Forever - 02

by Lauren Burd

  Small glass counters containing expensive fragrances and accessories were sprinkled around the store while clothes lined the walls in neat little cubbies. Nothing was out of place and not a speck of dust or dirt was in sight. The thing that scared me the most were the lack of price tags. I felt panic take hold as I stared at the shoes and neatly folded sweaters on display.

  “I’m Herr Grant, and this is Dame Taylor. I’m afraid my companion lost her baggage on the way here. We have several appointments we need to make early this morning, so if you could help her find something to wear today…”

  Frau Bachmann gave me a disdainful once-over. “Do you know your size?”

  “I wear a three or four in American sizes.” I had no clue what I wore in European sizes.

  She seemed disappointed but not surprised. “I think we can figure it out your sizes here easily enough.”

  I spent the next hour getting measured and trying on several outfits that I couldn’t possibly afford. By the time we left the dressing room, I barely recognized myself. I was in a crème-colored sweater dress, a pair of tights, and knee-high brown leather boots with four-inch heels. My favorite thing was the short trench coat, so soft it felt like a cloud. Samuel had the rest of the clothes he bought for me sent up to our room.

  “How do I look?” I asked, completing a pirouette in front of Samuel. His eyes opened wide as he took in my new attire.

  “You look nice.” He seemed to choke on his words. I tried not to show the hurt I felt. Even Frau Bachmann appeared disturbed by his less than enthusiastic reaction to my change in wardrobe. All I could manage was a weak smile to his comment.

  “Thank you so much for your help, Frau Bachmann.”

  The woman, who had undergone a change in personality as she stuffed me into as many different outfits she could find, gave me a kind smile. “It was my pleasure, Dame Taylor. If you require anything else during your stay, please let me know.”

  I nodded and returned her smile before following Samuel out of the store.

  “Where are we going?” I asked as we left the café after finishing a light breakfast. I hoped to start a conversation. The silence had grown like a wall between us since our meeting with Ethan and Emma the day before.

  “To the bank,” he said.

  “Could you slow down? I’m not exactly wearing sneakers.” I walked pretty well in heels, despite my not using them frequently, but the snow and ice made for some treacherous footing. Though my faster reflexes were able to compensate, I was still unable to move very quickly.

  “Sorry.” He slowed, but sounded strangely distant.

  “Did I do something wrong?”

  “No. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No, but thanks for asking.”

  I wanted so badly to push him for an answer. Several times I even opened my mouth to start the conversation, but my inexperience made it hard to figure out how to start. I finally just gave up and continued in silence. If he wanted to talk about it, he would bring it up.

  The bank was a new experience. We entered into a reception area where an attendant sat along with a security officer who looked like he could lift a small vehicle over his head.

  “Welcome,” the young clerk said in English. “Is there something I can assist you with today?”

  “We have an appointment with Herr Richter,” Samuel answered.

  “Certainly, if you would please just enter your account number into the pad.” The young man indicated a small keypad on the desk in front of him. “Can I get you something while you wait?”

  “No, thank you,” I said.

  “If the two of you will just be seated. Herr Richter should be here in a few minutes.”

  I felt the guard’s eyes on us as we took a seat in the small sitting area. I tried not to think about what would happen if Herr Richter decided not to come down or if we didn’t have an appointment. Samuel appeared completely at ease, so I wasn’t worried about getting tossed outside into the snow.

  We didn’t have very long to wait. A middle-aged man came through the door at the other end of the foyer. He crossed the room and took Samuel’s hand in his.

  “Hallo, Herr. Es ist so schön, Sie wiederzusehen.”

  “It’s nice to see you as well, Herr Richter. This is my companion, Alina Taylor.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Herr Richter said, shaking my hand.

  “Have you gotten all the necessary paperwork drawn up?” Samuel asked.

  “Yes. If you’ll just follow me to my office.” Herr Richter appeared to be doing his best to cover his nervousness. It was odd seeing a fully grown man looking as though he might hyperventilate.

  A million questions floated through my mind as we walked through the building. If someone had told me the place was a bank, I wouldn’t have believed them. The reception area had been strange enough, but once we were through the foyer, there were no teller windows behind the customary counter that stretched the length of the bank. Several doors were spread along the back wall at regular intervals with a huge vault door in the middle. A security officer stood guard by each opening, and though less imposing than the gentleman out front, they were still pretty impressive.

  Herr Richter directed us to a small corridor with an elevator at the end of it. We rode the elevator to the top floor. The doors opened to a small reception and seating area that mimicked the one on the first floor. The main difference was the quality of the furnishings. The items in the entrance were nice but fairly generic. The décor on the top floor screamed expensive and held an artistic air lacking from downstairs. The young woman behind the mahogany desk stood and smiled as we passed.

  “Good morning,” she said with a slight accent.

  “Could you have some coffee and refreshments sent to my office, please?” Herr Richter asked as he directed us toward a door near the back.

  “Certainly, Herr.” The young woman trotted through a side door.

