Page 6 of The Unraveling of Julia

“I’m delighted to hear from you. I have been trying to reach you, Ms. Pritzker.”

Miz Preet-zker?Julia thought Lombardi’s accent sounded Italian, but she couldn’t tell if it was real or fake. “Are you really a lawyer?”

“Of course, yes. I am one of the most well-respected estates attorneys in Milan. I wrote to inform you that you are a beneficiary of my client Emilia Rossi.”

Yeah, right.“So this is real?”

“Certainly. Why not?”

“I don’t know Emilia Rossi.”

“Pardon me?”

“I have no idea who Emilia Rossi is. I don’t know anyone by that name.”

Lombardi fell silent a moment. “She has bequeathed you a very considerable sum, a villa, and property.”

“She can’t have, I don’t know her.”

“A distant relative, perhaps?”

“No, it must be a mistake.”

“Ms. Pritzker, there is no mistake.”

This has to be a scam.“What do you want from me? Money?”

“No. On the contrary, I’m obligated to sendyoua distribution after probate is complete.”

This guy is good.“How do I know you’re who you say you are?”

“Ms. Pritzker.” Lombardi’s tone stiffened. “If you wish to review my bona fides, please consult our website, Lombardi & Palumbo, Studio Legale.”

Julia typed it into her laptop, and a website popped onto the screen, showing two older lawyers in a modern office in front of a cityscape. Still, she made websites for a living, so she knew it could be fake. “This doesn’t prove anything.”

“Ms. Pritzker, I assure you, I am genuine.”

“But I don’t know any Emilia Rossi.”

“There must be someone in your family you can ask.”

Julia blinked. “My parents have passed, and I’m adopted. I don’t know anything about my biological family.”

“So you cannot say you arenotrelated to Emilia Rossi.”

“Well, no,” Julia said, realizing it was theoretically possible. “But in Italy? How could I be related to someone in Italy?”

“In any event, I intend to see that distribution is made to you as soon as possible. Probate will take several months under Italian law, due to taxation and such. In total, your bequest amounts to three million, two hundred thousand euros.”

Wait, what?Julia gasped, stunned. She must’ve heard him wrong.“How much?”

“Your bequest is three million two hundred thousand euros, which is roughly the same in dollars.”

“Are youserious?” Julia’s mouth dropped open. Her mind reeled. It was like she won the lottery if it was true, which it couldn’t be. “That’s impossible!”

“Ms. Pritzker, I have a meeting and I cannot be late.” Lombardi cleared his throat. “You may take possession of the villa immediately, and I will draft the necessary papers. If you wish, I will have my assistant fly you to Milan and book you at a hotel near my office. You could sign the papers, then travel to your property. I could arrange a car.”

Oh my God.Julia’s head was spinning. “Where’s the house again?”

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