Chapter 34 #2
“My family has two shipyards, one in San Francisco and another in Sitka, Alaska, plus a trading company. We compete a bit against the Bering Shipping Company, which Rosalind’s father owns.”
“Ah, I’m beginning to things understand now.” The man’s smile grew even larger. “And you said you’ve known each other for four years? So you must have met shortly after Rosalind moved to Sitka?”
“Yes,” Yuri answered.
“Exactly,” Rosalind said at the same time.
“Well, then, it seems I owe you a congratulations on your nuptials.” Mr. Holloway sat, then gestured for him and Rosalind to sit in the chairs across the desk. “Now, what can I do for you today? I’m assuming you want your husband’s name added to your accounts, Rosalind?”
“Actually, I want everything liquidated.” Rosalind pulled a sheet of paper from her satchel, then fiddled with it for a second before handing it over to him. “I’d also like all nonliquid assets transferred to the care of Mr. Gerald Rupert at Riggs and Company here in Washington.”
The man froze. “I’m sorry. I think I misunderstood something.”
“My instructions are written down on the paper. I need my cash assets divided into three equal sums and transferred into bonds made payable to bearer, and I want my investment holdings all transferred to the account listed below, at Riggs and Company.”
The man’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. “Surely you don’t expect me to let you walk out of here with fifteen thousand dollars’ worth of bearer bonds. You could be robbed on the street and your money stolen forever.”
Rosalind twisted her hands in her lap, but that was the only sign she was nervous, and Mr. Holloway couldn’t see them from where he sat behind his desk. All he could see was the way Rosalind met his gaze directly. “I’ll take my chances.”
“Did I do something to offend you, Mrs. Amos?” The banker rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes drifting back to her paper with instructions. “Have you deemed me inefficient at handling your funds? Because if that’s the case, District National Bank can move you to another solicitor who—”
“No. You’ve been very faithful with my money, just as you faithfully served my mother before me.
” Her shoulders deflated. “Please understand this has nothing to do with you personally. My father wasn’t aware of how large my accounts had grown, but when Mr. Dunning came to Sitka, he freely shared my Finnancial information with my father after my engagement to Mr. Vandermeer. ”
“Ah.” Mr. Holloway shifted in his chair.
“I’m sure Mr. Dunning didn’t intend to offend you.
Your father and the Alaska Commercial Company are rather large clients here at District National Bank, and we are on good terms. When your father asked Mr. Dunning about your accounts, he probably saw no reason to withhold the information. ”
“Yes, I’d estimate the ACC alone brings in about a million and a half dollars in revenue each year,” Rosalind responded.
Mr. Holloway gave a short nod. “You’ve seen your father’s books, I take it.”
“No, those are just estimates based on the little I’ve put together.
With my father being such a large client, though, I can see why Mr. Dunning wouldn’t want to offend him.
The problem is, I want my banking information to be private, which means now that I’m married and leaving Sitka, I need my money in banks that won’t disclose my personal Finnancial information to my father.
And I want the funds moved secretly so that no one at any of the new institutions is tempted to do what Mr. Dunning did and share the state of my investments without my consent. ”
Mr. Holloway’s shoulders slumped. “I’m starting to understand.”
“Good, then make out my bearer bonds, please. And see that my other investments are transferred to Mr. Rupert the day after tomorrow. I’ll be staying in town until all the Finnances are settled.
If you have any need to reach me, I can be found at the address on the bottom of the paper through the end of the week.
” Rosalind nodded toward the paper she’d given him.
“Very well, Miss Cald— Mrs. Amos. The man looked almost pained as he studied the instructions. Then he slowly opened the top drawer of his desk and began filling out slips of paper, which he soon handed to Rosalind.
Yuri didn’t know how bankers made money, but he had a feeling Mr. Holloway would be losing a decent chunk of commission money with Rosalind closing her accounts.
After a few minutes, the banker stood to his feet and came around the desk. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you all these years, Mrs. Amos, and with your mother before you. I’m sorry to see our relationship end.”
Rosalind stood, and Yuri stood immediately afterward, extending his arm to support her. He had a feeling her ribs were rather painful.
“Thank you, Mr. Holloway. Have a good day.” She settled her hand on Yuri’s arm.
“Have a good day as well,” he mumbled as they let themselves out of the office.
The moment they closed the door behind them, Rosalind released a breath and reached for her ribs. “It hurts, Yuri.”
“Let me take you back to the hotel. You can rest for the remainder of the day.”
She clutched his arm tightly through the sleeve of his suitcoat, leaning her weight on him as they started toward the elevator.
“You were amazing in there,” he whispered low enough for no one else to hear.
She slanted him a worried glance. “I was so nervous.”
“I know, but you were also brave.”
She pressed her lips together. “I don’t know how you can say that when I feel like I might fall apart.”
“You might feel like falling apart, but you never do. I haven’t seen it happen once,” he murmured. “You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.”
And he meant it. His wife might not have marched into this bank with the same level of confidence that Kate had performing surgeries, but she’d gone in with a solid plan and let the banker know her wishes even though she’d been nervous and in pain and had endured years of abuse.
He wasn’t lying when he said she was one of the strongest people he’d ever known.