(See the first chapter for disclaimer, notes, spoiler, etc.)

Chapter Eleven: "Know How Much"

Casey

He walked down through the open office, feeling dozens of eyes on him as they passed several clusters of desks. Well, the eyes were mostly turned to Olivia. The Liberty employees hadn't seen her in this building in months. He reached up, his hand skimming over the tight knot of his tie and down the coat of his suit. He felt out of place. He always did in a suit. A suit and tie, an office building, a shareholders meeting…this was not his natural habitat.

He couldn't wait to be back at the house, wearing board shorts and a t-shirt.

So focused was he on his own thoughts that he didn't realize Olivia stopped walking until he bumped into her. "Sorry!" he exclaimed, seeing they were now in a hallway. His voice echoed in the enclosed space and he flinched. "You ok?" he asked, dropping his voice to a whisper.

Olivia nodded and gestured to the closed door before them. "This was Gregory's office," she murmured. He froze and looked up. No one has any experience until they start. We'll get to work when Olivia and I get back from Italy. As he exhaled slowly, he felt her hand on his wrist. "Would you like to go in?"

He shook his head and glanced over. Her eyes crinkled, concerned, as she watched him quietly. "Maybe later," he replied. "After the meeting."

With a slight nod and a perpetually sad smile, she continued walking. "I should check in with my secretary," she said, turning into the office next to Gregory's. "I might as well start picking up my messages myself again."

The outer office was quiet, save for the gentle clicking of the secretary's keyboard. The young woman jumped in surprise and stood quickly. "Mrs. Richards! I didn't think- I mean-"

He hung back, watching as the woman nervously stuttered and ultimately held out a stack of envelopes. "Thank you, Cori." She took them and explained, "Please let Ben know Casey and I are in the conference room."

She nodded. "Of course." She glanced quickly at him, but said nothing, before she cleared her throat and said softly, "It's nice to see you again, Mrs. Richards."

Olivia forced a smile and whispered her thanks as she turned away. "It's just this way, Casey," he heard her say as she thumbed through the envelopes. He glanced over his shoulder, smiling at the young woman. She nodded and returned his smile. It wasn't Olivia's fault though. As kind and sensitive as people tried to be, it was still hard to hear the unspoken condolences and expressions of sympathy.

He caught up to Olivia in the hallway as she ripped into an envelope and unfolded a letter. A moment later, she inhaled sharply. "Something wrong?" he asked. When she looked up, her expression was stone and he took a step back. "Olivia?"

"Later," she said simply, her voice strangely clipped as she folded the letter back up. They walked into the empty conference room, large leather chairs surrounding the long table. She dropped the stack of envelopes onto the table with a gentle thump and pulled out the chair to the right of the head. He was too nervous to sit though. Instead, he rested his hands on the top of the chair next to hers and sighed deeply. "You're more prepared than I am, Casey," she said softly as she leaned back. With a glance up at him, she concluded, "You'll do fine."

As their eyes met, a booming voice echoed in the conference room. "Olivia, Casey, I hope you haven't been waiting long."

He turned to Ben as Olivia replied, "Not at all. Just a moment."

"I hope I'm not late?"

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Olivia look up quickly as AJ Deschanel's voice rang out. "Ben?" she asked sharply.

Ben sighed, as if he had correctly guessed Olivia's reaction and was already exhausted from rehearsing his response. "Olivia-" he began at the same moment AJ said, "I was under the impression everyone was aware of my proposal."

He felt himself frowning as Ben looked up, seemingly for help. But, he said nothing and only watched as the other man glanced from AJ and back to Olivia. "I apologize," he began, though his tone suggested anything but apology, "if this feels like a surprise." He couldn't help it. Meg's husband or not, this was a scumbag move. He scoffed beneath his breath and took a seat in the chair next to his stepmother. A moment later, Ben and AJ took the seats directly opposite them.

"Olivia, how are you doing?" Ben asked and he couldn't help but marvel over the absence of concern in his question.

Olivia squared her shoulders and looked from AJ to Ben. "Fine. You?" she countered. As Ben moved to reply, she continued, "Or, we could dispense with the niceties and get straight to the point."

