Bound by the will

CHAPTER 002

DEVON BLACKWELL

It felt like a movie. I had just gotten the news that he collapsed from coughing blood. He had leukemia and I wasn't aware. I rushed to the hospital only to meet his body lifeless. I let out a soft giggle at what looked like a movie.

“Big Peterson isn't one to just collapse after coughing with a few droplets of blood,” I thought to myself — but then reality dawned on me.

“Why didn't anyone tell me… he kept his sickness away from me.”

Everywhere went blurry and the voices around me were muffled as I made my way to my car. I just didn't want to believe it. I ignited my car’s engine and sped off.

Without wasting time, I ordered his cremation and received a jar of his ashes, and a funeral was held. After the funeral, all the workers and I were called to assemble by the lawyer to read Big Peterson’s will.

He had ordered me to marry his right-hand woman or else his wealth and inheritance would be donated.

“Couldn’t he be any less mean to me?” I thought to myself. I just sat on the couch, hopeless, as the lawyer finished his stuff and left. I didn't know what or how to feel, everything happened so fast. I managed to drag myself up from the couch and to my own base.

As I got there, I fell on the couch in my balcony. I wasn't tired, neither was I hungry — I just felt empty. I never got along with my grandfather, but I loved him as the only family I had close to me.

“How could you just leave me alone? Did you think I had grown enough to be by myself?” I cried out as tears rolled down my cheek. And then I heard his voice.

“I know you’re still very young… the same boy Claudia left in my care. I did not leave you. I gave you someone who will be by your side.”

He smiled, patting me with hands as warm as ever — and with that, I woke up. The night had fallen. I had been in the living room all day. I sighed as I dragged myself to my room, grabbed a bottle and a glass, and then everything faded.

***

A knock on my door woke me up. I sluggishly got up, a sharp headache stinging me as I went to open the door. I was greeted by the sight of the girl I wasn't ready to see. I sighed and turned back toward my bed.

“The will was read just yesterday and you’ve concluded? How desperate,” I exclaimed, expecting a reply from her considering how rude she was. But there was none — only the feeling of her glaring daggers at me. When I turned to face her, she fired back immediately:

“How naive of you to think I’d agree to marry you. Laugh my f*****g ass the hell out. I’m only here because he asked that I work as your right-hand woman for two years. Don’t jump into conclusions. And eat your food. Drink water first, because from the look of things, you drank yourself to sleep last night. I’ll be back — we need to talk.”

With that, she stormed out of my room, making me scoff. I had never seen someone so disrespectful.

"Marry her? Impossible". She even looks me in the eye when talking. Big Peterson must have given her some guts. I sighed as I gulped down a glass of water, which reduced my headache.

I ate, got dressed, and walked down to the living room in my apartment. There I met her again. I ignored her as I walked down the stairs, and immediately she sighted me, she stood.

“We need to talk.”

“Unfortunately, I’ve got somewhere to be at the moment,” I said without turning to face her.

“Great then. I’ll go with you.”

That made me laugh.

“You should be out there looking for ways to clean up the mess you created instead of following me around like a lost dog.”

“I’m pretty sure you put that idea into Big Peterson’s head,” I blurted out.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I do that? You think I’m as desperate as the other female workers to marry someone with a dubious personality like yours?” she spat, making me clench my fist.

“Then why did you work for extra two years if you’re not desperate?” I challenged.

“I stayed because I found out he had cancer. I bet you didn't know either because you were too busy harboring hatred for him.”

Her words stung more than I wanted to admit.

“Wake up from your dreams, young man. I’m here to work as your PA for two years, just as Big Peterson instructed.”

With that, she walked out of the living room.

I sighed and followed her, knowing I had no choice but to let her work with me. We both entered the car and zoomed off.

But the moment we turned into the main road, my phone began ringing nonstop.

Unknown number.

Same number. Over and over.

Stevie glanced at me. “Aren’t you going to pick it?”

I swallowed hard.

Because I knew exactly who used to call me that way…

and he was supposed to be dead.