Pearls, Poison & Park Avenue: A 1920s Historical Mystery by Colette Clark

Author:Colette Clark [Clark, Colette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Pen woke up with the sun the next day and had Jenny set out her smartest outfit, one that oozed sophistication, and most importantly, money. She, more than most, should have realized how simple it was to ease one’s way over hurdles when one was sitting on a pile of kale.

By ten o’clock, she was in one of the finer cars that Agnes had left her, with Leonard at the wheel of course. Appearance mattered more than anything this morning.

The New York First Bank had been established by some Todd family scion almost eighty years ago. The amusing, and very hush-hush tidbit was that it hadn’t started in New York, and it certainly wasn’t the first bank in the state. Still, it was one of the largest and most distinguished. There were rumors that the name would soon need to change to reflect its new status as it expanded into multiple states along the Eastern Coast, and eventually on to new horizons across the country and perhaps the world.

The interior of the bank was the sort of grand affair that gave prospective clients all the proper assurances that the men behind the scenes were flush with money. Every surface was marble or granite, perhaps even a tasteful touch of gold here and there. It also had the intended effect of making sure the average middle-income commoner knew this wasn’t the bank for them.

Fortunately, Penelope had five million reasons for being a priority as a potential client, even for a last-minute appointment.

She wasn’t surprised to see it was David Todd himself who came out to warmly greet her. The Todd family knew which of them would be their most successful ambassador, and he was the one to whom she had been closest.

“Miss Banks,” he greeted with a gracious smile, not taking any chances on being overly familiar with her.

“Oh David, you know it’s always been Pen,” she said with a pleasant titter as he took her hand.

“Of course, Pen,” he said with a bonhomie laugh. “It’s so good to see you again.”

“After so many years,” she couldn’t help but point out. None of the Todds had offered so much as a nod of acknowledgment after Pen had been cut off by her father. In fact, they had gone out of their way to side with Clifford in the hopes of securing business with the admittedly influential Stokes family.

“It has been a while. But you seem to have done well for yourself.”

“Which is what brings me here,” Penelope said, forcing herself to be gracious and polite, and most importantly, tactful. She wanted to make sure David saw her as an acquaintance as well as a client.

“Yes, of course,” David said, his eyes lighting up with dollar signs. “You wish to open an account.”

“I’m considering it,” she hedged so there would be a reason to have an extended conversation.

“Let’s go to my office where we can speak privately,” he said, which was exactly what she’d been hoping for.

Penelope didn’t feel at all guilty about this little bit of subterfuge, at least not this part of it.

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