Stephanie received the email from her lawyer, Jordan Keeping. She was stunned. "What the fuck?" she asked.
Nando giggled. "Momma says bad word," Nando tattled. He sat on the floor as he laughed. Stephanie was amused by Nando thinking that saying "fuck" was laugh-worthy.
"Are you laughing at me?" Stephanie asked, pushing the laptop aside to sit on the floor beside Nando. She tickled his stomach, making him howl in laughter.
"Uncle," Nando said, using the word Enzo said meant to stop.
"Okay, I'll stop tickling you. Is my little guy feeling silly today?" Stephanie asked. Nando nodded, making his hair bounce on his shoulders. He needed a haircut, but Stephanie didn't want to cut off the gorgeous curls.
"No laugh at Momma. I laugh at bad words," Nando explained. "It funny."
"I'm glad you think cuss words are funny. Can you find Papa?" Stephanie asked. Nando nodded and ran from the living room.
Stephanie got back onto the couch. She managed to overcome the challenge of getting off the floor. Her abdomen protested, reminding Stephanie of the baby she was growing inside.
"Nando said you wanted me," Enzo said, entering the living room. "Mom's keeping Nando busy with snacks and juice. What's up?"
"Read the email from Jordan," Stephanie replied. Enzo was shocked the Rangeman owners included Stephanie as a shareholder and core member of Rangeman. "It has their signatures. My lawyer said it was legitimate. I have to sign the document confirming receipt and acceptance. What should I do?" Stephanie was afraid they would force her to move back to the States. She wasn't ready to leave Italy.
Enzo read the contract the lawyer offered. Stephanie had the right of refusal to be included in quarterly shareholder meetings. She could work as an invisible partner, only offering her vote when necessary. Her income would be over one million dollars in US funds per year. Stephanie wouldn't need to work. It was a difficult decision.
"Sweetheart, I think you should accept the role of invisible partner. They will only ask for your vote to break a tie. You will get updated once every month on Rangeman operations. The quarterly meetings aren't mandatory. However, you must watch the recordings and read the minutes to offer your opinion. The guys are giving you equal control without the obligations. It's a sweet deal. You're not going to find anything comparable anywhere else," Enzo said.
Stephanie decided to sleep on it. She had thirty days to review the contract with her lawyer and sign the paperwork. Conflicting thoughts prevented Stephanie from sleeping. Stephanie couldn't decide what to do. It wasn't right to stay in Italy when she signed on as a shareholder for Rangeman.
The following morning, Stephanie called Jordan Keeping for advice. He indicated his partner reviewed the terms and couldn't find anything to modify. It was written specifically with her in mind. Stephanie could live in Italy and travel to the States if the shareholders required her presence. Signing the contract would give away her location.
~~~~~
Lester received a parcel from Italy two weeks after sending the contract to Stephanie. His hands shook, hoping it contained the signed agreement with Stephanie Bianco as Rangeman's new partner.
Bobby and Tank entered Lester's office and closed the door. They, too, were anxious to know about Stephanie's decision. "Just rip it open," Bobby said, his leg bouncing in anticipation.
Lester glared at his friend, then used the letter opener to break the seal. Stephanie had put the contract in a box labelled as fragile. Inside was a photograph of Stephanie, Enzo and Nando for Lester's apartment. Tank snatched the frame to look at the picture.
"Is he Vince's boy?" Tank asked.
"Ranger's, but Vince is raising Nando as his son," Lester replied.
"I can see it now," Tank said, passing the picture frame to Bobby.
"Nando is a handsome boy. Ranger's a fool," Bobby added, passing the frame to Lester.
Beneath the tissue, Lester found the contract. He flipped through a few pages, searching for Stephanie's signature. "Did she sign?" Tank asked, impatient to know if Stephanie was their new partner.
"Yes, but she has conditions," Lester replied. "Once Julie turns nineteen, ten percent of Stephanie's shares go to her. The other gets reassigned to Nando when he's nineteen. Stephanie promised to oversee their investments until they turn twenty-five, when they will assume control."
"She's thinking about the company's future," Bobby said. Bobby wondered why they never brought Stephanie into their inner sanctum.
