Chapter3
1190 Words
Hidden Legacy
Just then, Damien’s phone rang, and he fumbled to reach for his phone in his pocket. It was his mother- Clara Whitlock. Damien didn't wait more seconds to pick up the call.
“My son, how have you been?” Clara's low voice came through the phone.
“I'm good. Hope you are doing good too?” Damien’s voice was faint as
he sensed the unease in his mother's tone.
“We need to talk; I found the inheritance file; you couldn't believe where it was kept,” Clara said.
“How come you found it? Where did you get it?”
“Let's leave that for now. Can we see? Meet me at the new restaurant, close to the tourist centre. This must remain between us until it's official. No one should know about it yet, especially this greedy man I called my brother,” Clara said.
“I'll be there shortly,” Damien responded and headed to the venue.
Meanwhile, Manson, who is Craven's son, was set for work. As he passed by Clara's room, he heard the word “file”. It was at that point that a sudden spark of realization appeared to him as if recalling a long-forgotten memory.
He then stood still by the door, eavesdropping on the phone conversation. He got the venue and promised to be there to get the full information.
His father had always informed him and his younger sister- Lila to be watchful, making sure they note every suspicious step of Clara concerning the Whitlock Automobiles.
The most populous automobile company in the whole of Astora Skyline. Of the three companies Lord Arthur Whitlock left before his sudden death, this is the only one that generated over $ 30,000,000 every six months. Although others generate up to $ 2,000,000 and above, the automobile industry beats all others.
It was an hour and a half journey from where Damien was to get to the meeting place, whereas it was just twenty-five minutes for Clara. At the new restaurant spot, Clara was already seated, waiting patiently to see her only child again.
As she sighted Damien from the transparent glass of the eatery, she rushed towards him and they both hugged tightly for several minutes as if their lives depended on it.
Meanwhile, Manson was already at the venue peering around the corner to get the full gist of the matter. On sighting his aunt and cousin, he placed a call through his father without wasting time.
“Hi, could you rush down here? I'll send you the address shortly. Something serious is about to happen.” Manson said quickly.
“What is the problem? Ok, I'll be there soon, let me have the address.” Craven replied.
Still, Clara and Damien kept exchanging pleasantries, looking at each other's eyeballs.
They both get seated to discuss. They were so excited to see themselves again after they departed for months.
“My son, I found this inside Lord Arthur's old big book while cleaning his room. That day, I just decided that no maid would clean it up and that I was going to do it myself, so I found this.” Clara said, her voice filled with happiness and reassurance.
She dropped the spiral-banded copy of a bulk of printed papers on the table. Boldly written on it is; “How my properties should be distributed.”
Damien took it and flipped through the papers page by page.
“Is this real? I can't believe it.” Damien said surprisingly.
“Yes, yes my son, the Whitlock's Automobile Industry was willed to you.” Tears of joy rolled down Clara's cheeks as she spoke.
“But why didn't Grandpa get a lawyer while he was alive? A wealthy person as such. But why?” Damien asked curiously.
“He used to say if at all he would get one, it is going to be for a crucial reason.”
“But this is crucial enough.”
“Bye gone is bye gone. It is the both of us that need to get a lawyer now.” Clara said.
“And we need to do it quickly before your selfish brother knows about it,” Damien responded, his voice laced with annoyance.
“Any other copy of this? Maybe a photocopy?” Damien asked.
“Not yet. This is the only original copy with me.” She replied
“Let's get the photocopies done somewhere around.”
They both stood as they kept chatting towards the exit door. When Clara sighted Craven's Bugatti in the car park, winding up and preparing to alight, the smile on her face froze. She quickly collected the papers from Damien, trying to hide them in her bag.
That was when Manson came out from where he was hidden. At that juncture, Clara's instinct told her something was wrong and it was likely they knew about the file found.
“What's that you're hiding Aunt?” Manson asked as he walked closer to Clara, trying to drag the papers with her.
“How rude can you be? What business do you have with that?” Damien said to Manson angrily
“And does he talk to you?” Craven said, his voice harsh. Walking towards Damien as if wanting to fight him.
As Clara watched his brother's actions, she moved closer to her son to defend him. Not minding the papers anymore. Immediately, Manson pulled the copy from her opened bag and retreated farther away.
He glanced through the pages of the book and saw through what was there.
“Impossible!” Manson shouted.
His loud voice attracted others. Seeing him scan through the documents, Clara ran towards him and dragged the papers with him, but Manson held it firmly and insisted not to leave it.
As the dragging continued, the papers got torn, and Manson used the opportunity to tear the rest into pieces.
“What?” Clara screamed. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Her head bangs. It was like a drum was beaten deep inside her skull. Her teeth chattered, and her knees trembled. Suddenly, she collapsed. Before she could hit the ground, Damien caught her in mid-air.
He laid her on the floor and rushed towards Manson, dashing him with a series of heavy blows on his face till he started bleeding. Craven ran to the scene to save his son.
“How dare you?” Craven growled at Damien.
It was then Damien left him. Not because he was timid, but because he has beaten Manson enough and most especially, he has to save the life of his mother. Craven carried his son in his car and drove away.
Then, Damien went back to his mother lying helplessly on the ground, shaking her for recovery. He reached out for his cell phone to call one of his chauffeurs.
“Come with one of the cars to the new restaurant spot now, if you don't want to lose your job.” He ordered one of his drivers
“Yes Si…”
“Now!” Damien shouted and hung up his call.
- Writer
