-1
1The office was a typical law office. Dark wood furniture. Framed law degree from Harvard. Book shelf after book shelf of thick books. If she hadn't known the woman behind the desk was a lawyer she would have guessed the profession based off her appearance alone. Dark red hair scraped back in an elegant chignon, black tailored pants suit that screamed Armani, subtle make up. The woman was all business.
"You realize that you were named executive of the estate?"
Slowly, she nodded her head. It had been almost a year ago she had sat in this very chair with the same woman behind the same desk as Denny dictated the various aspects of his will.
Did you know? Did you have some inkling that you were going to die? Is that why you did it? You realize I have to change mine now. I don't have any clue who I'm suppose to name. How could you do this me? How could leave me alone to deal with this?
"I know this isn't easy for you, so if you would like some help dealing with his affairs…" The lawyer's voice trailed off. Addison Forbes-Montgomery her name plate read. A name that inspired confidence in her ability to do her job.
"I'll be fine," Izzie murmurs. Fine. Would she? Would she be fine? She had to be. It wasn't as though she had a choice in the matter.
"Alright then. The only thing that seems to have lose ends is an account with Webber Investments. The annual interest rates have been around $48,000 each year."
$48,000? Denny didn't even make that a year. Simple. That was how he liked things, that was how he lived. "Are you sure it's Denny's?" There had to be a mistake of some sorts. Denny couldn't have that sort of money. He would have told her. Wouldn't he? Yes. He told her everything. They told each other everything.
"There is no mistake Miss Stevens. The account belongs to one Dennison Duquette the Third. It was opened four years ago with a sum of $1.5 million and has grossed an interest of $48,000 each year since." Addison slid the papers toward her.
She stared at them, almost afraid to pick them up. Denny had kept this from her. "I didn't know…I mean what am I suppose to do…" Clutching the light gray tote bag she carried everywhere, Izzie fought back the panic that threatened to consume her. "This can't be his. I mean…he doesn't live like this. He doesn't keep secrets. He has two roommates! Or well he did. We got a rental not to long ago. He hadn't moved in yet, but…this isn't his! I would know. I would know."
Addison sighed. "I'm sorry. I know this can't be easy. The account is his though. There is no doubt that. I looked into it myself. Which reminds me, each month a total of $3,000 is transferred to another account. I wasn't able to obtain the information as to where the account is or who it belonged to. I'm sorry."
Sorry. There was that damn word again. She was sick of sorry. Clutching the papers, Izzie mumbles a thank you before rising. Stuffing the papers into her tote, she blindly walks from the office.
No secrets. You were the one who said we shouldn't have secrets between each other. Yet, you kept this from me! Something this huge, and you kept it from me. It makes me wonder what else you kept from me. I hate wondering that about you! I just want to remember the man I love, not worry about the secrets you were keeping.