He smirked to himself as Ben and AJ exchanged a not-so-subtle look. "Very well, Olivia," Ben sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "Not long after Gregory's death, I began fielding questions from our business partners."

"Which ones?" he heard himself ask and he was impressed with how even his tone sounded. Nearly confident. It certainly sounded more confident than he felt.

Ben's eyes flickered to him. "The bank. Our construction company. The architect. The engineering firm. The town council." He turned back to Olivia and continued, "The blatant unease started about two months ago."

"Unease over what?"

"Us," he stated bluntly. "They all trusted Gregory implicitly. Without him, there is a concern with the financing package we've secured through the bank. Without him, there is a concern the MUMI property development will fall apart."

There was a long moment of silence and he glanced over, watching as Olivia said, "Not us, you mean. Me. They're uneasy about me. I'm the majority shareholder now."

"Yes." The hard, but simple, truth, reverberated in the conference room.

Olivia's gaze turned to AJ. "That's why you're here."

He watched as AJ sent his stepmother a charming smile. "As a friend, Olivia. Only as a friend." When she said nothing, he continued, "Since returning to Sunset Beach, naturally the property development project has been all the town council can talk about. They're still supportive of the project, but I know how much worry churns beneath that support."

"Let me guess: you can stop them from worrying?" he asked, looking squarely at AJ. From the edge of his vision, he felt Olivia's gaze turn to him as AJ replied, "Simply, young man, yes. Yes, I can."

Ben leaned over, interjecting, "AJ has offered to transfer liquid assets to the Liberty Corporation. The assets will be converted into cash and applied to the MUMI project. This influx of cash will reassure everyone of the soundness of both Liberty and the project."

"In exchange for what?" Olivia asked quietly. A long beat of silence went by. "Surely, AJ expects something in return."

Ben cleared his throat and explained, "A minority shareholder stake in Liberty."

He felt himself pale as AJ added, "Along with voting rights." This was wrong. Gregory wouldn't want this. As he shifted in the chair, he heard Olivia sigh, "That's a generous offer, AJ. But, I don't think we'll need it."

"Olivia, for God's sake-" Ben began as AJ said, "Olivia, dear, I don't think-"

She leaned back in the chair, the leather cushion hissing. "What I do think," she began, her voice low and surprisingly calm, "is that everyone will be reassured when we announce that Gregory's shares will be transferred to Casey." A roar flushed in his ears as his heart exploded. In shock, he turned to his stepmother as Ben and AJ gaped at them. "As well as assuming Gregory's oversight role on the MUMI project."

"Olivia, this is insane!" Ben groaned as he rubbed his face. "Casey can't even begin to understand the magnitude of this project! It's valued at more than 95 million dollars!"

"I think you'll find," she said softly, "that Gregory did an exceptional job of bringing Casey up-to-speed on where things stood with the project. Casey is well-versed on all the details. I think our business partners and stakeholders will be reassured by the involvement of Gregory's son in the project."

"What?" Ben exclaimed. "Gregory never mentioned bringing Casey in!" He glanced over at him and scoffed, "Judging by the look on Casey's face, it appears Gregory never discussed it with him either!"

"Nonsense," she sniffed, turning to Casey with a long gaze. Her calm expression didn't waver, but he saw what was unspoken in her eyes. "Casey's just surprised because we hadn't planned on announcing this today." He found himself nodding as she turned back to Ben and continued, "But, you didn't give us any other option."

"Be that as it may," AJ said, "my offer still stands."

"Shall we bring it to a vote then?" Olivia asked, her words clipped. "All those in favor of AJ's offer?" Ben raised his hand. "All opposed?" He raised his right hand a full second before Olivia did. "Well, then. That's settled. Was there any other business, Ben?"

Ben's hard gaze sizzled across the table as he shook his head. "That's all," he muttered as AJ stood.

"Olivia, should you change your mind, my offer will stand. Indefinitely."

He and Ben stood at the same time as he heard himself say, "I don't think we will change our minds. But, if we do, I'll be in touch."