Ranger may have started the company, but Stephanie was responsible for making it a success. She provided the female perspective required for securing their residential clients. The department became lucrative with her input. Jeanne Ellen was great but thought more like her cousin than a female.
"Why doesn't Stephanie want to keep her shares when the children are older?" Bobby asked.
Lester removed the envelope tucked inside the box. He read it a few times before passing it to the others.
Dearest BLT,
I bet you're wondering why I've reassigned my shares to Julie and Nando. Rangeman isn't my dream. I appreciate you looking out for my financial future, but you should reinvest the money in Rangeman or place it into a trust for the rightful heirs, Julie and Nando.
My lawyer assured me you would refuse to use what you perceived as my money to reinvest in the company. I got my lawyer to set up the trust funds for the children, where my profit shares would be deposited. Julie's parents should receive the documentation within a few days.
I will remain involved with Rangeman until Nando is old enough to manage his shares. My lawyer, Jordan Keeping, said twenty-five was the standard age. At nineteen, boys and girls are still mentally immature and make uninformed decisions. I want Rangeman to remain successful for the next generation to take over.
Please, respect my wishes.
Stephanie.
"She has it all figured out," Lester said, wiping the tear from his eye.
"Stephanie only signed the agreement to secure Julie and Nando's future," Bobby said, amazed by the woman. "She doesn't want anything for herself."
"Ranger really fucked with her mind," Tank replied.
"We should have bought his shares without offering another option," Lester said. "Stephanie is completely selfless. She thinks about how her actions affect others. We should have voted for Stephanie to run the company." Bobby and Tank couldn't agree more.
Inside Rangeman Trenton, Ranger opened a letter from Stephanie's lawyer to him. Jordan informed Ranger of Stephanie's intent to reassign her Rangeman shares to Julie and Nando when they reach nineteen. Stephanie would only be involved with Rangeman until Nando was twenty-five. She had no interest in being a partner and signed the agreement to secure Julie and Nando's future with Rangeman. Stephanie would only participate if absolutely necessary. Nobody was to contact her unless they required her deciding vote.
Ranger's heart broke. The men should have anticipated her reaction. Stephanie didn't want to be a part of his company or legacy.
A memo appeared in Ranger's email to notify the Rangeman employees of all branches that Stephanie Bianco was the newest addition to the core team. Ranger felt sad knowing she had moved on with Vince, an ex-employee. Carlos realized Stephanie was living in Florence, Italy, with his biological son. Stephanie lived in the only country he got banned from visiting. Ranger should have known Stephanie would find the perfect hiding place.
Licking his wounds, Ranger left the Rangeman building to find someone to help him forget. He found a woman who wouldn't care if he fucked around. She enjoyed the variety as well.
Ranger contacted Mateo to update his will. Everything he owns would go to Stephanie, trusting her to split the inheritance between Julie and Nando. Mateo promised to draft the document and visit Trenton for his signature. Having anticipated his reaction to the Rangeman contract news, Mateo prepared Ranger's will, but Mateo had to change all references for Julie and Nando to Stephanie.
The woman was where Ranger expected to find her. Ranger pulled her into the dark alley beside Vinnie's bond office and pretended the woman was Stephanie. "Babe," he whispered, pressing his lips against hers. Ranger ignored the cold unpleasantness of her fish-like lips. She opened his mouth to accept his tongue. Ranger broke the kiss before his erection disappeared. He didn't want to tangle tongues with the woman.
She smiled, thinking she won the lottery. Ranger never gave her a second glance before. He tugged on her short skirt, pulling it high enough to slide inside without a condom. "Ranger, you're bare," she whispered.
"Shh," he said. "Enjoy the sensation, Babe. I'm clean." The woman imagined getting pregnant by Ranger. He owned Rangeman and had millions of dollars for her to spend. She could collect thousands monthly in child support.
"Okay," she decided. The stupid woman didn't know Ranger couldn't give her a child.
