Chapter 3

DAMSON

The expansive mansion was a stunning sight to behold. It had towering columns, long winding staircases and fountains that lay vast across the lawn. Running up the stairs, he entered his father’s room and saw him lying on the sheets looking so calm. Mr Holland was a powerful man with a heavy build. Sharp jaws and piercing eyes which he passed on to his only son, Damson. Seeing him lying helplessly like that cut at his heart. He wasn't ready for this. Since he wasn't the closest person to his father, death was the last thing he wished him. 

He could hear the ambulance from a distance. His father would be moved to the family’s hospital to get more hands-on deck in a bid to save his life.

In the corner was Molly shaking and crying. He understood her plight. Mr Holland has been responsible for her and her family’s upkeep since he was born. He didn't stay home for long so he wasn't familiar with either her or her kids. Their family doctor was on the phone as he awaited and received further instructions from the other end. Grabbing a glass of alcohol on his way out as he needed the rush, he grabbed his keys and zoomed out of the driveway right after the ambulance.

Damson was fidgeting outside of the hospital room, he couldn't lose his father now, he thought. Even though he was the face of the company, his father was the brains behind its proper functioning. His degree in Business Management did little to ease his nerves when it came to making critical business decisions. He always picked his father’s brains and he was ever willing to help even though they weren't on the best of terms. Seeing the worry on the doctor’s face when he stepped out had him earnestly praying for another chance for his father, hoping there was a God somewhere who would listen to him and grant his wish. 

As she ascended the steps, he knew she looked familiar. Olivia..Lily..?? He tried to remember her name. The last time he saw her was back in high school. She was Molly's daughter, he recalled. She looked worried contorting her full eyebrows in a weirdly attractive manner. She searched for someone and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw her mother huddled over by the corner. With a light run, she was beside her in an instant. As she discussed with her mother, she occasionally looked behind her as she could feel his eyes boring into her. 

“We can't let him die” she sobbed quietly to her mother. “There's little we can do honey. We can only hope” her mother whispered back. “Was that meant to be reassuring?” he thought to himself as Molly’s response destabilized him even further. Overhearing their conversation wasn't something he could help as their whispers rang across the silent waiting room. 

                        Lily

The phone call had destabilized Lily. She didn't know what to do. Mr. Holland and dying in the same sentence? It can't be possible, she thought. As tension rises through her, she hurriedly throws a shirt and shorts on. This was no time to look good as she avoided the mirror. She had seen the distress worded text from her mum after the call with just three words, "At the hospital". So she knew she had to visit the family's hospital.

Her ride had taken time and the breath of relief never came, as sweat scotches down her face.

As she waits, her thoughts run deep, Mr. Holland is the only father figure she has left, losing him would mean, she was officially fatherless, her mother's job, and her life would experience a pause. She loved Mr.Holland, he can't die, she convinces herself. Remembering the gift she had bought for him earlier in the week, she rushed in to get it.

Her ride was finally here. It was an hour's drive to Mr. Holland's hospital, her day wasn't supposed to go this way. She planned to call him to appreciate his sponsorship, teasing him like she would usually do later that night. She couldn't bear it anymore, asking the driver to speed up.

Finally, she was here at the hospital. Paying the driver, she exited the car hurriedly. 

The hospital was a very large one. Searching for her mother was very tasking. She could have called but she doubted her mother would pick. She wasn't ready to hear her tears. Lily finally notices her sitting on the chair. Her Mama sobbed uncontrollably. Hurriedly walking to meet her at her spot, she hugged her tight. Gently dropping the gift bag, she couldn't hold back the little tears that were dropping from her eyes as she squats to pet her mother on the back. 

After a brief pause, she asks;

"Mama, what happened?"

                    Molly 

Fitted in her daughter's arms, she couldn't hold back her tears. Mr Holland had been a good boss to her, he took care of her kids, and the heart attack came as a shock to her. 

She had called Lily to come to the hospital because, earlier in the day, Mr Holland had mentioned wanting to see her after she mentioned Lily finishing her final exams today. 

The sob paused, as she replied to Lily's question to know what had happened.

" He was walking down the stairs as usual, when he suddenly held his chest tight, and the next thing I knew he had fallen. I'm so scared". Molly had told her daughter.

                      Lily

Her Mama's explanation of Mr.Holland's state caused by a heart attack came as a shock to her. She was so tense as she was praying hard for his healing. Mr Holland was family. The process made her Mama once again emotional. She starts to sob again, this time as she notices the nurse's movement. She continues to pat her Mama, hoping to calm her down.

