The Heirs

Secrets released

   I felt the hair arising at the back of my neck as I slowly took in a deep breath and released it as his deep voice resonated in my ears as I briefly shut my eyes.
      "Hey Son ", said Ambrose on the other end of the phone.
   "D.. dad ", I stammered foolishly as I felt so upset with myself.
     I had promised myself over the years that I was no longer afraid of him but the terrible memories of the past that kept me afraid of him till this very moment always seems to prove me wrong as I tightened my fist .
       "I just got the news, Adrian beat you once again ", said Ambrose.
    "I ... I.. I t..tri..tried m..my  best", I stammered once again while I heard him laugh.
     Oh oh that's not good
  "Dad I will never give up ,I promise", I said silently hoping he would believe in me.
       "You are my son after all so you better do what you need to do", said Ambrose then he hung up before I could reply.
      "O.. ok.. okay", I muttered under my breath  as I angrily tossed away my tie and staring at me from the reflection in my car was Claire.
      "What next", said Claire as she looked at me.
       "I guess it's time we play dirty after all ,all is fair in love and war", I said slowly giving each word the power of destruction as the suspense in the air deepens.
        Cinthia's POV
  The hard glare I received from Adrian when I said yes to our engagement despite knowing he told me to refuse him wasn't enough for me to back down now after all, I'm doing this for my family even if we are not related by blood at least when I was abandoned it was them that took me in and showered me with so much love, something I have never gotten from anyone else in my life,my family means the world to me.
        "Hold on Cinthia ", said Adrian as he came after me while I went upstairs to my room.
      "Yes what is it ", I replied frozen as I sat on the couch in the room while he entered my room and locked the door behind him.
       "Are you actually going to behave like you know nothing,why can't you just tell my dad no", said Adrian as he glared at me
      "It's not that easy Adrian and besides I'm also as sad about this as you are",I said
     "Oh no you aren't,you don't know how it feels to lose someone you love, Claire is my  life Cinthia,you don't understand how I feel about this because you have never been in love ", said Adrian angrily as he walked closer to me making the room suddenly congested as I felt so small in his presence.
      "You know nothing about me,so it will be better for you if you don't act like you know everything Mr Adrian Anderson and yes if you think you can't bear to lose the woman you love so isn't it high time you stopped being a coward and actually stand for what you want instead of standing right in front of me wasting your time by yelling at my face ",I replied angrily as I stood right in front of him staring into the dark blue orbs widening in suprise.
        I'm Cinthia Harrison after all and I don't take nonsense except from Richard whose presence constantly turns me into a jelly.
     "I can't bear to lose my dad and that's why I'm asking you to reject me,this marriage between us isn't going to be to the  benefit of either of us so just call it off", said Adrian as he gave me a last glance before he left me in the room.
      I'm sorry Adrian but I can't help you, I'm selfish.
    I collapsed unto the floor as I couldn't help the tears rolling down my face as I held my chest crying.
   Claire's POV
  Watching the pretend to be happy couple dancing before me in the hall reminded me once again that I needed to step up my game unless I want to reclaim the surname poverty associated with me before I met Adrian Anderson.
      No I can't afford to lose everything ,no I have to do something and that led me to here - talking to Kate later that night in the garden where she was watering the row of hibiscus flower.
      "I was expecting you", said Kate smiling turning to look at me.
       Wow that was totally unexpected
  I was so lost for words as I watched the ridiculous smirk on her face watching me defeated at my very own game.
      "I see you have something to discuss with me so why don't you pick up the watering can and help me out with this", said Kate smiling
       Oh that smile I wish I could wipe it off her face
     "Alright aunt",I replied plastering a fake smile on my face before picking up the watering can as I joined her in watering it.
      "So what do you have for me,Claire Silver", said Kate smiling as she watched me drop the watering can immediately.
      Oh no,how did she know
"I know everything Claire,I did my research on you ", said Kate still smiling.
      "Why ,you don't trust me",I replied looking into her eyes.
    "Trust ,how could I after knowing everything about you is a lie", said Kate with her facial expression emotionless not bothering to give me a hint of how bad the situation I was in was.
