Chapter 3
1215 Words
“Charles must be legally married within three months of my passing. If he fails to do so, all holdings, rights, and authority over the Tate Empire will transfer irrevocably to David Sinclair, Margot's son.”
“This is nonsense!” I heard Margot shout.
My fingers curled into fists. “This is madness,” I muttered, rising from my chair. “He’s testing me…controlling me… even in death.”
The lawyer only folded the papers calmly. “Your father’s conditions are final, Mr. Tate. The countdown begins today.”
“I don't care about your f*****g countdown!” I roared.
“Of course you don't,” Margot Sinclair rose to face me, eyes blazing with fury. “You don't care about anything, you never did! David, my son, has been the only one who cared. He's worked at that company for years and yet….Weston never acknowledged him. He's the eldest and he still has to come second to you all the time!” She slammed her fists on the table and turned to face the lawyer. “What about my son? What about me?”
“I'm sorry but there's nothing here for you or your son. Mr Weston made me aware of the fact that you've been settled well long ago with an estate to your name, and a shopping mall in the city. You and your son also have shares in the company. Your son is also the Managing Director of Tate Industries, with a car and a house to his name. Weston Tate said he had nothing more to give to you.”
“So he gives it to his incompetent son instead?”
“Watch what you say Margot,” I wouldn't stand and get insulted by this woman.
“I never asked for any of this.”
“Yet here you are.”
I wanted to say that it was Celia who begged me to be here, then I remembered that she hasn't said a word since. I glanced at her, she remained sitting poised and unmoved, her expression was unreadable as usual, as if the chaos going on around her didn't matter to her.
“I don’t need any of this,” I said again, more to myself than to anyone else. This was the world I hated, I wanted to run away from it, but my father…that man must be laughing at me in his grave now. But if he thought I was just going to accept his terms then he was so wrong.
David, who had been silent till now, stepped forward. His smug face annoyed me instantly.
“You look like you're thinking about this too much. If it’s that hard for you, Charles,” he said, voice oily with mock concern, “you can just hand it all over now. Save yourself the trouble.”
I walked toward him slowly, stopping just inches from his face. “Don’t tempt me, David. I know what you’re doing.”
“I’m just saying…” he shrugged with that annoying little smile of his. “Some people just aren’t built to carry an empire.”
“Like your father said, you’re the managing director. Why don’t you stick to that and mind your business?”
Before he could respond, Celia finally spoke.
“That’s enough. All of you.” She stood, her calm demeanor more unnerving than all the shouting. “Arguing about this won’t change anything. The will is clear. Charles has three months. What he chooses to do with that time is his business.”
Margot scoffed. “Easy for you to say. You already got the house, the cars, and one billion. Of course you’re calm.”
Celia ignored her completely, her gaze focused on me now. “I suggest you think carefully, Charles. You might not have had a close relationship with your father but you have to think about this carefully.”
“I don’t need advice from you,” I snapped.
She nodded slowly. “No, I suppose you don’t.” She walked over to the lawyer. “Thank you for coming, we'll keep in touch. Allow me to walk you out.”
Margot sneered at her as she walked out. “Pretentious gold digger.”
For the first time, I agreed with what Margot said.
“And you,” David began again. “Just give up now, you don't want any of this anyway.”
He was right, I didn't want any of this, but why did he tell me to give up? Did everyone see me as a pathetic loser now?
“You can't achieve anything in three months,” he continued. “Unless you already have someone.”
I didn't answer. Because the truth was, I didn’t have anyone. Just meaningless hookups and temporary flings. I always blocked and deleted their numbers when I was done with them. No one suitable. No one real.
David chuckled. “Thought so.”
“You're still here.” I heard her voice again. That gentle, smooth and melodious voice. Celia.
“I'm talking to you, Margot. It's time to leave.”
Margot gasped. She looked shocked at the audacity the young woman had to ask her to leave.
“What?”
“My family and I are still in mourning, I don't appreciate the noise and quarrels. Please leave.”
“And if I don't?”
“This is my house now, I'm going to have you thrown out if you don't leave quietly.” Her voice remained calm and her eyes never left Margot's.
“Let's just go mom, she's crazy.” David held his mother's hand and they left together.
“Just a few minutes and you are already showing off. Am I the next person to leave your house?”
She blinked. “I thought you also wanted them to leave?”
I did want them to leave, but I wasn't going to thank her for doing anything for me.
“What are you going to do, Charles? You can't let them take the company.”
“What's it to you?” I snapped, my voice harsh.
She didn't react to it, her eyes looked cool as she fixed them on me. “I’m just trying to help.”
My eyes narrowed. “I don't want help from a woman like you, a shameless gold digger. You only married my father for money and now you have it, you must be so happy right?”
“Insulting me isn't going to help you,” she said, maintaining her calm demeanor. “If you don't want to do it then it's fine, no one is going to force you. Just handover everything to David and prove that your father has been right all this time.”
“Right about what?”
“That you're a loser, and you aren't worthy to be called a Tate. You run away from responsibilities because you're scared you might fail. Isn't that right?”
I snatched her hand and squeezed hard, making her flinch. With my other hand, I grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look at me. My gaze locked with hers, steady and dark.
“Say that again,” I growled, my eyes burning with anger. “I dare you.”
- Writer
