Chapter 48 I Object
THIRD PERSON’S POV.
For everyone else, it was just another Tuesday. But for the Gregorys, it was the day fate would render its verdict, the day every Gregory heir gathered in the oval-shaped greenhouse, where the family lawyers would read the will, assign inheritances, and quietly redraw the bloodline’s future.
They had started to arrive early the previous day. Every auntie, cousin, niece, and nephew flooded into the compound in their luxurious cars.
A lot of the extended family members had specific times in a year when you would see them. It was either a wedding, a funeral, a family vacation, or as it is now, a will reading.
Although, it had been over fifty years since the Gregory family last gathered to hear the will of a Gregory Enterprises CEO.
When Charles Gregory’s father died young of lung cancer and left the company to him outrightly bypassing his older brother, Charles had to assume control the moment he turned eighteen. It was a decision that planted something ugly and permanent in the family, an unspoken resentment that never fully faded.
For fifty-two years, Charles ruled Gregory Enterprises, and by extension, the Gregory family itself. His authority went largely unquestioned; his word became final by habit and even more by fear.
Most of the people here today had not even attended grandpa’s funeral. Serena thought to herself.
Last night’s family dinner had been chaotic, proof that none of these people considered themselves family. They only cared for the power that came with the Gregory name.
“He will be missed.” Benedict Gregory had said in a tone that made it painfully clear he meant the opposite.
Pa Benedict, as they all called him, is the eldest son of the Gregory lineage and some would even say the rightful heir. He had referred to Charles as a usurper ever since their father chose him. The only power Benedict had was as the eldest in the family a lot of the decisions passed through him but it was safe to say he still hated Charles immensely.
Serena signaled to the waiter to wheel in the champagne. As it was tradition to them that at every will reading just before the lawyers arrive, champagne is shared amongst the family to remind them all that they were still blood, regardless of the outcome.
When everyone had gotten a glass, Serena stood to her feet, her chair scraped backwards with a loud commanding sound. She wanted them all focused on her instead of Horace who was also making to stand up because he was supposed to make the toast as interim head of the house.
But Serena beat him to it, everybody turned to her, and she could hear the low whispers fly amongst relatives.
She raised her glass, “A toast to Charles Gregory. The man he was, the man he will always be remembered as.”
“Cheers,” everyone responded, clinking glasses and applauding.
Serena turned to Horace and smirked. That has been a power move, she just told the family that Horace wasn’t capable of leading.
Moments later, the lawyers walked in, holding a brown leather suitcase that looked like it had just been pulled from the bank vault.
The company’s shareholders followed closely behind.
The last to enter the room was Elizabeth Gregory. Charles’ younger sister had made her the board chairman, her authority was almost as powerful as the CEO’s.
She was the only one from her extended family that Serena cared for and liked.
“Hello everyone, sorry I’m late.” Elizabeth apologized.
She smiled and nodded at Serena. Then took the empty seat next to her.
“Can we start already?” Benedict said. Visibly irritated.
That voice. Serena thought, that voice sounded awfully familiar, like something she had heard recently which was strange because she hadn’t seen Pa Benedict in years.
Spencer white stood and cleared her throat,
“This document constitutes the last will and testament of Charles Gregory. It was executed lawfully and remains uncontested. What follows is final.”
She proceeded to recite the cost of Charles' funeral and list all of the charities he donated to and stated that donations to those had to be continued without compromise.
She stated his net worth at the time of death, taxes included.
The room was quiet, but no one was really listening. They didn’t come to hear about taxes and charities and until Spencer got to the important part, it was like speaking to a room of trees.
When she was done with the preliminaries, Bill stood and started to read and allocate the minor inheritances. Distant relatives who got a trinket or some family heirloom.
“The custom cushion-cut sapphire neck piece has been guarded by trusted Gregory families from generation to generation and I want it to be passed onto my nephew Victor Gregory and his family…”
“What? That piece has always been in my family” Someone whispered at the back.
