“Would you like me to read it?” the lawyer asked Stella.
“Yes, please,” she said. I watched her tuck her hands between her legs, and for the first time in my life, I thought I saw her eyes well up with tears.
I’d never seen her react this strongly to anything before.
“My dearest Stella,” the lawyer began. “First, let me say how proud I am of you. Your passion for reading and education is akin to my own, and it brings me great pride to see the young woman you’ve blossomed into. What you have accomplished in your life is more than most, and you should carry your pride as a badge.”
I heard her sniffle as the lawyer paused, and I watched her every movement. The tear running down her face streaked the makeup she had tried to throw on this morning, and part of me wanted to reach out and hold her hand. With her inheriting the company, I didn’t think she’d take this as hard as she was. She was the smart one, and everyone knew she’d be alright.
“I tell you all of this knowing you will be angry with my decision about the company,” the lawyer said.
I watched Stella tip her head up. The lawyer now had the whole of my attention, and the hands that were tucked between her thighs were now clutching the chair.
“You are my daughter, my ray of sunshine. The light in my eye and the angel of my days. You are strong, beautiful, and I know you will be fine without me. I have taught you well, and you have succeeded in everything you have set out to do. I do not want something like Harte To Heart to hold you back from all you have yet to accomplish, which is why I am handing the company over to Christian.”
“Excuse me?” I said.
“Which is why I am handing the company over to Christian,” the lawyer repeated.
“He’s doing what?” Stella asked breathlessly.
I looked over at her and saw a red flush rising up her neck. Her crying eyes immediately turned hard, with those ice green eyes reflecting the anger fluttering up her skin. She was gripping the chair so hard her arms were shaking, and I simultaneously felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my gut.
He was fucking giving me the company? I didn’t know shit about the business. I couldn’t have cared less about his idiotic company!
“My relationship with Christian over the years has shown me that not only is he intelligent enough to run the company, but he is, in fact, capable of it. My beautiful daughter, you are wise beyond your years, and you are still in the process of getting your Bachelor’s degree. You need to pursue that. I know how important your education is to you. I won’t allow this company to divert you from something you’ve always dreamed of as a little girl.”
“He can’t what?” she asked flatly.
“Stella, it’s not—”
“Shut up,” she said, whipping her head in my direction. “Shut. Up.”
“Christian is prepared to take over this company, even though he might not realize it. His natural want to learn and digest every single medical journal just because he wants to will push the company in the direction it needs to keep going. You, my beautiful daughter, will want to preserve my legacy within it. Christian will take his intelligence and push it in the direction all modern companies need to go to succeed in the emerging marketplace.”
“What does all of that mean?” I asked.
“The mere fact that you ask that question means you aren’t equipped to run the damn company,” Stella said.
“Don’t worry, I don’t want to run the damn company,” I said.
“How the hell is he getting the business?” she asked the lawyer. “He doesn’t even want it! That must hold weight in here, right?”
“Not in the least,” the lawyer said.
“Is there anything else in that letter?” she asked.
“Know that I love you and that I have the best interests of both you and the company in mind. I am forever yours. Signed, Your Father,” the lawyer said.
I watched her stand there, her balled-up fists trembling at her sides while she processed all that was happening. I could see the fiery stare accompanied with her swirling mind, and I had half a notion to think she was going to slug the lawyer. Her shoulders were rolled back, and her muscles were pulled taut, and just as quickly as the soft side of her appeared, it had dissipated.
And in its place was the spoiled, entitled brat I’d always grown up with.
“It’s bullshit, and you know it,” she said.
“It’s apparently what your father wanted,” I said.
“You don’t even want the company. I spent the entirety of my education grooming myself to take over his company. And what the hell did you do with your time?” she asked.