Amy turned to Ethan, with a deep frown etched on her face, and an angry glare sitted in her eyes.
Ethan threw his head back and laughed. “I’m sorry I was just pulling your legs” He told her, making Amy glare at him even harder. She knew it was a joke, but why would he pick now out of all times to throw such a joke at her? She hissed before turning her face away from him.
Ethan looked back at her, “So tell me why you had to stay at work late? Do you want to fall sick again?” He questioned her.
Amy turned to glance at him with complaining eyes. Couldn’t he just let that go already? She thought that they were way passed that. But she replied anyway. “We had some problems at work and I had to work, but don’t worry i didn’t do much” She tried to lighted her punishment by saying that.
Ethan didn’t believe the last part of her sentence. Amy was never the type to sit down and watch anything go down. She loved being an active participant in anything that involved her endeavour. If she could help then why sit out on it? He remembered even as a young girl how she hated being proactive during the charity events their mothers and their clique of rich and egoistic friends always involved in. That was the only reasonable thing they thought the women did all year.
So how then could he believe that she just sat idle all day? That was unbelievable.
He looked at the straight face which she had just lied with and he shook his head.
“Just don’t exhaust yourself with work. You got us all worried when you fell sick, so watch your health” Ethan adviced her, while she nodded her head. She was relieved that that was all he had to say. She really didn’t want him to talk her ear off with his endless nagging like her elder brother.
Her eyes lit up when she remembered something, she hurriedly turned to him and asked, “Where’s the thing you wanted to give me”
Ethan took a brief look at her face before returning his attention back to the road. “Check there” He said pointing his chin to the glove compartment.
Amy gazed at him, her brows narrowed as she thought about what he actually had in there. She looked at the compartment right in front of her and slowly opened it.
There were a few things in it that made her wonder what they were used for. But what really caught her attention was the two tickets in it. She turned to look at Ethan with shocked and surprised eyes who in turn gave her an affirmative tone, indicating that she had the right thing in her hand.
“Really?” She asked with fully widened eyes. She couldn’t believe it.
“Yes” He replied with a small smile when he saw Amy’s surprised face.
“You’re really going on your last tour?” Amy asked with glee.
“Mmm” He nodded.
“And I get an exclusive ticket?” This was the part that excited her the most. She couldn’t believe Ethan was giving her such tickets.
“You deserve it baby. You’re one of my biggest fan remember? You deserve it” He told her with a proud smile, while Amy yelped excitedly. The day wasn’t entirely a bad day after all. Blake would be able to solve the problem with the software, she gets a ticket to attend Ethan’s concert….what else could go wrong??
“Thank you” She cheered, while Ethan smiled broadly, even though his eyes weren’t as bright as his face. Amy finally tore her gaze from the tickets and looked at Ethan with a confused look on her face. “There are two tickets, why are you giving me two tickets?” She asked.
“So you can invite anybody you want. I noticed my bestie rival might be a good fan, you can invite her” He suggested.
“You mean Jade?” She asked. Of course it had to be Jade. Who else could he be referring to as his ‘bestie rival’. She shook her head when she realized Ethan might be jealous of her baby girl.
“Yeah, that one”
“Of course. I have no one to invite anyway. Lair would be busy, or else it would have been fun to go with the both of them” She reasoned out loud.
“Yeah, I knew that already. I heard that he’s looking into getting a new job” Ethan blurted out, making Amy look at him in surprise. How did he know that?
“How did you know that?” Amy asked with cocked brows. She was sure no one knew about Lair’s new job search, not even her parents, because that was the kind of person her brother was. He was used to doing things on his own and not telling people about it, because he had this silly superstitious belief that plans get jinxed when too many people knew about them. She wouldn’t be too surprised had she heard it from Jade, because that was one special person to Lair, so how did Ethan come to know about it?
Ethan smiled at her when he saw the suspicious look on her face. “Honey you have to know that this city isn’t as big as you think, and your famous and handsome hunk of a brother can’t have a low-key life when there are thousands of female nurses, doctors and paramedics who just want a taste of him” He explained. Amy fell quiet for a while. His excuse was pliable. She wondered why she was even bothered about it a while ago. Ethan was a close friend and it wouldn’t be that awkward if he knew a few things about their family. She chided herself for having suspicious thoughts.