Olivia stood, reaching for the bundle of envelopes her secretary gave her. "Ben, we'll send over a draft of the press release announcing the transfer of Gregory's shares and Casey's appointment to the project by end of day." Ben nodded before he turned away, annoyed. He pulled back Olivia's chair and followed her out of the conference room. He glanced over his shoulder, just in time to see Ben and AJ huddled by the windows in deep discussion.

His stepmother was more than halfway down the hall and he walked quickly to catch up to her at the elevators. "Olivia, I-"

"You handled that very well," she murmured, brushing her hair back behind her ear. The confidence from just a few moments ago evaporated as she flashed a weak smile. "I'm sorry I blindsided you."

"Did you mean it though?"

She glanced up, surprised. "Of course. It was the only way I could justify turning down AJ's offer." The doors opened and he was relieved to see the elevator was empty. When they stepped in and the doors closed, he leaned against the wall and ran a hand through his hair. A split second later, Olivia continued, "But, Gregory hated AJ. He never would have accepted his offer."

He exhaled deeply and loosened his tie. "Why'd he hate him?"

With a tired sigh that segued to a groan, she explained. "Because…because I used to date him."

"Seriously?" he scoffed, bewilderment and laughter clouding his question. "That's why?

She shrugged and folded her arms against her chest. "There might have been other reasons, but that was the main one." Her face stilled as she turned to him and continued, "They had a rather vicious fight shortly before Gregory and I became engaged. Gregory involved the police and threatened to press charges. Not long after, AJ left Sunset Beach for good." He nodded dumbly as he heard her say, "It probably seems silly, holding onto a grudge like that for more than forty-"

"I mean, I don't like hearing about Diana's old boyfriends," he murmured as he rubbed his face. "But, seriously…Olivia, I don't think I can do this."

"You can," she said softly. "You can and you will. I'll help you. I won't let you fail."

He slumped against the wall of the elevator. 95. Million. Dollars. Despite Olivia's stubborn confidence in him, he felt completely over his head. "Well," he sighed, with more joviality than he felt, "at least Diana will be happy to hear about the new job."


Evy

She leaned against the arm chair, forcing a polite smile. "Are you sure you don't want a cup of coffee?" she asked.

Stanley Berenson, Dad's estate lawyer, looked up briefly from his iPhone. "No, no," he murmured as he turned his attention back to the phone's screen. She frowned and folded her arms against her chest. Without looking up again, he continued, "I don't need to be minded like a small child, Evelyn. I'm perfectly capable of waiting for your mother by myself."

With a slow nod, she stood slowly. "If you're sure," she trailed off, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Stanley?" When he looked up, waiting expectantly, she cleared her throat and asked, "Is there something wrong? With Dad's will?"

His expression didn't move. Not even an inch. She sighed internally. God, lawyers. "I'm sure you're aware, Evelyn, that I'm not able to answer your question."

"Why not though? I'm one of Dad's heirs."

"Are you sure?" he asked simply. She gaped at him for a long moment until his stone-cold expression shifted to one of mild amusement. "Regardless of the fact that you're a named heir in your father's will, there is a matter I need to discuss with your mother and only your mother."

"Well, I'm not sure what time she and Casey will be back from the Liberty building."

With a pleasant smile, he pointed out, "Which is why I'm perfectly capable of waiting for your mother by myself."

As she opened her mouth to reply, the doorbell rang. "If you'll excuse me then," she sighed, already annoyed with the older man as she turned for the front door. She hoped Benjy wouldn't end up being this kind of lawyer: cagey and secretive. She pulled open the front door, her sigh deepening when she saw who was waiting on the other side. "Morris. Hi. Mom's not here."

The older man nodded quickly, his hulking presence immediately filling the open doorway. "Would you mind if I wait for her? There's something I need to discuss with her."

She rolled her eyes and stepped back, letting him see into the living room where Stanley waited. "Get in line," she muttered as he walked in. As she closed the door, she heard him and Stanley exchanging introductions. "Coffee, Morris?" she asked, watching as he anxiously twisted his hands. "Maybe decaf?"

"No, no." He frowned and glanced down at his watch. "Do you know what time Olivia will be back?

