“Oh, hi.” Riley shook the woman’s hand and tried to collect herself. She was a New York City professional, but long gone were the days of dressing up in heels and a skirt for work. She’d been living in casual attire for years at this point, and the formal
ity of the city corporate life was something she didn’t miss.
“I figured I’d meet you in the lobby to expedite this process. It’s quite imperative that we get some things handed over to you sooner rather than later.” Annabeth smiled and waved for Riley to follow her to the elevator.
On the ride up, Riley asked, “What’s the big hurry, exactly?”
A small chuckle escaped the lawyer. “Well, I think you better be sitting down for this. Come, we’re almost there.”
The elevator door opened and Riley followed her down another marble-floored hallway to a set of giant, oak double doors. Once they entered, the area transformed into a lush, corporate office space. There were no cubicles, but several large offices against the high-rise windows could be seen from the reception area, which they blew past.
Guess I don’t need to check in.
“Have a seat,” Annabeth said as they entered a large corner office at the edge of the space. She gestured to the large leather chair across from an equally large desk that was covered in papers and a short stack of files.
Riley sat tentatively, taking note of how large everything seemed. The chairs were huge, the desk dwarfed the lawyer on the other side, and the view out the floor-to-ceiling windows reminded her just how large New York was. She could see the Empire State Building and imagined what an amazing view that might be in the evenings as it was lit up.
“I’m sure you have some questions, but how about if I start and you can interrupt me at any time?” Annabeth’s kindness wasn’t so much unexpected as it was surprising for someone who seemed to be a high-level attorney. She was not only very pretty, with long blonde hair, a perfect manicure, and what was probably a thousand-dollar suit on, but she was sweet and welcoming.
“That would be great,” Riley replied.
“Okay, wonderful. My assistant will be by with some coffee and refreshments shortly, but let’s get started.” Annabeth pulled out a folder from midway down her stack and laid it open in front of her. “I presume you read the letter from Mr. Prescott, so you are aware that he had no familial heirs to his estate.”
Riley nodded.
“Mr. Prescott has asked that everything he had be left to you. This includes, but is not limited to, his home in Port Henry, his stocks, which will be transferred to you, any cash savings that he had, his vehicle, which is also located in Port Henry, and his dog.” As if she could sense the need to pause, Ms. Carmichael looked up to see Riley scrunching her face.
“His dog?”
“Yes, and this was actually very important to Mr. Prescott,” she replied.
“I didn’t even know he had a dog.” I don’t want a dog, why would he leave me a dog?
“He did mention that to me the last time we spoke. But, this dog was very special to him, and he was quite clear in his instructions that the dog was to be looked after by you specifically.”
“Did he say why? I don’t know anything about dogs. I’ve never even had a dog.” Riley started to glance around the room, worried the dog might be there and she’d have to take it immediately.
Annabeth giggled. “The dog is at the house in Port Henry, Ms. Maxwell. Bernard, who I believe you met the other day, is taking care of him, but Mr. Prescott wanted you to go to Port Henry as soon as possible to take ownership of the dog, and of the house.”
“So he told you that he wanted me to leave the city, to go to his home in Port Henry and take his dog?” Suddenly, she wondered if Jameson knew her at all. The city was her home, not the beach, and while they had discussed a vacation-style business meeting at the house in the Port, she certainly didn’t want to move up there. “Did he expect me to live there?”
“I’m not sure what he expected you to do with the house exactly, Ms. Maxwell, but what I do know is that he’d hoped you’d consider spending the summer there, with the dog, and with the assistance of Bernard, before you made any decisions about keeping any of it. He was your only client, am I correct?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Umm, yeah. He was. He paid me in advance basically so that I’d be on retainer for his book project.” She wondered what was to become of the project now that he was no longer there to give her stories.
“Yes, the book project,” Annabeth thumbed through the papers in the folder before her. “Ah, here it is.” She pointed to something Riley couldn’t see. “Mr. Prescott would like you to continue the project without him.”
“How am I supposed to write the memoirs of someone who is…” She trailed off.
“Mr. Prescott indicated that after a summer in the Port, you’d be able to gather the remaining information you need to complete the assignment.”
“I see. Is there anything else?” Riley was shifting in her seat, and wished she’d never made the trip downtown. All of this information was overwhelming, and she had a strong desire to get back to her apartment and hide under the covers.
Annabeth leaned back in her chair and pulled open a drawer. She lifted out an envelope that appeared to be quite full and set it in front of Riley. “Ms. Maxwell, Mr. Prescott was very wealthy. I’m sure you knew that. His death was not exactly unexpected, but he had hoped the treatments in Switzerland would extend his life, and that he’d be able to explain much of this to you himself. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. But, he has ensured that you are to be well taken care of, and in the interim of transferring ownership of his assets to you, I was instructed to give you this.” She waved gently to the envelope. “Go ahead, open it.”
Riley opened the envelope and found a stack of one-hundred-dollar bills, along with two credit cards in her name and a key. Her eyes widened and she quickly closed the envelope. “What is this?” she stuttered, completely in shock at the amount of cash before her.
“That… is ten thousand dollars. It is the exact amount that can legally be gifted without any annoying paperwork.” She smiled. “The credit cards are linked to accounts that were opened in your name some time ago in case of an emergency, or the situation we find before us. Mr. Prescott wanted you to go to the Port, he said that you knew that and were planning to go, is that correct?”