"What did you say?!" Joseph stood up in shock. The face I saw in the vision was now showing in front of my eyes.
"It is as the late Mr. Hamilton had said in his will." Brent replied calmly to Joseph's sudden outburt. "Seventy percent if his shares will go to his adoptive daughter, Yvette Hamilton while the remaining thirty percent will go to his biological son, Joseph Hamilton."
Everyone in the room was either shocked or confused to what Attorney Brent had said.
"This is preposterous!" Mr. Jenkins, Dianne's father said in outburst. "How could an adoptive daughter get the most shares rather than the biological son. This is insane!"
"Can you at least give as an explanation to the late Mr. Hamilton's reasons as to why he had written that in his will?" Mr. Smith asked calmly.
"Do we need any reason for this nonsense?!" Mr. Jenkins was furious. "Is this even possible in a legal manner?"
"Calm down and let the attorney speak, Mr. Jenkins." Ms. Alice reprimanded him. "Let us at least hear what the attorney has to say."
The Mr. Jenkins calmed down but was still looking smugged. I know that he is not liking what was happening since Joseph is his would be son in law. If this last will pulls through, then having the Hamilton Hotels Inc.'s CEO as his future son in law will end up in smoke. I am sure that everyone in this room also thinks the same as I am.
"The late Mr. Hamilton had anticipated all of your reactions and thus have undergone a psych evaluation before the making of his will to make sure he was in his proper mental health." Brent explained. "And you have a valid reason about the legal way of passing down ownership of the deceased to the next of kin. But as this was last will and testament was made by the late Mr. Hamilton himself with me as his legal council and witness, I hearby say to you that all what is written herein are legal by law. You can file a legal complaint, it is up to Mr. Joseph, the biological son. But I am telling you right now that all the legalities if this last will and testament was made sure by the late Mr. Hamilton himself."
Brent's words put a stop to all that were thinking of disagreeing with what was currently written in the last will. But as he had said, Joseph can still file a legal complaint but it could take years as how legal hearings goes until a verdict can be made. And as Brent had said, my adoptive father had made his last will and testament flawless in legal manners and the complaint could be a fruitless attempt.
"This is absurd!" Dianne stood up and cannot contain her anger any longer. "Come on, Joseph. Let us just file a legal complaint. Your father's last will is a quack!"
Dianne tried to pull Joseph up but her hands were brushed away by Joseph. She was stunned with the cold shoulder act that Joseph had done just now.
"Joseph!" Dianne wanted to argue.
"Be quite, Dianne!" Joseph scolded her. "Attorney, please continue."
"What?!" Dianne asked in disbelief. "You still want to hear the nonsense in your father's last will?"
"I at least belive in father." Joseph said.
"I have felt that your father had never liked me!" Dianne said with her emotions emerging. "I always knew he did not approve of me, and always wanted this… this orphan girl to be the one to end up with you." Tears are starting to form in her eyes.
"Enough, Dianne!" Joseph scolded once again.
I was completely silent when Joseph and Dianne are having there lover's quarrel right now. I am starting to get embarrassed being the center of all this right now.
"Can I continue?" Brent looked at the couple who was having a quarrel.
"Please, go on." Joseph sighed. He was not looking well with everything that is going on right now.
"As mentioned in the late Mr. Hamilton's will, the CEO position could only go to his son, Joshua Hamilton, in the event that he married Yvette Hamilton." Brent continued. "The position is only temporary and could only be permanent once the couple conceives a child and will be named heir to the Hamilton Hotels Inc."
There was a temporary silence inside the room. It was read loud and clear what conditions are set for the future of the Hamilton Hotels Inc.
"Then there you have it." Ms. Alice broke the silence. "But the question now is, who has the choice on the marriage clause stated in the will, Atty. Brent?"
"The choice in that matter rests on Ms. Hamilton." Brent said looking at me. "Of course it will be your choice."
