The Royal Contract

But he could not entirely blame him for all that happened to her. She did have some share of her villainess and evil schemes during their time together.

She was not entirely pure of heart and blameless in most of the evil things that Nick had done. She had been part of the problem until recently when she had a change of heart.

“I am sorry, Nick, but I hope you will be at peace wherever you are now.” She mumbled, fixing the glasses that covered her eyes. She still kept staring at the black marble stone that bore his name.

She kissed the flowers she bought and placed them on the top of the hard stone. She could not deny that they had some fond memories together.

Nick was not entirely evil, just driven by his misguided revenge and greed for power. She did see some good points in him, but it was rare as he kept fighting it.

“Are you ready to leave?” Someone spoke to her from behind, slightly tinged with grief. “I think it is about to rain.” He told her, making her look up to the sky.

.....

Clouds had indeed formed not far from their position, and they had thickened and blackened in a small amount of time. It was threatening to fall any minute now.

It would seem that the sky would also like to shed some tears, but she doubted it was for this man.

Then, she felt a gentle hand tap her on the shoulders. Her head turned around, smiling at the man who never left her side. Her eyes searched his. Just like her, he was deeply affected by his death.

“I am if you are.” She responded, knowing she had already said what she wanted to say, and uttered her goodbye.

She grabbed his hand that had crawled on her shoulders, comforting her. She also wanted to return the favor. She could tell that despite the barrier in the relationship between these two brothers, this man beside her still loved Nick with no reservation.

Jacob had always had a soft heart. He probably took it from her mother. Nick and his father had always had hearts as black as their blood, and love was never part of their emotion.

“I think we need to leave,” Jacob stated as the first drop of rain landed on his head. They scrambled hurriedly away from where Nick laid to rest toward the awaiting car.

From what she had heard, not many attended the funeral. It would seem nobody would miss Nick that much. If Jacob and Alex had agreed, she would have gone to pay her last respect to him, but she was not sure if respect was the right word.

With Nick gone, there was no more threat in her life. But they had to be sure before allowing her out of her safe house.

As they sat in the car, she felt his hands wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her closer to his body, feeling his agitation. Just like the weather, she felt his gloominess inside. She could tell that losing a family would never be easy.

“Don’t worry. Things will be ok.” Jacob cradled her gently as if needing to comfort her, but she believed he required it more.

She rested her head on his shoulders as she watched the road ahead as tears of the sky kept falling on them, letting the chauffeur drive them to their next destination.

He had asked her to accompany him to his next meeting, the reading of his brother’s last will. He wanted her by his side during this crucial moment in his life.

“I know. The hard part is almost over.” Cassie whispered to Jacob, assuring him that she would always be by his side as long as he needed her.

She closed her eyes, still unable to believe that a man like him would take an interest in a girl like her. His brother was about to throw her into the dumpster like she was trash, but he picked her up and treasured her.

After half an hour, Cassie sat beside Jacob in an office surrounded by glasses. Her hands entwined with him underneath the desk as they waited for the lawyer handling his brother’s remaining properties to arrive.

“I am sorry if I kept both of you waiting. But I had a previous client that took longer than necessary.” The person who walked into the room announced, carrying a black folder in his hand. In her summation, it could be the last testament of Nick, discussing his properties.

The man walked towards them and placed the file on the top of the desk, extending his hand towards them. “Gerald Brown.” He introduced himself to them. “I handle most of your father’s properties.”

She turned to the man, and like Jacob, she also shook his hand for formality, although she had no business to be included in the meeting.

“Did you ask me here to discuss something about my brother’s properties?” She heard Jacob question the man.

Jacob had doubts that Nick would leave him a single cent of the company. At least the part that Nick owned, which was the controlling share.

However, he would still be rich with the shares he inherited from their father. But he still wondered who Nick made as his beneficiary.

“This is not about Nick’s last testament. It is about your father’s properties.” Gerald corrected him. “Because of Nick’s untimely demise and having no heir of his own, his share that he inherited from your father will automatically transfer to you.”

Cassie was not surprised by that. She had studied Nick’s company for years while she was with him. Most of what Nick owned came from his father.

Gerald placed the folder in front of him, showing him the drawn papers he needed to sign. She could see that it was some papers about the transfer of ownership. She would guess that the rest below would be the same.

“You are now a very wealthy man,” Gerald announced to the man who had kept his silence. His face was colorless, and his mouth agape in shock.

“But...” Jacob still looked uncomfortable hearing that he now owned a multimillion-dollar company. “I have no idea what to do with that.” When she first met him, she had learned that being part of the company was the last thing on his mind.

“Do not worry. I am sure that you will find a way. If you have any questions, help, or anything, just come to me, and we will discuss some possibilities to help you.” The lawyer offered to them.

He placed the ballpen in front of Jacob, waiting for him to sign the papers. But Jacob still had some doubts in his mind, judging from how he stared at the objects before him.

“Could you give us some privacy?” She finally took over. She could tell that Jacob was a little bit overwhelmed by the news.

It was not exactly what he expected when he stepped into this office.

She turned him to her when the lawyer walked out of the room. She was determined to help him decide what would be best for him and not allow some lawyers to manipulate him.

Jacob could run this company to the ground if he wished to or sell it with a good deal. She would be there to help him in whatever he decided. In return for all he had done for her, she would protect him and his interest.

She would be his guardian and protector.