Chapter 10 - Afraid of her son

"Where are the documents?" Sara asked to ease out the tension.

"Inside that closet", Ruby gestured with her chin. She had yet to start the music on, but her bestie had already asked about the documents. What a waste!

Sara pressed a button and a black closet popped out of the dashboard. In it was a blue briefcase. She swiftly pulled it out with her slender arms and placed on her lap as she pushed the closet in. Then she deftly opened it and pulled out the stack of documents inside it.

The name Singh Pharmaceuticals in black came into view. The information on their stocks, shareholders, board members, so and so was written on her face. The next papers were the legal documents that said that she had the inheritance rights to the Singh Pharmaceuticals, two Vilas and two chemical factories. Sara sighed. She had finally got what she wanted. But there were still some pieces left to be pieced together. So, until she got the pieces together, the inheritance was useless to her.

Realizing that Sara was staring at the documents for more than ten minutes, Ruby spoke, "The old man wanted to meet you. I bet he is secretly happy that you got the inheritance rights."

"Mr. Singh?" Sara sighed, "Not yet. Clear the schedules this week. Push everything after the funeral."

This girl? Ruby sighed. She couldn't let go of her parents' early fate.

"But, we have to attend the press conference tomorrow."

"The only thing for this week in my to-do list."

"Okay", Ruby responded as she reached for the music system, "May I?"

Sara sighed and nodded. Ruby happily started on the music.

Some boys kiss me

Some boys hug me

I think they are okay

If they don't give me proper credit

I just walk away

They can beg and they can plead

But they can't see the light

That's right, that's right

'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash

Is always Mister Right

'Cause we are living

In a material world

And I'm a material girl

You know that we are living

In a material world

And I'm a material girl

If they can't raise my interest...

---

Hollyoak Villa

The villa had a wood colored gate. The nameplate shone brightly under the afternoon sun. On it, the name said, 'Browns'. A blue Mercedes screeched towards it from a distance across the duty path. It stopped in front of the gate. Realizing who it was, the well-trained guards immediately opened the gate and let the car in. They closed it once it entered. One of the guards went inside the restroom and picked up the handphone, "Young master is home."

...

The car moved at a turtle pace across the stone-covered path. An old lady with a lightly wrinkled face was standing on the white marble steps of the huge Hollyoak Villa. She was wearing a cream-colored shirt accompanied with a blue skirt. Her hair was tied up into a bun, exceeding a sense of homeliness. The car stopped right in front of the stairs on the tiled floor. The rear car door opened and Riley stepped down from the car. Contrary to his smiley face he put on all the times, he had a cold, stony face, which seemed to bring along the chilly Arctic winds.

The old lady who was about to smile forced herself not to do so. She hated to admit it, but she was afraid of her son.

"Mom", Riley greeted with a voice different from his usual flirtatious tone, latched with ruthless and coldness.

"Ah! Can't you be warmer with me? Your Mom?" the old lady, Irish Brown, spoke with a forced smile. If she had a tail now, she would have diligently waged it to please her son.

"That day won't come until you stop pestering me about the inheritance."

The old lady's face drooped because she had nothing much to say. The Browns had two sons, Riley and Will. Since the older son was not interested in business, the old couple decided to have another child. But the fact was that Will was too young to shoulder responsibilities in the business. So, Riley was the only suitable candidate. Riley and Will were a generation apart. Riley was 25 while Will was just 13. But, Riley doted on his younger brother. He was the only one who basked in his warmth.