Chapter 3 _ Next heir
1504 Words
Williams POV
“So what's this meeting for?” I asked, occasionally glancing at my phone and tapping my foot impatiently, clearly not interested in this conversation.
I was called yesterday by grandpa who told me my father had passed away and I was to take over from him.
“Is that how to address the elders of this family? Didn't your mother teach you some manners?” my stepmother said, her tone stern and authoritative.
“Is that how you talk to your new son?” I asked, my voice cold and firm.
“We are sorry for the sudden call,” Elder Boris, Grandpa right hand man said, bowing his head slightly but I paid no attention to his actions.
“When did my father die?” I asked, sitting back on the chair and staring at the four elders who had summoned me to the mansion.
Elder boris, my step mother, grandpa and granduncle.
“He died two days ago and I'm here to ask that you take over his position as CEO” Grandpa the elder’s head uttered calmly.
“why do you want me to take over Grandpa? I heard he had a son with some woman” I sat vehemently, displeased with my father who abused my mother till she died.
Mary, my mother was a maid when she met my father. He raped her and got pregnant but she got married to my father to avoid a scandal and became his wife. My father never loved her but cheated on her and abused her.
“Because you're the legitimate heir to the throne,” grandpa said, his tone firm and calm.
He was the only elder I respected in this place. He was the only one I listened to. He was the only one I obeyed.
But I could help but get angry over his response.
I clenched my fist on the chair armrest, feeling the anger slimmer just to breathe the surface of my skin “Legitimate heir,” I scoffed. “Legitimacy didn't stop him from treating my mother like dirt. It didn't stop him from having an affair. It didn't stop him from sending me out of his house at the age of eighteen”
The room fell silent, the weight of my words sinking in. I glanced at all of them, seeing a mix of fear and desperation in their eyes.
My step Mom and elder boris exchanged uneasy glances, their discomfort palpable.
Grandpa cleared his throat, attempting to regain control of the meeting. “Regardless of the past grievances, the company needs a leader Williams. Your father's last wish was for you to assume your rightful place”
“Fine,” I finally said, my voice steady. “I’ll take over as CEO. But things are going to change around here” The elders present in the room nodded, a sense of relief washing over their faces
Grandpa smiled, triumph dancing in his eyes “Thank you, Williams. We believe in you and I trust you but they're things you need to do first before becoming CEO”
“Which are,” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“First, you have to get married as soon as possible” Mr boris said.
“Isn't that too sudden? Why so soon? What's the rush?” I asked, my words dripping with disdain.
“No, Williams. Your marriage is supposed to take place a day after your father's funeral which is next week. That's what the tradition in this family states” Grandpa said firmly.
“But I don't have anyone to get married to,” I said, my words lacking warmth, my gaze fixed on the the elders who sat in front of me.
“Concerning that, we've already seen the parents of the girl you're going to get married to so that isn't a problem,” Grandpa said, excitement laced in his voice
“You want me to get married so fast grandpa”
“Of course I do,” he didn't even hide his happiness.
“Whose family are they from?” I asked curiously, interested in knowing where my new bride would come from.
“The Lockwood family” I raised my eyebrows in surprise
“The boards director’s family?” I asked.
“Yes, my son,” Grandpa said and I almost laughed out loud.
He called me his son. He has never called me that before and it felt odd yet satisfying to hear someone say that to me in years
“Interesting” I uttered, impressed by their choice of a bride from me.
“Where will the wedding be conducted?” I asked.
“Here in the mansion. Everyone will be invited and_” Mr boris said but I cut him short
“No” I uttered sharply, interrupting his speech as the they all threw confused looks at each other “I don't want the wedding to be done here in the palace. I want the wedding to be done at the bride's house
“ it's in the family tradition that the wedding of the next CEO be done in the palace” Mr Boris snapped, clearly not impressed by my suggestion.
I fixed my gaze on Mr Boris who shifted his gaze to his feet “You seem not to like me Mr Boris. Is that a reason for that?” I asked.
“I apologized on Elder Boris's behalf” grandpa uttered instantly. “He knows this family better than anyone and has been working for us for years”
“I'm aware that the wedding of the next CEO is done in the mansion but I'm not the CEO yet right?” I asked, each word dripping with disdain as the elders avoided my eyes.
“If you want the wedding to be done in the house of the bride then you may do as you wish my son,” Grandpa said calmly and I couldn't help but like him for him.
Silence lingered in the air and I relaxed on my seat. Glancing around the mansion.
I couldn't help but begin imagining myself in the company, the same company my father sat and ruled.
Who would have thought the bastard son would eventually take over the company.
The door burst open with my step brother, philip walking in “Welcome sir” All the workers present in the room rose to their feet as they greeted.
“Tell me it's not true? Tell me what my mother just told me isn't true?”
“It's true, sir. You're an illegitimate child of the late CEO and as our traditions say, you have no right to inherit anything” Elder Boris explained and a smile spread across my lips.
“How is that even possible? I'm the first son of this family and I have every right to the inheritance” Philip yelled, his hands in a fist as they trembled by his side.
Philip was indeed the son of the family. No one knew about me because my father never allowed me to come outside of the mansion.
I curiously ran outside one day and that was the day he disowned me. He sent me out of the mansion and I can clearly remember the distant and cold look in his eyes back then.
That event made my mother devastated and two years later, she died leaving me alone in this world.
I had to fend for myself and whenever I told people I was Taylor's son, they would mock and laugh at me.
Philip and Mayer, my stepmother always treated me badly and this was my chance to give them a taste of their own medicine.
“Prince Philip or should I say the illegitimate child of the Wellington family” I said teasingly as I saw him charge at me in speed, his hands in the air ready to land me a punch
I rose to my feet and dodged his hit. “I will be becoming CEO in a few days and I will put you where you belong bastard” I added and his eyes daggers at me as Grandpa next words held him in place, stopping him from moving to where I was.
“I will not let you inherit my father's fortunes. You're taking my inheritance from me and I won't watch you take it from me,” he yelled, his sharp voice echoing in the throne rooms and I smirked.
“Those fortunes are mine,” grandpa voice echoed in the room and silence fell in the room “I gave them to your father and I won't watch my grandsons fight over what I worked hard for”
“I won't let you be CEO,” Philip said firmly, ignoring Grandpa's words.
“Let's see brother,” I whispered coldly then turned around and walked out of the mansion.
Beside, I had a company to inherit soon and I need to be prepared.
- Writer
