Стюарт Вудс - Indecent Exposure

“All the personal files you have given us have been digitized and are available to all those in the group, and the originals will be stored in a separate, secure area of Woodman & Weld’s storage facility. The group has its own local area network, and stringent security measures are already in effect.

“Next in your folders are the wills and trusts we have drawn up for you, and your living wills, each incorporating any changes you may have asked for. Please sign these where indicated, and we will need the notary and three other witnesses to sign, as well.”

The notary, two agents, and the butler were called in to witness the documents, then departed.

Stone removed copies of another document and gave them to Kate. “This is a deed of gift of your former Georgetown residence from my ownership to that of the State Department, for the purpose of housing secretaries of state. You have already approved the terms and conditions.” Stone closed his briefcase. “And that concludes our business, unless you have further questions or requests.”

No one said anything for a moment, then Peter Rule cleared his throat. “Stone, I would like to retain you and your group as my personal attorneys, if that is agreeable to you.”

“Of course, Peter,” Stone said. “Let’s meet when you’re next in New York to discuss that in detail.”

“And, of course, when Celeste and I are married, she would also like to retain your services.”

“I’d be delighted. Anything else?”

No one spoke.

“In that case, I’d like to extend an invitation to you all. I am a partner in the ownership of a recently completed yacht of a hundred and twenty-five feet, with seven guest cabins, and I’d like to invite you on a cruise during the holiday season, dates to be agreed later. The yacht will be based in Fort Lauderdale for the winter, but we can all meet it at any convenient port. Presidents Lee, you should know that there is a helicopter landing pad aboard, should you wish to arrive with extra discretion, and there is room aboard for two Secret Service agents. I would expect that the remainder of your detail would travel in an escort vessel of the Navy or Coast Guard.”

“We accept!” Kate Lee cried, and the others echoed her.

“Wonderful!” Stone said. “Please consult with each other and let me know your dates, and I will make all the arrangements.”

“Time for a drink,” Will said.

“Not just yet — first, I have a little surprise for you.”

“I’m getting pretty thirsty,” Will said.

“Restrain yourself, you’ll be happy you did.” Stone produced another document from his briefcase. “I have here an offer for each of you from an important New York publisher, with whom I have negotiated terms, which I commend to you. Holly, your offer is for an advance of five million dollars for a work of autobiography, to be completed within two years of your leaving office. The initial payment is one million dollars, on signing.” He handed her the offer. “Of course, as a public official, you may not accept this offer until you leave government service, so I will keep it on file for you.

“Kate, your offer is for three works of autobiography for twenty-five million each, and your check is for fifteen million, less commission comprised of the initial payment for each, the remainder to be paid on a schedule to be negotiated. Like Holly, you may not accept until you leave office, and I will keep the offer on file for you.

“Will, your offer is for three works of autobiography, the first of which you have already completed and which the publisher has accepted. The advance for each book is twenty million, and since your manuscript has been accepted, and since you are no longer in public service, I give you a check for thirty million, less our commission, the check being comprised of the entire contract sum for the first volume, and two payments of five million each as the initial payments for the next two books, the remainder to be paid on a schedule to be negotiated.” He handed Will the check.

Will clapped his hands, and the butler appeared. “Rex, please locate the best magnum of champagne in the White House cellars and serve it!”

“First, Will,” Stone said, “you should sign the offer.”

Will did.

Stone tucked the documents into his briefcase. “And don’t forget to pay your taxes,” he said, accepting a glass of champagne.

The following morning the maid wheeled in the breakfast cart and handed Stone the papers.

He glanced at the Washington Debater and winced. “Now it starts,” he said to Holly, handing her the paper, which featured a large front-page photograph, above the fold, of the two of them, arm in arm, during the previous evening’s stroll. The headline read:

Holly looked at the paper. “Oh, God,” she said.

Holly came back from her dressing room, ready for work. Stone was still in bed, reading the papers.

“I’ve gotta run,” she said. “Do you want to come over this afternoon and see my splendid new offices?”

“I’d love to,” Stone replied, “but you’ll be far too busy for that, and I have to get back to New York.”

“That’s terrible.”

“I know, but you can come and see me.”

“Don’t count on it until after the inauguration,” she said. “I should have everything in better shape after that.” Her cell phone rang. “Hello?... Good morning, I’m just leaving the house... Oh, yes, I saw it. I’m canceling my subscription to the Debater — I didn’t even know I had one. We’ll deal with it when I get there. Goodbye.” She hung up. “That was my public affairs officer, warning me of my new tabloid fame.” She kissed him.

“Take it easy.”

“You, too, and if the phone rings, don’t answer it. If I need to reach you I’ll call you on your cell.”

“Got it.” They kissed, and she departed.

Stone landed the Citation at Teterboro Airport shortly before noon, and his man, Fred, was there with the car to greet him. Stone locked down the airplane and gave the engine and pitot covers to the lineman to be installed, then got into the car. There was a stack of newspapers on the seat next to him.

“Some reading matter for you, sir,” Fred said.

“Oh, thanks.” Two tabloids with the same photo he’d seen in the Debater. “I didn’t know you frequented supermarkets, Fred.”

“Helene does.” Helene was Stone’s Greek housekeeper and cook and Fred’s companion. “Joan has been fielding phone calls on that subject all morning.”

“Swell,” Stone replied, and picked up the Times , trusting that he would not see his photograph in those pages. He was wrong. The headline read:

And his photograph was there among the others. The first was: “Holly Barker, formerly national security advisor, has been sworn in as the new secretary of state.”

The next to last, with a pretty good photograph, was: “President Lee and the First Gentleman have appointed Stone Barrington, a New York attorney with the firm of Woodman & Weld, as their personal attorney, upon the retirement of his predecessor.” He should have anticipated that, but he had not.

Fred garaged the car and took Stone’s luggage upstairs while he went to his office.

“Good morning, superstar,” Joan sang out.

“Don’t start.”

“What, has this newfound fame gone to your head?”

“It may be newfound, but it had better not be fame — I’m not up for that.”

“I think that henceforth, when your name is mentioned, it will include not only ‘New York attorney’ but ‘paramour of the secretary of state.’”