A Rose Among Ashes

n's

bout. Their voices carry into the air, pinched faces, hurrying lips, narro

ing. It won't be long before rain patters to the earth. I hope it does

family lawyer, saunters in. His shoes tap lightly against the marble floor as he crosses the sp

split second, I feel warm, slender fin

head subtly. "N

r. "The will reading is

ning further into the couch. "O

inst it, moving instead to the black briefcase in his hands. In a

rything in this document stands. If you have issues with it, you can take it up with the

mother, seated at the opposite si

s about the properties and assets owned by my father. I allow my mind to tr

e everything I needed to know to run the chain of com

ls my name, and even the silence in the room deepens

grown to live below your potential. It is what I term a reckless life, and I would like to se

ame. Stoic and expressionless. I know my father. He would not

the next page. "But this is o

n the roo

one month of my death," David continues. "Control of the Montenegr

carries through the room. "I mean, my hu

s. Of course. He is going to make

pany's ownership shares will go to my nephew, Xavier Montenegro. This is to en

ly with a smug look on his face. He leans

one thing I have learned from my late father, it is the fact

eyes bearing that gleam of surprise. He expected me to do something m

s,

is a meeting scheduled with some investors tonight. Just in case Xavier takes

sh nephew nods in agreement, his wide

, leaning to plant a chaste peck on

She whispers, her ey

ng with her friends tonig

ased to be called home ages ago, waiting out on

s he gets the ba

you,

gards me from the rearview mirror.

at happened

e. "News sure do

you plan

r is getting the company. Not a

hing about tha

re to the whole city that the young man he parades as his nephew is ac

ull speed. "If he does, he would know

ing out the Montenegro Conglomerat

s hits the brakes hard, pushing me forward. She halts in that split second