Her breasts were more significant than Stephanie's modest 36 B. Ranger buried his face in her shirt, tugging the fabric lower to expose a nipple. She didn't taste like strawberries and vanilla, but he was too horny to care. Ranger continued to imagine the woman was Stephanie. It wasn't fair to either woman.
She was too busy thinking about the money at her fingertips to get into the sexual act. Ranger fucked her until he ejaculated, whispering, "Stephanie."
"My name is Connie," she replied. Ranger tucked himself back into his pants.
"You shouldn't have corrected me," Ranger warned, sounding deadlier than she had ever heard.
Connie's eyes were wide in fear. "Why?" she shakily asked.
"Because we can't repeat that performance," Ranger replied. Ranger pulled the skirt into position, leaving Connie gaping and shocked at what he had done.
Joyce Barnhardt grinned as she watched Ranger walk away from Connie Rosolli. The woman was stupid to remind Ranger of her name. Joyce would willingly play any role to get Manoso in her bed. Ranger had wicked stamina. It got wasted on Connie, who never orgasmed.
Lula walked past Joyce, bumping into her shoulder. "Fuck off, you fat cunt," Joyce yelled.
Ignoring Joyce's rudeness, Lula followed Connie into the bond office. "What the fuck were you thinking?" Lula screamed. "You know Batman's in love with Stephanie, your friend. What happened to the sista' code? How will Stephanie feel when you get pregnant by her man?"
The women bickering in the bond office had no idea Hector was monitoring and recording their conversation.
"I'm already pregnant, Lula. Joe didn't use a condom a few weeks ago. I got the positive result this morning," Connie said.
"So, what are you gonna do about it?" Lula demanded.
"Sue Ranger for support payments," Connie replied. Connie sat in her chair and cried. She didn't have the income to support a child without help from the baby's biological father or her family. Connie would have to work for her dad if she asked for assistance.
Hector sent the video to Ranger, warning him of Connie's plan to milk him for child support. Ranger laughed and promised to nip it in the bud.
Connie received an email from Ranger. He warned Connie of falsely accusing him of being her child's father. "I know the truth," Ranger said, including the video link. Ranger almost told Connie he had a vasectomy but withheld it. He wanted to know how many women would attempt to get pregnant by him to claim his fortune.
Lula rounded the desk when she heard the conversation between them from the computer's speakers. "You gone and fucked up, Connie," Lula said. "Don't worry. Everything's gonna be alright."
~~~~~
Stephanie received an encrypted email from her FBI contact, Jasper Collins. He wanted her assistance in locating suspects. It sounded exciting to her. Stephanie missed the problem-solving aspect she had at Rangeman. "Please," Jasper begged when Stephanie called from her secured line, "We had Rangeman assist, but they said you were their best researcher and left the company."
"You're in luck," Stephanie said. "They strong-armed me into becoming a partner. I have access to their databases and research programs."
"We want the research conducted independently of Rangeman," Jasper explained. "We're keeping this close to the vest."
"Okay. Send the details to my lawyer. You have his name in the file. I look forward to working with you," Stephanie said.
"I'm flying to your location in a few days to brief," Jasper replied. He ended the call smiling. The director approached Jasper's office.
"Is Shadow on board?"
"Yes. Shadow asked us to send the contract to the lawyer. It's Jordan Keeping in Trenton, New Jersey. We can always contact Ghost to assist," Jasper replied.
"I believe Shadow has someone else in mind for the project. You know how Shadow works," director Eric Hotchner said. He returned to his office to get the contract ready.
Stephanie quickly learned why the FBI didn't want Rangeman working on the case. The suspect, Jorge Ramos, was related to Manny. They were cousins. Manny hadn't talked to or contacted his cousin if five years. The family had a falling out when Manny's uncle began living a life of crime. Manny hadn't realized the FBI was looking for Jorge.
After months of investigating and trolling the dark web, Stephanie found his digital footprint. She recruited Hector to help her set a trap to get Jorge's location. Thinking he was too intelligent to fall for a scheme, Jorge clicked on the link he verified was legitimate.
Stephanie and Hector realized Jorge was in Istanbul. Interpol got involved and arrested Jorge two days later.
Jasper Collins was pleased to get another cybercriminal put behind bars.