  We entered Herr Richter’s office, and he pulled the door closed behind us. The room was the nicest one yet. The comfortable seating area had a minimalist design. A large sectional desk occupied almost the entire other end of the room. One of those all-in-one office units that printed, scanned, and faxed was tucked into the corner. A few small paintings gave the office a more personal feel, but the modern designs did little to add warmth.

  “I just wanted to confirm that we are adding Dame Taylor to the numbered account and removing Frau and Herr Grey as beneficiaries.”

  Suddenly, all of the phone calls Samuel had made as we drove there were explained. It also explained why he’d been so cold and distant with me. Of course, he was upset about removing Ethan and Emma from his accounts. He’d trusted them so completely, but he had to cut them out of his life. What I couldn’t understand was why he was putting me on the account.

  “Yes, that’s correct,” Samuel confirmed.

  “If you wouldn’t mind giving me your passports, I’ll go ahead and get the necessary copies while you fill out the information on these.” He handed each of us a large stack of papers.

  While I dug through my purse for my passport, there was a light knock at the door. Herr Richter excused himself to answer it. I decided to take the opportunity to ask Samuel one of the questions that bugged me.

  “Why are you doing this?” I asked in a hurried whisper.

  “I can’t have Ethan and Emma on any of my accounts.”

  “I understand that. What I mean is why are you putting me on the account?”

  “I just want make sure you’re taken care of… just in case.”

  “In case of what?”

  Samuel glanced down at the paperwork. I wanted to press him for an answer, but Herr Richter and the receptionist came over with the coffee. I ignored the refreshments and returned my attention to the paperwork, hoping to finish quickly so Samuel and I could talk.

  “It seems like everything is in order,” Herr Richter said after review
ing the paperwork. “I’ll just make copies so you have them for your records.”

  “In case of what?” I asked Samuel again while Herr Richter made copies of the paperwork and our passports.

  “I’ll explain everything later.” The annoyance in his voice was barely concealed.

  Herr Richter returned far too quickly from his task. “I’ve notified the manager overseeing the vault today that she can expect you.”

  “Thank you again for all of your assistance,” Samuel said, shaking hands with Herr Richter. I finished putting the copies of the paperwork in the small carrying case the bank gave us.

  “It’s been a pleasure as always, Herr Grant. It was nice meeting you as well, Dame Taylor. I look forward to a long and happy friendship.”

  I shook hands with the gentleman before we turned to leave the office. I waited until we were on the elevator before speaking with Samuel again.

  “Are you going to tell me what all of that was about?”

  “I told you already. I want Ethan and Emma off all of my accounts.”

  “Yeah, but why put me on them?”

  “I want to make sure you’re taken care of should anything happen to me.”

  “Nothing’s going to happen to you,” I said under my breath.

  Samuel grew silent again as we finished our descent to the first floor. He was still hiding something, but I would have to wait until later to find out what it was.

  We made a quick stop in one of the rooms lining the back of the building. After Samuel confirmed his identity, the attendant brought in a large metal box, then left us alone. I nearly fell over when Samuel opened the lid. Inside was more money than I had ever seen in person. Even when Dad had put the down payment on his condo at the closing, he had a check. Sure, there had been enough zeros on the check to make my head spin, but to see that much cash was overwhelming. Taking out several neatly tied bundles, he handed a few to me.

  “What am I supposed to do with this?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Well, I was hoping you would put some of it in your purse and the rest in the case.”

  “Oh,” I said, feeling silly. Samuel smiled for the first time all day.

  We spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon visiting banks and changing accounts. By the time we finished, it felt as though I were developing carpal tunnel syndrome. The only break we had was a small jaunt into a photo shop where we both sat for several sets of passport photos.

  My mouth watered as we walked past yet another restaurant. “Can we get something to eat? I’m starving.”

  “We just have one more appointment.”

  “I hope they have food,” I mumbled.

  We walked further into the downtown district. People clogged the streets, rushing around trying to complete their Christmas shopping. Dodging the foot traffic, we managed to make our way over to a large stone building that appeared a great deal older than all the others surrounding it. The warm air inside made me forget about my hunger momentarily. After a ride in the elevator, we got off on the top floor. The offices screamed “attorney.”

  Samuel approached a young woman in a gorgeous green blouse sitting behind the reception desk. “Herr Bläser’s office?”

  The receptionist’s eyes bugged out of her head. “Um, certainly. He’s the corner office at the end of the hall.”

  “Thank you.” Samuel started down the corridor. I followed along after him.

  “You’re welcome,” the receptionist said to our backs.

  I wanted to ask why we were visiting a lawyer but figured it had something to do with getting Ethan and Emma out of Samuel’s life. I just hoped I wouldn’t have to fill out any more paperwork. I hadn’t written this much since elementary school.

  Seated behind a small desk in the office, a secretary who appeared surprisingly similar to my mother typed swiftly on a computer. As we entered, she looked up and gave us an appraising glance. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  “Yes, Samuel Grant to see Herr Bläser.”

