15: Out Of Sheer Curiosity

Eve

Not sure I want to play dress up for my mom's funeral but Madame Antoinette wouldn't let me be... Forcing me to fit into a black maxi gown, as usual the corset was squeezing my organs the more the servant Gina drew the strings...

"It's all for the show" that's what she said.

After an entire 3 hrs of being hauled up in my room in the name of appearing presentable since the elders would be present too at the funeral, I stepped out of my quarters, clad in a black turtleneck black gown, full sleeves, and a black translucent veil draped over me.

So suffocating, not just the dress... the atmosphere, the dread.

The estate was packed with mobsters and some relatives I have never seen before.

some will be heading to the funeral, others will stick around to break bottles and spill blood.

When I was already on the ground floor, heading for the front entrance, I sensed an eye on me... not one, not two... I tilted my neck upwards and the first person I caught staring at me was... Christopher, my son.

He was staring at me with those hazel eyes; something told me he's about to cause mischief.

Six years ago I married a man while I was in uni since dad wouldn't stop pressuring me. Luckily the man I picked was ill; in fact he had a few months to live, and he begged me to give him an heir since he never wanted any of his sons, brothers, or family to inherit his wealth. It was a win-win situation, so I agreed and entered a contract marriage that only lasted six months before he died. He didn't even get to meet his son, but he already had me sign another contract to discipline and mentor the child until he was of age and capable, that's when he could have access to his inheritance.

So sad.

I miss him sometimes. Those six months were the best times of my life... I couldn't lie. But now my in laws have turned against me and my son, saying I was a gold digger. They're doing everything possible to prove to the court that my child isn't fit to inherit such massive wealth and that the marriage was a sham.

The thing is they are afraid of the day the 'Will' will be read, so they're doing everything possible to ensure they take what they can.

Christopher looked everything like the mayor. I'm sure he'll be proud, wherever he is...

Wherever mom is, I just hope she's happy.

When the boy escaped my line of sight, I gripped the hem of my dress and ran up the grand stairs. Once I was at the mezzanine, he took a turn to the right.

"Hey! Aren't you supposed to be in Manchester, come back here!!"

Fuck it! I almost tripped on my heels but I didn't stop chasing him, ignoring the bystanders' judging gazes.

I could just let someone bring him to me instead of doing the chasing, but that boy had a stone for a head; he's not familiar with these people here... not even the relatives here, so he's gonna start with his tantrums again.

Maybe he felt insecure, that's why he was looking for a spot to hide now.

I was close to catching him when he ran past the french doors gating a long hall, and shut it in my face.

"Come out here!!"

"I told Crandon to bring me here! I want to stay here... I want to see grandma!"

Oh, I exhaled. Of course he wants to see mother... that's why he ran into her quarters.

To think that my son is closer to my mother at the age I was starting to detach from her...

Nothing more to say, I found my seat on the floor, resting my back on the doors, relaxing.

He will soon come out, and when he does... I'll be here waiting to reprimand him for making my back ache terribly.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

I checked my pocketwatch.

10 minutes, tick. Tock. I checked again, 33 minutes gone.

Tick. 

Tock

45 minutes.

The funeral starts at noon... I'm not yet late, but I'll be late if Christopher helps me. 

I pushed up my dress, rising to a foot, i kicked hard twice until the wooden doors parted wide for my entrance.

"Chris..."

I checked all the rooms as I moved until I stopped at the grand bedroom.

I heaved a sigh upon finding a little boy resting on my mother's study desk, resting his face on pages of a book and drooling all over it as he slept.

Even with the noise he still slept like a baby. I hauled him up in my arms, and he hugged my neck tighter in reflex, burying his face in the crook of my neck. Once a baby, always my baby.

Out of sheer curiosity I picked up the book, only to realize four minutes into reading the content on the pages that it wasn't a regular book but my mom's diary.

She had one of these? It only made sense since she never really spoke enough about the skeletons in her closet or the burden on her shoulders.

The last page I read didn't just leave me speechless but also confused and furious at the same time.

I made my way out of the room, holding two things, my son and the diary containing the truth.

All of a sudden a lot of things made better sense when they shouldn't.

"Is my plane ready?" I asked my secretary, Crandon.

Crandon has been my right hand man for three years now, he acts like a robot, most times I believe he is a robot. 

He shook his head, fixing his glasses as I approached him at the foyer. "No"

"Why!!"

When the head on my shoulder moved I regretted the volume of my voice.

"Mommy?"

"Sleep sweetheart," I kissed his forehead, hoping he'd somehow go back to sleep; instead his eyes widened open...

"Are you mad at Crandon for bringing me here?" 

His eyes moved back and forth between me and Crandon.

I glared at Crandon, if he never brought Chris... I wouldn't have had this revelation today.

"Of course not, actually I wanted to ask Crandon if he wants a day off."

Crandon ripped the glasses off his face, with a guilty expression... I should fire him though, but...

"I mean it... Take the day off." I told him.

If he hadn't brought Christopher, I might never have discovered this diary.

"But madam I—"

He was still talking when a commotion happening in the courtyard out front got louder.

Don't tell me these relatives are partying over the death of my mother.

I narrowed my eyes at Crandon.

"Why isn't my plane ready?"

"The pilot—"

Crandon had started speaking when I marched forward, heading outside to understand why there was a commotion, even the atmosphere had gotten a lot more noisy... It sounded like helicopter.

The second I was outside with my little boy the wind hit me like tidal waves, dust particles in the air and withered dry leaves mixed with the wild wind that was around the whole place.

Raising my head, with an arm covering my nose and mouth, I caught sight of a helicopter above just there, levitating... with propellers causing more chaos to the wind.

CLICK

CLICK 

CLICK 

CLICK.

I shifted my gaze to all the guards in uniform, aiming their guns, preparing for the incoming intruder that would descend from the ladder that had just been let down.

The leader of this security unit was Benjamin. I sensed his presence when he stood beside me.

"Long time no see, Ms Eve," I spared him a glance, noting how the warmth in his voice was gone and it was now replaced with something colder and disheartening.

"Lower your f.u.c.king weapons!" I declared once the identity of the intruder was confirmed with my naked eyes.

Flavian Waldorf, my one and only dear step-uncle, has arrived at last.