Kims Tail

By

Rubberwolf

2008

Chapter 1

Kim walked into the solicitors’ office with a certain degree of discomfort.  She wore a simple black dress, with matching handbag and shoes, as befitted the occasion.  But even this nod to the conventions normally expected was a lie.

“Hypocrite”, she silently cursed.  “He was a complete bastard and you’re not sorry that he is gone.   The only reason that you are sitting here is for your chance to get your hands on 1.2 billion or at least a share.”

Kim still couldn’t believe that her ex had died.  He was still young and she had not heard anything about it in the papers and when that much money dies, there is always something in the papers.  But the solicitors’ letter was very clear.  Her ex husband had left her something in his will and she had been summoned to this meeting to discover what.

1.2 billion was ample reason to travel two hundred miles on such short notice.  However, she was not a little surprised.  The divorce had been bitter and long.  She had gotten some money, but not enough.  She had received a small token of his total wealth.  Nothing more.  She had faced his lawyers over an open courtroom and they had been merciless, poking, prying, accusing, laying her most intimate self-bare for the whole court and waiting media.  Now, hear she stood, across a desk from another of his legal terriers.

“Thank you for coming at such short notice Ms Banner.  Allow me to offer my sympathies for you in these difficult times,” the immaculately dressed parasite oozed as he offered her his hand.  “Please take a seat”.

Kim sat and exchanged the usual pleasantries and small talk, having ordered tea, which was delivered promptly by a young secretary in smart black and whites, and the highest pair of heals that she had ever seen.  The young brunet hobbled out of the office in the most provocative fashion, as her ass swayed from side to side in a tight mini.  Although no lesbian, Kim felt compelled to watch this wanton display as, apparently, did the lawyer across the desk from her.

Kim sipped her tea and considered the man opposite her.

“Well, shall we get down to business,” the lawyer enquired?

“Yes certainly,” Kim replied in a friendly manner, as she watch this impotent man mentally undressing her.

She was not, all considered, bad for her age.  At thirty-five she was still in good shape, with a slim figure and pert, 34D breasts which were only achieved by hours slogging away at the gym.  However, the years were beginning to show.  Crows feet were forming around her eyes and she had started to have to dye her hair in order to maintain the illusion that her natural blond locks had not started to fade.  However, all considered, she took the attentions of this stranger as a complement to all of those hours spend pounding the treadmill and attending expensive keep fit classes.

“Mr Star had, it appears, cause to regret the manner in which your relationship ended.  He felt that because of the way you were treated, some measure of atonement was called for.  He has therefore instructed me to leave you this DVD to watch.  If you will excuse me,” the lawyer stated, standing and setting up a DVD recorder and television on the other side of the room.

After ensuring that everything was ready and, having pulled the curtains, he returned to Kim and handed her a remote control.

“Mr Star was quite specific that you be allowed to watch this on your own,” the man said before retreating from the room.

Kim was not sure what to make of this but, all things considered, it had the dramatic flair that she would associate with Jim, her ex husband.  The most shocking thing was Jim’s apparent U turn.  He had never shown regret in his entire life, why he should start now was beyond her.  However, with a growing sense of interest, Kim pressed play.

Jim appeared on the screen, but it was not the man she remembered from only a few years ago.  This Jim had aged.  He looked pale and thin and was sitting up in bed, surrounded by a bank of monitors.

“Hello Kitten,” the new Jim croaked. 

Reaching for a glass of water, he drank deeply before continuing.

“If you are seeing this, then,” Jim paused, gave a dramatic shrug and looked about him before continuing.  “I don’t remember who said it, but nothing focuses the mind quite like the scaffold,” Jim smiled mirthlessly before starting into a coughing fit that lasted for several second.  “The point is that I regret our parting.  We were good together and I destroyed that.  Oh I know what the lawyers said, but I started the downward spiral years before, forcing you into another’s arms and bringing about a catastrophe that neither of us could return from.”

The old man on the screen paused to sip more water and Kim sat in shock.  The old Jim would never have said any of this, but this new, older, frail Jim.  This she believed and even pitied. 

“I dare say that the press are still hounding you.  Even if they were not, this latest news would set them on you like a pack of dogs.  So I have made provision for that.  I own a private retreat, which I have kept for just such occasions.  I will bequeath this to you so that you can avoid some of the more troublesome members of the press.  After the feeding frenzy has died down you will enjoy the benefits of a trust fund that I have set up to ensure that all of your requirements are catered for.  I have instructed the solicitor to charter a helicopter to take you to my retreat.  He has also activated the trust fund, with a starting balance of 10.5 million.  More will be added to the fund account over a period of time, so as not to draw the press or counter claims from my other wives, down on you.  I have made similar provisions for my other wives, but.”

Jim shrugs again before starting on another coughing fit which, Kim guessed, he has been holding back since he started talking.

“Anyway, I have left the instructions with my solicitor.  If he has followed my directions, you should press the red button on his desk to summon him back into the room.  I am sorry that I did not have the resolve to do this sooner, but I always was a stubborn man.”

Jim smiles and the screen goes blank.

Kim sat, stunned, staring at the screen.  Although not great, 10.5 million was a nice starting balance and he had promised more.  She would have preferred to have been the sole beneficiary, but Jim was bent on a cause of putting right all of his past wrongs and, as always, Jim had made the mistake of thinking that money could make it all better, not that she was complaining.  Also, spending a few months at his hidey-hole sounded like a very good idea and so, after a few moments, Kim pressed the red and brass buzzer on the solicitors’ desk.