Free Vegas Sunrise by Fern Michaels

$100,000 a year.”
    â€œA hundred thousand dollars! You said it was worth $250,000. Is that what she’s paying your brother?” Birch cringed at the greed in his wife’s voice.
    â€œMy half brother. I don’t know. My mother made the decision, and she never goes back on her word. It’s my own fault. I should have told her I was returning. So much for big surprises.”
    â€œAt least you have your trust fund. Do they give bonuses?”
    â€œI wish you’d forget that trust fund. No, they don’t give out bonuses. Since we got back, all you talk about is money. In Costa Rica the word wasn’t in our vocabulary.”
    â€œThat’s because we didn’t have any and, even if we had, there was nowhere to spend it. You’re right though, I do talk about money, and I think about it, too. I’m tired of living like a ragpicker. I want nice things, good food, and a house to live in. I also want a car. Of my own. Does a car come with this job?”
    â€œNo. Sunny gave me her treasured Volvo. The one I used to tell you about. It’s like a bright red bonbon. I can pick up a station wagon for you in a few days.”
    â€œWatch my swollen lips, Birch. I do not want some stodgy station wagon. I want a bright colored, low-slung sports car.”
    Birch removed his arm from his wife’s shoulders. “Tell me, if you had married someone else, how would you get those things?”
    â€œI didn’t marry someone else, Birch, I married you. I had no idea you were such a scrooge where money is concerned. How much money is in that trust fund?”
    â€œI have no idea. It’s just there. No one uses it. None of us draw from it. If I ever have children, it will go to them. That’s how it’s set up. If I don’t have children, it will go to Sunny’s kids.”
    â€œYou need to change that. You have a wife now. We could have children one of these days. Things like that need to be taken care of. You must have some idea of how much money is in the fund.”
    â€œLook at me, Celia. Yes, it’s mine, but there are strings and restrictions. It was set up by my grandmother and my mother. I cannot undo it. It’s airtight. It goes down the line to the family heirs. You cannot inherit from it. Ever.”
    â€œAre you saying I don’t count for anything in this marriage?”
    â€œNo, I’m not saying that at all. I’m explaining it to you the best way I can. I can’t help it if you don’t like it.” Birch watched his wife’s shocked face when he said, “There is around five million in the trust. That was years ago. I don’t know what it’s worth today.” He felt sick to his stomach at the greedy, calculating look he saw reflected in Celia’s eyes. He got up and moved to one of the red chairs that gave him a frontal view of his wife. “Children are not in my game plan, Celia. I’m not father material like Sage is. My sister Billie is the first one to tell you she isn’t mother material. Don’t ask me why that is. We agreed, Celia, that children wouldn’t be part of our lives. I haven’t changed my mind.”
    â€œWhen are you going to decide about the job? We need to talk about this or doesn’t my opinion count?”
    â€œOf course it counts. Iris said something this afternoon about following Sage to the ends of the earth. I found myself wondering if you’d do the same thing. You seem to be changing in front of my eyes, or is it my ears.”
    â€œChanging! What about you, Birch? In my worst nightmares I never thought you’d strike me. Let’s be fair here. You certainly have been busy today, haven’t you?” This last was said so snidely, Birch felt the control he’d kept on his anger begin to slip.
    Birch stretched his neck to relieve the tension in his shoulders. “I don’t want to stay here and work with Jeff. Yeah, it bothers me. For