Billionaire by Chance

Fück Them

Tamara and I keep talking for a whole week, every day, most of the day. I've never spent this much time talking to a woman without having sëx or her deciding I'm not worth it, so I'm trying not to screw this up.

She seems to be extremely interested in me, way more than anyone else I’ve ever talked to before. She asks questions all the time and is actually interested in how I'm doing and what I'm going to do every moment of the day.

She also asks questions about my past and my childhood, which is really nice. It always feels like a nice date conversation with her. Not like I’ve had many dates but talking to her feels like one.

Two days ago, we started sharing photos as well. I started doing this when I bought a house and wanted to show it off and maybe even invite her over once she feels comfortable enough. Tamara replied enthusiastically and I know I'm starting to win her over because she started sending me more and more photos of her gorgeous face.

The house I bought is in Beverly Hills and it’s incredibly cool, much more than I could have ever imagined for myself. It has a pool in the backyard and a beautiful view of the hills. And it's not even that far from the office, although I'm going to have to start waking up earlier anyway, which sucks.

Either way, I’m a homeowner now. And I might have a girlfriend soon.

The last time I thought I might have a girlfriend she stole from me and got me into a lot of trouble. That’s when I had to go into the amazing drug selling business. And even after she did that, I still forgave her. I just never let her get into my apartment again.

Today when I get to the office, I don’t even make it to my apartment because Erick intercepts me.

"Oh, hello, Erick!" I greet him, I haven't seen him since the first day, "How are y..."

"Shush, Adrien. Come here," he grabs me by an arm and pulls me into a hallway where no one is around, "There's a board meeting and you have to attend. Megan purposely ‘forgot’ to tell me until this morning, so you wouldn't go and create a bad first impression."

"What the fück?" I blurt out, suddenly offended. That bïtch. She’s still bitter she was cheated on years ago? "What am I supposed to in this meeting? What do I have to say? I have no idea..."

"Relax. This first meeting it’s about introducing you and explaining the situation to the board members. They won’t expect anything specific from you other than to meet the new addition to the board. But I recommend that you try to be as professional as possible. Don't fall for any provocation from the Dells, please."

I nod even though I feel scared.

How am I going to do that?

I follow Erick to the top floor again and as soon as I get there, I can feel the bad vibes directed at me. Derek, Megan and Allice stare at me with contempt, which makes me freeze for a moment, but then I see Erick open the door and I take a deep breath.

Why do these rich people scare me so much? The other board members are old and boring. The youngest are me and my dearest siblings.

I've been tortured, I've been beaten and I've been threatened by people who could literally kill me in a second, why should I let these useless people who pose no real threat to me scare me?

I shouldn’t, that’s the answer.

They should be scared of me. And they are, I guess. And that’s why they hate me so much.

I walk in with a new sense of security that I've just brought to myself, as usual, and as soon as everyone turns to me, I give a small bow towards them, as if I'm extremely polite, before sitting down next to Erick in the lonely chair.

The Dells share looks of annoyance as they see that I'm here even though they didn't invite me.

For the first few minutes, Megan gets up and starts talking about numbers and the company's performance since Edward's death and how everything has been being perfectly handled by the main family. Then she grimaces and has to force herself to introduce me.

"I know you've heard a lot of rumors, but today I'm going to set the record straight. Edward had an affair with a former co-worker twenty five years ago, which I was never aware of. This resulted in... Adrien Baltimore, here," he begins, pointing at me. It seems everyone already had a faint idea, but they still whisper about the bastard: me. "Edward left it stipulated in his will that Adrien will inherit twenty percent of the company's shares.”

That causes horrified outburst and angry looks at me, as if it's my fault whatever the old stinker decided to do with his company and his shares.

"Is that even legal? We don’t know this man.” says someone amidst the commotion.

"That’s what we need to talk about, before everyone starts freaking out," Erick mutters and gets up from his chair, "In order for Adrien to legally own those shares, the board must vote. If you vote for him to stay and own his shares, he will stay on the board for at least a year. After that year, he is free to choose how to proceed. If you vote for him not to stay on the board, he can sell the shares that his father gave him to any individual on the board that he chooses."

"And what happens if he dies?" asks Allison. Megan's eyes widen in horror and she hits her daughter on the shoulder, who just groans in pain.

"If he dies or is incapacitated in any way, those shares will pass to Megan, as per Edward’s orders. I said that when I read the will for the family, Allison.”

Oh, shït. This is terrible news for me.

"If I die, I hold those three responsible," I blurt out, unable to stop myself. The family gasps as if they can't believe I just said that. Erick squeezes his eyes tightly shut, "What? Why does this sound far fetched to any of you? If I die, these people who hate me will be benefited. Sounds extremely convenient. I'm in perfect physical and mental health, so if I suddenly show up with a gunshot to my forehead, don't let anyone convince you that it was suicide. It was definitely them.”

"Adrien, please," Erick blurts out, begging me to shut up. "No one will kill anyone."

“That’s what you think, until I show up dead!” I complain.

"Don't be stupid, Adrien. That's not how we handle things. Maybe killing people is normal in the swamp you used to live in, but it's not here." Derek spits, looking a lot like Draco Malfoy, once again.

"Can you both stop?" Megan begs, her sleek bangs shaking with rage, “Please, Erick. Go on."

"As I was saying, you as the board must vote on whether you want Adrien to remain a shareholder or if he should sell his shares to one of you. Either way, Adrien should continue to work here for one year as he agreed by signing the document to release his inheritance. You will have exactly one month to form your opinions and vote, on November 1st, 2023."

They all turn to me and I know they immediately want to vote me off this table and buy my shares.