CHAPTER 2Aurelia #2
That old familiar feeling of guilt ripped through her for being so selfishly lost in her feelings.
“It’s been a rough few weeks, Selene. We’re long overdue for a girl’s night out,” Aurelia suggested compassionately.
Selene smiled brightly and agreed. “I don’t remember the last time we had one of those. Text me later, and we can figure out the details.” They both glanced over and saw that Charles was heading toward them, manila folder in hand.
A small, satisfied smile crept onto Selene’s face, her hands smoothing out imaginary wrinkles in her blazer as she whispered, “I bet Charles wants to meet with me after hearing what Eleanor said in her video,” her eyes tracking his every move as he approached.
Aurelia didn’t have time to respond before Charles reached them. “That was quite a bit for the staff to process. How are you two doing?”
Despite his role as Eleanor's attorney, she always liked him. Charles gave off the same warm and comforting vibe that Eleanor did—what she imagined having a grandfather would be like. She managed to give a small smile. “Thanks, we—”
“I am humbled by Eleanor's generosity,” Selene interrupted. “Of course, my focus is still on upholding my duties as Chief of Staff. I must remain steadfast to keep a strong level of continuity with our employees during this transition.”
Face impassive, he carefully assessed Selene, and Charles slowly nodded. “Good…I’m glad to hear that. I’d like to begin scheduling employment agreement meetings today. Selene, if I give you a list of names, can you share the work schedules with Aurelia?”
“Absolutely! I can start on that now if you have it,” she enthusiastically replied.
“Excellent,” Charles said as he pulled a sheet of paper from his manila folder and handed it to Selene. Then he turned to face Aurelia. “If now’s a good time, I’d like to discuss a few things with you in Eleanor’s study.”
Aurelia could have sworn Selene’s smile faltered briefly before quickly regaining composure. She shrugged it off and said, “I’ll catch up with you later, I promise.”
Selene simply nodded, arms crossed, as Aurelia followed Charles out.
Charles led Aurelia into Eleanor’s private study. He was dressed down in jeans and a lightweight button-down shirt, a stark contrast to the suits he normally wore. After closing the doors for privacy, he gestured for her to sit.
As Charles organized his papers, Aurelia silently took in the ivory room she used to love. It felt dimmer without Eleanor in it.
It was a majestic, sun-drenched room with walls adorned with highly collectible artwork.
A large floor-to-ceiling window with a glass door framed the background of the stately hardwood desk.
Charles sat in the plush, caramel leather executive chair behind the desk, while Aurelia chose one of the two cream-colored armchairs opposite the desk.
The complimentary towering shelves were filled with both antique leather-bound tomes and more contemporary literature, with a few carefully placed but no less exquisite vases and accessories interspersed amongst them.
The gilded moldings framed the textured ivory brocade wallpaper, allowing it to absorb and reflect the natural light across the space.
“How have you really been doing these past few days? Especially since the farewell party turned out to be a bigger event than we all predicted.” His somber eyes searched her face.
Aurelia snorted. “Understatement of the year,” she said. “I now know way more about Bertrand’s kinks than anyone should. I can't unhear what was said.”
Relieved, Charles shared in her amusement. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he sat back in the chair and laughed. Then he instantly sobered and said, “Well, it’s about to get more interesting…for you at least. Hopefully, the good kind.”
“I’m so nervous right now, there’s a very good chance I’ll throw up everywhere…you’ve always been so great to me, so I’m just letting you know so you can get out of the way.”
With a small smile, he turned his laptop screen toward her. “Let’s see how you feel after you watch this message that Eleanor recorded for your eyes only.”
That got Aurelia’s attention. She straightened. “She left me a personalized message? Why didn’t you lead with that?”
Charles chuckled and pressed play. For the third time in less than twenty-four hours, Eleanor was sitting on that chaise. She couldn’t help but feel haunted by a ghost, a notion that would have delighted Eleanor.
This version of her was relaxed and far less cantankerous, which helped calm some of Aurelia’s nerves.
That relief was short-lived, however, as she took in the impish glint in Eleanor's eyes and her wide grin. As much as she loved Eleanor, the woman was also as predictable as a squirrel after an espresso—erratic, unexpected, and very likely to cause a major traffic accident.
“Well, my darling Aurelia, if you’re watching this, then let’s pray I’m in heaven…
but who knows with some of the crap I've pulled. I hope you’ve spent the last few days woefully crying over me—enough to be flattering—but not too much.
Wallowing isn’t a good look on your beautiful face. ” Aurelia let out an exasperated sigh.
“I’m finally free of my cancer, the constant pain I felt throughout my body, that dirty slug Bertrand and old hag Gladys, and those dreadful kale smoothies you insisted were ‘good for me.’ So, dry your tears and crack a smile.
I’m, finally, utterly pain-free, and frankly, still looking fabulous in the afterlife. ”
She paused, her expression softening and growing more subdued. Aurelia's instincts were on high alert now, only having seen this version of Eleanor only a handful of times.
“You know, my dear, I’ve had an exceptionally long life…long enough to know what I’m doing most of the time, and yet— somehow, I went through more personal assistants than I did IRS audits. And let me tell you, that’s saying something. But the truth is, I never really needed a personal assistant.”
Aurelia’s breath caught.
“I wasn’t looking for someone to file my papers or fluff my pillows—I had plenty of people already working for me that could have done that. Hell, Selene could have done that…what I was looking for was you .”
