Alexandra was in the garden reading. She looked up as Eve approached.
“Alex, I’ve decided to go back to New York.”
Alexandra looked at her sister in surprise. “Now? Gran’s planning a cruise to the Dalmatian coast next week. You—”
“Who cares about the Dalmatian coast? I’ve been thinking a lot about this. It’s time I had my own apartment.” She smiled. “I’m a big girl now. So I’m going to find the most divine little apartment, and if you’re good, I’ll let you spend the night once in a while.” That’s just the right note, Eve thought. Friendly, but not gushy. Don’t let her know you’re on to her.
Alexandra was studying her sister with concern. “Does Gran know?”
“I told her this afternoon. She hates the idea, of course, but she understands. I wanted to get a job, but she insisted on giving me an allowance.”
Alexandra asked, “Would you like me to come with you?”
The goddamned, two-faced bitch! First she forced her out of the house, and now she was pretending she wanted to go with her. Well, they’re not going to dispose of little Eve so easily. I’ll show them all. She would have her own apartment—she would find some fabulous decorator to do it—and she would have complete freedom to come and go as she pleased. She could invite men up to her place and have them spend the night. She would be truly free for the first time in her life. It was an exhilarating thought.
Now she said, “You’re sweet, Alex, but I’d like to be on my own for a while.”
Alexandra looked at her sister and felt a deep sense of loss. It would be the first time they had ever been parted. “We’ll see each other often, won’t we?”
“Of course we will,” Eve promised. “More than you imagine.”
26
When Eve returned to New York, she checked into a midtown hotel, as she had been instructed. An hour later, Brad Rogers telephoned.
“Your grandmother called from Paris, Eve. Apparently there’s some problem between you two.”
“Not really,” Eve laughed. “It’s just a little family—” She was about to launch into an elaborate defense when she suddenly realized the danger that lay in that direction. From now on, she would have to be very careful. She had never had to think about money. It had always been there. Now it loomed large in her thoughts. She had no idea how large her allowance was going to be and for the first time in her life Eve felt fear.
“She told you she’s having a new will drawn up?” Brad asked.
“Yes, she mentioned something about it.” She was determined to play it cool.
“I think we had better discuss this in person. How’s Monday at three?”
“That will be fine, Brad.”
“My office. All right?”
“I’ll be there.”
At five minutes before three, Eve entered the Kruger-Brent, Ltd., Building. She was greeted deferentially by the security guard, the elevator starter and even the elevator operator. Everyone knows me, Eve thought. I’m a Blackwell. The elevator took her to the executive floor, and a few moments later Eve was seated in Brad Rogers’s office.
Brad had been surprised when Kate telephoned him to say she was going to disinherit Eve, for he knew how much Kate cared about this particular granddaughter and what plans she had for her. Brad could not imagine what had happened. Well, it was none of his business. If Kate wanted to discuss it with him, she would. His job was to carry out her orders. He felt a momentary flash of pity for the lovely young woman before him. Kate had not been much older when he had first met her. Neither had he. And now he was a gray-haired old fool, still hoping that one day Kate Blackwell would realize there was someone who loved her very deeply.
He said to Eve, “I have some papers for you to sign. If you’ll just read them over and—”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Eve, it’s important that you understand.” He began to explain. “Under your grandmother’s will, you’re the beneficiary of an irrevocable trust fund currently in excess of five million dollars. Your grandmother is the executor. At her discretion, the money can be paid to you at any time from the age of twenty-one to thirty-five.” He cleared his throat. “She has elected to give it to you when you reach age thirty-five.”