“Yes, well, that’s not all the money you have.”
“What have you two done?”
“Actually, this was all you. With the change of university comes a scholarship. There’s not much in there, just enough for this semester. It usually covers accommodation, books, travel, and small living expenses, but because you’re mostly done…well, it’s massively reduced.”
“A scholarship? But I didn’t apply for—”
“You qualified for it. Like I said, this isn’t on us,” he says, and I raise my brows. “Well, okay, we might have requested you be considered.” His noncommittal shrug makes me laugh and shake my head. “The online banking packet is somewhere in there,” he adds, pointing to the pile of paperwork. “You can download the app and see what you’ve got. The scholarship details will be on your HU account.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to.”
Aiden waves me off. “There’s something else you should know.”
“Ooh kay…”
“So, Carlo sold the bar to Trevainne, right?” His question is cagey. He’s hovering nervously and that’s never a good thing.
I answer slowly. “Yeah?”
“Well, to be specific, he sold the property to Trevainne. Not the business…exactly.”
“I don’t understand.”
Aiden lands on the stool beside me with a thump. “Sorry, Dax would be better at explaining this, but, well, he’s an arsehole, and he’s not here.”
I cut back to the topic at hand. Is something wrong with Carlo’s deal? Have they cheated him out of money? They wouldn’t do that right?
“What do you mean bynot exactly?”
“Dax offered Carlo a compromise rather than lose his business entirely. The land and building now belong to Trevainne, and the money from that went to setting up their new life.” I nod. That partI already knew.
“The bar, however, is a business external to its lodgings.”
I guess that makes sense. “Yeah. So?”
“Well, Dax bought into the business, using his personal funds to buy a majority stake.”
“So, Dax owns the bar?” Still not seeing a problem here.
Aiden tries to clarify. “On paper. Dax’s name is now on everything as the primary working partner. Carlo retained a smaller, sleeping-partner share, which pays out profit into an account.”
“So, it continues to make him money. That’s good, right?”
“Yes and no. It continues to makeyoumoney. Carlo left it to you.”
My head explodes. At least, it might as well have because I can’t fucking think. How? Why? Aiden must see my confusion because he charges ahead, unaware that I’m barely taking anything in.
“Carlo signed it over to you. The money Dax offered for the buy-in was enough to create a nest egg for them. The contract also allows Carlo the right to buy Dax’s shares back should they choose to return when Dax gives them the all clear. We’re, basically, guardians until Carlo decides otherwise. The proportion that remained…” Aiden sucks in a breath. “He asked us to put it in your name. I think it was his way of looking out for you.”
“I own a portion ofCarlito’s?”
“Yes. You don’t have to do anything. Dax installed a manager to handle everything and kept the original staff so that little changed. This just means that Franz can’t touch the property, and as a bonus you make a little extra cash each quarter.”
“I had no idea…”
“Yeah. It was something we wanted to tell you once all the legal paperwork went through. We got the call yesterday, and I set up your business account. When you log in, you’ll see it alongside your primary account. You’ll be able to shift funds from the businessaccount easily or use it to pay off cards or whatever the hell you like. It’s your money. I’m not going to lecture you on how you spend it.” Aiden grins.
“Shit. Do I owe taxes now?”
