DWP - another Glimpse - The Money Talk
Here is another glimpse into Miranda and Andy's life. Just a little one. Hope you like it. :)
Glimpse - The Money Talk
by Gin
Andy rolled in the bed, hugging the pillow that Miranda had vacated. Her dark eyes tracked her naked wife as Miranda walked across the room into the bathroom. “Clothing designers are either insane or they're idiots.” She smiled as Miranda poked her head back through the doorway.
“Why would you say something like that, Andrea?”
“Because creating something specifically to cover a body as gorgeous as yours is insane.. and idiotic.” She grinned wider when Miranda rolled her eyes and went about her business. Andy sighed and spoke louder, allowing Miranda to hear her. “This has been so nice. Martha's Vineyard is great and I love this house. I think I have ever since my birthday vacation. That week was great just relaxing with you and the girls after the debacle with my parents.” She sighed. “I love you so much... I'm a little sorry that out honeymoon time is over. I don't wanna leave tomorrow.”
Miranda chuckled as she returned to the bed. “I know my Darling. I love it here as well. I always have. And I love you too.” She settled into Andrea's embrace. “But, as much as we would like to, we cannot remain on our honeymoon forever.” She kissed the shoulder under her cheek. “We have things to do and the girls will be starting school again soon.”
“I know.” Andy hummed contentedly as she ran her fingertips over Miranda's bicep. “It's just been so nice having you all to myself. Not having to worry about reporters, or work...”
“Mmm... yes. It has been a lovely two weeks. We can always return whenever time permits.” Miranda hesitated. “We have some things to discuss, before our arrival in the city.”
“We do?”
“Mmm...” Miranda licked her lips and nodded. “Yes. There is the small matter of the safe deposit box...”
“Miranda... I'm not sure..”
“Shhhh...” Miranda shook her head and pressed her fingers against Andy's luscious lips. “You will have access to it and that is final.” She felt Andrea relax and dropped her hand away. “You should also know the extent of the accounts, before you are blindsided with them at the bank.”
“Um...” Shifting out of the hold Miranda had on her, Andy scooted to sit up, her back against the headboard. “Accounts?”
“Indeed.” Miranda too sat up and reached into the drawer of the cabinet next to her side of the bed. She pulled several colorful folders out and handed them to Andy. “These are the reports that Archie sent.”
Andy glanced at the labeled tabs. She wasn't surprised to see one folder for 'Real Estate', one for 'Stocks', one for each of the girls and one marked 'Joint funds'. The one that did surprise her was the blue file with her name clearly printed on it. She frowned and opened that one first. Her frown deepened as she glanced over the pages inside. “Miranda? What is this?”
“That... I believe... is an accounting of your holdings.”
“My...” Andy shook her head. “Miranda I don't have 'holdings'.”
“You do now.” She shifted slightly away, sensing Andrea's discomfort. “I instructed Archie to start a portfolio for you. You will need to sign some forms to be able to access it properly.”
“I don't understand this...” Andy blinked. “Miranda this says...” Her voice became a whisper, “I'm a millionaire.”
“Yes.” Nodding, Miranda pointed to the relevant lines. “It is mostly stocks, but there is a significant amount of cash available to you. It will grow with time. Archie is very good at what he does.”
“I can't... what... why...”
Miranda licked her lips again and admitted. “I wanted you to be taken care of, even if you were against it.” She slumped her shoulders slightly. “And I had my own selfish reasons.”
“This is NOT selfish!” Andy continued to look at the huge numbers on the page in front of her. “My God...”
“The selfish part is that most of your portfolio is made up of Elias-Clark stock.” She exhaled softly and continued. “Your holdings combined with mine are nearly enough to at least keep Irving silent. My goal is to gather enough to oust him when he becomes too annoying.”
“He is behind the photos isn't he.” Andy shook her head. “Trying to break us up before our wedding... Isn't that annoying enough?”
“We don't yet know who is responsible for that particular nastiness.” Miranda kissed Andrea's bare shoulder. “When the investigators give us their reports we will decide what to do.”
“We'll do whatever you want Miranda. This is not my money, Miranda. It's yours.” Andy wasn't completely unaware of how these things worked and she knew one thing above all else. “There had to be money spent in order to make this much.” She looked at Miranda. “You put up the money to begin with... this is all yours, not mine.”
“I authorized Archie to use up to three million while building your portfolio.” Miranda rolled her eyes a bit at Andrea's shocked expression. “It was only a loan and he didn't even use that much. It has all been repaid to the main account, which by the way is half yours now as well. What you see in this report are the proceeds and those, my Darling, are entirely yours.”
“I can't deal with this.” Andy closed the file. “It's too much...”
“This is why I didn't want to spring this on you at the bank.” Miranda took the file from her wife's hands. “Probably best if you don't look at the Real Estate folder then.”
“What?” Andy eyed the thickest file. “Why?” Miranda's gesture toward the file did nothing to answer her questions or quell her anxiety. She slowly opened the green folder.
“I must introduce you to Lydia. She manages the properties.”
Andy was slowly turning page after page, her eyes taking in the pictures of the various real estate that Miranda, that she and Miranda, owned. At least according to the section on the page that listed the owners of the properties. Her brain couldn't quite wrap itself around some of the photographs though. Many were views from various angles that also included sweeping landscape scenes, mountains, oceans and rolling green hills. “Manages?”
