Chapter 6 — Maxwell Hernandez's Last Wishes

Pedro Hernandez

The company is still the same, in the same place, although the employees have changed. Max never stayed with the same people for more than five years. We had a little trouble getting in, since the journalists seemed to be aware of what was going on. They surrounded my mother like hawks hunting prey. I'm glad they didn't recognize me, or I would have been shot down with enormous questions about my disappearance. Adrielle would also be shocked to find out that I was back, as would Victor, although I believe his wife has already told him.

The hall is still huge, with dark marble decorating the floor and walls of the reception. We are in the headquarters, the parent company, where everything about the other branches is coordinated. If I remember correctly, a few floors above us are the casinos and at the top of the building, the administrative part of the company. The valet took our car while my mother, Bruno and I went inside.

I'm still uncomfortable about this, this idea of ​​having to hear about his will. I wonder who else could have the right to his things if not my mother. I don't even care about what he left me, but I want him to have at least been considerate of her.

We walk towards one of the meeting rooms in the entrance hall. If I remember correctly, these are rooms that clients can rent to conduct business, much like we are doing. The dark wooden doors open and I notice people I've never seen before. One of my father's lawyers is standing, sitting in a chair in front of a huge table. This time, we won't be sitting at a rectangular table; there are chairs arranged in rows, as if there were more people to hear this testimony.

A man in a black suit approaches us, his gaze calm.

"Sofia," he greets my mother and nods to Bruno.

"Smith. How nice to see you," she answers him kindly.

The man studies me. His face is familiar to me, I know I must have seen him at some point in my life. I recognize him by the way he arches his eyebrows. Smith was the company's public relations director. He was Max's right-hand man. The only employee my father wouldn't accept replacing was him.

"Do you remember my son, Pedro?" My mother subtly points at me.

"Oh, I remember, you were young when you left. Max told me you chose to study abroad." Her tone is full of pride.

I snort as I hear Max's lies. I didn't choose to study abroad, I was forced to leave Los Angeles. I tilt my head subtly to the right side, while my eyes are fixed on him.

"Did he also tell you that he didn't give me any options?"

Smith frowns, confused.

"No..." He murmurs.

My mother touches my arm, as if silently asking me to avoid that subject.

“Johnson asked for your presence at the reading of the will?” She asks the man in the suit.

“Yes, he said that Max requested my presence for the reading.” She says. “Sofia, there is more-…”

He couldn't finish his sentence, since we were interrupted by a female voice calling my mother's name. When I turn to her, I can barely remain standing. Not because of the woman calling her, but because of the one behind her, accompanied by her husband.

“Sofia Hernandez.” An older woman says, with a tone that makes my entire body shiver.

“Amanda Williams.” My mother's tone is not pleasant.

I feel a tense atmosphere settle over us, but I can barely breathe because my eyes are fixed on the red-haired woman who is wearing a long, tight black dress, highlighting all the curves of her body, as well as her full breasts covered by the modest neckline. There is a blazer hanging under her arms adorned with gold jewelry. I can see the gold ring on her ring finger. The man with her has a rigid posture, short, well-cut hair, a neat beard and a tie with a perfectly aligned knot, which makes me understand that she was the one who tied it. I used to tie my tie that way, but after I went to Madrid, I stopped wearing ties. I still wear formal clothes, three-piece suits, but nothing more.

“Who is this handsome man? Your nephew?” she asks, looking in my direction.

Her tone makes me uneasy, even uncomfortable. My eyes focus on her and the tense atmosphere that settles over us. My mouth cannot answer her. I don’t want to say that I came back so abruptly. Adrielle will be in for a huge shock if that happens and I don’t want to cause that here. I prefer that we have a calm conversation.

“No, Amanda.” That’s all my mother answers.

I can tell there's a certain provocation between them, but I'm not sure who this woman is or what connection she has with Max. I don't even know what Leonard has to do with all this. Before Amanda can question anything, a male voice echoes from behind us.

“Now that everyone is present, we can begin the reading of Maxwell Hernandez's will.” When I turn around, I see Max's lawyer standing there, looking at us. “Please sit down.”

