Honeymoon

Chapter 14

NOW SHE HAD some important work to do at a lawyer’s office on East Forty-ninth Street near the East River.

“So, Ms. Sinclair, what can I help you with?” asked Steven Keppler, Esq.

Nora smiled warmly. “Please, call me Olivia.”

“Olivia it is, then.” Keppler smiled back at Nora a little too broadly from behind his large desk. “You know, I have a boat named Olivia.”

“No kidding!” said Nora, feigning amazement. “I’ll take that as a good sign.”

What she took as a better sign was the way Steven Keppler—middle-aged, midtown tax attorney with a bad comb-over—was ogling her breasts and legs.

It all but guaranteed smooth sailing.

The other male attorneys on Nora’s list were booked solid for two to three weeks. The same would’ve been true for Steven Keppler, were it not for a sudden opening in his schedule due to an ill client. Fortuitous timing for her. In less than twenty-four hours, Nora had her appointment. Or rather, “Olivia” had her appointment. For what Nora was attempting, she needed to borrow her mother’s name.

She continued: “What you can help me with, Steven, is setting up a business for me.” And by the way, that business isn’t located in my brassiere.

“It so happens that’s something I specialize in,” said the lawyer.

Nora tried not to cringe when he actually ended the sentence by combining a wink with a loud, double-clicking noise from the side of his mouth.

“Where will this business be located?” he asked.

“The Cayman Islands.”

“Oh,” he said, pausing. A slight look of concern came over his face. His very attractive new client in the silk blouse and short skirt was undoubtedly looking to sidestep the law and not pay her taxes.

“I hope that’s not a problem,” said Nora.

Keppler’s disgusting ogling went into overdrive. “Ah, no, I don’t see why it… uh… has to be,” he stammered. “The thing is, establishing a business down there requires the cooperation of what’s called a registered agent. In simple terms, it’s a resident of the Cayman Islands who, in name only, acts as a representative of your company. Am I making myself clear?”

Nora knew all of this but didn’t let on. She nodded her head like a rapt student.

“As luck would have it,” Keppler added, “I have just such an agent under my employ.”

“That is lucky,” Nora said.

“Now, I assume you’ll be needing a bank account opened for you down there as well, right?”

Bingo.

“Yes, I think that would be a good idea. You can do that for me?”

“Actually, you’re supposed to do that in person,” he said.

Again, Nora shifted in her seat. “Oh, what a horrible inconvenience,” she said.

“I know, isn’t it?” He leaned over his desk. “Maybe I could pull a few strings and save you the trip.”

“That would be wonderful! You’re a lifesaver.”

He reached into a file drawer and took out some forms. “I’ll just need to get a little information from you, Olivia.”