To a new beginning!

Part 6

"There is a couple of ways we can do this, i can read Mr Henshaw's will, word for word and explain what all the legal talk means, or i can give you the meaning, the terms and the options first. Whichever you all are comfortable with"

"Do it the easy way, please." Susan answered.

"All right" The lawyer glanced at his laptop and said "He left you fifteen million naira, miss Hanna, for all the years you have worked here at the house"

"Fifteen million Naira??" Hanna's eyes popped. "What am i going to do with fifteen million Naira?" Hanna murmured in shock

The lawyer smiled "well you can spend it however you like, or choose to invest it. Its your money, after all."

"My God" Hanna murmured again, overwhelmed at the thought.

"Miss Bee" the lawyer continued "Mr shaw also left you the sum of fifteen million Naira, and a building in lekki phase one for your fashion house."

Bee's head shot up like a bullet.

"What? Why?" She asked, shocked.

Susan glared at her.

"Please ignore her and continue" she told the lawyer.

"The house, the cars, the rest of the money in all bank accounts, Shaw's Citrus and its holdings is to continue as usual, expenses drawn, salaries paid, profits banked or reinvested with you as operator, Susan, under the executor's supervision for a period of one year"

"Hang on" Susan said, interrupting him. "Under the executor's supervision? That would be you correct?" The lawyer nodded. "Why? Plus i don't plan to be here for another week not to talk of a year. What's going on?"

"I was about to get to that" he said, peering at her patiently from under his glasses.

"I am sorry. Go on"

"Under certain conditions" He continued "if those conditions are met under the course of a year, beginning no later than fourteen days from the reading of the will, the house, the company and its holdings will become the sole property and sole interest of the beneficiaries."

"What conditions? And who are the beneficiaries?" Susan asked, interrupting again.

"Mr Henshaw left you and your mother equal share of interest in the properties and money and 40 percent shares each of the company. The rest of the 20 percent goes to Mr Gbadebo. But in order to inherit, you and your mother must live together in this house, leaving the property for no longer than a week, for a full year. At the end of that time, if conditions are met, each beneficiary will have equal share of interest. This interest cannot be sold or transferred to anyone other than one of the other beneficiaries for a period of ten years. Should in case, one of the beneficiaries dies within the said ten year period, the other beneficiary takes the 80 percent."

Susan laughed in disbelief. "I'm sorry, there must be some kind of mistake because there is no way my father would write such a ridiculous thing. He knows fully damn well i have a life somewhere else and a career that's just starting to kick off. So this doesn't stick, at all, because an ice factory would have to be set and working perfectly well in hell before i would even consider living here and with my mother of all people for a year."

"It will stick Miss Henshaw" the lawyer said solemnly, removing his heavy lensed glasses. "Your father's terms and wishes were very well thought out, and presented." He took out a hardcopy of the will from his brown bag and handed it to her. "If you don't agree to the terms, the properties and company will be donated, in it's entirety, to the federal government. And the interests of other beneficiaries will also be at risk, they won't get a dime as well."

Susan felt the blood drain from her face.

"Other beneficiaries? You mean Hanna and Bee? He can't do that. Surely he can't" Susan pressed her hand to her temple because her head had started to hurt.

What the hell was her father trying to do? Control her life one more time even from the grave? He knew she'ld die before she lets Hanna and Bee lose what they deserve and more. He knew she would never be able to walk away with those kind of conditions. Damn him! Susan could feel the rage and frustration burning in her stomach.

Damn him all the way to hell!!.

Susan closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gain control of her emotions.

"Can the will be contested?" She asked after a moment.

"It will be a very long process Miss Henshaw, you will lose your time and money. Lots of it and still have about Eighty-five percent of losing the case. Yes it can be contested but i'ld advice you don't do it"

"Goddamnit!!" Susan said in frustration.

"One more thing. Numi Gbadebo is to remain acting CEO and you Miss Henshaw, acting COO for the said year."

The lawyer gathered his things and stood up. "You still have two weeks to think about it, i know it wont be easy but i hope you make the right decision. Whatever it might be. I'll be in touch in fourteen days time. Or sooner. I'll be leaving now."

It took a moment, after the lawyer and Numi left, before any one spoke. It was Martha who broke the silence.

"I'm sorry Susan. I had no idea"

"Somehow, i find that very hard to believe. For all i know you could have influenced all this, manipulated him when he was sick and weak"

Neither noticed when Hanna and Crystal quietly left the room.

"No one could manipulate your father into doing anything, sick or healthy. You know that" Martha said quietly.

"Your presence obviously did!" Susan shouted in anger. "Seeing you again messed up his brain and he wasn't thinking right when he wrote that piece of crap of a will. Why the hell did you come back anyway?!! Why didn't you stay where the hell you have been all these years when i needed you?! Why the fuck now?!" Susan didn't notice or feel the tears falling from her eyes freely now.

"I came back for you!" Martha returned, matching Susan's shouts. "I came back because i needed to see and get to know the daughter i left behind like the coward i was! Maybe it was extremely selfish of me to just come back into your life, but i had to do it anyway. Not seeing you or asking your forgiveness was eating me up faster than this cancer!"

She stared at her mother.

"You have cancer?"