Bridget, the daughter, Bernadette her mother, the two solicitors and a few friends of the late Maxwell Harper stood in the drawing room of Piermont House and chatted quietly about the virtues of Maxwell.
At the daughters request the funeral had been a quiet and dignified occasion. Bridget stood with, Allrode and Blount the family solicitors, Bernadette stood talking to someone she had never met before and others helped themselves to as much free food and drink as their greedy little bodies would allow.
Bernadette and Bridget took up their normal stance with each other that of back to back, as they never saw eye to eye; Bridget being the clever businesswoman and apple of daddies eye. Bernadette the woman who spent it as fast as they made it just to impress the ladies of the golf club or the fitness clubs and most of all the lavish parties for the bridge fraternity.
The reading of the will was arranged for the following Thursday at 10am and all banking, investments and assets would be frozen up too and including that date until then Bernadette went to her part of the mansion and Bridget to hers.
Bernadette had Bridget when she was eighteen, she got pregnant deliberately, Maxwell was a rich man and she was and still is, one of lifeâs beautiful people, as she used to say, âIâm prime real estate and worth the bestâ.
As for Bridget she had the best of both worlds; her mothers beauty and her fathers business brain, never one to miss an opportunity to make a killing and kept the money hungry admires well out of her way.
As always the two women travelled in separate cars and Bridget was the first to arrive, punctuality a must in her world, she sat with the two solicitors until twenty past ten when Bernadette arrived. She swept in, her clothes tailored perfectly. She wore a grey and red suit, the short waisted jacket matched the short pleated skirt, the collar of a red blouse showed over the jacket lapels, her hair pulled tightly back in to a bobbing fully styled ponytail was covered by a red hat, her very expensive Charles Sinclair sunglassâs covered the top half of her stunning features as her pouting mouth apologised for her lateness explaining. âI saw this most adorable hat, just perfect for my Gucci exclusive and I just had to have itâ, she laughed when she admitted that it was so expensive that it had taken the last of her cash and she was broke but that would soon be sorted.
Allrode dismissed her remarks by ignoring them and began his reading, âThe last will and testament of Maxwell Richard Harper, is very simple, he leaves everything and that literally means everything to his daughter Bridget Kathleen Harperâ.
Bernadette stood up ripping her sunglassâs from her face, âYou canât mean this, do you mean this conniving little daddies girl gets the lot, what do I get, there must be something, I always got an allowance every month so whatâs to become of thatâ?
Blount held some more documents, âThe only mention of you, Mrs Harper, is that he hopes Bridget will pay off the outstanding revenue bill you have incurred, the company share holders would be very critical of that amount of monies outstanding, they will vote and insist on police attention, now Mr Harper is no longer able to cover it up your indiscretionâ.
Bernadette, still standing was totally dumbfounded, her eyes scanned the three people before she composed herself, âWhat the hell do you mean, I have a revenue bill?â
Blount continued, âYou allowance was taxable and to date they have cost the estate some 750,000 making a taxable payment of 84,000 which your late husband has put against tax deductible items from the business. Now he is dead and Bridget is now over eighteen she makes the decision as to A. Carry on hiding it until such time as you can pay it back or B. She discloses it to the share holders who will demand police involvement which will as in, Lloydâs verses Lonsdale could land you in prison for a minimum of eight yearsâ.
Bernadette sat, âThatâs ridiculous, I never signed for a wage thereâs no proofâ.
Allrode picked up a pile of papers, âThese are copies of slips you signed when your allowance was paid to you, is that not your signatureâ? He pointed at the top slip.
She was now very flustered, âYes thatâs my signature but I have never signed anything like thatâ.
Allrode put the papers back down, âI donât think that will stand up in a court of law, they are counter signed by Mr Harper who is no longer able to corroborate your denialâ.
Bernadette looked at Bridget, âWell young lady you will get this sorted wonât you, itâs just to ridiculous to even be consideredâ.
Bridget had on her business face and that was set in stone, âOf course I will sort, you will pay, its not a problem, I will put it down to an oversight by father and the share holders will have their pound of flesh, ether from criminal compensation when you go to prison or your immediate paymentâ.
Bernadette was visible shocked, âBut, but you canât Iâm your mother, this is absurd, your joking, yes thatâs it your trying to frighten meâ.
Still the face stared blankly at her, âOn the contrary mother I have never been so determined in my life, you killed him, you killed my father as much as if you had done it by hand, you knew he was ill but your bloody parties came first, he just had to keep you in money and safe, thatâs why I hate you but now Iâm in charge its going to be pay back timeâ.
Bernadette looked round, each face as cold as the other, her eyes wet with tears stammered, âYou canât mean this, me, your mother in prison, I wouldnât survive, I, Iâ, the tears finally won and she broke down, her head went down to her hands and the hat fell to the floor.
Bridget rose from the chair, she bent and picked the hat up, turning to the wall mirror she put it on, the trilby style suited her. She turned back and looked at the sobbing woman, âMr Allrode and Mr Blount have a proposition if they agree it can work then, and only then, will I consider it but it will be up to you to conform and up to them to assure me it will workâ. She looked at the two solicitors, âI expect to hear from you before the end of trading today, tomorrow I have a share holders meeting, I wish to be fully aware of the facts before I submit my findings, good day and above all thank you for your loyaltyâ.
The men had a last glimpse of the red hat as the door shut behind Bridget, Blount was the first to get up and approach the cowering woman, Bernadette looked up at him, âWhat does she mean by a propositionâ?
Allrode had gone to the desk draw and took out some papers and a small box, he handed the papers to Blount, Blount slapped them down hard on the desk in front of Bernadette, âRead and sign, thatâs the choice, oh Iâm sorry Iâm forgetting, thereâs always the little grey dress with the number stitched over the left breastâ.
Bernadetteâs hands shook as she picked up the paper, her eyes scanned the paper; slowly her mind took it in.
This document is final and binding.
This document is between Bernadette Louise Harper and her employer.
This document states that Bernadette Louise Harper will do what ever her employer demands,
Her employer will have complete control over all demands.