Charmed: Inheritance
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Four million dollars. The figure left the lawyer's mouth but just seemed to hang in the air, almost like a suffocating fog. On the other side of the oak desk, the three young people seated seemed to be the ones choking on it. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, the woman in the middle seat with the shoulder-length, black hair and the grey shift dress spoke up.
"I'm sorry, mister," she began, trying to remember his name. "Mr. Caldwell, but do you mean to tell me that the three of us…were left a giant house here by my grams? She lived in a senior home in Oakland."
Her name was Prudence Halliwell. Everyone called her Prue, except when her mother grams was irate. She and her two younger sisters had flown in from LA just two weeks prior for her funeral. Grams was 87 and had heart issues, but no one expected the lively grandmother to kick it. She remembered that Elliot Reyes, the boy to her right, had called a few weeks ago urging her to visit Grams because he had a crazy dream. She hadn't spoken to him for five years and could only muster a quick "sure" and an empty invitation for dinner the next time she was in Manhattan.
"Yes, Ms. Halliwell," the grey haired lawyer said, eyes squinting slightly. Perhaps he was smiling underneath his mustache. It was hard to tell. "The manor's upkeep expenses and taxes were paid by two separate estates: The Gardet Foundation and The Hsiao Corporation. They will continue to pay until the end of this month."
The two sitting on both sides of Prue winced at the names.
"Gar-day. Not Gar-dett," the dark skinned girl immediately interjected. It was the third time she had to correct him.
"Yes, I apologize, Adele. Ah, Miss Gardet. Actually, the will stated that the key be given to you."
Adele looked quizzically for a moment. There were plenty Gardets in Louisiana, but she didn't know that she had any meaningful connection to the Gardet Foundation, other than a second cousin or a great aunt running it. The Hsaio Corporation, she knew definitely knew Elliot's grandfather was a CFO for. This Halliwell Manor, a three bedroom, two bath, home in Sutro Heights, was still standing because of all three of them there.
The lawyer slid a key forward to the table. Adele looked at the other two who were still stunned.
"Should we take a look, guys?"
"I suppose," said Prue as she slid on her sunglasses and started gathering her things. "But we have to talk about selling it. I'm not leaving LA to live in an old house or pay for it to sit there."
As Prue left the room wit a resounding door slam, Elliot and Adele gave each other a knowing glance and smirk. That door slamming is what they would call Prue's signature sound.
Elliot slung his messenger bag over his soldier and quickly shook hands with Mr. Caldwell and began his exit too.
"I'm gonna grab some coffee before I head to the house," he said, bunching his dyed-lavender hair into a small ponytail. "I kind of want to sell it too, but maybe there's some things in the house we all want before then."
Adele, after sending everyone the Manor's address, gave a curt nod to the lawyer and got up.
"I take it you want to keep the manor?" he asked.
With the door in her hand, she gave a frustrated smile.
"They're not the one's sharing a studio with 4 other people in the Tenderloin."
