Chapter 20: The Will

Helena sleep through to 9am. The ringing of her phone woke her up. Picking up the phone seeing the call was from Ben, sleepy said “Good Morning, you woke me up.”

Ben replied “Mrs Romano passed away in her sleep last night.”
“O, sorry.” Helena interrupted becoming fully awake.

“Can you come to my office before 10 am this morning to discuss some matters please. Mrs Romano left some instructions with me, for you, I have to ask you here please.” Instructed Ben.

“Sure give me time for brekky and I come straight around. I going to get a cappuccino, would you like one?” replied Helena. Standing in her normal bed cloths of nothing.

“Yes please, see you before 10am.” Ben replied.

Helena dressed in a plain white bikini and a plain cream summer dress. Grabbing some fruit for breakfast left the unit and proceeded to the coffee shop. Collecting two large cappuccino’s, she walked to Ben’s office. Ben was not looking happy but accepted the coffee with thanks.

Ben started by saying he was called by the nursing home at 7am this morning, informing him of Mrs Romano death overnight. She had made sure she spoke to all staff yesterday evening thanking them for their services. She was found deceased with a smile on her face as if she willed her death.

They have found a large envelope addressed to me with the instructions to discuss ‘the matter’ with you first, before coming to the nursing unit to open. Well the matter is Mrs Romano has a special request, that is will you deal with her ashes as she requests, without question.

I replied that I would. Ben then went on and advised that as Mrs Romano had no living relations that she is aware of, she has made you the sole beneficiary of her estate. You inherit all of her estate. Lock stock and barrel including your funds that you paid for the unit.

Helena did sit back at that point. Damn she thought I have not read the book yet only the letter.

Ben then opened the will and declared Helena Zee-Smith is now the sole owner of 10 shares in a company. The books will explain what is in the company name including items mentioned in the letter. There is also a share holding company in Vanuatu that she has to transfer to her name. There are some books detailing with their holdings in the Hotels she owns in that country.

The keys I asked you to hold on to awaiting instructions are the other two units on the same floor that is 2202 and 2203. Please enter the rooms initially alone to read their contents. There are covering letters and books explaining. And if there is any mail please open in private. They should be addressed to the company names not me therefore as company owner you can now open.

Good luck and have a happy and prosperous life Helena. Blah blah etc.

Ben stood up and mentioned that the forms she sighed last week were the share transfer paperwork and he has already lodge them on her behalf. And they will come into effect today.

Ben then asked Helena to accompany him to the nursing home. On arriving at the home the manager called them into her office and handed over the heavy envelope together with the original death certificate signed by the homes on call doctor. Inside were instructions to dispose of her clothes to other residences and any funds raised to be put into the nursing home charity account to help those less fortunate who had to enter the home. Helena smiled at the request mentioning that there were a few clothing items at the unit and she would arrange to pass them over as well. They were not exactly her style.

The other items in the envelope were additional envelopes addressed to different staff members with a request for Ben to hand each one personally. They call the staff members into the managers office. Funny thing was each staff member was roistered on that morning. The envelopes were handed over and each found $5000 cash contained therein. Ben intermediately said, this is a departing gift and under the amount they have to declare on their income. So enjoy the funds as a thanks for good service. The manager ushered the staff back to work and spoke to Ben.

“Thank you for telling the staff those kind words. A few would have panic if they had to pay tax on it.” Ben handed over two envelopes to the manager which were addressed to the manager and the managers husband nee boss.

The manager accepted them without opening saying I think I know the contents and that she would deal with them later. Under her instructions they will cremate the body but as requested she did not want any service for herself. Because of her actions they will obey but have morning tea tomorrow as a wake. Both Ben and Helena decline to attend.

Upon returning to Ben office just before lunch, Ben gave Helena another letter in Mrs Romano handwriting, taken from the envelope again requesting Helena opened in private. Helena invited Ben to lunch in a way he could not refuse. They walk down to the steak house on Marine Parade.

Having a nice fulfilling meal and chatting over a few details they departed to their own duties.

Helena went back to the unit and looked into the other units. 2003 was set up as an office with books and accounting information together with the history books like the one Mrs Romano gave Helena. They had, on their covers, different years dates. Mrs Romano was a good record keeper.

In room 2002 Helena found various envelopes like the one she had collected from down stairs. In this room were bags of money and I do mean bags. Looking at the bags it look like the room had over $5 million in notes, as well as gold bars. Picking up one bar in her right hand then passing to the left hand. Harry declared the bar was good. Replacing the bar with her right hand, waiting a few minutes then picking up the bar again. Harry declared the gold pure and safe.

Locking the unit and returning to number 1 Helena realised she had an afternoon of reading. Possibly into the night. Making a teapot of green tea Helena starting with the book Mrs Romano gave her. The way Mrs Romano wrote the books seemed like a story not an accounting journal. Collecting the books from room 3 and grabbing some fruit for dinner Helena continued reading.

Just before bed she remembered the envelope from Mrs Romano, given late from Ben. In it Mrs Romano stated that a conservative estimate of the value of her property portfolio was at least $750 million. Helena was floored. Calling Harry she asked if he was aware of the deal, his reply was he knew Mrs Romano needed someone to continue her endeavours without showing off, someone like her. He was glad she accepted and would continue to help out for the rest of her natural long life, if she did not take off his ring. Thanks and I have no intention of ever removing our ring.