Rose & Trillionaire
Edward finally moved back in with Esme and Carlisle.
To say they were happy would be the greatest understatement of the century.
For the next few months and into 1934, I worked with Edward on his control over his thirst, which at the moment was at an all time high, like an alcoholic cutting themselves off, cold turkey.
I had to go with him everywhere he went every night, which really made it impossible for me to do anything I wanted.
Like going to the diner or shopping.
Thankfully, Edward was starting to last longer on the animal blood, no longer needing to go hunting every night.
So today I decided to have a day for myself.
Leaving early in the morning, I headed over to the Gringotts bank here in New York City for some cash.
Pulling into an open space a block away from the bank, I stepped out, straightening my expensive suit jacket.
Leaning down, I checked my hair in the side mirror of my car.
At the moment, my hair was short, almost a buzz cut on the sides, while on the top I left it quite long so I could slick it back.
Standing back up, I started to make my way to the large building.
Turning a corner, my bank came into sight.
Gringotts Bank stood proudly at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, an imposing edifice of marble and granite that took up two whole blocks.
Its facade was a testament to its ancient origins, with intricate carvings depicting scenes from history and mythology, each telling a story of wealth and power accumulated over millennia.
The grand entrance was framed by imposing Corinthian columns, each one etched with a history of its own.
As I approached, two guards in black legion armor opened full glass doors.
Giving them both smirks of appreciation, I walked in.
'I told you, Julius. Their armor is timeless.' I thought as I stepped through the large doors.
The lobby was a cavernous space, illuminated by enormous crystal chandeliers that hung from a vaulted ceiling painted with scenes of prosperity and fortune four stories up.
The floor was a mosaic of polished marble, and intricate patterns.
Reaching into my suit's inner pocket, I pulled out my check book.
Not wanting to make a scene for a simple cash withdrawal, I left the gold card in my wallet and instead walked over to one of the lines and waited while I started to write out the check for a thousand dollars.
As I did so, a stream of light came through the front doors as they opened behind me, catching my attention.
Capping my pen, I turned my head curiously.
As I watched, a pretty blond woman came through the door.
She wore an expensive looking white dress, with one of those wide brim hats perched at an angle on her head which matched her dress.
It wasn't until she walked past me when I realized she was holding a woven basket people took to picnics.
Just as she passed, my eyes flicked up just in time to see as her eyes turned in my direction, a glint of interest in her dark brown eyes.
Not knowing what else to do, I smiled.
She averted her eyes quickly, a small smile creasing her face.
I couldn't seem to pull my eyes away as she went by.
Stepping forward in the line, I watched as a well dressed man walked through the many desks placed behind the tellers desks to meet the woman, quickly followed by a younger looking man, also in a suit.
The older man seemed to be the father of the young woman, while the second, younger looking man, seemed to be one of his subordinates.
"Mom sent me to bring your lunch." The young woman said, handing over the woman basket to her father.
"Thank you dear. I was in such a rush this morning I forgot to grab it on my way out." The woman's father said with a chuckle, taking the basket from her.
"Rose, I would like to introduce you to one of our new Loan Officers, Royse King. His father is the bank's vice president." the woman, Rose's father said, taking a step to the side to let them shake hands.
But I had already stopped listening as my brain did a mental flip.
'Rose…Rosalie…Rosalie fucking Hail!'
"Good evening, sir." The female teller said as I mindlessly stepped forward.
Slapping the check on the desk, I asked for a withdrawal as I turned my head back to look at Rosalie, who was shaking the younger man's hand.
"And here you are sir, one thousand dollars." The teller said, counting out the bills in front of me.
"thanks." I said, sliding the stack of bills from the counter, shoving them in my pocket.
Stepping out of line, I turned my head in the direction of Rosalie who seemed to be standing offaly close to that Royse fella.
'Seems I'm gonna need to have my journal sent over.' I thought as I struggled to remember her story.
Which seemed to be something becoming all too common.
Over the past few years, it had become harder for me to remember the story of this world.
Driving back to Carlisle Apartment, my day's plans dashed, I stepped through the door, only to be greeted by four large boxes stacked along the entrance wall.
Looking down, I saw an envelope laying on top of one of the boxes with my name written in elegant handwriting.