  The secretary had a similar reaction to that of the receptionist, though I was pretty sure her reaction had nothing to do with Samuel’s appearance. “Oh, yes, Herr. He’s expecting you. Go right in.”

  In the next office, a middle-aged gentleman sat behind a large solid wood desk. The hair on top of his head barely covered his scalp. His glasses dug into the side of his head, leaving a permanent indentation in his skin. When he stood to exchange greetings and shake hands, the extra weight he carried around his middle was clearly visible. “I have to say I was pretty surprised to hear from you. Did the paperwork not meet your standards?”

  “It was wonderful, as usual. I just need a couple of new sets for myself and my companion.”

  I smiled at the gentleman but didn’t have one clue what the two men were talking about.

  “That shouldn’t be a problem. When do you need them?”

  “Yesterday,” Samuel answered seriously.

  I thought Herr Bläser might be having a heart attack. His face turned red, and he began to sweat. Taking a handkerchief from his breast pocket, he wiped the water from his forehead. He took a few deep breaths, and his color slowly returned to a more normal shade.

  “I can probably get them to you tomorrow, but it will cost a little more than normal.”

  “That’s fine.” Samuel laid two banded stacks of money, showing five thousand francs each, on the desk. He also placed the photos we had taken on the desk. “That should be enough to start with. I’ll pay double that once they are delivered.”

  “Did you want the normal package?”

  Samuel nodded. “I need one set from the United Kingdom and another from the United States for each of us.”

  “What names do you want?”

  Samuel looked at me for an answer.

  “Leigh and Samuel Taylor on one set and Leigh and Samuel Grant on the other,” I said after thinking for a moment. Both men gave me an odd look. “Alina is an unusual name no matter where you’re from; Samuel is fairly common in both countries.” Understanding dawned on their expressions, and a small grin tugged at the corner of Samuel’s mouth.

  As we left the office, my stomach clenched tight. I was still hungry, but the feeling had little to do with my appetite. Since running away with Samuel, I’d been an accomplice in stealing two cars and breaking and entering, and I had just added forgery of government documents. I really hoped it was the last time I needed to do something criminal, but I had a feeling it was just the beginning.

  Sleeping Arrangements

  We made it back to the hotel just in time for our reservations at the restaurant. I was starving since we never got anything for lunch. Thankfully, the server brought bread sticks with some garlic butter shortly after we were seated. He also poured two glasses of wine.

  “So, we’ll pick up the paperwork tomorrow?” I asked after finishing off two bread sticks and my entire glass of wine.

  Samuel nodded. “It probably won’t be until later in the evening. Why? Is there something you wanted to do tomorrow?”

  “Not really.”

  I let the conversation die when the server brought our first course. The portions were smaller than I expected. If they didn’t get any bigger than that, I would be ordering room service as soon as we got back to the room. Thinking about the room, I remembered Samuel’s promise from last night.

  “Were you able to change our room?” I asked between courses.

  “No. Apparently there are a lot of families visiting from out of town for the winter holidays.”

  “It’s fine. I can take the sofa tonight, and you get the bed.”

  “I’m not letting you sleep on the sofa.”

  I giggled lightly. The alcohol was starting to affect me. “This isn’t the eighteen hundreds. Women are supposed to be treated equally. I’m perfectly capable of sleeping on the sofa.”

  Samuel grinned. He seemed more at ease since we’d finished with our errands, or maybe it was the wine. Either way,
I liked it better when he stopped worrying so much. “I never really did get the whole equal rights thing. What’s the matter with wanting to care for the person you love?”

  “Nothing. That’s why women need to have the opportunity to take care of the person they love as well.”

  His smile grew. “I guess I never really thought about it that way.”

  “Not to mention staying at home and cooking, cleaning, and taking care of kids sounds more like torture to me than working. At least if you work, you can take a break or get a day off.”

  Samuel threw his hands up in mock defeat. “Fine. I give up. You win.”

  When the last course was finished, I was pleasantly full. I was also tipsy from the four glasses of wine I had drunk with dinner.

  “Do you think you can walk?”

  I stood up, tentatively checking my balance. I didn’t feel unsteady, though I felt light-headed. “I should be okay.”

  Samuel offered his arm, which I gratefully accepted. Leaning against him made it much easier to walk. He led the way to the elevators and up to our room. Inside, the clothing I’d picked out that morning was neatly stacked on the coffee table. I tried not to appear overly anxious as I gathered them and headed to the bedroom.

  “I thought I got the bed tonight,” Samuel teased.

  “You do. I just need to shower,” I replied from the bedroom.

  After I finished showering, I dug through the bags, searching for the pajamas I’d chosen from Frau Bachmann’s catalogue. I also found another set I hadn’t picked out that was dangerously close to lingerie. I debated about which outfit to put on, but since I was sleeping on the sofa, I went the safe route.

  I walked out to the living room. I expected to find Samuel there, but he was on the balcony, staring out at the city below.

  I joined him outside. “It’s really beautiful.” Fresh snow covered the trees, and some even rested on the railing. It seemed so peaceful.

  “Yeah,” he said, sounding distant.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “I was just thinking.”