Free A Fortune to Die For (White Oak - Mafia Series Book 1) by Liza O'Connor

hour, Meg went through her twenty-page presentation. When she ended, Helen’s brow remained furrowed. “Why on earth did you waste the time writing this thing up?”
    Her question was like a javelin piercing Meg’s hopes. “Then you hate the idea.”
    “No, I like it very much. But clearly you’ve spent a great deal of time and research putting this proposal together when all you had to do was talk to me.”
    Relief burst from Meg’s lungs as she realized the old woman’s objection. “The proposal will be needed when I begin discussions with the state. They have to agree to my requirements before I’ll donate the land to them.”
    Helen chuckled. “Then I take back my scold. You were very wise to create this document. Without clear instructions, they will muck it all up.” She then leaned back. “But you didn’t know Tess until yesterday. So how did she get into your proposal?”
    “We talked about her desire to go into Forestry management, and honestly, not only do I think she’ll be great at it, given how much she already knows, but there is no one who I trust to care for your land more than her.”
    Helen nodded. “I considered just giving her the land, but her father would have made her life hell if I did. Your solution is perfect. She won’t own the land, so there’s no reason to torture her, but the state gets the best possible manager for these woods at no cost to them. And Tess gets her dream job.” She blotted her eyes with a tissue from her pocket. “I am so glad I found you.”
    “I am too,” Meg admitted.
    “So let me call Jonas, my lawyer, and have him write up a contract to sell you my land.”
    “I came with a contract. I only need to change the dollar amount, and then I can email it to your lawyer. He can make revisions on it and send them back to my guy. That will speed matters up.”
    Helen smiled and stood. “I’ll call Jonas and let him know you’ll be sending him an email.” Her spryness had returned as she left the room with a lilt in her step.
    Meg corrected the amount and notified her lawyer, David, informing him of the change, and gave him Helen’s lawyer’s number so they could work out any details.
    After a quick knock on the door, Tess eased in and closed the door behind her. “What did you say to Grams? Uncle Jeffrey got her so upset I was ready to call her doctor, and now she’s happier than I’ve seen her in a long while.”
    “Sit down. Since you are a big part of my proposal, you’ll need to agree to it before I start pushing this through bureaucracy hell.”
    Tess’s eyes rounded as she sat on the bed.
    “Helen is going to sell her lands to me for a hundred and thirty million dollars.”
    Tess frowned and raised her hand. “Two concerns—it’s worth much more, and where will you get the money?”
    “I am paying Helen the amount she asked. And I have sufficient funds to buy and then give it to the state under two conditions. It remains as a state park for perpetuity, and until you graduate with your degree, you will be hired each summer as the assistant to the Forest Manager, and upon graduation, you will be promoted to Forest Manager, a job which you will retain as long as you wish.”
    “No way!” Tess yelled with happiness and catapulted herself from the bed. Then she came to a complete halt, turned, her expression sober, and reclaimed her seat. “What if they want your land but refuse to take me.”
    “Then they’ll have to risk losing the lands entirely. However, once they see the current condition of these trails presently under your care, I cannot imagine them doing so.”
    Tess wrapped her arms around Meg. “No wonder Grams is so happy! This is perfect!” Then she suddenly released Meg. “Where is Grams going to go?”
    “She’s staying here. And when she dies, the house becomes yours.”
    Tess stared at her. “Are you some sort of guardian angel? Because you’ve just made all my dreams come true.”
    For the first time in four