Chapter 14

He returned a few minutes later with an attractive woman about his age.

“Karen, Brad, please meet Elaine Thompson. If you will stay, we will be working as a team on your account.” Both were smiling happily. Jim continued, “Brad, your suggestion resolved the matter by giving everyone an ‘out’ and allowing for saved faces.” He chuckled. “It would be difficult to see Morris walking around without a face.” Karen and I laughed. Elaine was trying to stifle her mirth with only moderate success.

She spoke, “Karen, I’m glad to meet you in person. I apologize for calling a second time but Mister Morris insisted that I make that call even after he had talked to Brad. I told him what you told me, Brad, and he almost fired me! He did go into a tirade. He hasn’t had a good day.”

She thought a moment. “He’s still in Mister Hanover’s office while everyone else left. Funny enough, he can be a good guy to work for even though he’s stuffy and a little rigid.”

Jim said, “Brad, you were going to punch his lights out, weren’t you?”

“Yes, Mister Hanover kept him from being hurt. He would not have prevented us from leaving.” I looked over at Miss Thompson. “Miss Thompson, will you suffer if we don’t go along with his recommendations?”

“First, please call me Elaine. No, he isn’t that type though I will word my report carefully to be sure it shows that both Jim and I both had input and that you determined your course for your investing after reviewing our recommendations regardless of your decision.

“Mister Hanover was raking him over the coals as I sat by the office. I had come down and was listening through the door. I don’t think the private discussion between them went better when we had left to come here.”

She gave her body a very slight shake. “What are your goals? It’s a lot of money.”

Karen looked at me. I said, “It is. We have talked some and will use some to improve our living situation, use some to help our parents, and give some as a donation to our church. Most of it we want to put into longer term investment vehicle or vehicles for some growth and a lot of safety.”

I shrugged. “That doesn’t say a lot but it’s where we are.”

Karen said, “We want to make some changes in our living condition but not go wild. It’s not who we are.”

Jim said, “Before he knew who they are and how much is involved, Steve had suggested a mutual fund with no load. What do you think, Elaine?”

She smiled and then looked at us. “That would be my recommendation. If I read what you said, Karen, you don’t want to have to ‘work’ at having money. There are a number of good funds that would fit that general category. This morning, your account received a wire for twenty-six million, five hundred fifteen thousand, eight hundred forty-three dollars and nineteen cents.” We nodded a little surprised at her knowing the amount.

She smiled. “Don’t be surprised that I know it. I’ve had it written on my desk all day today and have stared at it frequently.

“My first recommendation is that your account be converted to interest bearing. It isn’t much of a rate but you should be earning something. My second thought is to put the twenty-six million to work in a fund and hold the rest to use. In most funds, they want some notice before a withdrawal. We can gather information about a large grouping and go over details with the two of you later at your convenience.”

I looked at Karen and she nodded. I grinned. “I think you two should gather a preliminary list for information and we’ll take you to dinner to go over it.” I smirked. “As long as you don’t mind eating with each other and with us.”

Jim said, “That sounds like a great plan to me. Would you be willing, Elaine?”

“For what?” She grinned. “Dining with clients or with you included?” Her grin was wider. “Or did you have something else you want me willing for?”

Jim blushed. “I would like to talk to you about some of that. Initially, we could dine with clients and do so together.” He grinned and gave her a look. “After all, we are supposed to be working together with these clients.”

Karen chuckled. “How about Italian? Tokyo House is closed on Mondays.” She looked at Elaine and said, “We might even wear dresses.” Elaine grinned at her, nodding.

We agreed to meet at seven for dinner and to talk about different funds. We left heading back to our apartment. We sat down on the couch and pulled our phones out. We grinned and turned them on. I had a full voice mail box! Karen quickly found hers was full, too!

In listening, I found that I had eight long lost cousins who couldn’t even pronounce my name correctly. Morris had called twice more over the morning. The rest were, with one exception, people calling to congratulate me on winning. One call was threatening from a blocked number. I saved it. Karen was going through her voice mails with similar results including the same threatening message. I suggested that she save it also.

We dressed after talking to Melissa and Paul to meet Elaine and Jim at Angelo’s. Karen was wearing one of her dresses that showed off her fantastic figure. I was wearing slacks and a buttoned down shirt. We drove up to meet them. I went around to open the door for Karen who, as usual, showed me a lot of leg. I had closed the door when we saw Elaine and Jim walk over. They looked happy. We did, too. We went inside and were greeted and shown to seats.

It was a table for four and Jim and I sat across from each other. Karen smiled. Elaine asked, “You two seem very in tune with each other. Obviously, the honeymoon isn’t over after what, six months?”

Karen smiled a bit more more blinding Jim. “We hope it will never be over. We have genuinely enjoyed being together since we met.”

Jim said, “Wow! Your smile is blinding.” This time, he received the full force.

I said, “I threatened to wear sunglasses but my eyes have adjusted. I enjoy being her target.”

Elaine gave one of her own. It’s nice to have dinner with you two. You are a liberating force to me. Jim and I have to be circumspect at work and even a little in public. However, we have been dating since September when I came to work at the bank. We met in the lunchroom on my first day. Neither of us ate while we talked our time away.”

Jim chuckled. “We haven’t stopped talking yet.”

Our server returned to our table and took our orders. The salads were delivered along with the bread. Angelo’s didn’t use breadsticks but cooked their own more rounded garlic bread. After a quick prayer, we ate our salads with the bread while we talked.

Elaine asked, “You had said something about buying a house or duplex?”

Karen answered, “Melissa, my former roommate, married Paul, Brad’s former roommate. We rent an apartment together. That’s worked well. They’re good friends and we would like to keep them close. Brad has a year and a half for his degree in engineering and I have two and a half for mine in chemistry. Brad’s sister is going to college here and Suzie is a great person. If Melissa and Paul move after they graduate, she might join us. Brad has talked about getting a master’s. Getting more schooling is one decision that will no longer have a monetary issue involved.”

“We plan to be careful about spending though. We want this money to change us as little as possible.” I added.

Jim nodded. “That’s a perfect lead into my thinking about your immediate plans. I converted your account into an interest bearing account. We will also issue credit cards to each of you. They will have a five thousand dollar limit but, if you want more, just let me know.”