This is the tenth part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, and Part IX before continuing.
“Happy birthday, sis,” Hugh said as he handed her a rectangular box wrapped with a white satin ribbon.
Sandra looked skeptical as she took it. “It looks a little large to be the keys to the kingdom.”
“Do you really want to deal with paperwork on your birthday?”
“If that paperwork involves getting me my half of the company, then yes.”
Hugh laughed, although Sandra was deadly serious. “We have an appointment with my lawyers tomorrow. In the meantime, this is a little something you can wear to the lawyers’ offices when we go to sign the paperwork.”
Sandra unwrapped the ribbon and opened the box to find a sapphire surrounded by diamonds. A gold chain passed through a loop on the back of the pendant so it would look like it was floating on her chest. “It’s gorgeous,” she said, taken aback by the generosity. “What did I do to deserve this?”
Hugh shrugged. “You’ve been doing great work around the office. You found this guy for me,” he laid a hand on Chris’s shoulder. “And you’re my sister and I love you. Besides, I thought it would look good on you.”
Sandra couldn’t deny that. Blue was her color. But she was surprised to find herself so touched by her brother’s words. It was almost enough to make her regret what she was planning to do.
“I probably should have given you my gift first so it wouldn’t look so pathetic by comparison,” Chris said as he handed her a smaller rectangular box, also wrapped in a white satin ribbon.
Sandra smiled at him and took the box, eagerly untying the ribbon to get inside where she found a pair of earrings. Each one consisted of a long, gold chain, at the end of which was suspended a tear-drop shaped ruby. Sandra gasped when she saw them they were so beautiful. “Oh, these are perfect. How could you ever call them pathetic?”
Chris shrugged. “They’re just a little something.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You have excellent taste,” she said, taking out her diamond studs and replacing them with the gold and ruby earrings. Then she put on the necklace and lay her hands out, one on each side as though she were holding a pair of trays. “How do I look?”
“Like someone who owns half the largest real estate company in the country,” said Chris.
Sandra grinned.
To be continued…