Behind The Contract

CHAPTER TWO

I pushed the front door open with my shoulder, balancing the two grocery bags in my right arm while holding my phone against my ear with my left arm.

“Yes, Sarah, I know,” I said, walking slowly into the living room, dropping the grocery bag gently on the center table and kicking the door shut. “But something feels strange.”

“Strange how?” Sarah’s voice asked from the phone.

“My parents have never rushed for trips like this. Never.” I said, pacing slowly across the living room. “My parents plan everything weeks ahead, but this one, it happened in one night. One night, Sarah.”

On the other side, Sarah chuckled lightly. “People go for sudden trips sometimes.”

I shook my head even though my friend couldn't see me. “Dad looks worried. Mom kept checking her phone, suddenly, they were packing up and asked me to drive them to the airport this morning,” I said, sitting on the couch, rubbing my forehead.

“Something came up then,” Sarah replied. “Business maybe?”

I leaned back against the couch cushions. “If it was business, they would have informed me. Neither of them responded to my questions, they even cancelled the family picnic before then.”

“Oh come on,” she said. “That's what this is about?”

“It's not just about the picnic,” I replied.

“Look, you're overthinking everything. You've had a long day, waking up early, driving them to the airport and now your brain is running wild. Just rest.”

I sighed. “Maybe I am.”

“And that picnic?” She continued. “We'll go instead. Just you and me.”

“That actually sounds nice,” I said, finally letting out a smile.

“Of course it does,” she replied. “Now go lie down before your imagination write a whole mystery novel.”

“Fine, I’ll rest.”

We both hung up.

Sarah has always been my comfort zone after my parents, she knows how to talk things out whenever I feel nervous or uncertain. I placed my phone on the table. Just then, footsteps approached from the kitchen. Mrs. Harris, the nanny, walked out of the kitchen wiping her hand in a towel.

“Oh, Miss Kelly, you're back,” she said.

“Yes,” I replied, pointing at the groceries. “I picked up a few things.”

She walked over to collect the bags. “I’ll put this away.”

“Ok, I’m going upstairs to rest,” I said, climbing the stairs slowly. “Can you prepare lunch in a few hours?”

“Certainly dear.”

I reached my bedroom and shut the door behind me, kicked off my shoes and lay down on the bed. The house felt different without my parents. Usually, my mother would be downstairs humming while reading her magazine and my father would be in his office arguing with someone over the phone about business.

“Maybe I’m just overthinking like Sarah said,” I whispered, closing my eyes slowly.

Suddenly, a loud scream cut through the silence. My eyes flew open, I jumped out of the bed and rushed to the door.

“Mrs. Harris!!” I called out as I ran down the stairs. The scream came again from the living room. My heart pounds so hard. “Mrs. Harris, what happened?” I asked, running into the room.

Mrs. Harris stood in front of the television, both of her hands covering her mouth. Her whole body was trembling. She didn't respond, she lifted her trembling fingers slowly, pointing at the television.

I turned, I never understood what she's looking at. Then, the screen showed a news broadcast of a burning airplane. My stomach twisted.

The reporter spoke in a serious tone. “This morning, flight 782 heading to Paris crashed shortly after takeoff.” I stepped closer to the screen, and the reporter continued speaking. “Authorities confirm there are no survivors. The victims’ bodies have been transferred to the city morgue where family members are advised to come for identification.”

I watched silently. Suddenly, my mother's face appeared, a smiling photo taken last Christmas. “No…” I whispered. The screen changed again. My father's picture appeared beside it. “No! No!!!” I finally burst out, staring at the screen waiting for someone to say it was a mistake. “They just left. I just dropped them at the airport.”

“Among the passengers were business tycoon couple Mr.&Mrs. Davis,” the reporter's faint voice echoed in my ears.

“This can't be true,” I whispered, falling weakly to the floor.

***

I stood in front of two large coffins. My aunt held me tightly as I cried. “It's alright, sweetheart.” Aunt Margaret whispered, but I could barely hear her. My uncle, Lucas, stood nearby greeting guests, shaking hands and thanking them for coming.

My eyes stayed fixed on the coffins my parents were in. I couldn't bring myself to the reality that they are gone forever, everything felt distant, like a dream I couldn't wake from. Just a week ago we were laughing and having fun in the living room and now I am at their funeral.

A tall man dressed in a dark suit stepped forward to us, his calm eyes resting on me.

“Miss Kelly Davis,” he said.

“Yes,” I replied, looking up. “Lucien,” I moved towards him and gave him a tight hug.

“I'm deeply sorry for your loss.” He said, lowering his head respectfully.

“Thank you,” I whispered, tears slipped down my cheeks.

He gave his final respects and walked back to me. Well,” he said after a moment. “I won’t take too much time here.”

I looked up. “You’re leaving already?”

“I have a meeting soon,” he replied, reaching into his jacket and placing a small card in my hand. “If you ever need help, or just someone to talk to, feel free to reach out.”

“Thank you,” I said, glancing at the card.

He gave a polite nod. “Take care of yourself, Kelly.”

Then he walked away.

The coffins were lowered slowly into the ground as the ceremony ended.

I sat quietly on the couch, staring at my parents' pictures, my eyes swollen from crying. My uncle moved closer to me.

“Kelly, there is something we need to tell you.”

I looked up slowly. “What is it?”

My uncle and aunt exchanged a quick glance, then he sighed. “ This is not easy to say but we'll have to.”

I stared at them.

“Kelly, you were adopted,” my aunt said, leaning forward.

“What do you mean?”

“You were adopted by the Davis family when you were very young,” Lucas explained.

“That's not true,” I said, shaking my head. “My parents would have told me!” I snapped.

“It is Kelly. They planned to tell you but they never got the chance.”

“Why are you then telling me this now?”

My uncle took a deep breath. “Legally, you are not their biological child which means you do not have legal rights to the Davis’s family assets.”

“You're lying,” I said, my fingers curled tightly around the edge of the couch. “You're cooking up a story to take the whole assets.”

“We're trying to avoid unnecessary drama, Kelly,” my aunt said.

“Drama?” I said, staring at them in disbelief. I’ve never healed from the pain of my parents death, then this from my only relatives.

“It would be best if you quietly pack your belongings and move out,” he said as he stood up. “This house belongs to the Davis estate and you're not part of that estate.”

“I'm not going anywhere and I won't let you have anything from my parents' assets.”

“Prepare for the…”

The front door opened before Lucas could speak. Two men in official uniforms stepped inside.

“Good evening,” one of them said.

We all turned toward them.

“My name is Officer Grant from the Federal Funds Agency,” he said, as he held up an identification badge. “We’re here regarding the Davis estate.”

“What about it?” my uncle asked, frowning.

The officer glanced at a document in his hand. “Due to the ongoing investigation into the plane crash, all Davis family assets have been frozen until further notice.”

The room went silent.

“No one will be able to access the accounts, properties, or funds until the investigation is completed.”