by Adams, Zoe
Chapter 13
Mr. Sanford-Leavit’s car wore a cloak of deception. It spun through traffic with practiced ease. Del appreciated a seasoned driver who could smooth through knotted parts of town. A lesser errand would’ve trapped them, but the expertise of the seasoned driver helped them quickly arrive at an unknown destination.
The car came to a luxurious stop. A man at the curb opened Lady’s door. Del jumped quickly out of the opposite door, and hurried to Lady’s side. He wouldn’t let anyone else weasel their way next to her. Having a prized possession like Lady kept him very close. Nothing could get in his way.
As it turned out, Mr. Sanford-Leavit’s only intention was to lead. Del and Lady followed him. Sanford-Leavit kept turning around to ensure his guests’ presence. That was his only acknowledgement of them. He said nothing. Not just to them, but to no one else either.
Security guards nodded at the lawyer. Del and Lady were ushered through the building. They were under the umbrella of Mr. Sanford-Leavit’s identity. No one questioned the trio and they passed under the wide ceiling.
They stepped onto a mirrored elevator. Mr. Sanford-Leavit pushed a high number and the door slid closed.
The lift rose to a staggering height in record smoothness. Lady and Del looked at the lawyer expectantly. He stepped forward and they entered a penthouse. Del’s surprise at what greeted him was back staged by Lady’s joy.
“Oh my goodness.” She ran into the room. “I remember this place. It used to be my grandpa’s. It still looks the same. Everything is still done in his style. I just didn’t know it still existed.”
She stopped sputtering and turned to the lawyer. “How can this be?”
“Well, as you know, all of your grandfather’s assets were liquidated at his death. This, however, was not his asset. He put it in my name, as a sort of trust, right after you were born.” The lawyer quit walking and stood very still. “It seems your grandfather noticed something strange and wanted this house to be off his records.”
Lady looked surprised. “But why didn’t anyone take it away?”
“It wasn’t mentioned in any will or bequeathments.”
Lady walked around and wagged her finger. “Then why didn’t you keep it for yourself? No one would’ve known.”
The lawyer chuckled softly. “I thought about it a few times. But some things would make me feel like less of a man instead of more. I remember you though. You were a precocious child, then grew into an innocent teenager. The few times I saw you in public or around town I couldn’t bear it. Too many other people are in this world to do harm. It would ruin my heart and soul to do something like take away your property. Anyone can be a thief or a liar, but not everyone can carry scars.”
Del nodded. “You are a good man, and better than most. Most men don’t consider feelings, or else they think scars are manly.”
The lawyer dipped his head. “After years of dealing with the ups and downs of society, I have learned a few things. What doesn’t kill you will scar you for life.”
Lady stopped walking and shook her head. “Sometimes scars go away.”
“Yes,” Del agreed. “As long as no one rips the scab off daily and rubs a few salty tears in for good measure. The human body is designed to repair itself.”
Mr. Sanford-Leavit laughed. The sound of laughter could usually lighten the tone of meetings. But not this time. It reminded Del to protect Lady. He stood very close to her again.
Del began the interrogation. “Mr. Sanford-Leavit…”
“Please, please, call me Joseph. Let’s leave formalities on the other side of the welcome mat, shall we?”
“Sure, Joseph,” Del agreed. “I can call you Joseph. No problem. I can handle that. Just tell me everything you know.”
The lawyer moved cautiously to the wall. “No problem, but first how about a round of drinks?”
The lawyer had been to the bar before. Three crystal glasses were held up to the light and scrutinized. They were turned and silently questioned. Each one received decent approval, and Mr. Sanford-Leavit gave a light sentence of aged amber alcohol to each glass.
“I always remember drinking a nice brandy or sherry with your grandfather. I think this occasion demands it. The view from the balcony is extraordinary. Let’s have a seat outside.” Joseph picked up the bottle of something sweet and led the way outside.
He took a sip and let out a heavy sigh. “Well, I’d say the day went rather well.”
