Lex and Lu(22)

Lu watched warily as Caroline found a chair and pulled it up, in an effort to facilitate some kind of conversation. She had been introduced to Caroline earlier and she seemed nice enough, but now, Lu experienced a sense of foreboding that perhaps this wasn’t a casual conversation.

Tilting her head, Lu acknowledged Caroline with a smile. “You must be exhausted from your travels,” Lu began.

Caroline returned her smile, making her seem even more beautiful, softer somehow when she relaxed. “I am. It’s been a long couple of weeks. Throw a transatlantic flight into any week and it’s enough to make one tired.”

Not having ever left the country, Lu nodded but didn’t contribute anything.

“Are you OK?” Caroline inquired.

Taken aback, Lu nodded. “Yes. Thank you. Just a long, sad couple of days.”

“It must be nice to have Lex back in town,” Caroline ventured.

Lu smiled before she could stop herself. “Yes, it is. We spent our childhoods together, and it’s nice to see him.”

Caroline nodded, understanding reflected in her ice-blue eyes. Lu felt at ease. “I can tell he’s looking to you for comfort. He hasn’t been able to take his eyes off of you and he seems to like having you close by,” she observed.

Caroline didn’t seem to be looking for a response so Lu didn’t offer one.

Caroline leaned forward, in a manner that made the two of them look like they were conspiring together. “When I took over the management of Lex, there were certain things already in place. And since Mike Pellitteri essentially hired me, I was bound by attorney-client confidentiality.” She paused, smiled briefly, as if contemplating what to say. “Mike was one shrewd bastard.”

“I think you might be the only person who knew Mr. P. who would think it OK to call him a bastard,” Lu said, her annoyance clear in her voice.

Caroline merely smiled. “Don’t misunderstand me,” she said. “I don’t mean it as a slight. Just that when it came to managing his son’s career and money, he did everything right. When it came to Lex, he drove a hard bargain.” Again, she paused. “He was a hard act to follow.”

Lu knew this to be true. She never asked for details from anyone, but she knew that Lex was worth a lot of money. His soccer career had been storied. Lex’s talent and his father’s business acumen were a profitable combination.

“When I began going through Lex’s accounts, which are vast, I noticed that a trust had been set up. Twenty percent of everything Lex made was funneled into the trust.”

Lu got very still. When she thought back on this moment later, she would regret that she let her poker face slip.

“Mike never did tell me what that trust was for, but I can see from your expression that you know what it is?” she said, questioning Lu.

Lu, regaining her equilibrium, said, “No, I don’t.”

But she’d already shown her hand.

Caroline looked doubtful. For a moment, Lu thought she would let it go and relief surged through her. But it was fleeting.

“You don’t have to tell me. I imagine I’ll find out before too long.”

Although her tone dripped with understanding and sympathy, Lu felt suddenly chilled.

“I can see the way Lex is looking at you. He wants you. Just be careful.”

“You’re worried about me?” Lu asked, skepticism clear in her words.

Caroline continued to stare at her. Lu could see that she would be good at her job, representing her clients with equal parts charm and confidence.

“That’s an interesting question,” she responded. “I’m very familiar with the way Lex operates. Right now, he wants you; that’s plain as day. It’s equally clear that you want him. But you don’t really know him anymore. He’s not the same boy that you knew. And his attention span is short. You are familiar and convenient. But he’ll leave you behind. I’d hate for you to get hurt.”

“I certainly appreciate your concern, Caroline. But I’m not after Lex,” she reassured her, “not that it’s any of your business, though.” Lu just couldn’t hold that comment back. She liked Caroline, but this really wasn’t any of her business.

Caroline smiled, clearly not offended, and patted Lu’s knee. Lu got the distinct impression that Caroline was patronizing her, but she didn’t care as long as this conversation was reaching a conclusion.

“Just be careful,” she murmured as she stood up to leave. She was almost out the door when she stopped and turned to Lu. “I almost forgot,” she said, although Lu knew that she didn’t ‘almost forget’ anything. “Mike left a letter with me for Lex in case anything ever happened to him. I imagine it holds the key to the mystery that is the trust. I’ll give it to Lex before I leave tomorrow.” With that, Caroline swept from the room.