“Your Honor, my daughter will not be able to attend today, I will represent her.” Amanda's voice echoes as we take our seats.

Sh*t. What do they have to do with this? Smith, my mother, Bruno and I sit in the chairs on the right side of the room, while Amanda, Adrielle and Leonard sit on the left side. We are divided, as if there was a war and each of us represents a side. I don't like that. I don't like the way things are going.

“Who is that woman?” I whisper to Bruno, while the lawyer leafs through some papers.

“Amanda Williams, Adrielle's husband's mother and also Max's business partner. She helped him with business negotiations.” He answers, in the same tone. “Amanda doesn't please your mother. Mrs. Sofia has always seen her as having ulterior motives for her father.”

“I don’t like what she represents,” I say in a low tone, while my eyes are focused on the woman on the other side of the room, who looks at me as if she’s questioning something. I know she must be imagining something about me right now. “And not even about them bringing Adrielle here. If my name is in this will, she’ll know I’m here. I want to have the chance to have a proper conversation.”

“I’m sorry, young Pedro, but I can’t say if you’ll be able to do that when this reading is over,” Bruno says firmly. “As soon as she hears your name, I’m afraid she’ll leave here angry. Maybe she’s already seen something about your arrival. And her husband is not a calm man, he’s jealous.”

I immediately turn towards him, staring at Bruno firmly.

“How jealous?”

“I can’t say.”

“Right.”

I turn my head forward, listening carefully to what the lawyer says. But my mind is still lost in the eyes of that woman just a few meters away from me.

“I will start reading now.” The lawyer warns, before lowering his head to the papers. “I, Maxwell Hernandez, declare this my last will and testament and revoke all previous ones. I am in full use of my mental faculties and I make the following provisions: I appoint my lawyer and friend, Johnson Murray, as my executor. I want to leave 60% of the shares of my parent company, Empresas Hernandez, under the direction of my eldest son, Pedro Maxwell Hernandez, which is part of the alliance between my companies Cassinos Maximus, CIO and MaxMidia, all to Pedro and my wife, Sofia Hernandez, the one with whom I shared my life. I also leave my shares of the companies Ford, Tesla and Bugatti, of which I am a minority partner, 15% of the shares, to Pedro and Sofia Hernandez.”

Very well, old jerk. What confuses me is that you left part of your assets to me. And what's more, why did he leave only 60% for us? Who will he give the rest to? I look at the lawyer, irritated, not with him, but with Max. I'm still trying to understand what this damned old man did. I have so many questions and I know that many of them had their answers buried with Max.

“I leave to Amanda Williams and her children, Leonard and Helena Williams, 40% of the shares of my companies to divide among themselves.” Johnson says, with his brow furrowed, as if he were also confused.  “All other assets that are not explicitly mentioned will be divided equally between my family, Pedro and Sofia. Signed: Maxwell Hernandez.” He concludes, before raising his head and looking at us, still keeping the confusion clear in his eyes. “Those were Maxwell Hernandez's last wishes.”

I look at Amanda, on my left side, who keeps a mocking smile on her plastic-filled lips. Leonard is staring at me, as if he knew all my secrets. Adrielle, on the other hand, is too busy trying to reason things out.

Damn! Why did he leave this to Amanda and her offspring? It doesn't make sense!

Amanda turns to us, with a winning smile on her face. I know it's a way to provoke my mother. My eyes flicker to the woman sitting next to her, who watches me angrily, as if she's been holding this feeling in for years. I see her struggling to breathe. I swallow hard knowing that I've lost my chance to have a proper conversation, I know she won't want to talk to me, I'll barely be able to get close. Her eyes are revealing pain in addition to anger.

I feel a cold hand touch mine and I turn my head in that direction at the same time. Mom is pale, almost the same color as the walls of the room. Her eyelids flutter and her eyes flutter. Her chest rises and falls with difficulty, as if the environment is too heavy for her own existence.

“I don't feel well.”

“Mom.” I lean towards her so I can hold her limp body properly as her eyes close. “Shit”.