Knowing how Aurelia would react, Eleanor reaffirmed her statement.
“Yes, you . Out of all the people I could have picked, you are the one I wish to carry my legacy forward. And if you’re wondering why, well…
it's simple. You’re family. Not by blood, but you’ve been the daughter I never had, the light in my otherwise delightfully chaotic life…
and you’re so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. ”
Her tone turned serious, her gaze piercing through the screen as she sat forward, leaning closer to the camera, her irises now a moving entity unto themselves, swirling as if another world existed in their depths—a storm raging within them.
Aurelia’s eyes shot to Charles, the silent question churning in her mind and written on her face: I’m her heir?
When he slowly and hesitantly nodded, she almost fell out of her chair in disbelief. Aurelia's heart was pounding so hard against her chest that it risked bursting through it.
“…I know about Kyle, that sorry excuse for a man you dated.”
That name made Aurelia freeze.
“No, it’s the one thing you never told me—you never needed to. But those bruises on your face that you tried to mask with artfully applied cosmetics, or the scratches on your arms you tried to cover up with long sleeves during unseasonably warm weather, told me more than enough.”
Aurelia unconsciously rubbed her arms as an uncontrollable shiver wracked her body.
“You’ve been walking around a shell of yourself ever since.
It reminded me of when you were living in your car when we first met, and frankly, I do not approve.
That man is gone from your life. You’re not just a survivor; you’re a warrior capable of forging her destiny and more.
..and you have far too much life ahead of you to let anyone dim your sparkle. ”
Eleanor tilted her head, her tone conspiratorial.
“Now, let me give you one last piece of advice from an old woman who has seen it all: people aren’t always what they seem.
Some friends will prove to be foes, while others, who may be prickly at first, are the ones who will stand by you through thick and thin.
Keep your eyes open, your ears sharp, and always trust that sixth sense. It’s rarely wrong.”
Sitting back with a proud smile, Eleanor sipped some tea. Aurelia frowned at the cryptic message. What did she mean by that?
“This inheritance isn’t simply money, my darling.
It’s a gift and a foundation to help you become the fierce, unstoppable woman I always knew you were meant to be.
Everything you’ve endured, every hardship, is a thread in the tapestry of who you are today.
Embrace it. Own it. And don’t just live— thrive . ”
More memories, some darker than others, slipped into her mind unbidden as she stayed rooted to her chair.
“Oh, and by the way…” Eleanor said casually— too casually —as she picked at her fingernails , “…you no longer owe me a penny for that condemned shack that you transformed into such a lovely home on the lagoon. It’s yours, free and clear.
Title, debts, everything—all taken care of. You’re starting with a clean slate.”
Aurelia’s jaw dropped.
“Now, before you get too excited, there are stipulations. First, you’ll need to take over Starhaven Manor and at least continue holding the annual events my family has hosted for decades.
Don’t roll your eyes! They aren’t traditions; they are legacies .
The property and the money are yours. Spend it however you want.
Promise me you’ll do something good with it—something that would make yourself proud. ”
Aurelia didn’t know how to handle all this information.
“Oh, speaking of Charles, he should’ve told everyone about their staff bonuses by now. Lovely man, isn’t he? But for you, my dear, there’s an extra surprise: two million dollars upfront. Right now. However, the rest of your inheritance is in a trust with one final teensy condition to access it.”
Well, that doesn't sound too bad , Aurelia thought to herself.
“You can’t disclose to anyone that you’re my heir until after you’ve been married for a little while, unless legally required, and only with the approval of Charles, our trusted attorney.
You’ll have a challenging time telling who your real friends are when all the leeches come out of the woodwork, so it's best to keep it quiet.”
Married? Aurelia thought to herself, confused by Eleanor's words. I'm not even close to being married.
Eleanor's eyes twinkled with amusement as she paused dramatically. This was it; this was the moment that would explain why Aurelia had been nervous all day. She was undeniably confident about it.
“You need to get married. Yes, you heard me. Married . But don’t worry, I’ve already arranged everything.
I’ve hired the most sought-after matchmaker in the world, who happens to be right here in Joia City—one hundred percent success rate, no less.
She’ll find you someone wonderful to help shoulder life’s burdens.
Now, there’s no requirement to stay married forever—this isn’t a fairy tale—but you do need to put in an honest effort.
Charles will be the judge of that. Oh, don’t even think about trying to outsmart him—he’s tougher than I ever was. ”
There it was—the panic-inducing moment she had been anxiously waiting for.
A matchmaker?!
Eleanor chuckled softly, leaning back with a satisfied smile.
“My darling, this isn’t merely about finding someone to love; it’s about opening yourself up to the possibilities of life again.
You’ve been through so much, but there is joy ahead— real joy.
Your husband, god bless his soul, is going to have a heart attack when he finds out what a knockout you are and smart to boot. ”
Aurelia couldn’t breathe or stave off the waterfall of tears threatening to be unleashed.
Eleanor ended with a heartfelt goodbye. “I love you. I trust you. I believe in you. Now go flaunt your assets. I’ll be watching…and judging. Always judging.”
The screen went dark.
Aurelia sat frozen as she tried to process everything that was just thrown at her, the weight of it all crushing her.
Then, overwhelmed, she bolted for the door…only to crash straight into Selene.