“Yes.” Miranda shrugged. “Since it's a waste to just have the buildings and homes sit empty, they are rented out to people. Some are on vacation. Some need a temporary offices or a place to live for a contract job. It varies.”
“You let people live in your houses?”
“The ones I'm not living in, yes.” Miranda chuckled as Andy looked around the room. “No one comes here, or the townhouse. But the other places are often occupied.” She smiled softly. “It's why I stayed in the hotel in Paris, the
year you accompanied me. The chateau was currently being used by a lovely young family, while the mother was working in a nearby village. Lydia takes care of all the arrangements. She works with Archie on the money collection, but Lydia makes sure that everything is working properly and clean and stocked for the tenants before they arrive. She or one of her associates also performs the evaluation after the tenants vacate the residence to see if they deserve the return of their cleaning deposit.” Miranda waved. “It's all very tedious, but worthwhile to have the properties looked after so carefully.” She cringed slightly as Andrea turned to the page detailing the house they were currently in.
“Miranda?”
Unlocking her jaw, Miranda responded softly. “Yes?”
“This only lists me as owner of this house.” Andy looked to her wife for answers. “The other ones have both our names on them.”
“Indeed.” Miranda smiled. “You said yourself that you love this house. I knew that. I've known that since we stayed here during your birthday trip. That is why I had it put in your name alone.”
“No.. Miranda...”
“Andrea... listen to me. I do not want there to be any kind of problem with legalities. I have hope that this country will continue to move forward in regards to equal rights, but if that does not happen... No matter what legal entanglements Keith or his successors find themselves dealing with, this is cut and dried.” She traced her young wife's cheek lightly but spoke firmly, “This is your house, no matter what, now and forever.” With a tiny tilt of her head, Miranda smiled. “Turn
the page.”
Andy turned to the next property in the file. The owner listed on that one was Caroline. The next one named Cassidy as owner. She turned to the last page, the townhouse. Miranda was the undisputed owner of that home, however, she and the girls were also named as owners.
“Any new acquisitions will automatically be put in both our names.” Miranda sighed. “But the girls love the townhouse, it is their primary home, so I wanted their names on it just for sentimental reasons.”
Andy traced under her name on the document that declared her part owner of the house in New York. “Miranda, I don't know what to say.”
“Don't say anything, just accept it. You know how stubborn I am.” Miranda closed the file and took it, placing it back in the drawer with the report on Andrea's holdings. She gestured to the two files labeled with the girls' names. “You are also named as controller on the girls' trust funds, just in case.”
Opening the file on top, Andy's eyes widened. “The girls are...”
Miranda finished for her, “Very, very, rich young women. Understand that is not all from me. James is quite well off in his own right. His family is steeped in old money. His mother adores trust funds.” Miranda pointed to a line on the accounting report. “They cannot even access it until they are twenty-five.”
"But they can access the rest?”
Andy was still overwhelmed at that responsibility. “I barely had a thousand dollars in the bank at their age.” She shook her head. “They can just get it any time they want?”
“No.” Miranda grinned. “They have to ask Archie.”
“Not you?”
“They can ask me... but if they want to get something for me, they ask Archie and he can clear it.” Miranda shrugged. “For small things they don't have to ask, but they use the card attached to the account... so if Archie sees any outrageous spending he can call them on it, or stop their cards.”
“Outrageous?”
“If a charge for a large screen television comes through, he will question that.. because he knows they already have one.” Miranda shrugged. “It hasn't happened. I did get a phone call once regarding some large charges at several clothing stores, and a rather expensive lunch bill, but the girls were out shopping with their friends at that time, so they were all legitimate charges.”
"Mmm... I'm sure Allison got some nice clothes on that trip.” Andy's voice took on a slightly mother-like tone. “I don't think they should buy their friendships...”
Miranda laughed. “No worries, my Darling. I believe both Caroline and Cassidy know how to deal with their bank accounts. My concern is for you. Many times people who have had wealth thrust upon them have difficulty coming to terms with the new found responsibility.” Turning Andrea's head to meet the young woman's dark eyes, Miranda grinned. “Even now you are contemplating how much you can donate to charities and homeless shelters.” Sliding her hand past Andrea's shoulder and down her arm, Miranda took the folder from her wife's hands. “You will have to meet with Archie regarding all that, after we return to New York. As you know I already have several charitable contributions that are automatically sent, so you will need to coordinate with him, so as not to overlap any.”
“You don't mind... if I donate?”
“It's your money, Andrea.” Miranda sighed. “I would hope that you keep some of it though. I really do intend on making sure you are well taken care of, no matter how our marriage turns out. You could leave, right now and be a very wealthy woman.”
“Miranda...” Andy slid down, savoring the feel of her skin sliding against Miranda's. “I've told you before, I don't care about the money. I'm not leaving you, ever.” Placing soft kisses on Miranda's quivering stomach, Andy smiled. “I'm going to spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”
Miranda closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. The sensation of Andrea's teeth raking along her ribs sent electric jolts down her spine. “Mmmm... yessss” She tangled her fingers through Andrea's dark hair and decided that going over the contents of the safe deposit box could wait.
end glimpse...