Page 60 of His Beloved Princess
"There are some changes you all need to know about," Andreas replied, directing his following words to me. "Especially you, Electra."
"Me?" I breathed, confusion filling my body. This was more of a family meeting, and I didn't belong among them. At the end of the day, I was only Bastian's assistant and maybe still his girlfriend, but that was it. His companies weren't my concern.
"Yes, but let me start from the beginning." He moved the glass of water in front of me and opened a file. "Eight months ago, when our mother died, Dad and Bastian made a deal about Thorn Enterprises." He took the first paper out and gave it to Peter. "Bastian bought the entire holding, paying all his siblings out. This is your cut." He motioned to the paper, and Peter's eyes widened in surprise. "The family company doesn't belong to the family at all. It's only Bastian's."
"This says forty-nine million dollars," Peter choked out, staring at the paper before him like a bomb about to explode. "This can't be right."
"Even when I don't like it, Peter, you are our father's son," Andreas said, annoyance dripping from his tongue. "He built the company from scratch and wants you to have part of it. Just don't do anything stupid."
He closed the file and tossed it across the table to Frederick. "Make sure he'll get his money, please. Forty-six million. Three million is Bastian's for paying the Russians for Peter's life."
Peter didn't say anything; he just stared at the paper.
Andreas opened the second file, mumbling under his breath, then moved it to Derek, who didn't react. He just closed it and waited for the next thing.
"This is for you, Rose," Andreas muttered, frowning. "The marketing strategy you worked on with Bast. He completed some steps, but you'll need to finish it."
Shewalked around the table and took the file from him. Her hand trembled, and when she leaned over, and her face was only a few inches from mine, I noticed how bad she looked. She was still stunningly gorgeous but tired and pale, and her puffy eyes suggested she’d been crying. She wasn't her usual arrogant self. Bastian's accident was taking its toll on her.
"And these two are for you, Electra," Andreas finally said, connecting his eyes with mine, but he didn't give them to me yet. "Their content is surprising, and please remember that we are all here to help."
My brows shot up while I was staring at him. I couldn't imagine what could be in the files, but a heavy feeling settled in my stomach, making me sick.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, and my voice wavered. I was afraid he might have my contract with Bastian there, and he wanted to disclose it to his closest friends and family. However, that move didn't make any sense, considering the current situation.
"The day after the grand opening, Bast called me to write his will in case something happened to him," Andreas explained, slowly sliding the file to me. "If he dies, everything he owns will be yours."
Time around me froze. Andreas’ lips were moving, but I didn't understand the words coming out of his mouth. He placed his hand on my forearm, but I didn't feel his touch. He leaned closer and cupped my jaw with his palm, forcing me to look at him, but I was too shocked to see him. My mind was circling only around one thought.
What the fuck has Bastian done?
I wasn't his wife to inherit everything he worked for, and I absolutely wasn't CEO material. He had people for this, people who were much better for this, and he also had a family who should be first in line to have his money, not me. Not when I was the reason he was in this fucking hospital in the first place!
I yanked my chin from Andreas’ hold and stood up so swiftly that the chair flipped and fell to the ground with a bang. All eyes in the room were on me. My entire body shook violently, and my breathing turned shallow. For a moment, thewhole room darkened, and I almost fainted because of high blood pressure, but I managed to stay standing.
"This is the stupidest thing you have ever said," I hissed through gritted teeth, grabbing Peter's chair for support. "Why would he do that?"
"To take care of you, Electra," Frederick answered, giving me an encouraging smile. "He loves you; you know it." He swept around the table and gently took me by my elbow, turning me to face him. "It's done. You can't do anything about it."
"I can refuse it," I stated stubbornly, holding his gaze.
"Would you really do that?" Rose asked, her tone attacking. I snapped my head in her direction, and she used that moment to throw another question at me. "Would you spit in his face?"
"I'm not—" I started, furious, but she instantly cut me off.
"You what, princess?" she whined, her blue eyes glaring daggers at me. "You're not disrespecting him? His wishes?" She moved towards me, but Andreas stood between us. However, that didn't stop her from sputtering venom at me. "All he cares about is you, and this is what you're doing? You fucking bitch!"
"Rose!" I heard Fredy's indignant voice, but she was too furious to listen to anyone. She looked ready to slap my face if she got the chance.
"I won't ever understand how he could fall for someone as weak as you!" she hollered, and with one last deadly glare at me, she spun and left.
The heavy silence that settled in the room was uncomfortable. For a very long time, no one said a word. The situation was difficult for everyone. We were all under a lot of pressure, and every future discussion about this could end up even worse, with all of us arguing.
"Rose is right," I whispered, pushing back the tears that wanted to fall from my eyes. "I'm not strong enough for this."
"Too bad he chose you to continue on his path." Derek shrugged, standing and buttoning his perfectly fitted grey suit jacket. "Keep me posted about his condition. I'll take care of the rest."
"Ofcourse." Andreas nodded, still looking at me like I was some wounded puppy.
