Morgan Cameron allowed the butler Ford to lead him to Ira's private study. It amused him to see the other man attempt to assert some sort of authority now that Ira was gone. "Close the door behind you," Ford directed. The butler strode over to Ira's heavy wooden desk and took a seat behind it. His solid frame seemed in place there, unlike Ira, whose slight stature always made him appear to be a child playing at being an adult.
Without comment Cameron closed the study door and took a seat at the simple table along the far wall. The move placed his back to Ford and forced the butler to decide whether to maintain his place in the chair behind Ira's desk or move into a position where he could see the lawyer's face. The rigid set of Cameron's body made it plain that no conversation would take place between them otherwise.
As Cameron expected, Ford cursed beneath his breath but crossed the room to where he waited. The butler threw himself into a chair opposite Cameron and glared. "As I said to Elizabeth earlier, Ira prepared for this day. He left me explicit instructions on what he wanted done for each person he cared for, like Elizabeth, and for those who merely worked for him." Cameron paused. "Like you."
Ford's jaw tightened. A vein in his forehead throbbed visibly. "So I guess this little conversation isn't so you can offer condolences."
Cameron made a sound that was at once biting and filled with disdain. He had no respect for Ford. He neither liked or trusted the man. Ira's insistence on hiring him was one of the few serious disagreements with his longtime friend that Cameron could recall since the early beginnings of their friendship.
"Ira wanted me to lay out the terms of your future employment here. Let's just get this over with, shall we, so that I can go and ensure that the mortuary handled Ira's remains like they were instructed."
"I didn't do anything to him," Ford growled."He died, just like I said he did."
"It's highly likely he did. I doubt you would be stupid enough to take such a risk...not with all the history my investigators dug up on you." Cameron smiled a humorless smile. "But just in case temptation got the better of you, the mortuary is going to provide us with the cremated remains of some other deceased client. 'Loaner ashes', you might say, until the coroner concludes his private autopsy on Ira's body."
"Whatever." The single word bristled with anger. "Say what it is you have to say," Ford bit out. "I have things to take care of."
"Very well." Cameron placed his briefcase on the table and withdrew a thin sheaf of legal-sized papers. He glanced at them a moment before sliding them Ford's way. "Ira has arranged two choices for your future here. You can take the remainder of this month's salary plus a small bonus that he left for servants with less than ten years employment and *quietly* disappear forever." The lawyer's emphasis on the word 'quietly' caused Ford's jaw to tighten. "Or you can choose to remain in service here under Elizabeth's direction ...with certain conditions."
"Conditions?"
"Four ironclad conditions." Cameron counted them off with the fingers of his left hand. "One. You recognize and acknowledge Elizabeth as your employer and the sole owner of this estate. You accede to her instructions accordingly and without question."
"Two. You act as an early warning system by alerting me to anyone who might have less than honorable intentions where Elizabeth and her inheritance are concerned." Cameron smiled at Ford; the expression held no trace of humor. "You should have no problem recognizing them. It will be like looking in the mirror."
"And three. There will be no relationship between you and Elizabeth beyond that of employer and butler. No romance, no friendship, no trusted adviser. You coordinate her household and nothing more. In every way your interactions with her will be the same as if Ira were still here. In return," the lawyer explained, "on each January 1st the sum of five hundred thousand dollars will be deposited into an account in your name - to be spent as you choose. You have until I leave here this evening to give me your answer."
For several seconds Ford's only reaction to the lawyer's words was to clench and unclench his fists. "You said," the butler finally managed with difficulty, "there were four conditions. You only stated three."
"Oh, yes, condition number four...my own particular favorite. You are not to contest the will."
"If I do?"
Morgan Cameron flashed Ford a bright smile. "Then I will be forced to have you delivered over to the many wealthy people over in Europe whose money you helped yourself to. Including the family of that unfortunate young Italian woman who ended her life in shame over her gullibility." The lawyer dropped all pretense of civility. "Or maybe I'll just make use of one of the many resources at my disposal and save everyone the bother."
"So, now I think we're done here," Cameron pleasantly announced as though he had not just leveled a deadly threat Ford's way. He retrieved the sheaf of papers from the table where they lay untouched in front of the butler and slid them back into his briefcase. "I really do hope you understand, Ford, that your easy ride with Ira is over. From here on in you'll be dealing with me."
End Note : Ford - Gerard Butler