Brent's eyes were now focused solely on me. It felt like it was only me and him inside this room. I can feel that whatever decision I will make, he will be there to help and support me all the way. I felt quite reassured since I was feeling all alone just a while ago when the will was being read. My adoptive brother who alwayd adored and doted on me felt quite distant when the will was read.
All eyes in this room are upon me. Joseph felt distant while Dianne was glaring daggers at me. They are all waiting for me to make a decision.
'If I am to follow what my conscience had said, then I must change my fate here and now.' I thought to myself.
"What if I reject the marriage?" I asked.
"And you would want to be the CEO of the Hamilton Hotels Inc. yourself?!" Mr. Jenkins was furious. "You don't have the capabilities to run this business young girl."
"I have to agree with Mr. Jenkins." Mr. Smith seconded. "No offense to you my dear, but Joseph had grown up and worked hard for the said position. There is no one better suited than he to be the CEO of the Hamilton Hotels Inc."
"I also agree on you with that." I replied to them.
"What do you mean, Yvy?" Joseph looked at me with confusion. "As the will has stated, I can only take the position of CEO if I marry you. If that id not met, then you can would have to take the position as head of the company."
"But I can always sell my shares, correct?" I looked at Brent for confirmation. "There is nothing stopping me from doing that right?"
The people inside the room was shocked with my response. They never thought I will not be greedy with such a position. Joseph was suprised but his expression mellowed compared to a while ago. Brent had a smirk, as if he was amused at my decision.
"I understand what everyone is thinking right now. I alone know that Joseph is the most suited for this role than I am." I explained. "I do not know what my adopted father was thinking writing such a ridiculous things on his will, but I had never once been greedy with what my adopted father has. I am already thankful for what I have got and I can go on my own from here on."
*CLAP CLAP CLAP*
"Well said." Ms. Alice applaused. "Do not worry my little munchkin, you have me here. You will never be alone, I promise you."
"Thank you, aunt Alice." I felt touched with Ms. Alice's words.
I glanced at Joseph and his expression now totally changed from being betrayed to filled with admiration.
Seeing him change like that made me feel relief that I had change my decision from my vision. My heart ached knowing that this would be the time I would have to say farewell to my feelings for Joseph, but also felt elated for some reason.
"I would never push you away, Yvy." Joseph said. "You are always welcome to stay with us. I wouldn't want you to feel alone."
Joseph's words made my heart ache even more. I can feel regret knowing that Joseph will now really marry Dianne and I will always be the sister in the side lines.
"Wha… Seph!" Dianne was about object.
"Is that your final decision, Ms. Hamilton?" Brent asked.
"Yes, it is." I replied. "And if I may, I wish to take back my parent's surname. With this, I can be fully left out with anything in the Hamilton Hotels Inc."
"What?!" Joseph stood up in disbelief. "Yvs, no. You can't do that!" He held my hand tightly as if he doesn't want to let me go.
"I-I am sorry, Seph." I gathered all the courage to push him away. "This is my decision. It is my choice."
"No, you cannot leave me." Joseph felt hurt. "Yvy…"
"As Ms. Hamilton had decided, another will is written of ever she had rejected what was written in this one." Brent said.
"What, another will?" Mr. Jenkins was in disbelief.
"In the event that Ms. Hamilton rejects the offer or decides to sell her shares, this can only be done after a year from date of reading this last will and testament." Brent read the contents. "She will still hold the seventy percent of the late Mr. Hamilton's shares for one year. Mr. Joseph Hamilton will be working closely with Ms. Hamilton in running the company in the said year. If she does not have a change of mind after a year then she can be free to do whatever she wills with the said shares."
"A-A year?" I asked in disbelief.
I thought I could get away from Joseph and end my feelings for him. But I need to be bound to him for another year.
'Father, what were you thinking?' I asked inwardly feeling betrayed.
"In the said year, I will be by your side, Ms. Hamilton." Brent said with a reassuring smile.