Chapter 6 - JESSICA DIDN’T WANT THE CAR
Jessica returned the Mercedes the next morning.
Richard called Michael before eight.
“Do you know what your girlfriend just did?”
Michael was staying at my house.
He held the phone away from his ear.
“Yes.”
“You put her up to this?”
“No.”
“I bought that for her.”
“She knows.”
“It cost a hundred and twenty thousand dollars.”
Michael looked at me.
I made coffee.
“Then I guess the dealership will be happy to see it.”
Richard nearly exploded.
Jessica had not returned the car because she suddenly hated money.
She returned it because the gift had become part of her father’s argument that she required a particular kind of man.
Richard had used the key like evidence.
Look what my daughter is accustomed to.
Can your son provide this?
Jessica wanted no part of it.
That afternoon she came over.
“I feel ridiculous.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because everybody probably thinks I’m some spoiled girl whose dad buys her cars.”
“Did you ask for it?”
“No.”
“Then stop carrying other people’s decisions.”
She stared at me.
“You and Michael say things exactly the same way.”
“Terrifying.”
She smiled.
Then became serious.
“My dad told me something about Riverside.”
I waited.
“He said you’re using the project to force us together.”
Michael laughed from the other side of the kitchen.
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
Jessica continued.
“He said if I break up with Michael, you’ll destroy the financing.”
I put down my coffee.
“That is not true.”
“I didn’t think it was.”
“Jessica, listen carefully. Your relationship with my son has nothing to do with Riverside.”
She nodded.
“If you break up tomorrow, our investment committee still does its job.”
Michael looked wounded.
“Could we choose a less aggressive hypothetical?”
“No.”
Jessica laughed.
I continued.
“If you marry him tomorrow, Richard’s disclosures still need to withstand review.”
Her smile disappeared.
“What disclosures?”
Michael looked at me.
I stopped.
Business confidentiality mattered.
Even now.
“Things your father needs to address with his advisers.”
Jessica understood.
She did not ask again.
That small moment made me trust her more.
She was curious.
May you like
She also knew where the line was.
Her father did not.
