44. The Share
44
THE SHARE
Although the mustard-colored walls, natural wood paneling, and carpet were well overdue for a makeover, Simon Harrow’s office looked the same as it did ten months ago. And as she sat in front of his desk, waiting for him to join her, Tayla second-guessed why she was here. When Simon’s PA had called, she’d assumed it was something to do with the divorce. But if that were the case, why hadn’t Mitch said anything before he left?
But then, by his own admission, he disliked confrontation. Maybe he used Simon to do all his dirty work.
“Tayla, so sorry to keep you waiting.” Simon hurried into his office, running his hands through his hair as if he hadn’t had a chance to brush it. “Is Mitch joining us?”
“No, he’s away. Sorry, your PA didn’t say anything about Mitch coming.”
“Oh, okay. No problem.” Simon opened a file and removed the top pages. “Has he said anything about why you’re here?”
I’ll get my lawyer to sort it out. “No. He hasn’t mentioned a thing.”
Simon looked up from the file and rocked back in his chair. “I see. Okay, well, it’s in relation to Norman Harrington’s will. ”
Puzzled, she asked, “Norman’s will?”
“At the time of his death, Mr. Harrington left the majority of his estate to his only grandson.”
“You mean Mitch?”
“Yes. But there was one last provision that, until now, we couldn’t finalize. Or disclose, for that matter.”
As Tayla stiffened in her seat, Simon continued, “Besides his intention to cover the cost of your education, Norman left you one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Payable on the fifth of this month.”
Simon cleared his throat as Tayla stared at him in disbelief. “What? Why would Norman do that? And why wouldn’t Mitch contest it?”
“His will stated there was to be no contesting by any party. Norman clearly indicated his intent. The signatures on the document include his brother, Kenneth Harrington, and two other members of the legal profession. The last and final condition is as follows.” Simon picked up the will and cleared his throat again. “The inheritance must remain confidential until November fifth in Ms. Whitman’s twenty-seventh year.”
He glanced up. “It seems the education provision was made after the fact and attached to the original will as an adjunct.”
November the fifth, the anniversary of her bike accident. “And Mitch knows about this?”
Simon had a nervous habit of smoothing his tie, but this time, he fiddled with the knot. She wanted to reach over and loosen it for him. “He does, as does your father.”
Tayla sat in shock. Mitch and her father both knew and hadn’t told her. “Seriously? Dad knew?”
“Norman told him before he died. But he was bound by a confidentiality clause, as was Mitch.”
“This doesn’t make any sense.” While Tayla tried to rationalize her thoughts, Simon remained silent. She couldn’t take the money. It belonged to Mitch .
“Mitch is the rightful heir to Norman’s estate,” she finally said. “All I did was be his friend. And while I’m grateful for what I received, you and I both know that money should stay with Mitch. He’s given my family quite enough already.”
“You might say that now, but the original investment is worth substantially more in today’s market. I strongly recommend you take a pause and at least consider it.”
There was that word again. Pause . “And how will Mitch afford to pay me out?”
“Norman set the funds aside months before his death. The money’s been invested in shares and bonds as per his instruction. Under the terms of your prenup, the investment is yours, not Mitch’s. Unless you renegotiate, it will go into the matrimonial property pot after the prenup has run its course. In the meantime, I advise you to seek guidance from your accountant.”
Tayla was lost for words. The prenup had a lifespan of three years. When they signed it, Mitch and Tayla both knew their fake marriage wouldn’t last much beyond Christmas.
“Look, take your time. It’s a lot to absorb.”
Simon and Tayla bandied words back and forth, his responses to her questions guarded and peppered with legal speak until she said, “Can I ask you something, off the record?”
“Sure. I may not be able to answer but go ahead.”
“Is Ella Stone Chris Stone’s wife?”
Tayla noted Simon’s hesitation. For a lawyer, he wore his expressions freely. “Yes. The Stone and Pip Group is their company. They’re big players in horticulture around the district.”
