Three and a Half Weeks(18)
“Hmmm, conundrum.” He rubbed his chin. “What do you suggest—since I pay you such a handsome hourly rate for your erudite counsel?”
“I think the best approach is a soft one, as long as you’re not in a rush. I’ll meet with her and her attorney and we’ll discuss various outcomes. Perhaps I’ll feel her out about actually meeting with you directly to see if there’s a way all parties can walk away from the table feeling like winners. Sound acceptable?”
“Very. Keep me posted.”
Chapter 4
“Normally, Ella, I’d say don’t worry about it—it’s just a simple matter of remedy but this is Ian Blackmon we’re talking about. The man wields considerable influence.”
My attorney doesn’t sound optimistic.
“Stephen, that’s not what I want to hear.”
“Yes, Ella, I’m aware but it is what it is. Accordingly, we need to take a proactive approach.”
She’d never seen Stephen look so defeated—a fact that didn’t bode well for her. “Why isn’t the disclaimer in the front matter of the book enough protection to defend against breach?”
Stephen sighs. “Normally it is, however, if a book is transparently disguised as fiction and actually about a real person… and that real person has the money, clout, and inclination to pursue a legal remedy…”
He must see the dejection on my face for he smiles and brightens his voice. “Look, Ella, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Before I commit to any course of action, I’m planning to meet with Blackmon’s attorney to get some clarity as to how far his client wants to take this suit.”
“Give me an idea of what we’re up against. My imagination is taking me to ugly places, Stephen.”
“Well, it can go one of several ways. The worst-case scenario is that we have to pull the book off the shelves and remunerate Blackmon for copies already sold. I don’t think it will ever get that far—especially considering that the book was marketed as fiction and no real harm to Blackmon can be measured, at least none that we know of.
“Or Blackmon might demand a percentage of all profits on a retroactive basis. That can become costly very quickly but it won’t bankrupt you. You’ll just be a lot less wealthy tomorrow than today. You’ll still do well, Ella, and we might be able to shield the film profits from his reach.
“The third possibility—and this is the best outcome—is that you and Blackmon hash it out personally, as friends. If that’s a viable option, it would be best, since you may be able to mollify him with a few simple assurances. After all, he certainly doesn’t need your money. I can’t imagine what’s motivating him to do this since all it can garner him is negative publicity. Unless that’s what he’s looking for? Some notoriety?”
I snort. “I seriously doubt that, Stephen, or he wouldn’t have everyone who comes in contact with him sign all sorts of legal contracts to protect him—from exposure and litigation. To my mind, that spells paranoid with a capital P.”
“True, but it could be he’s merely acting on his attorney’s advice. You don’t get where Blackmon is without making a few enemies along the way.”
“How did he make his money? Do you know?”
“Yes, I know a lot more about Blackmon today than I ever did before. I do my homework, Ella. Let’s see: he was some kind of financial wunderkind back in college. Began at MIT, switched to Yale, I believe, for graduate studies. Money can buy one’s way into those schools but it can’t buy the grades and Blackmon had them. Graduated summa cum laude— Greek, of course, Delta Kappa Epsilon. So he’s not just a pretty face.
“Apparently, though his parents are wealthy, they’re not big proponents of inherited wealth so their kids were encouraged and expected to succeed on their own merits, which undoubtedly he would have regardless but Ian had a friendly hand assist him. As a teen, he befriended an elderly lady in his neighborhood—you know, mowed her lawn, took out her dog, picked up groceries for her—and when the woman died, she left our Mr. Blackmon a bundle. He was not even twenty.
“He must be a poker player because he went all in. Bet on a few friends’ Web start-ups and parlayed his original principal—I think it was a few grand shy of a million—into a fortune. From there, he began to diversify, investing in commercial real estate, green-energy initiatives, and hydro technology. He has keen business acumen and he made the Forbes list by his second or third year in business.”
“Hmmm.” I’m not surprised so a verbalization is unnecessary. Stephen’s eyes bore into mine. “What?” I inquire.