Chapter 1
Stelli followed the caregiver while she thought of what could have gone wrong. All the old lady said was, “Stelli, come with me immediately. You have a visitor.”
No one ever came to see her.
Barely.
And now, someone had come to see her.
How?
“Who is it, Lady Agnes?” She caught up with the woman who stopped and faced her.
Lady Agnes looked at her with that commanding look. Unlike the other times when the old lady was playful with her, it was different.
“You know you can tell me.”
“Just come with me, Stelli-” She hushed.
“Where to?”
“The warden's office.”
Instead of asking more questions - questions she knew Lady Agnes would not answer, Stelli continued to walk. They had gotten to the building's top when Stelli looked down and saw kids: older and younger, parading the main room. Even Essie was not out of sight.
Unlike other kids who played, Essie waited there for her. Their eyes met and she waved.
Essie, although older, was the only friend she's had since she was moved into Greyhollow Orphanage - she could not ask for another.
They reached a door.
Lady Agnes, instead of going into the office, ended her journey at the door. “Go on. He's waiting.” She said before walking away.
Fear should grip Stelli, but she wasn't scared. If there was anything she felt, it was curiosity. She pushed the door open and walked in after several guesses, and there she found him - a man dressed officially.
A new parent, perhaps.
Or a relative that cared enough to come see her. Last she checked, none of them cared.
On the other side of the office was the warden. She looked happy, Stelli could not understand. “Come on, meet your guest.”
This man got up. Stelli studied him.
A fine face, with hair well combed. He wore a suit, there was a bic in his breast pocket and he had a smile she admired.
“Who are you?”
“My name is - Reynolds. Barrister Reynolds.” He answered. “I used to be your father's lawyer before he passed.” He picked up a bag from the desk. “I brought this for you.”
The few words this strange man uttered since she arrived at the office, Stelli did not grasp. She watched him search his backpack for something, whilst she wondered what was wrong. For one moment, she glanced at the warden to search for answers but the old woman didn't look like she could help.
“Here.”
Reynolds snapped her out of these thoughts. She looked at the Warden who gave a signal. The kind that said ‘Go on, take it’.
Without wasting time, she took it.
It was a heavy folder.
When she opened it, she noticed the first page had her full name written on it.
Not only was her name the first thing written on the first page. There were mentions of properties, lands, cars, houses; all inheritances that belonged to her. Unbelievable.
“Is this a joke?” At some point, she asked without looking up - her eyes still glued to the first page. Skimming down, she caught something - terms and conditions.
All of which she must abide by.
If she were to claim all these properties.
The more she read, the smaller the room became. She held on to the document like her life depended on it. It did, after all.
“Is this real?” She looked up. “Is this real? Why should I believe all of these? And why is it happening now instead of—” Stelli paused. “—Instead of a long time ago?”
“Your father had his reasons, Stelli.”
“Reasons—” She cackled. “I can see that.”
The warden who had been watching them, got up. “I'd excuse you two to talk freely, Barrister.” She looked at Stelli. “Take your time, Stelli.” She shook hands with Barrister Reynolds before leaving the room.
There was silence.
While Stelli thought of what she'd seen, the barrister waited for her to speak. And when she didn't, he let out. “What do you say?”
“What do I say?”
“Yes. To all of these. You've already seen. You own so much - I'm sure you never imagined you'd own so much in your lifetime.”
“Really?”
“I'm not trying to insult you, Stelli. I'm just saying you should say something.”
“Right.” She got up now and faced him.
“I'm listening, Stelli.”
“What if I say ‘no’?”
The man chuckled. It looked like he was expecting her to refuse. “I expected that.”
“You can't expect me to leave my home - a place I've spent most of my life in, with you, to get married to someone I barely know. All in the name of claiming properties.”
“I understand.”
“No you don't.”
“I understand, Stelli.” He insisted. “But the thing is; you can't actually say ‘no’. Your father expected you to, and he tweaked this will in a way that you actually can't refuse. You'll have to abide by these terms and conditions one way or the other. I'm sorry.”
“Right.” She was on her way to the door.
“Stelli Bethway. You've said nothing at all. I need to know what decision you want to make.”
She snapped. “Didn't you say I can't refuse?”
“You can't refuse if you want these properties.” Reynolds caught up with her. “You can refuse if you don't have any interest in claiming these things for yourself. Which one exactly do you want?”
“I'm coming with my friend.”
The barrister smiled. “Good decision, Stelli. You can come with your friend. I'll sort it out with the warden and higher tables.”
She walked out before he could say anything else. What more was there to discuss?
Holding the folder, Stelli walked through the hallway. One peep downstairs, Essie was waiting. At some point, she hastened her steps, caught up with the staircase bridge, and increased her pace. “Essie?”
Essie jumped.
“What's going on? You had me worried.”
“There's an issue.”
Essie's countenance worsened. “How bad?”
“Very bad.”
“What happened?” She moved closer. “Tell me.”
“I have to get married.” Stelli held up the folder. “As soon as possible. But that's not all, you're coming with me.”
