Chapter 6
Chapter 6
This was not a typical way to start a Saturday morning but | didn’t have much choice in the matter. Thewyer''s office was
located just across town and had not been a struggle to get to at all. | had an appointment with Mr. Hendricks who had been my
grandfather’s trustedwyer for as long as | could remember.
After speaking to Adam and giving things a lot of thought, | had some sense of direction and | knew exactly why | was here at the
lawyer’s office aside from obvious
reasons.
“It is nice to see you here, Sophia. | can still recall the day that | met with your grand father and penned out his will. He was
rather fond of you.” Mr Hendricks said with a small smile toying about his aging face.
My grand father and | had shared a close bond for as long as | could remember yet | didn’t think it was close enough that he
would leave his entire business for me to handle the reins once | came of a certain age.
| didn’te here to make small talk since | had more important issues on my mind that opened up with being the sole inheritor
of thispany.
“Shall we proceed to go over the will?” | offered gently and he nodded pushing a copy of the will across hisrge solid wood
table.
| reached for the crisp sheet of paper and scanned through it. It stated exactly what | had already known.
“There isn’t
name now, Ch to go over. Whatever your grandfather had left behind is in your
name now. He leaves behind not only thepany but also his assets in the form ofvish vehicles, his mansion in the city, and
arge sum of money.” Mr Hendricks said. with a slight shrug. “And it could not havee at a better time.” He added ina
cl*pped
tone.
| frowned at him. “What do you mean by that?” | queried and he immediately let out a heavy sigh.
Mr Hendricks sat forward in his arm chair, the leather squeaked beneath his weight. “Thepany is not performing at its best
as ofte. If there had been a way for me to intervene sooner, | would have, but the will stated not until you were twenty-six of
age.” He informed me and that was news to me.
years
It had been a good business that boomed and performed highly. Perhaps years of negligence had caused it’s damage but | could
only hope that it had been repairable.
“I''m sure | could mend things once | have a few virtual meetings with the board members and the rest of the departments.” A look
of disapproval had marred his face at
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Chapter 6
what | had said.
“Virtual meeting?” He shook his head instantly looking like a dog trying to shake out the water from his fur. “I’m afraid if you really
want to save the business from bankruptcy, you will need to be hands on. It still has great potential and it’s just in need of a
guiding hand. It had been a while since any one has checked in on the business operations leading to its current state. The
shareholders are influential people and it is only a matter of time before they be restless and pull away from thepany.”
He advised and it gave me hope for betterment but it wasn’t what | wanted to hear.
Being hands on means a lot more than | was ready for. It meant returning back to New York for more than just a friendly visit. It
meant running in to the people | did not want to see ever again. It meant exposing my child to a part of her life that was best kept
concealed.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.
On the other hand, it was my grand father’s legacy that | had the opportunity to save. Once | had done that then my life would be
set and | would be free from the convential working hours. Not that | hated working but it meant for freedom to be with Hayley for
more hours in the day.
After a week of dying and contemting over heading back to the one ce | never ever intending of setting foot in, | had
arrived at a decision. It was with Adams help that | managed to conjure up the courage knowing that he would be apanying
me to New York. Adam could go for his meeting and | could see to taking over as head of thepany with out feeling like | was
all alone.
My departure was scheduled a few dayster in which time | held a few meetings with thepany’s managerial department to
inform them of my arrival along with the PR team. It was then suggested by the PR team that a shareholder meeting he
scheduled a day after | arrive. Shareholders would want to know who is thepany’s new owner and it was a good opportunity
to develop rtions and gain trust from them before they began getting weary.
My years of experience in the business world had proved vital and beneficial in me taking on such a role but having said that |
still felt intimidated by all of it.
Days had flown by and before | knew it, my bags were being loaded on to Adams private jet along with Hayley and her nanny. It
was her first time flying and she was excited for the new experience.
It was one of the things | loved about Hayley. She never let anything hold her back. from taking joys in even the most simplest of
things. When days were tough, she got tougher and | admired her so much for it.
“How are you feeling about all of this?” Adams voice moved my y attention away from Hayley and on to him where he had sat
next to me.
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Chapter 6
The knitwear he had worn had been a dark grey in colour andplemented his eyes well. | shook the thought out of my head
and responded to his question.
“I''d be lying if | said | wasn’t scared to death.” | tried to sound light about it and failed terribly. “Returning back to the country |
swore to never spare a second nce does have its own kind of strain.” | leaned my the side of my head against the soft seat
and watched Adam’s eyes scan my face.
“I''ve seen you brave a lot of challenges, Sophia, and | don’t have a shadow of a doubt that you''ll be able to sail smoothly through
these treacherous waters of uncertainty.” His full I*ps spread in to a gentle smile and | appreciated him so much.
“It isn’t just taking over a wholepany that I’m worried about but it’s also the reality that | would be cing myself right within
arm''s reach of people | should never be sharing the same air as. People who hurt me without sparing a thought.” | swallowed the
lump that had formed on the back of my throat realising just how hurt | still felt about
all of it.
Despite thinking | was over it for years, that | worked on forgetting it all, that | was unaffected by it, had all been shattered in just
a second.
“You do not give yourself enough credit, Soph. Adam said in disbelief. “The woman they knew and the one sitting across from me
are two different people. You have to go back there and show them that you are no weakling. The position you''re in grants you
more than enough reason to behave the role.” Adam’s face was serious now and his words made me realise that he was right.
| left New York hurt, disadvantaged, and weak but | return being far from those things. There was no reason for me to not utilise it
to my full advantage and then maybe I''d see how little | had to fear.
Driving from thending strip had been a memory reviver. Each street we had driven on or each shop we had passed by jogged
my memory of life here when | worked as an assistant. There was nothing about it all that | missed. It hade as a surprise to
me that there was no string sense of nostalgia welling up within me.
“Mama.” Hayley calling for me got my attention in a heartbeat. | tore my eyes away from the scenes shing past the windows of
the SUV and looked to her.
“Yes, baby.” | reached out her hand to caress her dark hair that was the exact same shade as her father’s.
“Where are we going?” She asked as she turned to look out at the ce that was all unfamiliar to her.
“To the ce mama grew up in.” | responded watching her innocently look out the window.
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Chapter 6
| knew that | would protect her if it meant doing so with by own life and | was determined to keep her away from any sort of harm.
My phone pinged and checked it to find an email from thepany. A list of the shareholders had been forwarded to me
beforehand and | knew that | should go through it before the meeting just so | was familiar with who would be
showing up.
With less than 12 hours to prepare, | had a lot to do.
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