Speaking about knowing things about them, something finally recalled in her head. She had remembered Ethan mentioning something about her mother knowing a secret about him which she had used to threaten him, years ago. She has been wondering what that secret might be. A secret which he didn’t want anybody to know? She was curious about it.
She cleared her throat to gain Ethan’s attention which she successfully gained. She looked at him and asked.
“You remember that secret you said my mother knows about you?–” She paused to observe his reaction. If he looked uncomfortable then she’d not press for it. But she couldn’t let herself not be bothered about it, most especially when her mother knew about it. She might threaten him with it again. She didn’t want her mother to inflict pain in the life of her friends. Micheal was enough.
Ethan knew what she was hinting at, so he smiled at her said, “You’ll know in due time. Be patient”
Amy gazed at him silently for a few moments before she nodded. She didn’t want to force it. if he said he’ll tell her, then she’d wait for him to open up to her, just like they did in the past.
With that out of the way, they continued to talk about his upcoming tour; date and event centers. Amy couldn’t wait for it.. What she didn’t know was what fate had in store for her at this concert.
__________
The weird feeling which Blake was feeling at the moment was completely unexplainable. For some weird reason he didn’t like the proximity between Amy and Ethan. He knew it was none of his business but he couldn’t help it.
He tried to shrug this awkward feeling off but it just wouldn’t leave him.
He tried to occupy his mind with thoughts of the emergency message he had received from Jake. That dude hasn’t been communicating with him that much since he fell in love. He has completely forgotten about his only brother.
Another reason to steer clear of the female specie. They make you forget your family, he tsked.
“What a bothersome specie” He muttered to himself.
He drove into the compound and sauntered into the living room. He was surprised to see both Jake and his grandfather shooting him an awkward look.
“What?” He asked as he approached the couch which Jake was sitting.
“Took you long enough” Jake drawled.
“I had personal business to attend to” Blake replied as he took off his jacket.
“Woman business I suppose?” Grandfather Beau asked, but Blake only rolled his eyes.
“He’s the one with woman problem not me. I’m very much single and I’ll remain so for a very long time” Blake said with stink eyes directed to his grandfather who wouldn’t stop hounding him about having a girlfriend like his brother.
Grandfather Beau eyed him, “Useless fool” He cussed, but Blake ignored him.
“Hey! what happened today that you remembered you still have a brother. Shameless punk” Blake glared at Jake.
“What do you mean? I always call you” Jake defended himself.
“Really? In what galaxy?” Blake said sarcastically. “Always call me indeed” He snickered.
“Since you started dating sister in-law you’ve completely abandoned me. Am I even your brother? Or maybe you were adopted?” Blake asked.
“I’m the adopted one? That sounds more like you” Jake scoffed as he lolled back on the seat, letting Blake murmur to himself.
“I’m not the adopted one. You’re just a traitor to brotherhood” He gruffed.
Grandfather Beau watched the exchange between the two siblings with sad eyes. Only if Henry and his wife were there to see their children. Most especially Blake, he had grown without their mother and had depended more on Jake and their Father.
Seeing them like this, he once again convinced himself his decision for keeping the secret of their father’s will from them was the most favourable decision he could have made at the time. He had to protect them from that vicious woman. She was capable of doing anything to get her hands on the will.
Jake who noticed the change in the grandfather’s countenance hushed Blake, and looked at the old man intently.
From his looks he had a foreboding that things didn’t look good. He had seen this look on him before and that was the day their mother had died.
“Grandfather tell us” Jake said in a calm tone. He could see the struggle on his face.
Grandfather Beau looked at both his grandson for a while before speaking up.
“I have your father’s will” Grandfather Beau announced.
Jake and Blake looked at him like they had something foreign, as a matter of fact that was what it was. It was something foreign.
Grandfather could see the look of surprise and unbelief on their faces. And he understood perfectly well.
“What do you mean, grandfather” Blake was the one to ask, because Jake still looked like he was trying to process what their grandfather had just said.
Grandfather looked at Jake who was looking at him with an inscrutable gaze.
“Your father’s will is with me, and I’ve been holding on to it for six years now” He replied, his gaze darting to Jake who was still very much quiet.
Blake was about to say something else when Jake spoke up first. “Why?” Was the only word that came out of his mouth. He didn’t understand why his grandfather would keep hold of their father’s will….his son will, except…
“Yes grandfather why? Why would you keep such a thing from us and not tell us? And why is it with you and not my father’s lawyer?” Blake demanded. He was also at a loss.