Bill ignored the person and continued.
“And to Sara, I leave my cottage in Amsterdam.”
“And to….”
“Is that it?” Sarah scoffed. “All I get is silly courage in bloody Amsterdam?”
“At least you got something. The only thing of wealth we ever had was taken from us.” Daisy Gregory said painfully and loud enough for everyone to hear this time. Apparently, the sapphire necklace has been her family’s to guard for years.
“Can we settle down please?” Bill urged them.
When Bill was done distributing the trinkets. Joseph Petersen stood up, and the energy in the room completely shifted. Everyone stiffened immediately.
Being the company’s lawyer and Horace’s personal lawyer, Joseph handled the main inheritance, grandpa probably wanted him to read it and not bill who the family was familiar with.
Joseph arranged the documents in his hands and then cleared his throat and started.
“The remaining section of Mr. Charles Gregory’s will concerns the controlling shares of Gregory Enterprises, the Gregory family estates, and the principal financial holdings accumulated under the Gregory Trust.”
Clara straightened in her chair.
Across the table, Serena didn't move a muscle.
The lawyers brought out the final sealed document.
“Mr. Gregory specifies that these assets, collectively referred to as the Primary Estate, are not to be divided equally.”
A distant relative in the back gasped. Another coughed and whispered. “How come?”
Horace's jaw clenched. He had already seen the will, but hearing it read aloud by the company lawyer made it feel more real.
Joseph Petersen continued.
“According to the terms stated here, 80 percent of all controlling shares in Gregory Enterprises, along with the Monterra estate and the majority of the Gregory Trust accounts, are to be transferred to Miss Serena Gregory…”
His words left the room silent. Eyes moved, rolling and winking but not a single word was uttered.
Clara’s fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
“…under the condition that she is legally married at the time of this will’s execution and remains so for a minimum period of five years.”
Now the room truly erupted.
“Five years?” someone echoed.
The lawyer raised a hand to hush the growing whispers before continuing,
“Then, ten percent of controlling shares, along with the Santa Varela coastal properties are to be transferred to Miss Clara Gregory, effective immediately upon the reading of this will.”
Clara sniffed, even in death her grandfather still managed to make her feel worthless and unloved next to Serena.
“There is, however, an additional clause.”
The lawyer lifted another page.
“In the event that Miss Serena Gregory is unmarried at the time of execution, her allocated shares are to be temporarily placed under trust management, and Miss Clara Gregory will assume interim voting control of the company until such marital condition is fulfilled.”
He looked up at the sisters.
“And in the unlikely event that both my granddaughters’ in the persons of Miss Clara Gregory and Miss Serena Gregory remain unmarried two years after the reading of this will all the shares shall be sold to the highest bidder and the proceeds given to charity.
More murmurs rose among the attending relatives.
“Charity? Voices whispered.
Serena and Clara exchanged a look.
The lawyer folded his hands calmly.
“Mr. Gregory’s final note regarding this section reads: ‘Leadership must belong to the one who proves both loyalty to the family and stability in personal life. Power should never rest in uncertain hands.’”
He closed the folder.
“That concludes the distribution of the Primary Estate.”
All eyes turned to Serena. She had just been given the keys to the city. The power of attorney and ownership of basically everything that made being a Gregory such a great pleasure.
They all stared at her like she was supposed to do something but no one said what.
She thought hard, should she bow? Perhaps a wave? An applause?
She pinched herself, if she had a glass of champagne she would have raised a toast.
Now she just sat there, watching the reactions of every family member.
Her eyes locked on Horace, who sat directly across from her. For a moment she had forgotten about him.
She waited for him to react, to do something. Horace had already seen the will so she knew he had something up his sleeve.
“Alright then,” Bill started. “It will take a month for us to arrange a handover.”
Horace scraped his chair backwards and stood up slowly with his hand raised.
“I object.” He said.
All eyes snapped to him, silence enveloping the room. No one moved, no one spoke, no one so much as breathed too loudly.