“So they weren’t able to actually cut off my fund then?” I asked, needing clarity.
“No,” he shook his head. “Your grandfather left that money to you and was very explicit with the terms. This is why, despite the interception, your parents weren’t able to successfully acquire any of yours or your brother’s funds. I can’t prove it but it seems they did in fact try to. I’m here to deliver the back pay from the past year and to confirm payments moving forward.”
I looked over to Axel, needing him to center me in the whirlwind I’d suddenly been caught up in. He put his arm around me, pulling me into his warm body.
“Do her parents know you’re here?” Axel’s deep voice demanded, the rumble of his voice vibrating from his body.
“I’d imagine so,” Mr. Greenwood nodded.
“They want control of those funds. That’s what last night was about,” Axel growled.
“I don’t understand,” I shook my head. “They’re rich. Why do they want our money?”
“Maybe they’re not so rich anymore,” Axel surmised. “Can we press charges?” he asked Mr. Greenwood.
I stiffened, the reality of the situation slamming into my chest and causing my heart to fly.
“You can try,” Mr. Greenwood nodded. “Though you might have difficulty making anything stick as the checks weren’t cashed. Unless you can prove they made a concerted effort to acquire the funds they can claim they had no forwarding address and were simply holding on to the money.”
“Shit,” Axel growled.
“I’m sorry about this,” Mr. Greenwood offered, seeming sincerely distressed. He handed me an envelope which I held in my lap.
“Is this the address future checks should be sent to?” he asked.
I looked to Axel. So much was yet to be worked out between us. Confirming an address felt like so much more. It meant not only that Maddox and I would be here, but that I trusted Axel in a way I couldn’t even trust my own parents.
He held my gaze, his eyes glittering with emotion. “Yes.” He confirmed Mr. Greenwood’s question without breaking eye contact.
I looked back into his eyes knowing I was about to take a leap of faith.
“Yes, use this address.” I nodded, looking toward the banker.
“Okay then,” he stood, reaching out to shake both our hands. “I’m off to your brother’s house now,” he confirmed. “You two don’t have the same last name?” he questioned as he straightened his jacket.
I shook my head. “We’re half siblings. He was born with my mother’s maiden name. I have my father’s and what became my mother’s married name,” I explained, fighting back the urge to add that neither name was anything to write home about as it turned out.
He nodded in understanding.
“Thank you for coming out,” I said, walking him to the door.
“Have a good day,” he returned, clasping my hand briefly before turning and heading out to his car.
I looked down at the envelope in my hand. “I’m almost afraid to open it,” I admitted quietly once we heard the banker’s car rumble off down the road.
Ax pulled me close to his body, hugging me tightly. “You know we don’t need it, right? I can take care of us. I will take care of us,” he spoke, his voice low and commanding.
I looked up at him. “I know.”
“All that time you struggled.” He swallowed against the anger I saw rising to the surface. “You could have been taken care of. You wouldn’t have had to work so damn hard.”
I shook my head, stopping him from going down that road. “You know what? It’s okay.” I shrugged, shocking us both with my response. “Was it hard? Hell yes. But I proved a lot to myself. I took care of me and Mad after being sheltered and coddled my whole life. I’m glad to know I have that in me.”
“You’re so fucking strong, baby,” he murmured reverently, pulling me close again and rubbing his hands up and down my back.
In the end, we finished breakfast, got Mad dressed and only on our way out the door did I open the envelope.
I studied the sum, realizing not for the first time how money and privilege had stifled me throughout my life. It had constrained me with expectation and pedigree. I’d be damned if I let the same thing happen now – not when I was finally free.
