Excelsior

Chapter 18: The heiress

Someone knocked on the door, and, without any response given, they were suddenly opened by Evelyn. Her mien was reddish with anger and her hands were firmly gripping the door handles.

"Good evening," Mr. Leonard Cabot greeted with indifference. His eyes were staring at the computer screen as he typed, "my dear."

"I apologize," the butler said, "sir. I specifically told Miss Cabot to wait as I announce you her surprising visit."

"No need to," he took off his glasses, "Walter. In fact, I expected her to come earlier. Can I help you with something, my dearest Evelyn?"

"Actually, you can."

The Butler closed the doors.

"How have you been?" he asked with a bold smile.

"Let us save the formalities, because I am not here for a social visit."

"Take a seat, and don't raise your tone."

Reluctantly, she sat down.

"I would like to know why you have changed the terms of my inheritance."

"I must admit, my Evelyn, that this has not been an easy decision for me. I have been pushed by everyone: your grandad, your uncle, even your grandmother told me that she has tried to convince you.

"So, she has told you that she has coming to my house almost every day for the last few weeks?"

"Yes, and also that it bothered you that she visited you without even calling, which is what now you are doing."

"This visit has more merits. Why have you removed me from your will?"

"I did not remove you, my dear. I just conditioned your inheritance. People gossip about you, and I can't afford to have your bad company ruin our reputation. Your personal decisions have not been the best, so before your grandfather decides to remove me from the will, I prefer to act immediately."

She protested.

"And it's my estate, so I decide how it will be distributed and the terms for my children to benefit from it -what surprises me is that you think that I have removed you. Unless you have planned on not getting married and living like a spinster for the rest of your life, there is no reason for you to be alarmed."

"And why does it have to be a religious wedding?"

"Because I have to make sure that you marry someone of our same religion and of the opposite sex, as civil marriage allows same-sex unions."

"So you think the rumors are true?" Her heart pounded as she waited for her father's response.

Mr. Cabod didn't respond. Evelyn's eyes watered.

"I am sorry, my dear. I have wanted to think these are just rumors, and sadly, the circumstances have made me give them some degree of credibility."

She nodded.

"You are twenty-seven," he continued, "and two of your younger siblings are already married. You're still young and could find a good match."

"I refuse," she said in a brittle voice, "to believe that a simple gossip made you take such a drastic decision, dad."

"It is not a drastic decision. Au contraire, I am already being generous enough to give an inheritance to all my daughters even knowing that once they're married, they'll change their last name, and this will only involve other families in the company. Inheritances should only be given to those who will keep their last name."

"Generous? If that was true, there would be no condition."

"That is not true, and you know it. I would do the same if any of your brothers stained out last name like you do -It even offends me that you think I am not generous. Me, your daddy who bought you a thirty million house only for you; the one who covers most of your expenses because your interest isn't enough to pay your lifestyle. The same one who paid your debt in Monte-Carlo when you had spent your monthly income in two nights, the one that...