News Conference (109)

Ariel finished her tea and the men let her lay down in the guest room. It did not take long before the day had taken it's toll on her and she was fast asleep.

"Do you know what is going on?" Mickey asked.

"Not really. Georgie said that she had been served with a restraining order and could not go home and he let her come here. He then asked for me to come and take care of her."

"That is what he told me too. I could hear Richie on the phone with your boss."

"Mr. Samuel will fix this. He is the best lawyer around."

They sat there in silence for a few hours before Harper and Tubby walked in.

"How is she?" Tubby asked.

"She is upset but is sleeping right now. She cried herself asleep." Andrew said.

"Heny said that Richie has been at the lawyer's office the past few hours. He has been on the phone with backlash on a project that Mr. McKenna and Harrison have placed a hold on. One they have no business doing so but stock prices are falling." Harper said.

"What do they want us to do?" Mickey said pulling Harper closer to hold his hand.

"Just be here for the Mermaid." he said squeezing his hand.

"Then that is what we will do." Andrew said. "How about pasta for dinner?"

"Sounds good need help?" Tubby asked.

"Sure make a salad." He smiled as they both headed into the kitchen.

Harper and Mickey sat there and Mickey leaned into Harper and closed his eyes. "I'm so glad my family loves you and we don't have these kind of problems."

"Me too my love, me too."

Marcus sat in front of Mr. Samuels desk as he was on the phone with his fathers lawyer.

"Yes"... "I understand"... "Please send me all the documents as soon as possible." "Yes" "No" "I believe you have no case right now so we will see you in court. If those documents are not in my hands by the end of business hours you will be in breach of your ethical duty." "Yes" "Good day sir"

He hung up the phone and rub his hands through his hair. "Marcus, They have no leg to stand on but say they have documents saying the land belongs to the whole family. I have all the paperwork needed to state the truth. I don't think they realize that Judge Johnson was the one that witnessed your grandfather new will. Don't worry so much this will all work out."

"What about the restraining order?"

"Give me a minute to make another call." He then called Judge Johnson and set an appointment to meet with him in an hour.

George was working like crazy to stay ahead of the back lash. Mr. McKenna pulled in a favor and got their biggest investor to pull out. He was re reading the contract when he smiled big. "Sarah get Tom West on the phone please." He said into the intercom.

5 minutes later the call came through.

"I don't think there is anything to discuss now. I am sorry we can no longer work together but this project is not for my company."

"I believe you are right. I was calling to find out when we will be getting the cancellation fee."

"I forgot, how much do I need to send you?"

"According to the contract you signed after your lawyers looked it over, 4.2 billion."

"What?"

"The contract reads 'The party of the second part will pay the sum of 2 times the investment put in if the contract is broken by the party. They will be paid 4 times their investment if the first party brakes the contract.' Your investment was 2.1 billion so payback will be 4.2 billion. Now when will that be in our hands." George smiled. Even with them pulling out this will give them the money needed to finish the project and now all the profit will come to us instead of sharing them with the other company.

"I need my lawyers to verify this. If it is true then you will have your money in three days."

"Might I suggest that you get Mr. McKenna to pay it since you listen to him in the first place. And when you do, tell him to stop before his company is dissolved by what he is doing." He the hung up. His next call was to have all the board members come in for a meeting. Then a news conference would be held.

He walked out and flashes of camera lights went off.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have called this conference to let you know that the south land park project is still strong. Even with Patric Pharmaceuticals inc pulling out this project still have the finance to head forward with out it. It will still bring thousands of job before and after construction. Please don't be alarmed and every shareholder big and small will benefit from your loyalty. Are there any questions?"

Hands all over went up. "Yes the lady in pink."

"Will this delay the progress any?" She asked.

"No, everything is still planed to go off on schedule. The man in the back. Yes you."

"Is it true they pulled out because Mr. McKenna was tricked out of property by a woman?"

"There reason to pull out is their own. As the rumor of my partner and the land I was prepared to talk about this. Our next project is a youth center for every child to learn in. From swimming classes to cooking. The old McKenna county club was given to my partner by his grandfather. Miss Jensen was a swimming teacher and help with fundraising for the city park. It cost $100 to take swimming lessons there. There is no way a child from the slum area to learn to swim. The new center will allow these children to learn what they could not of. This was a project on our desk for the past year. Way before he met Miss Jensen. Our lawyers thought it best to put the land in her name for tax reasons. We want no profit from this project and we have her agreement that all profits go back into the center. We do pay her out of our company so they center will not have too. I know that there will be talk that the land belongs to the McKenna family but that is not true. Marcus McKenna was given that land and told by his grandfather to do with it something special. That is what he is doing. That's all for now and thank you for coming." As George walked out he was bombarded with more question but he did not stop. He got in his car to head home.

Ariel watched the news conference with the guys as they ate dinner. She did not know how she should feel right now but she did know she missed Marcus.