#margo woodstone

[trevorsimp]

"Over My Dead Body" — Part Four

Pairing: ghost!original female character x Trevor Lefkowitz

Summary: Sam meets with a lawyer on Margo's behalf.

Notes: You can read this on AO3. 1.3k words.

Tags: Slow burn, possible unrequited love

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Woodstone B&B was at full vacancy when a sharp-dressed stranger strutted in wielding a polished leather briefcase. Her stilettos clicked on the foyer. Sam looked up from her computer.

“Welcome to the Woodstone B&B,” she said, “I’m sorry, but we are at full vacancy this weekend.”

The stranger looked around. She said, “I am not looking for a room. I’m Nichole Stern. I’m here to meet with Mrs. Arondekar about her deceased cousin.”

“Oh, that’s me. You want to talk about Margo?”

“Yes, that’s why you emailed me, isn’t it?”

Sam glanced behind the stranger at Trevor and Margo, watching from the door to the kitchen. The two of them clasped their hands together.

“Please, Sam!”

“Sam, please, it took so long to type out those emails!”

Sam looked back at the stranger, “Let’s talk about this in the library. Can I get you anything to drink? Water? Coffee?”

“I’ll have a coffee, cream, and sugar,” Nichole said.

Sam went to the kitchen, ushering Trevor and Sam in there with her. Sam started a pot of coffee and turned to the two newest ghosts.

“Explain.”

“Sam, they’re talking so badly about me on the news,” Margo said, “I want to send a cease and desist to Aisley, and I want to sue the news. They’re dragging my name through the mud!”

Hetty, who had been watching Jay, stepped forward and said, “Samantha, I insist that you assist Margaret in saving the Woodstone name!”

“It’s just Margo.”

“How do you expect us to pay for a lawsuit?” Sam asked.

Jay turned, “Which of the ghosts is trying to sue someone?”

“Trevor helped Margo email a lawyer to sue the news, and the lawyer is here now!”

“I will pay the lawyer from my checking account,” Margo said, “I’ve already put up the money for her consultation.”

Sam sighed, she crossed her arms and relayed what Margo said to Jay. Jay shrugged.

“The lawyer’s here and paid for,” he said.

“Fine. Margo, come with me, and I’ll talk to the lawyer.”

“I’ll come too,” Trevor said.

“And I, as well, this is my family name. It is within my interest to oversee this matter,” Hetty said.

“Hetty, you can come, but not Trevor.”

Trevor groaned and slumped down into a chair at the kitchen table.

The three Woodstone ladies made their way to the library. Sam set two hot coffees on the table between her and the lawyer. Margo and Hetty stood behind Sam.

“Okay, where should we start?”

Nichole sipped the coffee and opened a legal pad. She crossed her leg.

“Well, Mrs. Arondekar, you gave me very little to work within our emails,” she said, “You’ve asked me to sue the news, in general? Or one specific network. That will be difficult, expensive, and likely unsuccessful. You also mentioned a friend of the deceased that you wish to prevent from speaking in public about the deceased?”

“Aisley Trendle,” Margo said, “She was my friend from college, and she was doing interviews with the news and telling them stuff that makes me look stupid!”

Sam nodded and said, “Aisley Trendle. She was Margo’s friend from college. I’m afraid that she is making Margo look bad in the interviews she is doing on the news.”

Nichole wrote the name in her notebook. She said, “I looked into Margo some before I came. Correct me if I’m wrong. She was just 18 when she got involved with Mr. Silverman. She dropped out of college at 19 and was with him at every public appearance of his from then until both of their deaths.”

“Objectively true,” Margo nodded.

“That’s correct,” Sam said.

“Okay,” Nichole continued, “Did Margo ever introduce you or any other family members to Mr. Silverman?”

“No,” Sam said, “She would come to visit, sometimes have a meal with my husband and I in the city before we moved out here, but never with him.”

“How would you characterize the nature of the relationship?”

Sam hesitated.

“Why does the public need to know?”

“Well I wonder why the news needs to report on the intimate details of Margo’s life, but I’m sure you need to know so you can represent me.”

“I’m representing Margo Woodstone’s estate, not you, but yes.”

Margo sighed and she paced behind Sam.

“Hugh and I had an arrangement from the third date,” she said, “He would supply me with an apartment in Soho, a car, a new phone, a credit card… everything I needed if I would drop out of school, go to dinner and spend the night with him once a week, appear with him in public, and did as he asked of me.”

“After they met, Margo agreed to drop out of school and be Hugh’s girlfriend in exchange for a nice apartment, a car, and other luxury items,” Sam related to Nichole.

“That continued on for a few years,” Margo said, “Every few months he would get me a new car. Every other week he would give me nice jewelry. Eventually, he wanted to get away from the city. He asked me to move into his home in the Hamptons, so I went.”

