissively. "What do you say? Do you want all of this?"

Louis looked around as well, thinking.

"Living Nathan's life doesn't interests me," he said, pretending to be disinterested. "I have my apartment in Manhattan, which is doing very well for me."

"Maybe if you make some changes you can move here. Think about it."

"And why don't you move in? It would do you good to settle down and be still in one place."

"You know it's not my style to be still anywhere. My thing is to travel and enjoy the good things in life, not being enclosed within four walls, much less always staying in the same city. I also have my apartment in which to stay when at some point I'm here again. This house would be very big for me. If you don't want it, or everything in it, then I'll sell it."

"Let me think about it, cousin. If I accept, how much would you sell me everything for?"

"I don't have to sell you anything; I'm not interested in your money. Everything is yours if you want it."

"Are you sure?"

"See it as Nathan's inheritance for you too, Of course, I'm not going to give you anything about the money," Rebecca gave a huge cynical smile, "that's all mine. I only give you this house and everything inside it."

"Which is more than enough. Thanks for your generosity."

"Don't thank me, you have helped me when I have needed you. It's the least I can do for you."

Louis felt his mission to own everything in the family was about to be fulfilled, as he only needed to fill Nathan's position at the company. He would not worry about Rebecca, for she did not represent any obstacle or threat to his interests. For the moment, she was excluded from his plans.