As she does this, she hears a beautiful deep familiar voice behind her, unable to point out who, she turns her head to see a young handsome man talking to his friend, they exchange brief eye contact as she lifts her eyes, behold it was the famous CEO, Damson. 

Her mother had also turned her attention to him, saying to her in a solemn voice, that's Damson, Mr.Holland's son. She couldn't stop herself from admitting he looked better in reality than on the billboards.

Shifting her eyes, quickly away from him, as good as he looked she was not interested. She had better plans to have Justin like her more than a best friend. She could still feel his eyes boring through her back, she wondered why but that was not why she was here.

He was walking up to her Mama, so she used the opportunity to take an excuse to visit Mr. Holland's room.

The trip to see Mr Holland at the hospital emergency room he was in was emotional. She could no longer hold her tears when she saw his body lifeless as he was kept on a stabilizing machine, her heart could not take it anymore, and the tears became uncontrollable. She wanted to show him her grades, she wanted him to be there for her graduation, and she needed him to be good so bad but here he was. She hopes there's a high survival rate.

She brought out the wristwatch she had gotten for him out of the gift bag, holding on to it while wiping her tears to sound courageous.

" Mr. Holland, thank you so much for your support. I bought you this gift, do you like it? Please wake up, everyone is miserable. We all need you to survive. I need you to survive." She had cried her eyes out.

A beep sounds as the monitor shows some reading, and she immediately calls the doctor to do a quick check on him. Rushing in, tension arises as the doctor closes the doors. She quivered as she went to meet Mama.

Everyone waited outside, whatever was going on had everyone in a very anxious mood. Seated beside Mama, the doctor came out, whatever that face description was, she wasn't ready for it.

DAMSON

The doctor ran into the room where his father lay with Lily hot on his heels. He figured out her name was Lily from the conversation she was having with her mother even though she was mostly called by her pet name. She was clasping tightly to her chest a box of something he couldn't figure out and closed the door behind them. The pressure was mounting and he desperately needed someone to tell him something…anything. At long last came, the news of the death of his father that made everything around him still. He wasn't listening to the wails and shouts from the maid and the butler that followed. He was alone now, the only heir to Holland's corporation. He feared what would come next and didn't think he was ready at all. Fear consumed him as his best friend ran through the door and explained frantically in a barrage of words how he found out what was happening from his secretary. 

Holding on to his friend, it took all of his willpower not to break down amid all those people. He needed to go home. Pulling into the driveway, he ran into the house and was instantly surrounded by their butlers. They all had worry visibly written on their faces. They thought about the possibility of losing their jobs which served as the only source of income for most of them but that wasn't even his priority right now. With Fin hot on his heels, he started to climb the long winding stairs when the phone rang. Damson instantly knew who it was. It was his mother. 

He wondered what she wanted. All these years of her traumatizing not only him and his father but also everyone in the house at one point or the other in their lives was enough. He didn't have the strength to deal with her at least not in his current state. But he knew he would have to face her sooner than later. The tension in the room was thick enough to be cut through with a knife. Damson stared at the telephone with a war raging within his mind…to pick up or not?

Postponing it for later would only cause heightened emotions around the house, he concluded. Walking over to the telephone, his voice rasped as he conversed with his mother. Judging from the frown on his face, he needed the conversation to be over already. “I heard your father might be dying, did I hear right?” she asked over the phone. “Yes, you did” he replied through clenched teeth. “Oh my goodness!” she gasped which irritated Damson even more. After a long ten minutes of forced small talk and consolations from his mother and terse responses from Damson, he ended the call. He related what the conversation was about to Fin and it was mostly his mother issuing him warnings not to share none of his father’s properties in her absence. She also informed him she was going to be on the next flight from New York in a bid to arrive in Milan on time. 

Damon didn't seem fazed or disappointed even. “Never expect less from a gold digger” he murmured to himself. Just another stressful task added to the list of things he has to figure out after the death of his father. There was little to no time to mourn as he was now the man of the house, he thought with a sad chuckle. 

The phone rang again and he silently cursed under his breath. It had better not be his sad excuse of a mother once again. Picking up the phone, it was his father’s lawyer on the line. He sympathized with him and informed him of his father’s will. That evoked a smile from him as he was beside himself with relief. “Positive news eh?” Fin asked from across the room. “The first one in a long time” he replied jokingly, grateful for his best friend’s presence.

One hurdle crossed. Or so he thought.

Tasks

Share my father’s properties in fairness.