Sex, Lies & Serious Money

47

Holly breezed into the house in time for lunch, and they had it on a little table in Stone’s study. “So,” he said, “how goes the nation?”

“Steady as she goes,” Holly replied. “With women in charge, did you expect anything less?”

“Certainly not, and I haven’t noticed any stray nukes going off.”

“Nor will you on our watch.”

“Are you really enjoying yourself, Holly?”

“I simply can’t tell you how much. It’s like playing with the world’s largest chess set, and I get to make all the moves. Well, many of them. Well, I get to suggest which moves are to be made, and sometimes my advice is taken.”

“Does Kate Lee really need a national security advisor?” he asked mischievously.

“She certainly does, and me in particular. Seriously, there are so many cards on the President’s table, so many hands being played all at once, that she, like any president, needs somebody to remember it all and help out with the decisions. It never ceases to amaze me how many Republican businessmen there are who think they can waltz into the White House, rearrange the foreign policy furniture, and expect everything to keep running smoothly. It’s more than a full-time job, it’s a way of life, and you can’t just turn it off for a round of golf. Things go right on happening, and you’d better be on top of them the way Kate — and I — are.”

“The nation is fortunate in your service.”

“The nation better believe it. Now, enough about how I’m running the world. What are you doing with yourself?”

“Lately, I’ve been much involved with a new client — a young man who won six hundred million dollars in the lottery and is spending it as fast as he can.”

“Too fast?”

“Not yet, and he spends it on worthwhile things like houses and estates.”

“Rather like another young man I know, so he must be something of a sage.”

“I hope he will grow into one, once the fog of great wealth burns off and lets the sun shine on him.”

“Is great wealth such a burden?”

“You bet your sweet ass it is. Dealing with it is a full-time job.”

“And yet you always seem to have so much free time, running off to England and to the West Coast and to Maine.”

“My genius lies in choosing the right people to deal with it and staying out of their way, until I want some money to spend on another house.”

“Are you going to buy any more houses?”

“Pray God, no. I’ve a property glut as it is, although I did sell the Connecticut house.”

“Such a nice house, too. I’ll miss it.”

“I hardly ever went there.”

“You hardly ever go to Maine, either.”

“That’s too true, but a fellow needs a place on the water.”

“Though I haven’t seen it yet, I’ve heard the English estate is on the water.”

“True, but that’s water over there, not over here. No, ma’am, I’m not buying any more houses.”

Joan buzzed him, and he picked up the phone. “Yes?”

“Ed Eagle for you on line one.”

Stone pressed the button. “Ed, how are you?”

“Better than you would believe. You’re very well, too.”

“How can you tell?”

“Because something wonderful is about to happen to you.”

“I’m delighted to hear it! Am I allowed to know what?”

“Gala is moving back to L.A. full-time and is selling her Santa Fe house, and she’d like to sell it to you.”

Stone was caught completely off guard. “No, I can’t.”

“Of course you can.”

Stone closed his eyes and images of the place flooded his brain — the large, airy rooms, the tall trees on the lot, the sunsets, the pool and hot tub. “Ed, really, I have too many houses already, and I don’t have time to decorate it.”

“You won’t have to, she’ll sell it completely furnished, except for a few pictures she wants to take with her, and you’ll have a wonderful time combing the Canyon Road galleries for replacements. And you can have it cheap, if you take it before she hires a real estate agent.”

“How much?”

“She’s going to ask three million nine for it, but with no agent involved she’ll sell it to you for three million, intact, immediate closing.”

Stone felt himself slipping back into the water, after clawing his way up the beach to real estate safely. “Oh, God.”

“That’s wonderful, Stone. It’ll be great having you for a neighbor! Susannah is already excited to have you in town. We’ll throw a housewarming for you, so you can meet some people, and I’ll use my influence to get you season tickets to the Santa Fe Opera.”

The last chink fell into place for Stone. “All right, to whom do I make the check?”

“Put Joan back on, and I’ll sort it all out with her. We’ll be ready to close immediately — Gala is already ensconced in L.A., so you can have possession tomorrow, if you like. Now put Joan on before you change your mind.”

Stone buzzed Joan. “Ed Eagle wants to speak to you. Make him happy.”

“You bought another house, didn’t you?”

“Oh, shut up.” He hung up and turned back to his lunch.

Holly peered at him. “Did I just hear you make another real estate transaction?”

“A house in Santa Fe,” Stone said sheepishly.

“So much for good intentions,” she said.

“And they were the best of intentions, too. Wait until you see the place — it’s perfect.”

“I would expect no less.”

“Holly, can you take a week off from running the world and come out there with me? We can leave tomorrow.”

Holly looked sheepish herself. “Funny you should mention that — when I left this morning, the boss ordered me not to come back for at least two weeks. I haven’t even had time to figure out what to do with myself.”

“Let me figure that out for you.”

“I place myself in your hands. I’ll have to make some phone calls now and then, though.”

“If I know Kate, she probably told you to leave your phone behind.”

“Well, she did say she would order the White House switchboard not to take my calls. I think she may have even been serious.”

“If you try that, I’ll tell on you, and you’ll be in big trouble.”

Holly put down her fork. “I’d better call her and break the news.” She went to Stone’s desk, picked up the phone, and dialed a number. “The President, please. It’s Holly Barker calling.” She listened for a moment, and her face fell. She hung up. “The White House operator has orders from the President not to put any of my calls through. I can’t believe she would do such a thing.”

Stone laughed. “Now you’re officially on vacation. And I’m not going to let you watch the news, either!”