       "I had a reason", I said
"Does that reason enough to lie to my son claiming you are a daughter of the owner of the biggest resort in America,how much lies have you fed my son,answer me", said Kate
      For the short period I have known this woman I have never seen her this upset before.
      Think Think think Claire ,bloody think of something .
       I'm sorry,I only had good intentions,aunt,you are right I'm not a daughter of anyone because I lost my dad at the age of eight,my two elder siblings ran away with the very little money my dad had left us,my mum and my three younger siblings depend solely on me for every little thing,I had no choice but to pretend to be someone else so I could provide a better life for them,tell me where did I go wrong,is it a bad thing to support your family even if you had to lie ,tell me but wait you don't have to cos you don't even lift up a finger before you eat everyday but in my life,I get to put the food on their plate every night by starving myself
         "Aren't you going to give me an explanation", said Kate.
    Before I could say anything else, a servant joined us  and fortunately for me , Kate had to leave.
        Plan failed ,my plan was to talk to her about how much I loved Adrian that this engagement is ruining Adrian and I's relationship and her son's happiness is at stake but who doesn't know that the wife of the richest man in the world has done a research on her- me .
       Now I guess I have to find ways to stop this engagement no matter what after all I have the king of this chess - Adrian wrapped around my finger,he just loves me so much .
       Adrian's POV
   After having an argument with Cinthia ,I was so frustrated  as I picked up my car keys from the desk ready to spend another night at the bar.
       "Isn't this becoming an habit, Adrian",asked Philip as we sat on a stool next to the bar .
    "Give me one shot of your best drink", I said to the bartender.
      "Wow,slow down rich man, so here's what I found out ,I know you told me it was dangerous now that I shouldn't,I know that you will be very upset with me, it's just that I want to get to the bottom of this,I just...
      Placing a drink on his lips to stop his rambling made me frown.
     "I'm sorry", said Philip as he drank the shot .
   "So spill it out", I said looking at him.
   "So maybe I hacked the police record,I hacked the bar CCTV camera and ..
     "Will you just tell me the point you are trying to make instead of listing out crimes the police could arrest you for", I said drinking another shot.
       "That accident six years ago was planned", said Philip.
      "Duh I know , it's been stated already", I  replied drinking.
       "Your car brakes were touched so you could die that night", said Philip.
    "I know and that's why I ran away from home six years ago so I could save my skin and because I knew it was my fault my best friend got hurt that night", I said as I drank another shot.
     "Ava right ", said Philip.
   "You see I have been able to rub some of my sense on you ", I boasted smiling
     "In your dreams", said Philip smiling as he drank.
     "Oh you don't want to know what I dream about this days",I said frowning.
     "Still that same woman who you did mouth to mouth resuscitation for", said Philip smirking stupidly.
      "Shut up Philip we wouldn't want the walls to hear that", I said drunkily as I smiled.
       "Cinthia's not that bad though ", said Philip smiling.
       "But I love Claire ", I said smiling.
    "I know,so here's another thing I found out ", said Philip showing me a picture on his phone.
     "That's a property transfer document", I replied looking at him.
     "Guess who I found it with", said Philip.
"How am I supposed to know that", I said drinking.
      "Well it was with Richard", said Philip.
     "So",I  slurred
  "He's after the property", said Philip.
        Then I laughed
"What's so funny", Philip asked looking at me like I have lost my mind.
     "That's because if he wanted the property he could have just asked Dad",I said brushing it away.
     "What if your dear father doesn't want to give it to him", said Philip.
     "Oh ", I said looking hard into the cold air hoping to find the answers to solve this crazy puzzle.
          "If he wants to have the properties,I would tell you that he has been doing a nice job", said Philip drinking.
       "I am sorry Philip but I don't believe this",I said confidently looking at him.
          "I know you wouldn't after all he's your brother so this is what I will tell you as someone who is looking after you, Richard is hiding somethings from you, he's not innocent", said Philip.
       I kept quiet as I drank so many shots hoping all my pain, sorrow and unanswered questions will be taken by it and long forgotten .
       I'm tired ,I need answers and I need to get out of this mess called marriage.