“He gave her a lot of expensive gifts and eventually moved her to the Hamptons full time,” Sam said.

“Living in the Hamptons was boring,” Margo said, “I missed the city, seeing my friends, walking and shopping, going out to eat. We just sat around all the time, I spent a lot of time at the pool, especially when the pool boy was there. I had to spend a lot more time giving Hugh attention… he was demanding with so much downtime. Then… he died.”

“She didn’t really like life away from the city and spending all of her time with Hugh at the end of his life.”

“I see,” Nichole said. She sipped her coffee and took a long pause as she looked over her notes, “I reviewed the news clips you referred to in your emails. Based off what you told me and what I saw, I am afraid you don’t have any case. First, we cannot sue the news, news outlets have the freedom of press and we can’t sue them for reporting on true facts. I’m also afraid we won’t be able send Miss Trendle a cease and desist or sue her for libel or slander. The statements she made have been confirmed by you to be true.”

“What?” Margo cried, “Sam, do something!”

“Surely there is something you could do?”

“I’m afraid not Mrs. Arondekar,” Nichole said while shaking her head, “My ethics code prevents me from taking frivolous claims and I am afraid this would be one such case. Now, I understand that it is hard to lose a loved one, especially so young and so close to the holidays. I’m sorry that you are dealing with the world learning that she was a sex worker, truly.”

Sam nodded, “Thank you for coming out to discuss this. Can I get you anything before you leave?”

Sam and Nichole left the room.

Margo began to leave after, but Hetty stepped in her way

“Margaret—”

“Margo.”

“—I am completely ashamed of your behavior and so should you! I won’t even begin to admonish you for going to college, but to sully yourself for a man’s money. Did you even ever consider marrying him?”

“Well yeah,” Margo said, “But I didn’t want to be stuck if I needed to leave quickly!”

“You ought to be begging me for forgiveness, how could you show your face in this house after all you did? Crawling back to your family after the Silvermans threw you to the street. As they should have, might I add!”

“Hetty, that day really sucked for me…”

“Rightfully so. You thought your good fortunes from laying on your back would carry you through life, didn’t you? Well you died an unwed harlot, taking the Woodstone name down with you to your grave.”

“At least I didn’t marry my cousin for fortunes!” Margo snapped as she pushed past Hetty and stormed up the stairs.

xxx

Masterlist

[trevorsimp]

"Over My Dead Body" — Part Three

Pairing: ghost!original female character x Trevor Lefkowitz

Summary: Margo learns about TV time. The ghosts find out why Margo dated an elderly man.

Notes: You can read this on AO3. 2.3k words. New uploads on Sundays. Sorry, this one is late! I got home from my trip later than I expected and was suffering a heavy hangover. I am all good now though!!

Tags: Slow burn, possible unrequited love

Part One

Part Two

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Jay’s cooked an aromatic breakfast, but Margo hovered over the brewing coffee, hoping the caffeine would pass through the veil of death and give her energy after an all-nighter. Sam sat working on her secret list, still covering it whenever Margo looked over. Margo grew tired of hunching over the table. She leaned back on a counter and watched as the others went about their morning routine. Pete joined her in her isolated corner.

“Hey, Margo,” he said in a soothing tone of voice, “I doubt Trevor has given you a little schedule of our events, but every day, we have a different activity planned to pass the time of our afterlife. Food Club, the weekly talk, talent show… that sort of stuff, we take turns each week. But now, with Sam and Jay here, we get TV time each night, and everyone gets their turn to pick what we watch! It is used a bit as a bartering piece, but tonight is my TV time, and I would like to give you my TV time tonight, just as a little show of condolences and a welcome gift.”

Margo stared at Pete, “I died, so I get to choose what we watch on TV tonight?”

“Yeah!” Pete said, then grimaced when he saw the look on your face, “Oh, sorry. I know it’s pretty grim, but it is just about the only thing I can offer. Unless you want a back rub?”

“Excuse me?” Margo’s voice raised an octave.

“Oh, honey, back rubs are like gold for us,” Alberta said, “That was the original currency; we still use it, but it isn’t as valuable as TV time.”

Margo raised her hands, “Ok, I don’t want anyone touching me. Especially not any men. I’m sure all of you are older than Hugh was.”

“This guy was your boyfriend yesterday morning. How old was he?” Alberta asked.

“86,” Sam said.

Jay turned, “86 what?”

“Oh, nothing, Jay,” Sam said, “Alberta was asking Margo how old Hugh was.”

“How did he die?” Isaac asked, “Old age?”

Margo shuddered, “Yeah. Old age. He had a heart attack.”

“Wow, did you really not like him?” Alberta asked.

“I’m done talking about Hugh right now, okay?” Margo announced, “I’ll take the TV time. I didn’t realize questioning it would lead to an interrogation. Thank you, Pete, for the TV time.”