She cocked her head as an ice-cold shiver washed over her. His tone was strained. "No, not exactly. What's wrong?"

He shook his head and muttered, "Nothing," at the same moment as Stanley said, "I think I will take that coffee now, Evelyn."

Typical. "Sure thing. I'll get right on that." She rolled her eyes again and turned for the kitchen at the same moment Mom and Casey walked through it. "Oh, thank God. Finally. Mom, Stanley and-"

Then, she saw Mom's face. It was the angriest she'd seen her since Dad died. And, she had a feeling she knew why.


Olivia

My fingers drummed an irritated rhythm on my thigh as Casey turned the car onto Ocean Avenue. Thank God he had taken the car keys when we left the house this morning without even a second thought. It's been months since I've driven a car. Since New Year's. But, after opening that letter and that fiasco of a shareholder's meeting, there was no way I could've driven home. The car might've ended up off the road and in a sand dune.

"Olivia?" The ride had progressed in mostly silence, both of us wrapped in our own thoughts. "Both of us going to Florida at the end of the week for Ally's graduation won't be an issue for the project, will it?" I closed my eyes. After everything that happened this morning, I had momentarily forgotten Casey, Evy, the children, and I were leaving in two days. "No. No, of course not," I murmured.

I opened my eyes as he braked slightly and turned the car into the drive way. "Were you expecting anyone?" he asked at the same moment I noticed the two cars in the driveway.

My left hand clenched around the now crumpled letter as he slowly drove into the garage and parked the car. "Morris?" I mused aloud. "But, I don't know about the other car." She didn't know it, but Evy was grateful for the visitors. There was no way I was wringing her neck in front of them. I climbed out of the car, letting the door slam. My heel clicked a determined staccato on the concrete as I followed Casey into the house through the garage.

I was going to kill her.

I tossed the other envelopes onto the counter and kept the crumbled one still balled in my left fist. As I walked into the living room, I noticed Morris pacing in front of the patio door and Stanley Berenson sitting on the sofa. Evy was halfway between them and me, as if she had been about to leave the room. "Oh, thank God," she exclaimed when she saw me. "Finally. Mom, Stanley and-"

I shook my head slightly and she shrunk back, away from me, as her eyes widened. Perhaps she could see it on my face. That I knew. That she had lied for the last two weeks, probably even longer than that. I saw the way my hand trembled as I held the crumbled letter out to her. The one from Columbia University explaining that my payment for her summer tuition, residence hall fee, and meal plan in the dining hall were being refunded since she was, in fact, no longer enrolled in the upcoming summer semester. She swallowed hard, her face suddenly pale as she took the crumpled envelope. "Mom, I- I can-"

"We'll speak about this later," I said, hearing how tight my own voice sounded. She shook her head and I thought I saw the glimmer of tears in her brown eyes. She reached out, taking the letter from me before I abruptly turned away from her. The two men stood in the living room, watching me. "Morris? Stanley? What is it?"

What else could possibly go more wrong with this day?

The two men looked at each other, but said nothing. For God's sake. "One of you, speak," I hissed. A headache suddenly pounded behind my eyes as my patience brimmed over its limit. "I don't care what it is, just say it."

Stanley cleared his throat and said simply, "Olivia, I received a notice this morning that Gregory's will is being contested."

I felt the breath die in my throat as a wave of nausea went through me. From far away, I heard Evy gasp and, a moment later, I felt Casey behind me. Across the room, Morris' eyes burned into me as I rubbed my forehead and croaked, "By who?"

"Lisa Roberts, one of Gregory's former secretaries." I shook my head. The name meant nothing. Stanley eyed me closely, as if he were waiting for permission to continue. I jerked my hand and he cleared his throat before he continued, "She claims she and Gregory had an affair in 1994 and that he promised her a place in his will."

I tried to inhale, but couldn't. Gregory and his goddamn secretaries. Oh, wasn't this just the cherry on top of today? A rueful chuckle rose in my throat as the room spun. The absurdity of everything crested in my laughter as I raised my hands to my face. My stomach quivered as my laughter continued to spiral and grow in the living room. The exhaustion and stress of this morning – indeed, the last several months – and now Stanley's news made no more sense than did my laughter. But, in the face of insanity, this was the only reaction which made sense.

