Noah reached out next, much more amicably than his brother. He shook Ruffing’s hand vigorously.
“That’s some handshake you’ve got there, son!”
Ruffing beamed his dazzling, expensive white teeth at them. They were almost blinding. “I hear you boys will be graduating in the spring. I have a marina in Miami. Golden Shores. We sell yachts and also provide docking services. If you’re in the market for a boat, I have some very fine high-performance cigarettes. Maybe your dad will buy you one for graduation.” He elbowed Sidney, who almost went pale at the thought. Even a used one could cost upwards of three hundred thousand dollars.
“Hey, Dad. That sounds like a grand idea!” Noah eagerly jumped in.
Sidney took in a deep breath, trying not to reveal his discomfort. “We’ll see.”
Liam was getting a strange vibe from both his father and the billionaire. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he couldn’t help noticing that his father was nervously tapping his foot. Sidney interjected, “Perhaps Daniel can give you boys a job.” That’s when his leg stopped shaking.
Noah almost balked at the word job. Instead, he answered with, “I’m thinking about continuing with my studies. Maybe get my MBA.”
“That’s a good plan, too.” The billionaire’s teeth gleamed as if they were about to take a big bite out of someone’s hide.
“Yes, we’ve been discussing postgraduation plans with them,” Sidney continued. “They have a meeting scheduled with Edward Coulson, my financial advisor, in a few days.”
Liam remained silent during this exchange.
“Your financial advisor?” Ruffing asked curiously.
“Yes. It’s time they took a bit of financial responsibility. They’re going to be twenty-two by the end of the year. I was starting my own consulting firm by that age.” Sidney stiffened.
Yeah, with Mother’s money, Noah thought to himself.
And what about the trust fund?
“I suppose you’re right. No time like the present to learn how to manage your finances, hey boys?” Ruffing patted Noah on the shoulder. “But if you ever want to go for a ride, let me know. We sponsor races all the time.” He handed his business card to Noah.
“Thank you! We’ll be sure to take you up on that offer, right, Liam?” Noah’s enthusiasm was obvious. Sidney’s was not. He didn’t want his sons to get any ideas about buying a boat that cost at least three hundred thousand dollars.
Liam was about to remove himself from the cluster when his mother glided toward the four men. “Daniel, so what do you think of my boys all grown up now?” She could certainly be charming when she wanted. She threaded her arm through his.
“Yes, we were just discussing how Sidney should consider buying a boat as a graduation gift.” Daniel’s raising the subject again caused Sidney’s blood pressure to rise and perspiration to form on his forehead.
“But what will you get for Liam?” Noah joked.
“Oh, I’m sure your father will come up with something marvelous for him as well.” Eleanor squeezed Ruffing’s arm. “Perhaps we can get matching boats. They are twins, after all.” She batted her eyes at the billionaire.
Everyone but Sidney chuckled. “Will you excuse me? I have to speak to one of the staff. We’ll catch up later, DJ.” Sidney could barely catch his breath as he made his way through the thinning crowd.
Liam’s eyes followed his father. Something was definitely amiss. Sidney never addressed the staff. That was Eleanor’s territory.
As the last guests were departing, Sidney was conspicuously absent. He didn’t care about Eleanor’s wrath over his disappearance. He had retreated to his den, where he placed a phone call.
As directed, two days later, Liam and Noah went downtown to meet with Edward Coulson. They sat in the opulent waiting room and wondered why this meeting was taking place. “Something doesn’t feel right,” Liam said to Noah.
“Oh, aren’t you the sensitive one?” Noah chided him. “Are you getting one of your ‘woo-woo’ visions?” Liam was much more connected to spiritual things than Noah.
“It’s not ‘woo-woo,’ Noah. Don’t you ever get a vibe about anything?” Liam was always defending his interest in the subject of metaphysics. “A gut reaction?”
“Well, sure, but that’s not the same thing.”
Liam cocked his head and smiled. “Are you sure?”
Noah gave him an affectionate punch in the arm. “Ouch!” Liam yelled, pretending to be hurt while the other people in the room looked on with displeasure. Liam laughed, recalling the times when Noah would try to embarrass him in the library.
The phone at the receptionist’s desk buzzed. “Yes, I’ll send them in.” She nodded at Liam and Noah. They smiled, thanked her, and made their way down the hall to Edward Coulson’s office.
Liam put his hand on Noah’s arm and held him back. He whispered, “Doesn’t this seem a bit odd? We’ve never had to meet with Edward privately.”
“Oh, stop fretting.” Noah patted Liam on the cheek. “It probably has to do with the trust fund.”
Coulson stood from behind his desk as the boys entered the room. He looked pale. Paler than usual. “Sit down, please.”
His tone was cold and even.
“As you know, your mother’s father, Jerome Adams, set up a college trust fund for you.”
“Yep!” Noah smiled and sat back in his chair while Liam continued to sit on the edge of his.
“Income from that trust terminates upon your graduation,” Coulson continued. “So, should you wish to enroll in a graduate program, you would have to pay for your own housing and amenities.”
“Wait. What are you saying?” Noah sat upright and forward.
“The trust only covers the tuition for advanced studies.” Coulson waited for the information to sink in.
“You mean we would have to pay for housing? Food? Gas?” Noah was incredulous.
“I’m afraid so,” Coulson said evenly.
“Hold on,” Noah said sternly. “Pops had lots of money. I thought we were the heirs to his estate.”
“Well, only part of it,” Coulson explained. “Your grandfather set aside money for your studies, not your pleasure.”
“Pleasure?” Noah was becoming agitated. “How are we supposed to continue our education if we have to get jobs?”
Coulson cleared his throat, and continued, “Your grandfather was a very traditional man. He believed everyone should earn their way. He gave you both head starts by setting money aside for your education. Keep in mind that he also paid for your boarding school.”
Noah looked deflated, while Liam listened intently. Coulson continued, “You are both going to have to let me know your intentions before you graduate so I can release the funds if you choose to continue your education.”
“But ... what about our parents? Don’t they have the money to help pay for overhead?” Noah was a few octaves shy of whining.
“You will have to take that up with your father. I am only here to inform you about the educational trust.”