Del set his glass aside. “What are you talking about? I’ve never seen fortune smile at anyone.”
The lawyer laughed and nodded. “Fortune involves luck and chance. The bank didn’t have anything today. But in regards to my professional lawyerly side, things went reasonably well. The best part would be meeting me; probably your only friend throughout this whole ordeal.”
Mr. Joseph Sanford-Leavit looked at Lady thoughtfully.
Del sat dumbfounded on these truths. Every sentence from the lawyer rang true. Del was seriously surprised. Del had a preconceived notion about city folk being unreasonable and selfish. Del’s beliefs were being torn down one by one. He struggled to replace walls that had always been there. He sipped his drink and the glass emptied.
Thankfully, Lady could break the stony silence. “Yes. It does seem as though I have a few friends right now. But I’m not naïve. Who would expect something for nothing? Right now a complete stranger is handing over keys to a spectacular penthouse.”
Joseph finished pouring out matching liquids of relief. He sat back and patted his lapel. “Yes, it is rather peculiar. However, I don’t feel like a stranger. I worked for your grandfather for years. And don’t worry, he paid me a lot of money. You could say he bought my services, but more importantly, he earned my respect.”
The big-city man impressed Del. His silence didn’t hold long and his vocation was always apparent.
He patted his lapel and straightened a polka dot bow tie. “I know everything about that will. If anyone knows about loopholes, it’s me.”
Del could feel Lady stiffen beside him. Lady clutched her glass with a tight, purple grip. “What do you mean? I thought you were loyal to my grandfather.”
“I am. I mean, I was. While he was alive anyway. Now, I have kept my word by hiding this refuge for his granddaughter.” Joseph eyed her neckline. “And it was worth it. Your grandfather saw something in you at such a young age. I can assure you, I see the same thing in you.”
Del had been evaluating the lawyer for a long time. He had finally reached a limit. If anyone was going to talk about seeing Lady or which parts of her were worth sacrificing for, it would be him.
“Hey, that’s my girl! Are you sure you want to talk about her in front of me? We aren’t in the locker room. We aren’t buddies at the club. What’s under her clothes is my business and no one else’s.” Del bent his legs in a pre-emptive jump.
Joseph threw his head back in a defeated laugh. “Oh, to be thirty years younger.”
“Yeah. So let’s go ahead and talk about something else.” Del put his hands anxiously on the curled down handles of his chair.
The lawyer remembered his specific use and returned to business.
“For some reason I like you two. I know the paperwork involved in your life. I can make your life a living hell or a nice place to live. You two have some choices to make. Marriage is out of the question. At least for the foreseeable future. Everyone wants Lady to work. She needs to decide if she can wait for marriage and cute little rug rats. Or if she can carry the family name in near slave-like conditions. You need to pretend like the choice is yours. And then be happy with it.”
Lady took a sip of the warming liquid. “I don’t feel American when the choice isn’t mine. Do I have a choice? No, I don’t. I’m capable of working. But I’d rather have a family to hold than a career forever. What choice do I have? Obviously, I already know my choice. But how can I jeopardize my relationship? No other man’s like you, Del. How can I be sure you’ll wait for me
?”
Del listened to her voice go from hard to soft. Then it turned into a captivating lull. Del’s heart awoke to her calls for him.
The lawyer was decent. “I can see you have lots to talk about. I’ll leave for now, but come back later with my wife. We’ll take you to dinner.”
Lady and Del exchanged a silent look.
Joseph noticed and smiled. “I will leave you then, and let myself out.”
He stood up and was gone.
Del and Lady remained seated. He picked up one of Lady’s feet. Her heels slid from black leather straps. Del set her shoes to the side.
“First,” Del said as he smiled at her, “there are a few things I’ve been wanting to do to you for a long time.”
He rubbed her feet and ankles. His large palm circled around the narrow spot of her leg. Del wasn’t thinking about money or clothes. He didn’t wonder about the rich city’s smells, sounds, or looks. He only thought of Lady.
