The inheritance

“The money will be released when some necessary documents are verified, one of which is your divorce paper. I'll bring the papers tomorrow and explain everything.”

I gripped my phone tighter, three hundred billion dollars would be mine in no distant time. 

To think that I had spent time worrying about how to afford a secure fortress, food, medical supplies and everything else I needed but I finally had a chance, made me smile.

“Good, I'll be waiting.”

After ending the call, I stared at the ceiling with a smile still plastered on my face. It was relieving to know my father had left me a way out, years after his death.

But I could not afford to celebrate just yet, I still had to secure the money finish the divorce and prepare for the end of the world.

The following morning, Arnold arrive at my office with a briefcase. I had told him to come to the office, because I had to finish some business before going home.

“Good morning, ma'am.”

“Good morning, Arnold. Please tell me you brought good news.”

He smiled and placed some documents on my desk. “I have the divorce papers and the documents needed to release your inheritance. But you need to be careful about what sign—”

“Because of the document Andrew wanted me to sign?”

I had told him about the clause I saw in the document yesterday.

“From what you said, it may give him considerable control over your assets. I recommend having all your financial arrangements reviewed before signing anything else.”

I nodded and picked up the divorce papers, this time I read every page before signing. Once I was done, Arnold collected the documents.

“I'll arrange for the divorce papers to be served. Regarding your inheritance, the trustees will need to verify some paperwork before releasing the funds.”

“Fine, but please do everything you can to speed up the process.”

“I will.”

After Arnold left, I sat quietly for a moment but before any thought could come into mind, my phone rang.

I answered it without hesitating. “Hey.”

“I'm in the building,” Lucas said. “We need to discuss the company sale.”

“Come up to my office, I'll see you when you get here.”

I ended the call and leaned back in my chair. It was time to settle several things at once.

Ten minutes later, Lucas knocked on my door before entering. I could tell from his face, that he was pleased with the decision he made.

“Good morning, sis,” Lucas said. “I've thought about your offer, and I'm willing to buy your company for twenty billion dollars.”

I gestured toward the chairs opposite my desk. “My lawyers have already prepared the agreement. Your team can review the terms, and mine will ensure the transfer is handled.”

“That was fast, I mean you just brought it up yesterday. So how—”

“I told you I had issues to take care of and they can't wait.”

Lucas nodded. “It makes sense, I'll have my team do that before the end of today.”

For a split second I almost stood up to hug Lucas and tell him well done for that, but I held myself back.

The door flung open and an angry Andrew, came in with a copy of the divorce papers in hand. “You want a divorce right, you got it!”

Lucas turned to him surprised. “What are you doing? Sis, he doesn't mean this. You two should sort this out.”

“Thank you for making that quick,” I said with a smile. “But I don't like people shouting in my office, so keep it down.”

“Irene, you're having a breakdown and I understand if you want a break with this divorce, but do you really have to sell your company?”

“How did you—” Lucas started, but stopped midway his sentence.

One look at both of them and I knew what was wrong, Lucas had not told Andrew about buying my company.

“It's my company, so I can damn wall do whatever I want.”

“I'm your husband!” Andrew screamed out loud. I'm trying to protect your future,”

“My future?” I repeated. “Is that what you call trying to gain control over my assets?”

Andrew's eyes blinked hard before he got a hold on himself. “Why are you twisting the good efforts I make like this? Hearing about your company being sold from workers gossiping. Do you have any regards for me?”

“I don't!”

Lucas shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Sis, maybe you should calm down. Andrew is only concerned about you.”

I looked at him. “There you go again, defend him like you always do.”

A muscle twitched on his jaw, as Andrew stepped closer to my desk. “Babe, please. I want the old you back, I need my wife.”

One look at his face and all I could remember was the freezing ground beneath my body, and the way he had left me to die as I struggled to breath.

“Don't you ever call me babe, Mr. Andrew. Thank you for going through the trouble of bringing the papers.” 

“Irene—”

I picked up my phone and was about to text Arnold, when I saw a notification.

CREDIT ALERT: $300,000,000,000.00

It was hard for me to keep a straight face, so I chuckled and threw them a look that screamed ‘stay away from me.’

The money was in my account before I even got off texting Arnold.

“What's wrong sis?” Lucas asked, looking concerned.

“Uhmm, nothing.” I picked up my bag and walked to the door. “You can have the office, it's yours now anyways and Lucas?”

“Yes sis.”

“Don't forget, I need Bryan's number.” I opened the door and turned around one last time with a smile. “Congratulations on your divorce, Mr. Andrew.”

“You'll regret this!” Andrew threatened me.

“That's funny, I was about to tell you the same thing.”

I strutted out of the company with the glow of a superstar, who had just won a lottery.

My first stop was a commercial real estate agency, I inspected several properties until I found a large warehouse on the outskirts of the city with good road access, security, and enough space for my initial stockpile.

My lawyer reviewed the purchase documents while I headed to a wholesale supermarket. 

The moment I stepped inside, I felt a rush of excitement because I was getting things that people never thought would become precious.

I ordered cartons of instant noodles, bags of rice, canned beans, canned meat, biscuits, powdered milk, cooking oil, salt, sugar, and other nonperishable essentials.

By the time I finished, the manager was staring at me in disbelief. “Ma'am, are you opening a supermarket?”

I smiled because even if I told him, he wouldn't believe me. “No. I'm preparing for something bigger.”

I paid for everything and arranged delivery to the warehouse. By evening, my phone was filled with purchase confirmations, delivery schedules, and lists of things I still needed.

I returned home feeling more hopeful than I had since my rebirth, but then reality hit me.

Where was I going to put everything?

I drove straight to the warehouse and looked around, it was large but with food, generators, batteries, medical supplies, tools, and fuel, I would run out of space in the long run.

Bringing my phone from my pocket, I searched for larger storage facilities. “There has to be a better way, how do I store things?”

I rubbed my eyes twice and when I opened them, a translucent blue screen appeared in front of me with words on it.

[UNUSUAL SPATIAL ENERGY DETECTED.]

“God! I can't be hallucinating now,” I muttered.

[A storage space has been detected within your soul.]

“Is this real?” I asked myself as I turned around to make sure I was alone.

My hands touched a carton of noodles, as I tried to steady myself. The words on the screen changed again.

[Would you like to store noodles? Yes! No!]