Chapter 12

I woke up early the next morning and was able to ease out of bed without waking Michelle up. I went to the kitchen, started a pot of coffee. I then cooked scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage and was just finishing up when Michelle walked into the kitchen rubbing her eyes.

“What are you doing?” she asked, yawning.

“Making us breakfast. Please sit down on the stool.” she smiled at me and walked around the bar and took a seat.

I fixed her a plate and set it down in front of her, then poured her a cup of coffee. I then fixed my plate and sat down next to her. As soon as I was in my seat, she reached over and grabbed my head pulling it towards her. She kissed me as passionately as she had last night making my stomach flip once again.

“So you’re great in bed, have a good job, look like you do and cook too?” Michelle giggled.

“Well, I’m not a very good cook but I get by.” I replied.

“Who cares ... You make me cum like I don’t know what.” she laughed.

We laughed and ate breakfast then Michelle called her dad to let him know she was ok. He answered quickly and they had a short conversation and I did hear her mention that she slept at my house last night which kind of surprised me. I didn’t say a word about it knowing that Michelle said she hated liars.

That evening somehow, the idea of Michelle being a chef came up again. I decided to see just how serious she was about the idea.

“Michelle, do you really want to be a chef in a kitchen?” I asked.

“Honestly, I want to be a chef in my own small restaurant.” she replied.

“Ok then, move in with me. You don’t have to work and you can go to culinary school full time.” I suggested.

“Are you fucking serious?” Michelle asked.

“I wouldn’t ask if I were not serious ... I make great money. Move in with me, give up the apartment and go to school. Do your work on the side if you want to.” I suggested.

“Just like that ... turn my world upside down?” she replied.

“Baby, I’m not asking you to do anything ... I’m only saying if that’s what you want then grab it.” I urged.

“I don’t know, Tim. That’s so generous of you but I’m not sure I could feel comfortable living here doing nothing.” she sighed.

“I understand Michelle, but if you change your mind ... I’m here for you.” I replied.

It took me almost a month to convince Michelle to move in with me and a lunch date with her father. After the lunch was over with Michelle and her father, I felt at ease with him. I guess it has to be hard for a father to look across the table at a man who he knows is fucking his baby girl.

We moved Michelle’s things into my house in a single weekend. We wrapped the furniture she kept in plastic and put it in my garage. Since she had been training with me every day in the gym, she had grown out of most of her clothes. She basically needed a whole new wardrobe.

Michelle got very lucky and was accepted at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute right away. She worked as hard in the classroom as she did in the gym completing the course in eighteen months. I can’t begin to describe how hard those eighteen months were on the two of us. The firm had almost doubled its cliental with probably forty percent landing on my floor. I had hired three new girls to help with all the research and filing that was done on a daily basis. Michelle’s day would begin at nine in the morning to almost seven o’clock in the evening before she would get home. She would shower then sit at the kitchen bar and do research on foods, spices and recipes she had found. Many times, I would find Michelle sound asleep with her head down on the counter fast asleep. But, I knew this is what she wanted and I helped in any way I could.

When Michelle graduated, the executive chef at the school called a friend of his that owned a restaurant in New Orleans. He mentioned Michelle and how hard she had worked and asked him if he might offer her an apprenticeship in his restaurant. He agreed and before we had time to breathe, Michelle was in New Orleans cooking six days a week at Batreaux’s Bistro, a world renown restaurant. She was scheduled to do a three month apprenticeship then come back home. I had rented a small apartment for her a block from the restaurant which made it very easy for her.

While Michelle was in New Orleans, a long time client of Richard Butler passed away of dementia. Sidney Wilton had amassed a fortune in real estate during his ninety years on earth. From my meeting with Richard, I learned that Sidney had three natural born children and one adopted child, a daughter. Apparently, for the last ten years of his life he lived at his home with his adopted daughter. The last four years were rough, she waited on him hand and foot twenty four hours a day.

Richard Butler knew his natural born children well. Mr. Wilton had spoiled them rotten and the only time they would visit him is when they wanted money. Richard stated they treated him horribly as well as the adopted daughter who took care of him. However, what the natural born children did not know was that Sydney Wilton had Richard Butler draw up a new will about three years ago.

The following morning, the complete file on Sydney Wilton was delivered to my office in eight large cardboard boxes. Richard Butler had power of attorney and was the executor of the estate. After a week of sorting out all of the properties that Mr. Wilton owned and his personal finances, I was overwhelmed.

As of the last appraisal, his properties alone appraised at seventy one million dollars. His personal home was assessed at three million one hundred thousand dollars. His vacation home in Florida was assessed at slightly over two million dollars. He owned several vintage automobiles that would have to be appraised and sold.

His personal checking account had over two million dollars in it and he had a secondary account of nine hundred thousand dollars for household expenses. In addition, his holdings in the stock market were valued at about sixty million dollars. Not counting anything I was not aware of the estate was valued at close to one hundred forty million dollars.

Richard set up a meeting with the four children on a Friday morning so he could execute the will. When I got to the conference room, Robin Woods was already there. Along with Richard Butler and Bill Thompson who was our will and trust attorney and Linda, one of our stenographers.

My relationship with Robin was strained to say the least. We rarely spoke and she blamed Michelle for getting involved with me. She claimed she wanted to reconcile with me, but Michelle ruined everything. The only thing that she overlooked was the fact I had no intention of ever being in a relationship with her again.

Everyone arrived from the Wilton family and it became apparent very quickly who was real and genuine. The three natural born children, Sydney Wilton Jr., Marvin Wilton and Vanessa Wilton were all adorned in expensive clothes and high end jewelry.

The adopted daughter, Mary Stein was the child of Mr. Wilton’s long time housekeeper, Margaret Stein. Ms. Stein had a massive stroke many years ago and died almost instantly. Her daughter, Mary, was left alone with no guardian. Since there were no immediate relatives, Sydney Wilton went through the process of formally adopting Mary Stein.

Mary looked completely out of place in a room full of vultures salivating at picking Sydney Wilton’s vast fortune to the bone. The smug look they had on their face made me want to punch the fuck out of the three of them. Finally, Mr. Butler took charge of the room and started the meeting.

“As you may or may not know, your father executed a new will in two thousand fifteen. So, any will dated prior to December the fourth, two thousand fifteen is invalid.” he started.

The look on the faces of his natural born children was priceless. No doubt, they immediately thought the worst, as well they should have.

“To my natural born children, Sydney Wilton Jr, Marvin Wilton and Vanessa Wilton, I leave the sum of twelve million dollars each. This sum will be paid from my market holdings in cash. I will also pay all taxes concerning this inheritance for each one of my children.” Richard started.

“Hey what kind of crap is this?” Vanessa Wilton stated, raising her voice.

“You will let me read this will in its entirely without comment. I have been your father’s attorney for over thirty five years and a close personal friend. You will not disrespect him in anyway or I will have you removed from this building.” Richard said, sternly.