Seeing the familiar writing, I bent down and tore the envelope open.
"This year's income sheets of all your businesses. You're welcome. Julius."
"Shit!" I said, realizing Carlisle had told Julius where I was.
"What are all of those?" Edward asked, stepping into the hallway.
Looking up, I shoved the letter into the envelope.
"just some paperwork from work." I said simply, leaning down to take the lid off one of the boxes, looking for a certain red folder.
"work?" Edward asked, curiosity filling his voice.
"Yeah. Remember how I told you I owned a couple of businesses all over the world." I said, opening the next few boxes until I found the red folder, ignoring all the other vanilla folders which filled the boxes.
"yes. But you just mentioned it in passing." Edward said as I flipped open the red folder.
"Oh! Would you look at that!" I said in a fake astonished voice.
"What is it?" Edward asked, taking a step forward.
I looked up from the folder and gave him a smirk.
"We're in the black again. That's nearly two thousand years in a row." I said with a chuckle as I handed Edward the Red folder as I stepped by him to head to the kitchen.
Stepping in, I saw Esme seated at the kitchen table drawing house designs on a large piece of paper.
Grabbing a glass from one of the cupboards I filled it with water from the tap as Edward stepped in after me, looking through the red folder, his eyes nearly popping out.
"Adam, dear. What do you think of this design?" Esme asked, holding up the large piece of paper.
Stepping closer, I looked it over.
The design was captivating, a blend of modern aesthetics with classic architectural elements that Esme had always been passionate about.
The lines were fluid, the spaces inviting, and I could easily envision how light would dance through the expansive windows she had drawn in.
"It's stunning, Esme," I said, genuinely impressed. "You've managed to integrate the natural surroundings beautifully with the interior layout. It feels like a sanctuary."
Her eyes sparkled with pride, as she set the sheet back onto the table.
Turning, I saw Edward flipping one of the pages in the folder, his mouth agape.
"Don't hurt yourself there kid." I said with a chuckle as I took a sip of my drink.
Edward's head shot up, his eyes still wide.
"Adam! You said you owned a 'few' businesses all over the world! Not every significant business in the world." Edward said, flipping back to the first page in the folder.
"Some or the companies you own are Coca-Cola, Standard Oil, General Electric, Ford Motor Company, and... wait, is this right? You also own Gringotts, the world's oldest and largest banking franchise, including their massive fleet of trading ships?" Edward's voice wavered in disbelief as he continued to read off the list of assets. "Adam, you're a trillionaire! This is... this is insane!"
I couldn't help but chuckle at Edward's reaction. "Well, I did say I owned a few businesses," I replied nonchalantly, leaning back against the kitchen counter. "I just didn't specify how many or which ones. Turn to the last page, it has a list of all the businesses I own and my worth."
I watched with a smirk as Edward flipped through the pages until he reached the last page, and he nearly dropped the folder.
"T-Three T-Trillion!!" He shouted, his eyes shooting up to mine.
"I didn't know there was that much money in the entire world!"
I shrugged.
"That's because there isn't that much money in the world." I said, setting my glass on the counter.
"That's how much everything I own is worth. Investments, properties, and an incredible amount of Gold currency ."
"With this level of wealth and influence... Adam, you could shape the world. You could do so much good with it."
"Or so much harm," I interjected, my tone suddenly serious. "Power and wealth can corrupt, Edward. That's why I keep a low profile and use my resources carefully. I've seen what happens when people get drunk on power. It's not pretty."
Esme nodded thoughtfully.
"You're right, Adam. It's a great responsibility. But I believe you can use it wisely."
Edward seemed to recover from his shock, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Well, it certainly explains a lot. You practically have more money than the entire world. Multiple times over."
Esme glanced at her watch, then back at me.
"Adam, if you're free this afternoon, I'd love to get your opinion on a few more designs. I'm working on a new project, and your input would be invaluable." she said, abruptly changing the topic.
"Of course, Esme," I replied warmly. "I'd be happy to help. All I have planned now is to send off a letter to England then I'm free for the rest of the day."
As the afternoon light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the kitchen, I felt a deep sense of contentment. Despite the complexities of my existence and the weight of my responsibilities, moments like these reminded me of what truly mattered.
family, love, and the bonds that held us together.