Mona POV

I woke up to find Ian sitting on the side of the bed with his head in his hands crying. I quickly got up and wrapped my arms around him. I kissed him on the side of the neck, telling him to let it out.

"Come here," I said pulling him back in the bed. I sat up and laid his head against my chest and rubbed his hair.

"Shh, everything will be fine. I got you," I said as he wrapped his arms around my waist. He held on to me until he eventually fell asleep.

I quickly showered and got dressed because I knew he needed me and I would be here to help ease the pain.

He finally woke up, showered and dressed. I had made a list of things we needed to do just in case something was missed. Today I felt his pain. When I lost my dad a part of my world was shattered. I held his hand as he drove us to the hospital.

When we pulled up Dr. Jennings was waiting on us.

"He's in the room. I will make the call when you are ready," he said grabbing Ian's shoulder. Ian walked in the room and closed the door.

~~~~~~~
Ian POV

I walked into the darkly lit room where there was silence all around. The grey walls seemed as if they were closing in on me. I walked over to his bed and stared into the face that resembled mine. I let out a deep breath and pulled up a chair.

I leaned over at the man I had despised for years. I was more angry on how he treated my mother than me.

"You son of a bitch, I hate you so much for the way you treated her. She loved you and you threw away that love. She waited for you and you did whatever you wanted to do. But I'll tell you what, I will never treat the woman I love the way you did my mother. You taught me that. Did you really even love her?"

I sat there staring at him as tears rolled down my face. I wanted to beat his ass for the years of misery he caused my mother. Deep down I loved him like a son should love his father but his ways and actions proved that the love that could have flourished had tarnished.

I pulled his hands and placed them on his chest. With my head down, I held on to his hands and prayed. I got up, took one last look and opened the door. I nodded at Dr. Jennings and walked over to Mona.

"I think you need to tell the employees that he died. I have contacted all of management so you can have an emergency meeting in the morning."

"Thank you. I need to make some phone calls so can we go back to the house?"

"Sure, let's go.

~~~

It was the day of the funeral and people came out in droves to pay their respects. Mona stood next to me as she had been my rock for the past few days. I was so lucky to have her.

We went back to the club my father was a member of and greeted people. He was well liked in the community and several of his employes came.

I looked down at my watch and looked at the time. I had a meeting with Everett Gorga, my father's attorney. There was some paperwork I needed to sign so I could get back to New Orleans.

"Thanks for meeting me here. Sorry about your father. He was a good man," the short burly man said.

"Thank you."

"I know you and your father weren't close but he did love you and was so very proud of you for making a name for yourself."

"Thank you."

Everett pulled out a binder from his briefcase with all my fathers accounts listed inside. I glance through it and found something that was strange. I looked at Everett and back to the binder.

"Why is C&R Shipping financials in here?"

"Your father owned it."

"Impossible. Marcus Marchand owns C&R Shipping. He was my first client."

"Marcus Marchand was your father ."

"I met Marcus Marchand in person and talked to him on the phone. We even played golf together."

"Marcus Marchand was a friend of your father. He played a role because he didn't want you to know he was investing in your company."

I was floored. My father had done something I thought he never would. When I first opened my investment company I needed a big investor and C&R came to me. I blow out a breath and took a seat.

"Everything your father owned is in that portfolio. You should go through it an familiarize yourself. If you decide to sell anything or have questions let me know. I have several clients that have already called."

"I will let you know thanks. I signed the papers and left. I was ready to leave as it had been a long day.

I walked out the office headed back to the club. I found Mona in a corner talking but she didn't look so good. She excused herself and walked quickly towards the restroom. I followed her in the ladies room. She was in a stall throwing up. I rushed in and grabbed her hair.

"I got you," I said holding her hair.

"Remind me not to eat cocktail food anymore. It is really gross," she said before going at it again.

"Come on let's go. Let me take care of you for a change."

"Well since you put it that way, let's go."

I said my goodbyes and we headed back to the house. I drew a bath for Mona but she insisted that I join her. We sat in silence awhile as I bathed her.

"Want to talk?" She asked leaning back on my chest.

"Nah, just a bit tired."

"Well I think the service was great. He would be proud of the way you handled everything. As much as you may not want to admit it, you're strong like him. I am truly blessed to have found a guy like you."

I leaned down and kissed the side of her forehead and wrapped my arms around her. "No I'm the lucky one. Thanks for sticking by me through all this."

"Come on it's been a long day. Let's go get some sleep and we can refresh in the morning."

We got out and dressed. Mona laid down and before her head hit the pillow she was out. I grabbed the thick binder that held all of my fathers accounts. I will give him credit that all his major outstanding debts had been paid so everything else belonged too me.

There were some of my mothers accounts where he owned little to nothing of value. I continued on looking at his small investments, insurance policies that were worth ten times of his small investments, C&R Shipping, and Durand Textiles and Shipping. He had quite a nest egg saved from both companies. I figured I didn't need the money so I would give it to our child.

I looked down and watched Mona turn on her side. She was actually glowing in her sleep. Motherhood agreed with her. We would have to make the dreaded talk about her working and for us to come out about our relationship. I smiled and went through the folder.

I shifted my glasses on my nose. In the back of the binder were his debts and how they were paid. They were all listed with balances and the amount that was paid. Something caught my attention.

Eric Winters Durand

Who was Eric Winters Durand? I didn't have any cousins with that name. Whoever it was he was getting ten thousand dollars a month. I tried looking through the binder to see if I could get more info but there was nothing.

I got up out the bed and grabbed my phone. I was going to call Everett. After the third ring it went to voicemail. I had two options either I could continue to pay and find out on my own who he was or I could stop payment and have him come to me.

I was my father's child so I looked at the time and I still had another hour before the bank closed. I dressed quickly left Mona a note and headed to the bank.

I was seen right away as the clerk escorted me to the desk. I gave her the necessary documents and we did a name switch. I asked about the account that had Eric Durand's name on it. I asked how long the account had been opened?

"A little over three years Mr. Harrington," the teller said printing out statements.

"Does this Eric make withdrawals?"

"Actually there are two accounts for Eric Durand. He has a primary account and also listed as a secondary account holder on the second account."

"My father was depositing money in two seperate accounts?"

"It seems like it." She pulled up additional information. "The second account gets around eight thousand dollars a month." She looked at me.

"Can you tell me whose name is on the primary account with Eric Durand?"

She scrolled down to the bottom of the screen. "Ah here it is, Zara Winters Durand."