Read Online A Knight at the Opera by Kenneth L. Levinson - Free Book Online
Authors: Kenneth L. Levinson
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wouldn't be possible."
To me, it sounded like he was still saying, "No fucking way," but was now trying
to sugar coat it. Evidently, it sounded that way to Joyce, as well, because she said icily, "Are
you really that opposed to my working here?"
"No, of course not," he said. "I'm not saying that at all."
Her voice was even, but firm. "Then what are you saying?"
"That we can't legally transfer his partnership interest to you. Simply that."
"So, what are the alternatives?" I asked. There was a long silence, while
Pennington and Barbereau stared at each other. Each seemed to be waiting for the other to
say something.
Pennington was the one to break the standoff. "Frankly, I don't know."
"What would you think of Joyce working here as an associate accountant?" I
said. "At least long enough to meet her CPA requirements."
"You mean, and then to automatically become a partner?" Barbereau asked, as
though the thought were totally abhorrent.
"I didn't say that. I understand that a beginning accountant doesn't have the
experience and seasoning you normally would expect in a partner. On the other hand, your
deceased partner did ask you to help her get established in her career."
"So not necessarily to become a partner?" Barbereau asked, frowning as though
he thought I was trying to trick him.
"Not initially. This would be a reasonable interim compromise. I have a feeling
Joyce is going to prove herself be a good accountant. In time, you might decide it's a good
fit."
"Well, maybe eventually," he agreed. "But it takes years. Between us, Conner and
I have nearly four decades of experience. We can't commit to--"
"I'm not asking you to commit to anything. Remember, we're just exploring
options here. What about the short term? Could Joyce work here long enough to get her
required hours?"
It was Pennington's turn to put up roadblocks. "We really aren't hiring. In this
economy, our revenues are down, way down, and we've had to lay off staff. How could
we--"
"You just lost one of the partners," Joyce blurted. "Somebody has to pick up his
workload."
He showed her a sympathetic smile. "Your point is well taken, but he was doing
things at the partner level, Joyce. To be blunt, we have enough grunts to do the nuts and
bolts, day to day paperwork."
"Besides," Barbereau added, "this is all premature. A personal representative
needs to be appointed for the estate, and any possible disputes over the validity of the will
would have to be adjudicated before--"
Joyce obviously did not like what she was hearing. "What possible disputes?"
she blurted. "Are you suggesting that Karl wasn't competent to--"
Barbereau raised a palm. "No, nothing of the sort. But you know his ex-wife.
Gretchen might decide to contest the will. And, until the circumstances of Karl's death are
sorted out, it may not be possible to--"
"That's utter nonsense!"
I decided it was time to drop the bomb. They were obviously playing games with
us and had no intention of ever hiring Joyce.
In a sorrowful tone, I said, "Well, I have to admit, it doesn't look like you have a
spot for Joyce anywhere around here." I nearly added, "Unless Mr. Barbereau gets his way
and fires the receptionist," but I suppressed the impulse. What I did say was, "That just
leaves the matter of buying her partnership interest. That's what the partnership
agreement requires. We'll hire someone to prepare an evaluation of its value, and then you
can just write her a check for her share."
Both of them reacted, and neither of them looked happy. Barbereau demanded,
"Write her a check? How the hell would we do that? Our accounts receivable are up
through the ceiling! And our cash flow has practically slowed to a trickle."
"He's right," Pennington chimed in. "We're struggling just to meet payroll."
I shrugged, giving him the same sympathetic smile he'd shown to my client. "I
don't know what to tell you. The partnership agreement gives each of you a first right of
purchase. If none of you decide to
To me, it sounded like he was still saying, "No fucking way," but was now trying
to sugar coat it. Evidently, it sounded that way to Joyce, as well, because she said icily, "Are
you really that opposed to my working here?"
"No, of course not," he said. "I'm not saying that at all."
Her voice was even, but firm. "Then what are you saying?"
"That we can't legally transfer his partnership interest to you. Simply that."
"So, what are the alternatives?" I asked. There was a long silence, while
Pennington and Barbereau stared at each other. Each seemed to be waiting for the other to
say something.
Pennington was the one to break the standoff. "Frankly, I don't know."
"What would you think of Joyce working here as an associate accountant?" I
said. "At least long enough to meet her CPA requirements."
"You mean, and then to automatically become a partner?" Barbereau asked, as
though the thought were totally abhorrent.
"I didn't say that. I understand that a beginning accountant doesn't have the
experience and seasoning you normally would expect in a partner. On the other hand, your
deceased partner did ask you to help her get established in her career."
"So not necessarily to become a partner?" Barbereau asked, frowning as though
he thought I was trying to trick him.
"Not initially. This would be a reasonable interim compromise. I have a feeling
Joyce is going to prove herself be a good accountant. In time, you might decide it's a good
fit."
"Well, maybe eventually," he agreed. "But it takes years. Between us, Conner and
I have nearly four decades of experience. We can't commit to--"
"I'm not asking you to commit to anything. Remember, we're just exploring
options here. What about the short term? Could Joyce work here long enough to get her
required hours?"
It was Pennington's turn to put up roadblocks. "We really aren't hiring. In this
economy, our revenues are down, way down, and we've had to lay off staff. How could
we--"
"You just lost one of the partners," Joyce blurted. "Somebody has to pick up his
workload."
He showed her a sympathetic smile. "Your point is well taken, but he was doing
things at the partner level, Joyce. To be blunt, we have enough grunts to do the nuts and
bolts, day to day paperwork."
"Besides," Barbereau added, "this is all premature. A personal representative
needs to be appointed for the estate, and any possible disputes over the validity of the will
would have to be adjudicated before--"
Joyce obviously did not like what she was hearing. "What possible disputes?"
she blurted. "Are you suggesting that Karl wasn't competent to--"
Barbereau raised a palm. "No, nothing of the sort. But you know his ex-wife.
Gretchen might decide to contest the will. And, until the circumstances of Karl's death are
sorted out, it may not be possible to--"
"That's utter nonsense!"
I decided it was time to drop the bomb. They were obviously playing games with
us and had no intention of ever hiring Joyce.
In a sorrowful tone, I said, "Well, I have to admit, it doesn't look like you have a
spot for Joyce anywhere around here." I nearly added, "Unless Mr. Barbereau gets his way
and fires the receptionist," but I suppressed the impulse. What I did say was, "That just
leaves the matter of buying her partnership interest. That's what the partnership
agreement requires. We'll hire someone to prepare an evaluation of its value, and then you
can just write her a check for her share."
Both of them reacted, and neither of them looked happy. Barbereau demanded,
"Write her a check? How the hell would we do that? Our accounts receivable are up
through the ceiling! And our cash flow has practically slowed to a trickle."
"He's right," Pennington chimed in. "We're struggling just to meet payroll."
I shrugged, giving him the same sympathetic smile he'd shown to my client. "I
don't know what to tell you. The partnership agreement gives each of you a first right of
purchase. If none of you decide to
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