The group backed off from Margo and turned their attention to Isaac, who had managed to stumble through Jay. A putrid stench fill the room. Margo gasped and covered her mouth and nose. 

Her roommate leaned to her to whisper: “Isaac died of dysentery. Every time he passes through a living, it smells like this.”

“Okay, everyone can hear you, Trevor,” Isaac said, “We can all hear you.”

“Hey, I was just explaining to Margo the basics of what goes on around here.”

“Isn’t dysentery from the Oregon Trail game?” Margo asked.

“Margo, did you really play that?” Sam asked.

“What is Oregon Trail?” Thorfinn asked.

“That was a fun game based on the settlers journeying out to Oregon before it was a state!” Pete said.

“And game make people get sick like Isaac?”

“No, big guy, it was a condition your character in the game could contract, like Isaac.”

“Okay, okay, I got dysentery, let’s move on.”

“I played it on my DS when I was a kid,” Margo told Sam.

“Oh, that’s right,” she said, “I remember when I was babysitting you, and you wouldn’t take your nose out of your DS”

“Wow, Sam, you babysat Margo?” Alberta said, “No wonder you’re so good at managing us.”

xxx

After breakfast, Sam hosted a walk. Margo joined Hetty, Alberta, and Thorfinn to accompany Sam. The five of them strolled the trails on the land. Margo stayed a few paces behind the rest of the troupe. She got lost in thought as she considered what she could be doing if she were alive.

For one, she would be on this walk in her nice athleisure wear and sneakers. She’s just glad her slippers didn’t fall off her feet when she slipped and cracked her neck. What a stupid thing to have to be grateful for! She used to be grateful for where her good looks got her, for dining in high-end restaurants, for Hugh’s deep pockets, for her friends who would give her a night off from being with Hugh to remind her what people her age did… She would have had so much fun with them if she had lived. How much would they miss her? Who would go to her funeral? Who would remember her in her circles?

Margo jogged ahead to catch up with the rest.

“Sam, for my TV time tonight, I want to watch news coverage about me,” she said.

“What makes you think you’ll be on the news?” Alberta asked.

“Um, Hugh was like a really prominent figure and I was too.”

“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea, Margo,” Sam said, “It’s just so fresh, and the news isn’t always kind.”

“Margo is a Woodstone, and Woodstones are tough,” Hetty said, “We built the Hudson Valley. Margo shall not care for whatever a sniveling journalist has to say… no offense, Samantha.”

“Hetty is right. I don’t care what they have to say about me,” Margo crossed her arms, “I want to watch coverage of my death.”

The five stopped at a stream to listen to the peace of nature. The others closed their eyes and listened. Margo watched. The water flowed over and around the stones in the water, not stopping for what got in its way. She had once loved the sounds of nature, but now she couldn’t stand it. Here she was, forever stuck in the moment she died. The ache in her neck had not gone away in two days, and she would always be in a silk robe and nightgown. And the stream moved on as it would for all time. It, too, was stuck here forever. But it could change. A large rain could raise the water level; a drought would dry it out. The current would eat away at the banks and adjust its path. But Margo was stuck in her slippers.

“I’ll meet you guys back at the house,” she muttered before she turned and walked back.

xxx

In the late morning, Sam and Jay left to run a few errands. The ghosts were left to their own devices and milled around for a bit before Alberta used the Alexa to listen to jazz. Margo jumped up from the couch.

“How did you do that?” She asked, “I thought it couldn’t hear us?”

“It can’t hear you, but it can hear me. My ghost power is that people can hear me hum, and the Alexa can hear me talk.”

“Can you tell Alexa to turn on the news?”

Alberta crossed her arms, “I could, but Sam told us we weren’t supposed to watch it.”

Margo scoffed, “Sam isn’t here. And she said I couldn’t watch it at TV time. I’m pretty sure it isn’t TV time right now.”

“New girl, right,” Thorfinn said, “Was there, Sam did not say we could not watch news outside of TV time.”

“I don’t know, Sam said not to watch so we probably shouldn’t watch,” Pete said.

“I agree, it hurts finding out how the world really regarded you,” Isaac said.

Margo looked at Trevor and pleaded to him in her silent gaze.

“Guys, I think we should watch it,” Trevor said, “We have never been able to watch live coverage of our deaths. This is a new opportunity for us.”

“Okay, fine!” Alberta said, “Alexa, turn on the local news.”

“Turning on the local news.”

The TV switched on and turned to the news. An anchor sat with a headshot of Hugh projected on the screen, about ten years younger than he was when he died.

“Business mogul Hugh Silverman passed away earlier this week,” the anchor said, “Silverman was known for his vast success in women’s luxury jewelry. Doctors say he died in the morning after he suffered a heart attack. His young girlfriend, Margo Woodstone, called for an ambulance to his Hamptons house at 10 am. The ambulance arrived within fifteen minutes, but it was too late by then. Silverman was pronounced dead in his home at 10:18 am. He was 86.”

