“How did my father react to my turning his offer down?”
“I haven’t spoken to him, just to my law firm’s managing partner. He’ll break the news to your father.”
“Expect an explosion,” Evan said. “Old Dad has always exploded easily.”
8 0
L o i t e r i n g w i t h I n t e n t
“Do you think he’ll want to renegotiate?”
“He won’t have a choice; he can’t sell the business without my agreement, and it’s my guess that he’s already figured out that he’s not equipped to run the place.”
“Is there anyone in your family who is qualifi ed?”
“No, so selling is the right thing to do. Do you know what he was offered for it?”
“No, and if I knew I couldn’t tell you. There’s nothing stopping you from demanding to see the contract, though.”
“Good point. Tell your office that I want to see the contract, and that I won’t discuss it further u
ntil I see it.”
“I’ll do that. Where can I reach you?”
“I’m at the Gardens.”
“How about a cell phone number?”
“I’ve got to buy a new one; I’ll call you when I get it. In the meantime, you can leave a message at the Gardens.”
“Okay, Evan, I’ll request the contract.”
“Bye.” Keating hung up.
Stone redialed Bill Eggers.
“Eggers.”
“Evan Keating just called me. He wants to see the sales contract for the business.”
“Warren doesn’t have to show it to him,” Eggers said.
“He does if he wants Evan’s assent to sell. He says he’ll have nothing else to say until he sees the contract.”
“You haven’t been giving him legal advice, have you, Stone?”
“Me? I’m not his lawyer.”
“Exactly, so be careful what you say to him.”
“I won’t be speaking to him again, unless he sees the contract.”
“I’ll talk to Warren, and if he’s agreeable, I’ll FedEx it to you.”
Stone gave him the Marquesa address and hung up.
“Now negotiations get interesting,” he said to Dino.