Chapter 4 The Gift

Resh's POV

I just came back from changing my shirt when it was announced that everyone should proceed to the adjacent part of the yacht for fireworks display and gift giving.  As usual,we'd be last to get our ass out of the room so I sat first next to my wife, Patrice. I noticed her sweet smile as I took my seat. She was so pretty in her dark blue gown and I was quite ashamed to accompany her wearing one of those old shirts of Mister Mikael Vonne.  I had no choice though. I'm not interested in parties like this but to show gratitude to the old man's help for putting a roof over my head and food to fill my tummy, here I am to fullfill one of his "deathbed wish", to present a valuable gift to his second wife, the lost ruby ring that once contained the poison given to him.

A month before he died, one of the servants found the ring half buried in the garden. It was Lady Henda's favorite ring but she lost it a few days prior to the day it was found by the servant. Before he was able to pick it up, the servant saw a cat licked the ring and it fell ill after. He secretly tried to speak to Mikael Vonne and gave him the ring back. After a careful examination of the content, it was found out that it had traces of poison in a small compartment behind the ruby stone. Perhaps Lady Henda used to add a few powder to the old man's tea and that was why the old man fell ill so suddenly.

When he knew that his wife was plotting to kill him, he wrote his will and divided the shares of the company among his children and grandchildren. We all got fifteen percent shares except for Miss Camille who only got 10 percent. Everyone thought it unfair that I should be getting fifteen percent also. However, when he instructed me to marry his granddaughter Patrice, I saw the logic of the old man. The shares was divided on each family by forty five percent for Richmond and my father in law, David.

"Resh, did you buy a gift for the old Lady as we have instructed you to?" my mother-in-law asked with some annoyance in her voice.

"Yes mother. I had the shop wrap it nicely as well," I lied to her.

"Ok, I hope it is a nice one that doesn't look cheap. You didn't give us a chance to look at it," David commented.

"Yes, she would like it very much, I am sure."

"Let us all move now, you guys, as there are a few people left here in the dining room," Patrice said as she got up and walked on ahead.