“Is this really necessary? Me having tosign papers. I mean, it’s kind of weird that Alan’s giving me an inheritancenow. isn’t it?”
Cole ponders this for a minute. “It ismore of a dowry.”
“It’s not only mine, it’s ours, right?”
“Yes, it will fall under our estate. Buttechnically…” He trails off. “Technically, it’s yours. I couldn’t ever doanything with it directly, that all has to be approved by you.”
“Like what?” I don’t understand. Thiskind of thing is beyond me.
“Say, if you wanted to move moneyaround.”
“Where would I move it?”
Cole tries to keep a straight face. Heclears his throat, “Well, from a saving to checking, or into an IRA or youcould withdraw any amount of it. I couldn’t do any of that without yourauthorization. The same if I wanted to sell your shares in Prescott-Holt.”
“My shares?”
“Yes, Alan is giving you ten percent ofthe company.”
“Ten percent? Is that a lot?” I rub myhead.
“Relax Kate, the shares fall under mydirection and help me hold the majority of the shares in the company. It’sokay, don’t worry about it. All Mr. Edwards is going to do is go over what Alanis giving you and have you sign some papers to make it legal. He’s also goingto have you sign the papers for my mother’s inheritance and authorize the firsttransfer of funds. When you get done there, we have an appointment with thebanker to set up a joint checking account for the two of us.
“Okay,” I exhale. I don’t like signing myname to things I don’t understand, but Cole and his family are not trying topull anything. They love me and want to give me stuff. Sheesh, I’m so gratefulfor Cole and that means being grateful for his ability to take care of me andour future children. Cole’s warm hand massages my neck.
“I see those wheels turning in that headof yours,” he whispers in my ear.
“Hmm,” is all I say. I’ve lost count onhow many times Cole never tells me what’s going on and I follow blindly along,trusting.
“Kate,” Cole kisses my neck. The carstops in front of the business entrance. I laugh silently. The last time I camethrough these doors, I was barefoot and wearing a wedding dress. Cole helps meout of the car, taking my hand. The third floor is a bustle of people coming inand out of the offices.
“Wow, this place is busy today.”
“We’re transitioning into the newcompany.”
“Oh, wow.”
“It’s not as big a deal as it seems; justa lot of odds and ends that need to be done.”
“It seems big.” There are people comingin and out of both conference rooms and all the doors along the hall are open.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Holt.” A woman nods,walking past us. Cole nods back.
Curiosity gets the better of me and Iturn, watching the woman walk to the elevator, looking her over.
“What are you doing?” Cole gives me acautious look.
“Looking at that woman.”
“Why?”
I scrunch my forehead, thinking. I’m notjealous of her. Well okay, maybe a little of her long legs. I forget Coleencounters all sorts of people in his business dealings, even beautiful women.“I want her legs,” I finally say.
Cole doesn’t say anything. He just rubs ahand up and down my back.
The woman is gone, but we are both idlystaring towards the elevator. “What does she do here?”
“Her name is Mary. She’s an accountant.Come on, we both have appointments.” Cole unlocks an office at the end of thehall next to the conference room, where I almost lost my virginity. My faceflushes as I recall the memory. He tugs on my hand, ushering me into his officeand shutting the door.
