Love Under Two Financiers Cara Covington (fiction novels to read .TXT) đ
- Author: Cara Covington
Book online «Love Under Two Financiers Cara Covington (fiction novels to read .TXT) đ». Author Cara Covington
âOh, my God. Itâs you, isnât it? Youâre the geniuses behind LTT!â
âWhat?â Phillip looked confused. But he caught on fast, maybe thanks to the expression Jason knew he wore.
Craig nodded. âThe initials stand for Lusty Town Trust. We started out as teenagers and seemed to have a knack, as you noted, for picking winners. The Town Trust invests in every business the family owns, in one way or another, of course.â Craig chuckled. âSo they invested in us, and we called it LTT because it sounded important.â
âBut we are damn proud that we increased the Town Trustâs account a hundredfold.â Jacksonâs smile was all of that.
âWe still do some investing, of course,â Craig said. âBut the Town Trustâs capital is so enormous now that other firms have been contracted to handle things for the family. That much money? You really have to diversify.â
âI was convinced that the only way to succeed meant I had to focus like a laser on the goal and take one step after the next to achieve that end. To be driven, dedicated, and serious.â Jason had thought that and had worked hard at precluding anything that might detract from the ultimate goal. Now he was beginning to question that belief. In fact, he was beginning to question damn near everything.
âWell, youâre right, to a point,â Craig Jessop said. âBut if you donât let yourself have a life, what the hell are you working for?â
âThe one thing we can tell you, without a doubt?â Jackson leaned in closer. âWe were damn good in our chosen profession before we even met our Anna. But after? When weâd wooed and won her? It was as if weâd suddenly become twice as smart and twice as lucky.â
âSo being driven, no mistake about it, thatâs good,â Craig said.
âAs long as you are in control of the steering wheel,â Jackson said, âand plan a route that will bring you happiness. There really is more to life than money. That is the one lesson that every child raised in Lusty is taught.â
âThat was something that was a strong growing-up principle for us, too,â Phillip said. âGrandpa Christopher couldnât abide a childâor grandchildâwho expected a free ride, just because heâd been successful building his business.â
âAnd that was the principle behind how we structured The Benedict Fund,â Jason said.
âKate has often related the story told her by her mother-in-law, Madeline Kennedy Benedict,â Craig said. âApparently your grandfather, Christopher, went through a phase when he was in his teens when he believed himself to be âthe cock of the walk.â It was Sarah Carmichael Benedict who disabused him of his assumed air of entitlement.â
âMy father told me that the death of Grandpa Christopherâs younger brother Edward, who was killed in the Second World War, deeply affected him,â Phillip said. âHeâd wanted to enlist himself but had been denied because farming was considered crucial to the war effort. When peace arrived, he decided to leave Lusty, to prove to himself that he could build a life from his own skills and hard work. That he deserved to be alive when his brother was not. Dad got the impression, from this way his father told it, that when he looked back on his own life, he wished he could go back and kick his own ass.â
âThe loss of a brother, especially under those circumstances, can change a man,â Craig said.
âYes,â Jason said. âAnd so, too, can the discovery of a familyâand a family history.â
Jackson Jessop looked over at his brother then reached forward and patted Jasonâs hand. âThe most important trait a man can possess, in my mind, is the ability to be able to reassess in light of new facts. Adaptability is the key to survival in natureâand happiness, for those of us at the top of the food chain.â
âIâm glad you joined us for lunch today. Thank you,â Jason said.
âNow if you could point us to the best place to acquire some home-office furniture,â Phillip said, âweâd be grateful.â
The brothers Jessop both grinned, and Craig even chuckled.
Jackson raised his glass, toasted them, and downed the rest of the tawny liquid. âMen, do we have a place for you!â
Chapter Eleven
âYouâre lookingâŠhappy.â
Leesa spared a glance for her bff. They were both huffing and puffing their way along the indoor running track at the gym. Not that they were running. They were speed walking, or more precisely, their version of it. Theyâd decided to change up their routine and had added this new phase to their workout.
She and Rachel intended to give the elliptical the same amount of time as they usually did. Provided, of course, they had enough left in their respective tanks to do that after this new addition to their routine. It hadnât sounded like it was such a big add, but it used some different muscles than the elliptical did. Leesa was feeling it, and that just annoyed her.
âI look happy?â Leesa repeated Rachelâs words. âI never knew that I had been looking unhappy.â
Rachel laughed. âAll right, Sarge, let me put it this way, then. You look like a woman whoâs enjoying a sex life.â
âI hope I look like a woman whoâs enjoying a great sex life.â
Rachelâs chuckle drifted back as her friend picked up her pace and moved slightly ahead of her. Leesa guessed by the fact that her own smile was stretched wide she didnât mind the gentle teasing. It had been only a few days, but with that first evening, her sex life had been better than during the entire course of her marriage.
âI was going to ask for details,â Rachel huffed. âBut considering your answer, I donât think I need to.â They had half the track left and focused their attention, and energy, on finishing this second lap. Leesa had never had a female friend close enough to share those kinds of details. Maybe I could with Rachel. After a couple of glasses of wine. She kept her gaze on
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