The Billionaire's Temporary Bride (Scandal, Inc #3)(44)

"What makes you think we want anything?" Caroline asked.

"The fact that we're standing in the same room is a good start," Jack said. "Maybe you've forgotten every interaction we've had since Dad died, but I haven't."

"God, Jack, get off your high horse. It's not even your damn money," Caroline said. She took a long swig of the wine she had repoured as soon as her last glass had been dumped out.

"That's right. It's not mine, and it's not yours."

"Do you really think Dad would have wanted us to fight over it?"

"Honestly, I don't think he would have given a damn either way."

"I can't believe he left you in charge of anything. He gave you everything, and you're so damn disrespectful of him." Jack placed his glass down on the window sill. "Are you serious? Do you really want to talk about respect? How about respecting your family name instead of treating it like a cash machine? It wasn't Dad's money either. It was Grandpa's. You know that, and you know that he had no interest in letting his grandchildren sit around all day wasting their lives. The trust is set up for perpetuity, not for personal whims. You'd spend the money in a year if you could."

"Who cares?" Caroline asked. "Grandpa's not using it."

"I care," Jack said. "And you should too because it's not our money. It's our family's money. We were given it. We didn't earn it."

"Do you really think Dad would have wanted this? Do you think he'd want the money to drive his kids apart? No, he'd want to make sure his kids were set for life."

Whit nodded in agreement with every word.

"That's what I'm trying to do, Caroline," Jack said. "Look at Uncle George's kids. They blew through their portion of the money in a few years."

"That's different," Caroline said. "Besides, it's not like any of us have kids to pass it on to."

This was too much. Jack's mind went to little Jack. What did Caroline know about kids? She would happily waste all that money on herself, just like the rest of the Coburn family. Jack would never let her do that, not when little Jack deserved it more than any of them.

"I'm getting married in a month, and our family extends beyond just the three of us," Jack said.

"Yeah, Mom really needs the money," Caroline said.

"I'm not talking about Mom. I'm asking the two of you to think of anything beyond yourselves for once."

"That's just like you, Jack. Don't pretend you're the only one who thinks about others. You know how committed to charity I was before you controlled all the money. Philanthropy is all I h—" She caught herself in a moment of weakness and drowned her words in a sip of wine.

"I don't control any of it," Jack said. "It's invested in a blind trust."

"You're the sole trustee," Whit said. "You know what she means. Caroline has a point. We're not getting any younger, and the money is just sitting there. If we don't put it to use, who will?"

"We all have everything we need. You have houses and boats and cars," Jack said.

"Yeah, and we don't own any of it," Caroline said, "It's almost entirely owned by the trust."

"We didn't earn any of it either," Jack replied.

"Does it really matter?" Whit asked.

"Yes," Jack said. "The money belongs to the family. I've been asked to make sure it lasts for the family."

"Again and again about the family!" Caroline shouted. "You'd think you actually gave a shit about any of us. You hate us. Just admit it. The money is just one part of it."

"I'm done talking about this," Jack said. "It's Mom's birthday. When she and Charlotte get back, can we please just play nice for a while?"

"If Dad were alive…" Caroline said. She sighed and finished her drink. "I can't believe he left you in charge."

"Don't bring Dad into this. He's the reason why we're all so screwed up anyway. Do you think I want this responsibility? Do you think I like the fact that my own family views me as a goddamn ATM? Go ahead, Car, tell me. I've spent my entire life trying to make up for the fact that no one else is willing to do a damn thing to preserve the family name."

"You think because Mom ran you for office you're special?"

Jack sat down and ran his hands through his hair. "I don't think I'm special at all. I'm the only one in this room who doesn't get to do whatever I want. You want more money? Go out and get a job. Do something. Provide something of value to society."

Whit had turned back to the window, looking like he wanted to crawl inside his glass of scotch until the fight was over. "Will you just think about it, Jack?"

"Seriously, Jack, what is your endgame?" Caroline asked. "What do you want? Help us understand."

"I want to keep our family from falling apart," Jack said.

"You're a few decades late on that one," Caroline replied.

Whit nodded glumly in agreement.

"So what, we're just supposed to cash out?" Jack asked.

"It's a better idea than sitting on a pile of money until we die," Caroline said.