Chapter 2 #2
Perhaps it was the way his hand trembled each time he picked up a pen as if he were deliberately trying to conceal something important from both of us, or how much hush he wrapped around Aaron’s assets and business.
Whatever it was, I had operated long enough in this world to know no one was above compromise. While Aaron was the brains and numbers guy, I made the plans, enforced them and did the hands-on job. I could smell a rat long before it knew it was a rat.
“Well?” I said when Charlton hesitated again, my impatience barely contained as he glanced nervously at the papers before him.
He cleared his throat, sending a polite smile my way.
“My apologies.” Turning his attention back to the paper before him, he read, “Linda, you were always your own woman, capable of carving your path. It doesn’t make this any easier, but I believe I would rest easy, basking in the knowledge that you are in good hands. ”
As he continued to read, his voice seemed to fade into the background.
I looked over at her, catching a glimpse of a single tear as it made its way down her cheek.
I fought the urge to reach for her hand or offer some sort of comfort because I knew any gesture from me, albeit with my intentions, would be met with anger, given everything that had happened recently.
Charlton looked up finally, his eyes drifting between the both of us. “Linda, according to your father’s wishes, you do get to keep his house, the winery and a couple of listed assets, being his only child.”
A wave of satisfaction and relief almost stretched through me before I caught the use of English. I was no stranger to legal jargon and the loopholes that came with it. The winery and a couple of listed assets?
The winery was something we had started together, a business started out of pure boredom. Aaron had an obsession with Italian wines and was convinced that replicating the tradition on local soil would be profitable for both of us if managed with care and love.
The first couple of years running a winery were rough, especially because neither of us had any idea of what we were doing.
A particular incident stood out, and if I remember correctly, it was in the first year. Aaron had patronized a local barrel merchant, purchasing tons of barrels that weren’t efficient for long-term wine storage, so everything eventually went bad.
But Aaron wasn’t in it for the money, so it wasn’t that much of a loss. By the next year, he had gained enough experience to run things smoothly.
He also needed more legitimate businesses to keep himself out of trouble, so it was a win-win situation.
As for the house, Linda had grown up there, and it just made sense.
A distant memory of when she was a lot younger came to mind.
She was always attached to her old man, and he fondly called her a tail.
She followed him everywhere he would allow, hiding behind him anytime I walked in, as though scared of me.
Although I didn’t think she’d live in it, I knew it was a nice addition to her portfolio, since the area’s value had more than doubled over the years.
What bothered me was the term a couple of listed assets. Aaron had far more wealth than could be summarized under such terms.
Charlton spoke again, and my suspicions were beyond confirmed.
“But Aaron left strict instructions that with this inheritance comes a condition. If for any reason you remain unmarried thirty days after the reading of this will, your inheritance will be divided amongst third parties of my choosing.”
Linda and I exchanged brief shocked glances, as neither of us had anticipated such an ultimatum lurking in Aaron's final wishes.
“Let me see that.” I said, reaching for the paper, but Charlton moved back, pulling it further away from my reach.
“Although strange, those were the wishes of Mr Montgomery,” He said, chuckling softly.
“But why would he want that? My father, of all people, knew me; he really did. This doesn’t seem like something he’d want.” Linda’s voice came through for the first time since the reading began.
“Your father was certified sane by two psychologists before he died. I believe he made this decision in the right frame of mind.”
As expected, Linda focused on the ultimatum, being artfully distracted by the weight so that she had no room to see the actual problem looming ahead.
Charlton shrugged. “He wasn’t compromised in any way when he made these changes to his will.”
Changes? Aaron never mentioned changing his will. If anything, he said he had made sure Linda would be well cared for if anything happened to him.
“When was this change made?” I asked, my brow arched questioningly.
I watched Charlton shift uncomfortably as he scratched his brow in thought. “A few weeks before..” he trailed off, as if death was such a heavy word to say.
“What happens if in a month, I’m still single ?” Linda’s voice was barely above a whisper. She seemed calmer now.
“Well, as I stated before, if that is the case, then his assets and businesses would be divided amongst a third party…” Charlton was still speaking when she interrupted him.
“Right, third party of whose choosing? My father?”
He cleared his throat. “No, mine actually.” When she scoffed and mumbled something inaudible, he continued, “Mr Montgomery, bless his soul, trusted I would make an unbiased decision.”
That won’t be a problem, Charlton. ” I cut in, picking my words carefully. “Miss Montgomery is a gorgeous woman, and I have no doubt she would have issues picking out a partner. In fact, I am certain she has a couple lining up for her.”
Linda sent me a glare before opening that witty mouth of hers to reply, but I didn’t give her the chance.
“What I’m more concerned about is the rest of his assets.
The summarization is a little ambiguous for the level of wealth Aaron attained, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think the use of such loose terms creates room for inconsistencies and loopholes. ”
Charlton practically shrunk into his seat while Linda sparked like an electric bulb in a winter storms
“And the cat is finally out of the bag. You’re here to see if there’s anything you can lay your hands on.” Her words were bitter and laced with venom, but I didn’t flinch. Better this than her figuring out the actual situation. “You’re twice as vile as I could’ve ever imagined.”
Again, I have no reply, my gaze glued to Charlton as he struggled to find the words.
“Miss Montgomery would like a detailed list of the assets, both registered and offshore, and a proper handover will be put in place before any documents as signed. Until that is done, the will is subject to scrutiny.”
“And who the fuck are you to give such orders? Suddenly, you picked your honor on the road you left it to come play savior?”
“Contrary to that, my dear, I had no honor casually discarded on the roadside and awaiting my return.” My words might’ve seemed directed to Linda, but my eyes never left Charlton. I wanted to make sure he understood everything I said, word for word.
“He won’t be getting anything out of this,” Linda said to him. “He might’ve disguised himself as a savior, but I can see through his bullshit.” She let a beat pass before finally adding. “I’ll rather die than see the day a drop of my father’s
Wealth finds its way into unworthy hands.
I forced back the smirk that tugged at the corners of my lips. Finally, some fire and less hurt and emotions. Something that looked more like the girl I knew. Fearless, bold, unwavering and a bit too forward for her own good.
There’s nothing I would’ve loved more than to tell her how we were on the same page about making sure Aaron’s wealth didn’t fall into unworthy hands but while in front of Charlton, it was important she thought I was after her father’s wealth and said more about how I abandoned them.
I’m hoping it sent a message of disunity between us, effectively making me a villain and taking her off the equation. The target would be off her back, and I would become the new threat, giving me the time and resources to focus on drawing out the bastard while she remained safe in her cocoon.
“You forget some of these assets are co-owned, and I’m merely here to make sure my shares are not compromised.” I added this for extra effect, to give Charlton a push in the direction I wanted, but Linda’s reaction was the golden cherry on top.
“Then you might as well kill me like you killed him because you wouldn’t touch a thing while I breathe.”
Amidst her outburst, I got the chance to notice something I would’ve completely missed. The way Charlton gripped his phone upside down, jutting out the mouthpiece, made it look like he was trying to capture every sound in the room. The fucking snake.
I broke my gaze with the phone before he had the chance to catch me staring. It was enough for him to start thinking in this direction than for him to know I figured him out than for him to know I had come to fight for her like I had originally intended.
This was safer and way more effective. If I took charge of the narrative, they all played into my hands.
Puppets in my grand scheme, and the earlier I got to the bottom of this, the faster I could return to my life and rid myself of the fierce overprotectiveness and cursed awareness she elicited from me .
“As you wish, princess.”