A soft purr escaped her lips. “Mmm. That feels nice. I didn’t realize it was sore there.”
Lady opened her eyes. He felt closer when he saw her bright brown eyes. She took a tiny sip of the amber liquor.
Del refocused on less astute areas of her body. He massaged her softly. There were other parts of her body needing attention, but they would have to wait. Just like that, he brought himself back around to the topic of the day.
“Well, ma’am, that was quite a day.” Del’s drawl was more pronounced with a nice drink in his hand.
Lady’s jaw dropped into a smile. “Yes. Nice way to find out I can’t have any money until I turn twenty-five.”
Del had been thinking of other things, but he shook his finger and agreed. “Yes, that was quite a bombshell. Is it just because they don’t trust who you marry? And why would they block your income?”
Lady arched her eyebrows at him. “It’s not so much blocked but set up like an allowance or something.”
“It’s like they want to protect you whether you do well or horribly.” Del let the irony sedate him.
Lady smiled. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
She looked at him slyly. “You’ve got such a strange way of looking at things. It’s awkward to see both sides of it. I doubt I would have thought of it that way.”
Del grinned. “That’s what happens when you spend hours upon hours in solitude. You begin to look at things from every conceivable perspective. Here’s one of my theories. They have no faith in you and are worried about the family name being spoiled.”
“Too late for that,” Lady interrupted.
Del looked at her seriously and tried to regain his theory. “Yes, unfortunately, reputations are built and set in stone well before someone can come into their own mind. In your case, before you can come into the right age for your inheritance. You have a lot of fast living to do. Thank goodness for your grandfather.”
Lady became less cautious with the emptying glass beside her. “Yes. He’s more like my fairy godfather.”
Staying focused on subjects tested Del’s mental strength. “The way I see it, you have two options. One, you do what your family wants and design for the family label. Or two, you go off on your own. I can probably support most of the financial burden until you’re established.”
Lady smiled coolly. “Or I could sell this penthouse and support my own fashion show.”
Del shook his head. “This place is special. I mean, your grandpa wanted you to have it.”
Lady nodded thoughtfully. “Then I guess I’ll go with option one. But you have to come with me. I need you.”
They both got lost in thought.
The sun had been heating up the building for hours. This would be the warmest time of the day. Their world seemed warm and suspended. The sound of traffic and city were muffled by a hundred floors beneath them.
Del veered himself back to the present. He stood up and stretched strongly. He tried to use every nerve, tendon, muscle, and artery. He cleared himself of sleepy stiffness and felt his vitality return. Cloud nine was never far, but he liked to experience it at peak performance.
“Whew.” He swung his arms. “I haven’t lifted anything heavier than a bottle all day.”
He poured two more glasses of drink.
“Cheers.” He made sure eye contact was made before he took the first sip.
She met his eyes, and matched his pace with the drink. She met him on so many other levels as well. Del just couldn’t think of everything all of the time. He wanted things to be simple for a few hours. He would have to make things the way he wanted. He would have to perform.
And the stage wouldn’t let up either. There was a knock at the door.
Del looked at Lady and she shrugged.
“I’ll get it.” Del stalked off in the direction of the knock.
He opened the door.
“Delivery from the hotel.”
Del nodded when he recognized Lady’s bags.
“Thanks,” Del said, and pulled out his wallet. “I didn’t know the hotel would bring us our things?”
“Oh, I don’t work for the hotel. I work for Sanford, Sanford, Sanford-Leavit, Bennet, and Cossine.”
That immediately made sense to Del. This guy was a little more brutish than just a delivery man. Del looked at his suit and the rings on his fingers.
Del closed his wallet. “So you work for the lawyers?”
“Yeah. Your car is also parked in the garage.”
“What? My car? How did you drive it without keys?”
The man in the doorway shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
“You must know a lot about what goes on with them.” Del waved his wallet.
“Yeah.” The brute shifted his eyes.
Del pulled out a crisp hundred dollar bill. “We like really good service. If you hear anything about Lady, I want to know about it.”