Grandfather kept quiet for a while before speaking up again, “William your father’s lawyer is under my protection”
“Your protection? Why would he need your protection? Grandfather can you be a little more clear in what you’re saying?” Blake was a little impatient….okay maybe more than little. He looked at Jake who had a stoic look on his face like he had some deep thoughts he was pondering on.
“This was what Hillary was talking about right?” Jake asked in a very calm tone, while his grandfather nodded.
“What Hillary? What did she say? Why am the clueless one here?” Blake asked.
Jake suddenly had a deep frown on his face.
“Did my father will the family fortune to her?” Jake asked in a cold tone. He felt like he shouldn’t even ask. Because the truth was obvious. Why would grandfather hide the knowledge of the will get them if that wasn’t the case?
It most definitely was.
Blake who’s interest was piqued by that question immediately turned to look at his grandfather, who responded with a single head nod.
‘No way!’ He said to himself.
Jake scoffed in disbelief as he deeper into the seat. He had no form of expression on his face. To be honest, he didn’t know how to react to these piece of information. Was he supposed to be so shocked that his eyes would almost fall out of their sockets, or if he should be angry by the fact that his grandfather knew something like this all this while but yet he chose to keep something away from him, from them.
Or maybe he should be disappointed at his father for making such a decision, and letting his grandfather bear all the burden of protecting the fortune which they have all worked for decades!
He didn’t know what to do.
“And why are you just telling us now?” Jake finally asked.
“Exactly why are you just telling us now? It doesn’t make any sense that you’d tell us now after so many years?” Blake asked, he was now fuming with anger.
Grandfather Beau sighed and looked at both his grandsons. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d be able to do something about it and fix the problem–”
“But were you able to?” Blake asked, interjecting his grandfather, who in turn shook his head, indicating that he wasn’t able to do anything about it.
Blake sighed exasperatedly, but Jake was calm. That was the only thing he could at the moment. He was literally the head of the house since he practically made all the decisions regarding the family and company. He tried to understand things from his grandfather’s perspective. His son had died and left his children from him to cater for, and he was sure he must have been shocked when he received the news of the will. If he was the one he’d probably be.
The company was built on the Beau’s sweat and blood, and of course it must have been difficult to accept such a thing, even he wouldn’t have accepted it.
“Can we see it?” Jake asked with expectant eyes, and grandfather Beau nodded. He leaned to the side and brought out a file which had been lying on the floor, oblivious to them.
Jake stood up and received the file from his grandfather. He observed the seal on it was broken and that must have been his grandfather. He looked over at Blake, and that was a silent gesture for him to move closer. Blake stood up and moved closer to Jake who opened the file and brought out the document in it.
They both looked it over, and angry veins began to appear on Blake’s head immediately.
“That’s all we get? A trust fund?” He asked lividly. Anger, disbelief, confusion, pain and every expression that was related to anger was displayed on his face. Jake remained quiet as he gave the document one last look.
To say he was disappointed was an understatement. Anger was brooding in the depth of his heart and he was trying really hard to contain it.
“Is this real?” He asked in a quiet voice, but Blake flared up first before his grandfather could even reply.
“Of course it isn’t real. This has got to be that woman’s prank. Her greed is getting a hold of her. Do you really need to ask such a question? Father would never do this to us. He’ll never leave us with nothing but a mere trust fund which wouldn’t be able to sustain us for five years. This is preposterous” He declared.
Jake sighed as he heard him rant. He understood how he felt because he was feeling the same way, but shouting and getting all riled up wasn’t going to fix anything right now.
He looked at his grandfather again and repeated his question, “Is this real? Is it’s authenticity geninue?”
Blake snapped his head to his grandfather, he was expecting a favourable reply but he was shocked by the one he got. “Yes. I had the signature analysed and indeed it’s your father’s” He replied, and that was all it took to make Blake rupt out in anger.
“That’s not possible!” He declared. He was sure their father wouldn’t be so stupid to do something like that. It was a big fat lie fabricated by that ‘evil step mother’
Jake hissed as he looked at Blake getting really emotional.
“Blake!” Jake called out angrily and that even flared Blake more.
“What?” He demanded as he turned to him, staring at him in a defiant manner.
