Chapter 11

ALMA

The shock vibrated through my entire being, and I stood up impulsively, as though I hadn't heard a word that came out of Mr. Page's mouth. I just couldn't comprehend any of what he'd said.

My head moved in every direction as I looked around me, catching Carl's eyes on me and Linda's right before her outburst.

"And?" she yelled maniacally, standing up, too. "Where's the rest of it, Page? Read everything in that book! That can't be all. I know that isn't all!"

Mr. Page raised his head momentarily and faced the file back in a jiffy, shifting his attention to it. "Yes, you're right," he declared. "I'm not done with reading."

My heart swelled with anxiety, and I looked to my side at Rodney's lively face, cheering me on and nodding affirmatively. "This is your day, and we're right here with you," he mouthed softly.

His words were reassuring, but they didn't quite contain the shock that I bottled on the inside. My grandfather was a wealthy mogul, one of those with monstrous riches that could last four generations. He was a billionaire, undoubtedly, and his network spoke volumes. If I had access to everything he owned, that would heighten my wealth by a ridiculous notch.

It just didn't make sense to me. Why would he give everything to me? During his lifetime, he remained one of those who genuinely cared about me, but I couldn't wrap my head around what I could have done to deserve all of what he was handing to me.

"Now for my daughter-in-law and another granddaughter, Linda," Mr. Page read, snatching my attention again. "I present these words. Hard work pays, my dear family, and you should take that seriously before it gets too late. In my death, I hope you can find it within yourself to be reformed and better versions of yourselves. Until we meet again, Charles Jenkins."

Mr. Page looked up at us, closing the file and slapping it against his palm. "And that is all. That's the end of this reading."

That's...all? The murmurs materialized again, from the onlookers who clearly had a thing to say about the situation at hand, while everything I'd rather say died on my tongues like fried vegetables. I had no idea how to cope with this huge responsibility, or how he'd thought I'd be the best person to take over from him.

"There must be something else there!" the strained voice from my stepmother forced out. She sounded like all of her energy had been directed into those words. The pain and desperation in them were so obvious that I snickered. "Check! Is there a second page? Is this even the original will?!"

I guess the wheelchair didn't obstruct her delusions. Linda backed up the claim. I caught a moment of the physical struggle between Carl and her as he tried to stop her from approaching the podium and meeting Mr. Page.

The way he held her, the way he looked- his body language dripped with dejection, so much repulsion that I was curious as to what the cause was. Or maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see. I had to make my peace with seeing him linger around like that. It wasn't ending anytime soon.

She broke free from his grip with a loud squeal and reached the core of the setting where she stopped Mr. Page from going out. "Wait, I need to see that!"

"Ma'am, I'm afraid you--"

She snatched it from him without a word and flipped it open. Her red, baggy eyes perused the documents, and her brows furled into a disdainful scowl. Linda's fingers hurriedly flipped it, tossing and turning the page like more words were preternaturally supposed to appear. "I don't believe this. I don't! My grandfather would never do this to me! He can't just...give everything he owned to that bastard!"

Another row of murmur. She continued to rant, dropping the file to the floor and trampling on it. "This isn't real. It is not!"

"I highly suggest that you stop creating a scene, or you might be escorted out of this setting, Ma'am," Mr. Page warned. "I know it might have come as a shock to you, but you should consider the presence of the important shareholders and business partners around."

"What are you talking about?" Linda attacked him. You all think I'm creating a scene? What? Escorted out? This is my grandfather's remembrance, in case you've got it and that rubbish that you read isn't true, I know it isn't true!"

I sat back, focusing on Velma and Rodney while Linda went off like a dynamite, disrupting everyone's peace of mind with her noise. I had way more important things to be worried about, like how to handle everything that's been handed to me.

"Alma is an illegitimate child! She shouldn't have access to anything that belongs to the family," she finally declared, and my attention drifted to her. "Ask her where she's been for the past five years! All I've done was seek ways to drive the company to the top; now this? This?"

Nobody responded to her. I didn't see the need to, either. All I wanted to hear, I'd already heard.

"Well, are we done here?" Rodney asked me, and I immediately rose to my feet, nodding.

My head had already begun to ache from how unexpected this day turned out. I'd rather not have anything to do with Linda or her mother until I had sorted out my thoughts. I was about to slip by her when she pulled my arm.

"Where do you think you're going after destroying everything?" Linda raged, closing in on my personal space.

A smirk crawled up my lips as I looked at her with so much satisfaction. There was nothing better than seeing people you hate battling themselves. "I'd see you at the shareholder's meeting, step-sister."

I moved away, but Linda was quick on her feet, following me. "You-"

"Linda!" Carl yelled from behind us. The intensity in his voice burned down my lungs, and my throat went dry. Although I didn't look back at him, the weight of his gaze settled on my back, and my feet suddenly felt rooted to the floor. "Stop making a scene. You can do this later!"

Linda scoffed and walked back to him. There, another argument ensued, but I wasn't dedicated to knowing what they argued about. I didn't care about them or their relationship. I should not.

"Let's go," I mouthed to Rodney. "I have a lot of strategizing to do."