A photo of Margo replaced the one of Hugh.

“Margo Woodstone died the next day in her cousin’s home in the Hudson Valley. Details surrounding her death have not been released to the public. She was 26. The estate of both Silverman and Woodstone have declined to comment at this time.”

The ghosts remained silent as Margo stood watching.

“On the line, we have one of Margo Woodstone’s friends here to give her account of the death. Aisley Tucker, thank you for coming on,” the anchor said. The screen split and showed a video stream of Aisley.

“Hiii,” Aisley said, “Margo and I go way back.”

“Aisley? That’s who they chose?” Margo scoffed.

“What was your relationship to Miss Woodstone?”

“Margo and I met during the first semester at NYU,” Aisley said, “We lived in the same dorm hall. I introduced her to my friend who introduced Margo to Hugh.”

“And how did your mutual friend know Mr. Silverman?”

“Oh, her boyfriend was friends with Hugh. They did business together. But I can’t say their names because they’re not public with their relationship.”

Margo covered her face.

“Oh my god,” she groaned, “Aisley is the dumbest girl I knew, she’s going to fuck this up so bad.”

“I see. Now, did you have the chance to talk to Miss Woodstone after Mr. Silverman’s death?”

“No, but one of her other friends did,” Aisley said, “And she told another friend who told me that Margo was not in Hugh’s will and his kids kicked her out of his house, which is why she went upstate.”

“Did she expect to be in his will?”

“I mean, obviously,” Aisley said, “Hugh gave her a lot over the last eight years, so we all thought he was going to leave her a lot. I think she probably would have been fine off of what she did have from what he had given her already because, like that was a gift to her. I don’t think his family could make her give it all back. It’s not cool to make her leave the day he died, too. I mean, she literally lived in his house for like six years, and they just kicked her out as if it wasn’t her house, too. She worked really hard to get him to let her live there. They should have at least respected that, I think. I mean, they didn’t even work for him to give them his money like she did.”

Margo shook her head, “Turn it off!”

Alberta turned off the TV. For a moment, the ghosts sat in an awkward silence before Margo sat down.

“What work did you do to get him to let you live with him?” Sas asked.

“She was a harlot, Sasappis,” Hetty said. She looked at Margo with scorn, “Have you any shame for dishonoring our family’s name? You went philandering to that old man for his money when you had your own family’s fortune?”

“Hetty, your money didn’t last for me to use,” Margo snapped, “You can thank Cousin David for spending all of it on his strippers and Aunt Sophia for all of her medicine. I only had enough to pay the dorm fees at NYU.”

“Oh, Hetty, the Woodstones have no more gold and are resorting to gold digging!” Alberta laughed.

“I don’t get it. What was the nature of the relationship?” Pete asked.

“A sugar baby, right?” Trevor asked. 

Margo nodded and kept her eyes low.

“Guys, I’ve seen a lot of guys with sugar babies,” Trevor said, “It’s a rite of passage in our circles. It’s a symbiotic relationship, okay? Let me explain. Look at Margo. Take it in for a minute.” Trevor pointed at her; the ghosts looked her over. “Margo is a gorgeous woman; she has a killer bod’, beautiful hair, and glowing skin, and even without makeup on, her face is flawless. She’s a perfect 10. Any guy would be lucky to have her, but there’s a catch, alright? Margo has high ambitions; she wanted to be an actress, but without money or a respected family name,” He looked at Hetty, “Modern respect—she has little to no shot to break into that industry despite her talent and looks. So she used her looks to achieve her goals by taking an alternative route; she found a rich man who could fund her dreams and get her to where she wanted to be. Hugh, at the end of his life, gets the attention and caring touch of a beautiful woman in her early 20s. He gets to show her off at social gatherings and parties while using his money to have fun and get a little action while he’s at it. He gives her gifts, a credit card, a sports car, and she acts as his girlfriend.”

“Wow, man, you didn’t need to rely on a man to get all that money. You could have tried robbing a bank,” Flower said.

“I didn’t want the entire world to know the private details of my life like that! I can’t believe Aisley would agree to an interview.”

Margo paced the room.

“Sue Dane reporter and dumb friend,” Thorfinn said, “Attorney send cease and desist for you and people stop talking about your predatory relationship on old man.”

Margo looked at Trevor. Trevor shook his head.

“Sam and Jay have been closing the laptops when they aren’t using them,” he said, “and the iPad is in a drawer. I can’t open a drawer.”

“Sam hasn’t moved my phone,” she said, “It’s in our room on the charger still. We can email an attorney from my phone. I should still have plenty of money to pay the bills with.”

“Ok, it’s worth a shot,” Trevor said.

xxx

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