“Would you keep it down?” He glared at him, making Blake stared at him begrudgingly. Was Jake contemplating agreeing with this will? This was nonsense.
“Keep what down?” He asked angrily as he stared at Jake with red and angry eyes, as he rose to his feet.
“Dad can never do this” Blake declared pointing to the documents “He would never do something like that. He was never a foolish person, his only mistake was marrying that delusional woman who was responsible for his death. That was his fault, but never was he stupid! So no Jake I can’t keep it down. That murderer does not get to benefit from us after destroying our family. That’s absolute rubbish. I’ll kill that bitch before she gets a penny from us” Blake roared, before turning to his grandfather with accusing eyes.
“Grandfather this is all your fault. If you had told us earlier maybe we could have found a solution for this already. But no you kept such a vital thing from us all these years. What was the need of hiding it when you were eventually going to tell us? And now you’re telling us after so many years when it would be hard to gather evidence if it isn’t real, and prove that this is all a sham? Grandfather–”
“Blake Beau shut up!” Jake roared out angrily, as he shot to his feet, startling Blake.
“If you can’t keep your mouth shut get out, or I’ll throw you out myself!” He menaced.
His eyes were glistening with anger and Blake knew that was him slowly losing it. His temper was no match for Jake, and if he decided, Jake could teach him a lesson if he gets madder than this. He knew Jake was uncontrollable when he goes berserk. What he did to Kyle was just the tip of an iceberg. Being scolded by Jake brought him back to his senses.
“I -i” Blake tried speak up but Jake beat him to it.
“Apologize this instant, or i swear I’ll teach you some manners!” He growled. He knew Blake was angry just as he was, but he didn’t have the right to speak to their grandfather in such manner. He had never behaved in that way, and it made him wonder what might have gotten into him now.
Blake lowered his head and turned towards this grandfather. “Granpa I’m sorry” He apologized instantly. He also didn’t mean to yell at anyone, he Just lost control of his anger.
Grandfather Beau nodded. “And Grandpa is sorry too. Come on sit” The old man apologized too. He had to admit that Blake was right. If he had told them sooner, then maybe things would have played out differently, and Jake would have been prepared to deal to Hillary.
Blake looked back at Jake who still had an angry look in his face. “Bro I’m sorry” He apologized again. Though he was still angry, but he knew he should behave more maturedly.
Jake nodded his head, as he sighed out loud before taking his seat, his hand raking through his hair frustratedly. He was tired, he needed sleep. He was yet to handle the issue at work and there, another one was springing up.
Jake turned to gaze at his grandfather, who was looking at them with apologetic eyes.
“Blake, Jake i know exactly how you feel” Grandfather Beau said.
“Do you?” Jake asked frustratedly. He didn’t think his grandfather knew exactly how he felt at the moment. Because he also didn’t know how he felt himself. This was unexpected. He had just found out that his father left them penniless and willed all their family fortune to a wife who was responsible for his death and split the family apart?
Maybe he shouldn’t be too insensitive because their father was grandfather’s son too, and the company in question was his own blood and sweat.
Grandfather Beau sighed exasperatedly. “I know I shouldn’t have kept it for so long and should have told you about it –”
“Yeah, I believe you should have done that” Jake said out of anger. He hissed regrettably when he realized he was being rude to his grandfather. Exactly what he had scolded Blake for.
“Grandpa I’m sorry, but this is just too much to take in. I mean this is a whole lot, not just for me but Blake too” He explained.
“I understand, and I’m not angry. I shouldn’t have seen you boys as kids, and should told you about it. It was all my fault” Grandfather Beau said in a sad voice, that made the boys look up at him with concern.
“That’s okay grandfather. it wasn’t your fault. You were only looking out for us, and we understand” Blake said.
“Exactly you shouldn’t beat yourself over this. There’s no need crying over spilled milk, and I’m sure I would have done the same if I were in your shoes. But now it’s not the time to think what we could have done right, or regret why we made some certain decisions. I think now is when we look forward to solving this problem at hand. But first I’ll like to say that I don’t think this papers are real. I’m convinced Father would never do something like this” Jake said.
“Me too. Father would never do something like that. This has that Vixen’s hand written all over it” Blake said.
“So what do you suggest we do?” Grandfather Beau asked. Jake looked from Blake to his grandfather. He picked up the paper and looked at them again.
“Unravel the truth and beat Hillary at her own game”
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 14
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