The Inheritance Scandal

Chapter 5

She had tossed and turned in bed all night until she finally fell asleep at 5:00 am. What her mother had asked of her troubled her mind and kept her awake. Lisa called her phone at 7 am and reminded her that the Will hearing was going to happen by 9 am. She needed to be ready before then. Breakfast had been served in her room already. She ate and proceeded to get ready. After a quick shower, she dressed in black jeans and a blue crop shirt. It was 8:30 am, and she went to get her mother.

It was almost time, and the family was gathered in a meeting room that her grandfather would often use to hold meetings with the board members. Everyone was seated and socialising while waiting for the lawyer, and by everyone, she meant uncles, aunties, cousins, even granduncles and aunts. If you bore the Hamilton name, then you were expected to be present. It was going to be another long day because the Hamilton estate was large, and that was aside from Jonathan’s personally acquired properties. It was 9:10 am when she heard a voice she knew all too well. “I apologise for being late, we will be starting immediately.” How did she forget that Jaxon was Jonathan’s private lawyer? Of course, he would be the one to read the will, she sighed inwardly. She had to listen to him read the whole length of that will. It just became a shitty day for her. He strutted down the aisle toward the front of the hall with some other guy with a smaller build following behind, holding a bag, probably his assistant. The assistant set his bag down, took out the will and handed it over to Jaxon. The hall quieted. Olivia watched him scan the room until their eyes met, her stomach twisted in knots. She looked away so fast that Usain Bolt would have been proud. “We will begin now !” he said and started reading. She took a deep breath, and though she was irritated by who was reading it, she had to pay close attention. This was important. Once she had steadied her breathing, she began listening. She had pen and paper ready to take notes and ask questions if necessary. She knew her mother was right; Jonathan probably left his position as head and leader to her. This was just the beginning.

Four hours later, they were still reading the will, they had taken 2 breaks in between and were currently on their third break. She had noted everything necessary in her jotter. Mostly, what had been read so far was who was placed in charge of what and who would be managing what, but all of these positions had a clause. The various people mentioned would only stay in charge if the incoming head was okay with that arrangement. If he/she -the head- wanted to change things, then that was fine too. A lot of people weren’t happy with that, and it kept leading to the question of who would be the head? The reading was nearing an end, and she was getting anxious. Would Jonathan really leave it all to her that easily, or would he put it in some task that she had to accomplish to be worthy? She knew her grandfather too well and wouldn’t put it past him. “Now, for the final section. "Inheritance!” Jaxon suddenly looked at her briefly, and back at the will, she suddenly became scared. What did Jonathan write in that will? Jaxon carried on reading, going on to name each of the companies and properties under the Hamilton estate and enterprise “.... Subject to the terms herein, I bequeath my entire estate, including all real property, liquid assets, and intellectual property as listed above, to my granddaughter. All of this is solely inherited by Olivia Hamilton and is hers to do whatever she sees fit. Hence, she will immediately begin to serve as the head of the family in my place.” A loud murmur began. Olivia expected it. Everyone would expect that Julian should be in charge, and she probably agreed with them too. Olivia had her businesses to run; she really didn’t need extra right now, but as we have it, she was apparently in charge; she knew, but a small part of her hoped she wouldn’t be saddled with that responsibility. “I’m not finished”, Jaxon boomed, and everyone quieted again. What else was left? Didn’t he say this was the final section? The anxiety began to build again.