Chapter One : Untitled
Julie lifted her head into the chilly October wind, the faint, not unpleasant, smell of decaying leaves filling her nostrils as she hurried along Front St.
She didn't want to miss her appointment. The lawyer had said he had big news for her. Her mother had passed over two months ago. As far as everyone knew, there had been no will.
She got to the office in the two story marble clad office building with just minutes to spare. As she entered, the cute receptionist with golden hair smiled and waved at the tall mahogany doors. "Mr Stein is waiting for you" she smiled.
Julie smiled back and hurried to the oversize doors. The receptionist opened the right side for her as she fumbled to get her cashmere scarf untangled from her long, auburn locks. Suddenly, the receptionist grabbed her hair and pulled the scarf out in one fluid motion.
"Thanks, I always get that stuck" said Julie.
The receptionist shrugged, "When I had curly hair like yours, I had the same trouble."
"Thanks, again um.." Julie trailed off.
" Hanna," supplied the receptionist.
" Thanks, Hanna!" She called as she moved through the large door into the yellow light of Mr. Stein's office.
Mr. Stein, a man in his mid sixties, stood next to his desk smiling. He greeted her and motioned her into a chair across from his. His grey hair didn't quite make it to the top of his head. He wore a very expensive suit in pinstriped navy.
The office was decorated richly with a large, antique desk and chairs in dark polished wood. The cushions were well worn Italian leather and Julie sank comfortably into the seat that Mr. Stein had indicated. "Good morning Ms. Jefferies, I hope you are feeling better." His baritone voice filled the office.
In truth, Julie was a little afraid of her mother's lawyer. She half smiled and answered that she was feeling much better. The last time they saw each other was the day of her mother's funeral. He had told her that there was no will and the estate would have to be audited to make sure all debts were paid.
It was her turn to ask a question, "To what do I owe the pleasure? The audit can't be done already?" She was prepared to have to pay and hope it would not be all of her savings. Her mother had been a tad extravagant.
"The audit was done before your mom passed." Said Mr. Stein, seemingly relishing the confused look Julie shot him.
"Your mother requested a waiting period before I released her estate to you. She wanted to be sure you didn't have anyone clinging on to you when you found out." He intoned with mischievous eyes.He was enjoying this. "We had to be sure that you weren't in a relationship with anyone who would try to get the money from you, so we had to investigate you."
"Investigate me?" Julie spat, she was getting a bit dizzy and it felt like the room was starting to close in on her. "For what?"
Mr. Stein waved his hand as if shooing away a bug. "Your mother didn't want to give you fifty million dollars if there was a chance that someone would use you for it."
The room started to spin then "Fif. , fif, fifty" she sputtered as darkness filled the corners of her vision. She was going to faint, and that is just what she did.
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