“Of course. I met Chris when he put in an offer to buy my parents’ place.” She paused. Should she say more? “From what I gather, Mitch doesn’t have much time for Mr. Stone.”
“I’d say the feeling’s mutual. The guy’s an interesting character.”
“Why’s that?”
“Maybe you should ask Mitch that question.” Simon stood, signaling the end of their meeting. “Right, I’ll await further instructions.”
Tayla picked up her bag from the floor. “Thank you for your time. I’ll be in touch once I’ve had time to think.”
But as Tayla walked back to her car, thinking was the last thing she wanted to do.
When she’d left Simon’s office, Tayla couldn’t wait to talk to Mitch. But now, she didn’t want to talk to him at all. Quite apart from the revelations about Mitch and Ella, and the phone call to Luka, he’d known about the money before they’d married. So had her father, and probably her mother.
Back at her parents’ place, Tayla called Ruby to no answer. She’d just sat down to a grilled cheese sandwich when Ruby returned her call.
“You called, Mrs. Harrington?”
Mrs. Harrington? “I did. Do you have a spare twenty minutes?”
“Sounds serious. If you can condense it into ten, shoot.”
Tayla shuffled her thoughts. With limited time, she’d concentrate on her visit to the lawyers. Her marital problems could wait until she and Ruby talked face-to-face. “I went to see Mitch’s lawyer today. There is something else from Norman’s estate.”
“Go on.”
“He left me one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in his will.”
“What! And you’ve only just found out? Way to go, you.”
“It was to be gifted to me on the fifth of November in my twenty-seventh year.”
“Well, that’s crazy right there. If it was your actual birthday, well okay, but?—”
“It’s the tenth anniversary of my bike accident. He didn’t think like other people. According to Simon, Dad knew but had to keep quiet because of a confidentiality clause. Nothing makes any sense these days, Rubes. It’s like someone’s in the background playing the strings of my life, and I’ve only just realized it. Mitch, Norman…even Dad. They’re all taking care of shy, impulsive Tayla’s interests. But I’m not that girl anymore. I told Simon it should go to Mitch.”
“What? Why on earth would you do that?”
Tayla had asked herself the same question as she’d left Simon’s office. “Because he’s done enough for our family lately. It’s only fair.”
“Even so, it’s a lot of money. Probably more than you’d save in a lifetime. You could climb onto the property ladder with that kind of deposit. Have you talked to Mitch?”
“Not yet. He’s still away.”
“Of course. Swanning around Fiordland. I forgot. Anyway, I’ll call you later tonight. Mum and Dad are coming for dinner, and I have to collect the girls from Noah’s mother. If I’m a few minutes late, I’ll get a big black mark against my name in her book of spells and naughty deeds.”
Tayla laughed. “Behave.”
“It’s okay for you. You haven’t even met your mother-in-law.”
“I have on Skype. She’s lovely.” Tayla wondered if she would ever meet Andrea and Frank in the flesh.
“Yeah, so was Noah’s mum in the beginning. Anyway, you’d better go eat some chocolate. You’ve had quite the shock. Love ya.”
“You too. Thanks for the ear.”
“You’re welcome, but whatever you do, don’t make any rash decisions.”
Tayla went to say goodbye but stopped with another thought. “You know what really bothers me?”
“No, what?”
“If I’d known about the money earlier, Mum and Dad would still have the orchard. I could have paid off some of their debts. ”
“Maybe, but Dad was ready to bow out two years ago. And you know how proud he is. He wouldn’t have accepted it. And Mitch was a beneficiary of the will, not the executor. He probably has no idea what the money’s worth in today’s market.”
“Yeah, I guess. Anyway, bye, Ruby Tuesday. Love you.”
Tayla ended the call and flopped onto the sofa. Ruby was right. Paying her parents’ debts would only have been a short-term solution to a long-term problem.
So what would she do with the money if she kept it?