Hot Mahogany (Stone Barrington 15)

“Yes, go on,” Stone said.

“There’s not much to tell,” Deal said.

Stone had that impression. “Perhaps you could tell me the nature of the problem with your fiancée.”

“I hope you understand that this is deeply embarrassing for me,” Deal said.

“Harlan,” Eggers said. “You’re among friends. Please feel free to speak candidly.”

“All right,” Deal said, but then he became silent again, staring out the window of Eggers’s office toward the East River.

Stone and Eggers waited patiently. Stone fought the urge to doze off. He was beginning to understand the reluctance of people who gave dinner parties to invite Harlan Deal.

“Harlan?” Eggers asked, expectantly.

“Yes, Bill?”

“You were about to tell us about the problem with your fiancée.”

“Oh, yes.” But still Deal said nothing.

“Tell me, Harlan,” Stone said, “if I may call you that.”

“Of course. Please call me Harlan, Mr. Barrington.”

“And call me Stone.”

“Of course.”

“Tell me, do you think that your problem with your fiancée might require a legal solution?”

“Well, certainly,” Deal replied. “Why else would I come to my law firm?”

“Of course,” Stone said. “Could you give me some idea of what might be the legal action you consider necessary?”

“Well, I don’t want to sue,” Deal replied. “That would just be all over the papers.”

“Discretion is the byword in these cases,” Stone said, although he had no idea what cases he was talking about.

“Well,” Harlan said, rising to his feet. “I’m glad you understand, Mr. Barrington.” He offered his hand. “May I say that it has been a real pleasure meeting you.” He shook Stone’s hand warmly, then Eggers’s, then walked out.

Stone turned to Eggers. “Bill, what the fuck was that all about?”

“I apologize for Harlan,” Eggers said. “He has difficulty articulating problems that are not related to his business.”

“You seem to be having difficulty articulating, too, Bill. What is the problem?”

“The young lady won’t sign the prenup,” Eggers said.

23

Stone sank into a chair. “Bill, how the hell am I supposed to get a woman to sign a prenup she has already declined to sign?”

Eggers leaned across his desk and handed Stone a two-page document. “Read it. I wrote it myself.”

Stone scanned the agreement. “She gets an allowance of half a million dollars a year, adjusted annually for inflation, and if she leaves him, she gets a million dollars for every year they’ve been married, calculated to the nearest month?”

“Not bad, huh?”