AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“They sent the money to my account, so if there is any tax due it will be on my books, not yours.” He narrows his eyes as if I’m the one being annoying.
“That would mean this money is a gift from you,” I counter. “Then there will be gift tax that needs to be paid.”
“You are correct, and who pays the gift tax?” he asks, displaying his smartass grin.
“I know… the donor.” I relent, turning to look out the window. I know he doesn’t get it, but I don’t like the feeling of being given money out of pity. I would much rather work and earn it in some way instead of it being such an obvious handout.
“You aren’t very good at accepting gifts,” he reaches over and begins to tickle my ribs. “I want you to work on that, because I am going to insist on spoiling you a little.”
I giggle, unable to maintain my irked demeanor. “I’ve told you that I’ve never been money motivated and I have certainly never asked for a handout of any kind,” I tell him, reiterating basic moral values that are deeply instilled within me.
“That’s fine, but this was free money that we won together. I’m not going to need it,” he says, trying once again to explain his reasoning. “So relax, pay your bills and enjoy the rest. According to the attorney, Tyler and I will receive our first dividend payments in about a month.”
“I can only imagine what that check will look like,” I reply, knowing that it will most likely be up in the millions.
“If it’s the same as last quarter, it will be just over forty million,” he says unable to contain his grin. “That’s why I’m saying I’ll take care of the taxes.”
“Forty million,” I mutter, trying to even fathom what I would do with that kind of money. “Are you sure you can make that stretch for three whole months?”
“And I had less to do with earning that money than you did with the check you are holding in your hand,” he says with a rather pained expression. “Don’t think that I feel great about all of it coming to me just because someone killed my father. No matter how I try to rationalize it, it just seems like blood money.”
Anthony pulls into a parking spot in front of the bank, throws the SUV in park and spins backwards in his seat. “You two sure have some horrendous problems to overcome,” he says with a flash of anger in his eyes. “You are going to receive billions of dollars over the coming years,” he says focusing directly on Trey. “If you want to feel better about the money, do something good with it. You can start by helping Nolan and Aileen straighten out Firefly Media, just like Jack suggested.”
“You’re right,” Trey says, shaking off his emotions. “I will help them out. Dad would’ve helped Bill if he would’ve had the chance.”
“And you,” Anthony says, redirecting toward me. “It’s not your fault that your dad fucked everything up for your family. He took on the wrong guy and lost in a big way, but again, it’s not your fault. So quit acting like you don’t deserve anything. You both deserve it as much as anyone. Now, you see that man sitting at the bus stop over there?”
“Yeah,” Trey replies, glancing toward the street corner.
“Go give him all of the cash that you carry around in that fat money clip of yours,” Anthony says, staring at him until he pulls it out.
He then turns back to me. “You go deposit that check, get a few thousand in cash and give him a couple grand of it,” he says with a shimmer in his eyes. “You two will not only make his day, but he will talk about the two of you until his dying day.”
“You’re right,” Trey says, opening the clip where at least twenty five hundred dollar bills are folded inside. “You deposit your check and I’ll go have a talk with him,” he instructs me before opening the door and getting out of the SUV.
Trey
A look of fear crosses the man’s face as I approach the bench that he is sitting on. I give him a reassuring smile, but he scoots all the way to the end as I take a seat. I see these people all the time, but I have never really given them more than a fleeting thought. I guess I have always assumed that we have numerous programs that they can take advantage of in this country.
“It’s a nice day,” I say, trying to make small talk.
“Yeah, I’m glad it’s starting to warm up,” he replies rubbing his hands along his arms as if he is cold. “I haven’t had my coffee yet,” he grumbles, looking over at Starbucks, which is kitty corner down the street.
