Facts Of Life: Brand New Day

Chapter 5

V

Kýrie, eléison
Kýrie, eléison
Kýrie

The wind blows hard against this mountainside
Across the sea into my soul
It reaches into where I cannot hide
Setting my feet upon the road

My heart is old, it holds my memories
My body burns a gem-like flame
Somewhere between the soul and soft machine
Is where I find myself again

Kýrie, eléison
Down the road that I must travel
Kýrie, eléison
Through the darkness of the night

Kýrie, eléison
Where I'm going, will you follow?
Kýrie, eléison
On a highway in the light

When I was young, I thought of growing old
Of what my life would mean to me
Would I have followed down my chosen road
Or only wished what I could be

Kýrie, eléison
Down the road that I must travel
Kýrie, eléison
Through the darkness of the night

Kýrie, Mr. Mister

11am, The Next Morning, Warner Tower

Dennis Levine knew this wasn't simply about Jo and Blair going over Blair's finances, that would be too easy. Not with the cloak and dagger of the day before. Something was going on, and the two women felt he needed to know about it.

"Come on in, ladies", he said cordially. He had barely spoken to Blair or Jo the day before, and he needed to make amends for that, going to Blair first. "I want to apologize, Blair, for not making more time to talk to you yesterday." He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Your father was one of my best friends, ever, and I should have talked to you more."

"Dennis, don't think twice about it", Blair said with a sad smile. "Daddy knew you were one of the good guys, and so do I."

He turned to Jo. "How are you doing, Jo? I apologize for not reaching out to you as well."

"I'm doing fine, sir", Jo said respectfully. She wasn't close to Levine like Blair was, but he had always treated her well. "Just working hard at my business."

Dennis smiled. "I know my son is coming home for Christmas, and he's a big biker. I'll make sure he drops by to visit you." He indicated for the women to sit. "Now, something is obviously brewing, so I yield this meeting to the two of you."

Jo looked at Blair and nodded. "First of all, Dennis, I need to know what my net worth is, which would include my inheritance from Daddy-cash, property, company stock, the works.

"Very well", he said evenly, already having the file ready to pull up on a very heavily encrypted system. He scanned the information to make sure it's what he knew was true, nodded, then looked at the two women. "All told, once David's inheritance goes through to you, Blair, and that includes cash, property, holdings, stock in Warner, as of this day, you'd have a net worth of $5.2 billion."

Blair didn't move a muscle. Jo, on the other hand, almost fainted. Blair thought her girlfriend actually would faint for a moment. "Joey?"

Dennis had a mini-fridge in his office, and he pulled out a cold bottle of water. "Take some water Jo", he said with a little grin, knowing that what he had said would knock most people for a loop.

Jo recovered quickly, but still look dazed. "Did...did he..." She looked from Blair to Dennis, "...five billion?"

"That's correct, Mrs. Polniaczek."

"Jesus", she breathed. "I thought you were loaded when you told me you had about four-hundred mil, honey. Five bil? Good God."

"Thank you, Dennis", Blair said calmly. She turned to Jo. "Honey, why don't you tell Dennis about the conversation you had with Mother yesterday at the reception?"