Margo stopped her packing. “What?”
“I said…”
“A billion dollars?”
“Yes. According to Father’s will, that’s what we each inherit.”
Margo was looking at Kendall, stunned. “We each get a billion dollars?”
“Didn’t they tell you?”
“No,” Margo said slowly. “They didn’t tell me.” There was a thoughtful expression on her face. “You know, Kendall, you’re right. Maybe we should get better acquainted.”
Tyler was in the solarium, looking at photographs of yachts, when Clark approached him.
“Excuse me, Judge Stanford. There’s a telephone call for you.”
“I’ll take it in here.”
It was Keith Percy in Chicago.
“Tyler?”
“Yes.”
“I have some really great news for you!”
“Oh?”
“Now that I’m retiring early, how would you like to be appointed chief judge?”
It was all Tyler could do to keep from giggling. “That would be wonderful, Keith.”
“Well, it’s yours!”
“I…I don’t know what to say.” What should I say? “Billionaires don’t sit on the bench in a dirty little courtroom in Chicago, handing out sentences to the misfits of the world”? Or “I’ll be too busy sailing around the world on my yacht”?
“How soon can you get back to Chicago?”
“It will be a while,” Tyler said. “I have a lot to do here.”
“Well, we’ll all be waiting for you.”
Don’t hold your breath. “Good-bye.” He replaced the receiver and glanced at his watch. It was time for Margo to be leaving for the airport. Tyler went upstairs to see if she was ready.
When he walked into Margo’s bedroom, she was unpacking her suitcase.
He looked at her in surprise. “You’re not ready.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “No. I’m unpacking. I’ve been thinking, I like it here. Maybe I should stay awhile.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about? You’re catching a plane to Chicago.”
“There’ll be another plane along, Judge.” She grinned. “Maybe I’ll even buy my own.”
“What are you saying?”
“You told me you wanted me to help you play a little joke on someone.”
“Yes?”
“Well, the joke seems to be on me. I’m worth a billion dollars.”
Tyler’s expression hardened. “I want you to get out of here. Now.”
“Do you? I think I’ll go when I’m ready,” Margo said. “And I’m not ready.”
Tyler stood there, studying her. “What…what is it you want?”
She nodded. “That’s better. The billion dollars I’m supposed to get. You were planning to keep it for yourself, right? I figured you were pulling a little scam to pick up some extra money, but a billion dollars! That’s a different ball game. I think I deserve a share of that.”
There was a knock at the bedroom door.
“Excuse me,” Clark said. “Luncheon is served.”
Margo turned to Tyler. “You go along. I won’t be joining you. I have some important errands to run.”
Later that afternoon, packages began to arrive at Rose Hill. There were boxes of dresses from Armani, sportswear from Scaasi Boutique, lingerie from Jordan Marsh, a sable coat from Neiman Marcus, and a diamond bracelet from Cartier. All the packages were addressed to Miss Julia Stanford.
When Margo walked in the door at four-thirty, Tyler was waiting to confront her, furious.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.
She smiled. “I needed a few things. After all, your sister has to be well dressed, doesn’t she? It’s amazing how much credit a store will give you when you’re a Stanford. You will take care of the bills, won’t you?”
“Julia…”
“Margo.” She reminded him. “By the way, I saw the pictures of yachts on the table. Are you planning to buy one?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Don’t be too sure. Maybe you and I will take a cruise. We’ll name the yacht Margo. Or should we name it Julia? We can go around the world together. I don’t like being alone.”
Tyler thought for a moment. “It seems that I underestimated you. You’re a very clever young woman.”
“Coming from you, that’s a big compliment.”
“I hope that you’re also a reasonable young woman.”
“That depends. What do you call reasonable?”
“One million dollars. Cash.”
Her heart began to beat faster. “And I can keep the things I bought today?”