Search, Part 2
submitted August 19, 2005
Categories: Arm Pits, Exhibitionism, Family Fun
As I followed Mr. Shaw into his office I was watching his body move under his sports coat and slacks. He moved like a man of sport. He had a goatee which I took as a rebellious addition against allowing himself to be completely corporate. He offered me a visitors chair across from his desk.
"Scott, we might as well get right to it. May I see a form of identification so I can first be sure you are whom you say you are?" Mr. Shaw asked.
"Sure you can, I guess, here", I handed him my driver’s license. I have a driver’s license but I rarely am able to use it. I may only drive when my mother is in the car with me.
"Thank you Scott. This checks out well. Now, what I am to divulge to you today will come as a shock and you will need some guidance. I am here for you for now. Once you have absorbed the facts of your new life you will be on your own to make the decisions best for you. Since you were born in November and you have already had your 18th birthday and you have met the stipulation of your grandmother by graduating from high school this will all be very legal and final. Now I first will read the letter your grandmother wrote to you. I have not opened this yet as it was requested that it only be open and read in front of you upon your graduation from high school. So then, are you comfortable? Need anything before we begin?"
"I don't believe so sir. I am quite curious as to what this is all about." I replied.
"I can understand that Scott. First the letter (Max pulled out a thick file from his desk drawer and retrieved a legal size envelope from it. He opened the envelope and retrieved the letter inside. Once he unfolded the letter he began):
Dearest Scott,
I am sure you never heard of me since your mother cut all ties (except financial of course) with my family soon after you were born. I am, or was, your grandmother, Rose Gentry. You have never met me or seen me but I have seen you. I have pictures taken of you without your mother’s knowledge and have had private investigators throughout the years keeping track of your growth and whereabouts. Where you were living was easy since your father still paid you mother child support all these years. Your mother was receiving $2500 a month from him and will continue to receive that until you graduate from high school. Since this letter is being read to you it is now assumed that that day has come and you are a young man now. Congratulations.
The decision your mother made to cut the ties to my family are for reasons that I do not understand and never will. Those reasons are for your mother to tell you... not for me. I have prepared this letter and the rest to first of all let you know that you were always loved by others, not only your mother. Your father has kept up with your progress as well but has abided by you mother's wishes and stayed away.
Your father is very different from your mother. He was always rebellious and has a certain edge to him. Although our family has always had money your father was less interested in the finer things that life had to offer and makes his way as a mechanic, owner of his own garage in Palm Springs. He is a good man, but like I said, he has a bit of an edge to him.
Your parents met in high school; each being of a different class in social standards. Your mother came from a blue collar family barely making ends meet. As you know the bible rules your mother's family although I am convinced that no one in that family ever read the book. Well your father and mother began seeing each other when they were just sixteen. Your father had the bad boy image. Played football on the high school football team and ran around with the team members.
Although your parents were never really in love they did have a night of passion that produced you. You were born when your parents were just seventeen. Unfortunately your mother's parents did not take it so well and they threw her out. She never had the chance to finish high school nor did she ever see her parents again. As soon as you were born we made arrangements for a place for your mother and you to live as well as set up child support payments. Your father never let go of his responsibility to you.
Your father finished college and then moved to Palm Springs. He will receive the bulk of my estate when I die and you will receive the trust fund that I set up for you when you were born. The money manager assigned to the account will explain all that to you my dear. But this letter is just my way of letting you know where you came from and that you were loved more than you could have ever imagined. I wish life was different and we could have enjoyed all the years of your childhood together. Unfortunately we can only try to make up for the wrongs that have been dealt us.
Have a good life my dear grandson, you were and always will be loved,
Your grandmother, Rose Gentry.
I couldn't breathe. My mother would never tell me anything. I always asked where my grandparents were. Where my father was but I was always met by silence or a sermon. Now to find out that I have more of a family than I could have ever wished for was amazing. I let it sink in a moment then looked up at Mr. Shaw. He was staring at me in shock himself. He obviously didn't know the background on the family and seemed just as surprised as I was. We remained like that for a few more minutes then he cleared his throat.
"Scott, I am sorry. I didn't realize what we would be getting into here. Are you ready to go on?" he finally said.
"Yeah, I guess we might as well keep going. Nothing could shock me more than that letter. Will I receive a copy of it by the way?" I replied.
"Yes Scott. You will receive the actual letter as well as the contents of this file after we are done. So let’s proceed then. These are the conditions of the trust and I will highlight the main objectives instead of reading all the legal writings:
1. Upon Scott's graduation from high school he will receive the trust set up by Rose Gentry as well as the Plaza apartment in Houston.
2. None of the trust is to be shared with Scott's mother, Sarah Evans. Scott may gift her no more than $10,000 a year for the first five years. After that Scott is no longer under any obligation to this trust stipulation.
3. Scott is encouraged to seek out his father but is to know that Scott's father, James Gentry, has no knowledge of the trust and only knows that his child support payments end at the time Scott graduates from high school.
4. Scott is encouraged to continue his education and to receive a degree of some sort. After the disclosure of the trust Scott should feel secure in the knowledge that he will be financially independent for the rest of his life and should have no problem attending a university of his choosing.
"Okay Scott, that's basically the jest of it. Any questions so far?" Mr. Shaw finished.