He pulled a few more bills from the wallet and sent the man on his way. Del shut the door quietly.
He didn’t know if he’d handled the situation well or not. Money was one way of doing things. Farms had other ways of doing things. No matter where it happened, money always got things done. He quit studying the grain of wood on the door and turned around.
A plush Persian rug separated Lady from him. Del wondered if she had seen the whole exchange. She answered his questioning eyes quickly.
“How much did you give him?” she asked furtively.
“Three hundred dollars.”
“That’s good. It’s just enough to keep him honest. Any more money and he’d probably make things up, just for some easy money.” Lady supplied the information willingly.
“What? People do that? Well, yeah, I guess they do.”
They laughed at their predicament. They complemented each other well, and time went by quickly when they were together.
There was another knock on the door.
“Who could that be?” they said in unison, but only one of them moved.
“I’ll check.” Del opened the door widely.
It was the lawyer.
“Mr. Sanford-Leavit,” Del announced loudly enough for Lady to hear. “And this must be the lovely Mrs. Sanford-Leavit.”
“Yes, I’m Bernice.” She held her hand out and Del fondled it appropriately.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Del Ericson. I’m sure you already know Lady.” He waved them into the room.
Bernice found Lady on the couch. “Oh, you’re Lady. You’re lovely, but how can I be surprised? Your family is all beautiful. Joseph, how could you put this young couple here? This place really must be cleaned. Why don’t I call my cleaner right now? They can clean this place while you two come out to dinner with us.”
Joseph Sanford-Leavit quickly filled in the blanks. “Yes, it’s much easier to speak in a restaurant than a dusty room.”
Del looked at Lady with raised eyebrows. She nodded and welcomed the idea.
“All right. Dinner and then coming home to a clean living room sounds great. Thank y
ou, Bernice.” Lady picked up her bag and coat.
The group left the building in a matter of minutes. The restaurant sat only a few blocks away, so they decided to walk. Del needed the outdoors. His long legs ached for a stretch, and the brisk air could never do him wrong.
The older couple led the way. Lady and Del followed closely. The busy sidewalk limited conversation between the four. The restaurant was in a hotel, and the nicest Del had seen.
The lawyer and his wife were promptly greeted by first name. “Oh, Joey and Bernie. So nice to see you. Come this way. Your usual table is waiting.”
“Thank you, Mikey,” Bernice said as he pulled the seat out for her.
They all sat down together. Del waited until drinks and dinner had been ordered before he spoke up. “So, let’s talk about money, then.”
“Yes, obviously it’s about money to meet with you twice in one day.” The lawyer grimaced at his wife.
Del shrugged. “Yes, well, it’s getting late in the day, so I’m sure it’ll be the last time. Or are you going to tell us to check in to a new hotel or something?”
“No, I wasn’t going to tell you to leave. Actually, the opposite. You two should stay here in the city.”
This conversation was not going the direction Del wanted. “The opposite of going is staying. What’s going on here?”
“Well, there are clauses and hidden parts to Mr. Steele’s will. Firstly, do you remember spending time in the penthouse as a child?”
Lady nodded. “Yes. He seemed larger than life back then.”
“Ha,” Joseph said loudly. “He could strike down anyone in his way, either mentally or physically.”
“Yes,” Lady agreed. “He was just like a bear. I remember him leaning over his desk like it was a child’s table. But he always knew when I wanted something from him. Lucky for me, I just wanted candy and to play in his office.”
“Yes, you were one of the lucky ones he trusted. There weren’t very many people like that in his life.”
“What?” Lady was stunned. “I haven’t heard of this.”
“Well, no. Of course not. How could anyone doubt their own trustworthiness?” The lawyer tapped his fingers together. “No, subjects like that usually don’t come up in verbal conversation. They remain hidden until a sudden, disrupting fact appears. This was a property no one knew about. Your grandfather kept the address next door as his official address. And kept this one off the grid. He left me the house next door when he died. The other condo, the hidden one, has been yours for years.”