That's when I realized.

It was the first time I've laughed since Gregory died.

"Olivia? Olivia?" Stanley's voice cut through the laughter as my hands fell away from my face. "Olivia, I'm sorry, but I need to ask if it's true."

"True?" I chuckled, wiping tears of laughter from my eyes. "That Gregory slept with his secretaries?" I sighed, cupping my cheeks for a long moment before my hands fell away. "It is." Memories from decades ago flashed before my eyes. The rock bottom points in our marriage. My drinking. Our fights. Our affairs. The way we broke each other's hearts time and time again. The way we betrayed our marriage vows. The way we nearly destroyed each other. "But," I continued in a murmur, "there is no way – at all – that Gregory promised her that. Or promised her anything."

"Are you certain?" Stanley asked, somewhat doubtfully.

Choosing to continue ignoring that Casey and Evy were standing a breath away, I continued with the truth. "Gregory's mistresses were distractions. They never lasted long. The moment they became too serious, he would end it. He never would've promised any of them anything, let alone writing one of them into his will." With a frown, I rubbed my forehead and continued in a sigh, "Besides, Gregory changed his will shortly after he learned Casey was his son. Even if – if – he did tell this woman he was including her in his will, that will is long since revoked."

With a tight smile, Stanley buttoned his suit coat and reached for his briefcase. "You sound like a lawyer's wife."

"And, understand this, Stanley," I said pointedly, "we are not settling. Tell her lawyer we're not listening to a single deal they want to initiate. Period. She can fight this through the courts until she exhausts all her appeals or her money runs out, whichever comes first. But, she is not getting a single penny of Gregory's money."

In a day filled with circumstances beyond control, having a modicum of control again took the edge off.

"Noted," Stanley said. "I'll be in touch."

With a sigh, I watched as he saw himself out of the house. As the door closed behind him, I heard Evy tentatively begin, "Mom-"

"I'm not ready to talk with you just yet," I immediately replied as I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers into my forehead.

"But, Mom-"

"Evelyn Frances, not now." As I opened my eyes, I heard her sigh. The tattered envelope crinkled in her hand, shockingly loud in the sudden silence. I heard her apologize meekly before her feet sounded on the stairs.

A moment later, Casey asked, "Sh- should I go check on her?"

With a vague nod, I collapsed onto the sofa and gazed up at the ceiling. I listened to him follow Evy up the stairs and sighed again, utterly exhausted. "Are you still there, Morris?" I asked softly. It was ridiculous to ask, but it was all I could manage.

"I can come back tomorrow," his deep voice assured me from behind. "After that other news, it can wait."

"Can it?"

He cleared his throat and came around to my right side. With a swear and an exhalation, he crouched low and explained, "I probably should come back tomorrow."

Painstakingly, I turned to look at him. His dark eyes watched me carefully, but I could see the unease in them. What was more bad news after everything? "You didn't find him, did you? Gianni Cappello?"

He shook his head and I couldn't help the disappointed groan that rose in my throat. "But, Olivia, there's more to it. It's not just that I can't find him. It's that he doesn't exist."

"What do you mean? Of course, he exists. He spoke to the Italian police, to the newspaper reporter."

"And, then he disappeared," he said quickly. "Too quickly. His identification papers, the contact information he left with the Italian police…it was all fake."

"Fake?" Slowly, I sat up as my skull began to throb.

He nodded. "I've traced every living Gianni Cappello in Italy. All 237 of them. None of them were the Gianni Cappello who claimed he witnessed your car accident." He stopped so suddenly, so abruptly, I couldn't help but lean forward expectantly. "And, it doesn't make sense. Why would the man who witnessed the car accident – who did a heroic thing and rescued you – lie about who he is? Why would he lie, but go out of his way to give face-to-face interviews with several Italian reporters?"

"What are you saying?" I whispered, my skin crawling.

"I've spent the last two-and-a-half days running through every possible explanation for why he would lie. And… It doesn't make sense," he continued in a whisper, "unless you ask yourself if we've been told the truth about the car accident. About Greg's death."