"Well, I guess I have a million questions, but the one that sticks out right now is that the last entry said I was financially independent. What does that mean?" I inquired.
Max Shaw's face at first was thoughtful then it broke into a wide smile. "Well Scott, I guess I did fail to mention that you are a millionaire."
"Excuse me Mr. Shaw, but what do you mean a millionaire?" I was getting nervous now. I was sweating like I was in the sauna at the gym.
"The balance of the trust that your grandmother set up for you (Max shuffled some papers to find the print out that he wanted) is, as of this morning, thirty six million, seven hundred eighty three thousand two hundred and twelve dollars and forty seven cents."
I froze. I never dreamed or knew of such money. I couldn't move, breathe or hear. I sat there petrified to move. After a few minutes I heard Mr. Shaw saying something....
"Scott, Scott... are you okay? Scott? Talk to me Scott. I can't lose the biggest client I got buddy...talk to me!"
"I... I'm sorry Mrrr...Shaw. But...did you say? I'm not sure I understand.... Thirty million dollars?" I was in shock, big time shock.
"No bud, I said just over thirty six million dollars. You are a very wealthy young man. Your father is quite a bit wealthier from what I understand, but you wouldn't be able to tell by the way he lives. Anyway I was prepared for you to be shocked and overwhelmed. My instructions are for me to take you to the Houston apartment as soon as possible and to let you rest. I am to see to all your needs until you have had a chance to absorb it all. I work for you Scott. And I am paid well. I hope that continues but if not I understand. As soon as your trust is turned over to you I am dedicated only to your account until you decide to terminate your association with Hall & Hall. I was chosen because I am not married and can travel. Do you have any problems with that?"
"Well, no, I guess not. I mean...you work for me? How is that possible?"
"Oh it’s very possible Scott. At the moment, while I work for you through Hall & Hall, I make a good living. I make eighty thousand a year plus bonuses. I will be paid by Hall & Hall as long as you pay them. I am to manage your portfolio as long as you retain Hall & Hall. I am your new best friend Scott and will do anything I can to keep your relationship with Hall & Hall active. Now I must ask you. The Houston apartment has 12 bedrooms. I thought I could stay with you until you were comfortable with your new life if that is alright with you. If it is we can leave tomorrow morning. We will be taking your limo. I will call the driver right after our meeting to come up to Huntsville and pick us up. Is that satisfactory to you Scott?" Mr. Shaw said.
"Where did all this money come from Mr. Shaw?" I had to inquire.
"Well oil of course Scott. Your great grandfather was one of the pioneers of the Houston oil market. He was quite the business man. Made lots and lots of money with other people’s oil." Mr. Shaw explained.
"Well thank you Mr. Shaw. I guess I will be ready to leave tomorrow. What do I tell my mother? I was ready to leave anyway. I couldn't stand being in that house anymore but I didn't know what I was going to do. What will I say?"
"Well Scott, just reading what I did in that letter life must have been really restrictive to you. I can have a ten thousand dollar cashier’s check made to your mother for the first year’s gift and you can hand that to her as you leave the house. Don't tell her anymore than that and that you will call when you’re settled. You are eighteen now and rich. She has no holds on you any longer. And by the way Scott, call me Max. I work for you. And may I still call you Scott?"
For the first time since I have been in that office I smiled. A huge weight was lifted off my shoulder. I looked at Mr. Shaw, er...Max and said, "You may call me Scott always Max. And as for my mother I will do just that. When the limo pulls up to our house I will hand her a check on my way out of her life. I will call now and then as I do care for the women but I can not bare any more sermons. And yes, please stay at the apartment. Until we figure out something else anyway. You did say you are free to travel Max?"
"I am under your charge Scott. Where ever you go and allow me to follow."
"Then we will see how we like Houston and we will go from there. What time do you think we will leave tomorrow Max?"
"I think around noon, is that okay?"
"Yeah, but do me a favor dude. No more suits. Wear whatever you wear on weekends around the house or whatever. I never really liked suits."
"You got it Scott. I may be a good money manager but I never fit in the corporate mold. I actually feel blessed getting this job. Thanks for allowing me to stay on Scott."
"Nothing to thank me for Max... thank you! And as for the blessed thing....let’s call it luck. I've had enough with the blessings in my Mother's life to last me a life time."
"You got it Scott; one more thing. Here is a Debit card from a checking account I set up for you when I sent that letter. It has twenty five thousand dollars in it. Just in case you need it. The debit card is active and the account is in your name only. I will have you sign signature cards at the bank in Houston after we arrive."
"Wow, okay.. .so Max, since we will be spending so much time together...how old are you?"
Max chuckled a bit and said, "I am twenty six. You are my first big account. I can't blow this or I will be at the bottom of the bottom of all the money managing firms. So I meant it when I said I will do whatever it takes to remain employed by you."
"Well I am sure you know more than I do. I guess I'll go catch the bus."
"Wait Scott, you took a bus down here? That must have been a thirty minute trip. You don’t have a car?"
"My mother thought that by my owning a vehicle that I would be lead to sin. So I take the bus."
"I will drive you home. This is getting more and more... strange… anyway, let’s go. When we get to Houston we will go car shopping."
"Thanks Max," Scott had that feeling again. He was attracted to Max. He didn't know what it was, but he was.