Chapter Four
1214 Words
I left very early to the Blackwood villa.
The butler was waiting for me at the entrance of the villa. He guided me into the house….
I was in awe. It felt unreal..paintings hanging beautifully on the wall and a staircase that looked like it was plated in gold.
We walked into a room that looked like a study. The old man was sitting on an old mahogany chair with a large table in front
There were two other people, a man and a woman, dressed in corporate clothes.
“Claudia, I’m glad you decided to agree to my offer,” he said.
“This is Maxwell and his wife Mara. They are my lawyers.”
I said a quick hello and we went straight to it. I signed a document from the civil affairs bureau… and other documents I didn’t care to read. I trusted him because I knew he wouldn’t cause me any harm.
The lawyers gave him the certificate binding our marriage.
I was now Mrs. Blackwood.
The weight of the name weighed on me. It felt like a big responsibility. Would I be able to pull it off?
After that, we had dinner. He wanted to use that to introduce me to the workers in the house.
Although shocked, I received a warm welcome from the staff, as the butler had already informed them of the new development. Although the housekeeper acted disrespectfully and nonchalantly, I didn’t have time for her now; I’d put her in her place soon.
With all that had happened, I’d grown a thick skin. I needed time to process my priorities, and she wasn’t one.
“Mrs. Blackwood… sir wants to speak with you,” the butler said.
The name felt foreign but it was mine now.
“Come sit, Claudia,” the old man said. He could barely sit by himself.
The butler passed me a folder. I looked at him, confused.
“It contains details of all my children. All you need to know about them is there,” he said.
I collected the file and turned to leave, but he stopped me. Were we not done here?
The lawyer asked me to sign some documents. I was named power of attorney. All that the old man had was left to me.
I was shocked. My thought of suicide became a blessing in disguise.
Later that evening, he held a private press conference and gave strict warnings that on no account was it to be leaked to the public till his death.
Deep down I felt sad that this man had given me everything, but he was going to die all alone with no one from his family caring about him.
They were also going to face my wrath. The old man’s suffering made me harbor a deep hatred for them.
We didn’t sleep that night. The oldest member of the Blackwood family lost his life. It wasn’t painful; he died in his sleep. He had signed a DNI after his last episode; all the doctors could do was watch him slowly fade away.
Just like that, I became a widow.
He didn’t want a large burial; he wanted something small.
He arranged for everything himself. None of his children were allowed at his funeral.
The butler must have informed them of the news because the intercom kept buzzing. They wanted to gain access to the villa, and I was not going to let that happen.
Where were they when he needed them the most?
I was going to show off a bit of the leverage I had over them today.
“Do not let them in,” I said firmly.
News of the old man’s demise flooded the media.
And another shocking revelation left the world in awe.
CHAIRMAN OF BLACKWOOD CO. DIES MONTHS AFTER BATTLING A DREADED DISEASE.
CHAIRMAN OF BLACKWOOD CO. REMARRIED.
The comments were not friendly at all. I was called names…gold digger, the Black Widow. People even went as far as calling out his family to kick me out.
I wasn’t ready. I wanted to speak to the butler. What if his family threw me out?
He laughed.
“They couldn’t, even if they tried. Go through the documents the old master gave you. On the last page, he left a special advice for you,” he said before leaving the room.
I went through the files and was shocked to know Audrey’s mum was the old man’s daughter.
Was life playing a cruel joke on me? I was really enjoying this. Joke’s on them.
My flight was already booked. I was going to Harvard the night after the funeral. The old man planned everything so well …he didn’t want the media to be too involved in my affairs.
But the drama was going to be good. I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they find out he was married and to who. And worse, they wouldn’t get a penny from his fortune.
I continued to go through the documents with so much interest. All they had came from him. They all worked in various branches of Blackwood.
He had two sons;Alec Blackwood and Brian Blackwood, and a daughter…Janet Blackwood, Audrey’s mum.
I went through the document. On the last page was a letter. It said:
Dear Claudia,
The journey ahead is going to be tough. Forgive this old man. I have made all the necessary arrangements to make your life comfortable. You owe me nothing.
Together with the documents you signed, there was a prenup where we both agreed you were free to associate with anyone you deem fit, both sexually and otherwise.Whatever it is that made me meet you at the rooftop should never take you back there; suicide is never the answer. You are a very bright girl, and I know you’d soar higher than your expectations.With time, my butler would unravel all the plans I have made for the future.
Take care, Claudia.
Your husband/old man.
I didn’t know I was crying until I saw stains on the folder I was holding. He knew me for barely a month and sacrificed this much for me.
He was my guardian angel, and a part of me missed him so much.
“Ma’am, everything is set. Are you ready for fame?” the butler said with all seriousness.
“I’ll get my things ready. We leave immediately after he is laid to rest. He wouldn’t want any fake affection and tears during his funeral.”
I wasn’t going to let them meet me now. They would wait, and that tension was all I needed.
“Never show fear or weakness”his last words to me. I was sure as hell going to make him proud.
I wasn’t scared of the world anymore. It wasn’t ready for the version of Claudia they had created.
I didn’t let his family come to his funeral. I made sure the guards were well informed.
“Everything is set, ma’am. It’s time to leave.”
I went straight into the car, and they drove towards the hangar. I was really going to Harvard.
Everything was well planned.
I was going to be back, and this time I would make sure to pay them in full force.
- Writer
