Chapter 1 - An Amendment
The only constant in life, is change.
"Please remember while writing this brief that I expect you all to incorporate the tenants we have already discussed this semester." Professor Goodwitch looked over the top of her glasses with annoyance, "Some of you have not been producing work befitting a paralegal, let alone what a corporate law firm will expect out of a graduate from this university. I expect more this time around if you wish to pass this course."
Weiss smirked and re-crossed her legs under her desk, as her instructor's voice rang off the mahogany wood of the lecture hall. She continued to diligently type out her professor's instructions for their latest assignment, knowing exactly whom Goodwitch was talking about.
It was essential to know everyone else's standing, if she intended to stay at the top of her class.
She glanced back down at down the tall blonde below. Her teacher had crossed her arms over and had a stern look upon her face, "I will expect a liability argument presented from the plaintiff's perspective. Do not leave any gaps whatsoever in your case against the company. I want you all to practice writing from this particular point of view so that you can visualize counter arguments instinctively in future cases. "
When the click clack of Goodwitch's heels on the dias below stopped, everyone looked up from their laptops.
"Remember that the best defense is a strong predictive offense," her piercing green eyes swept over her students. From her gaze, to her tailored, form fitting suits, nothing about Goodwitch exuded anything less than power and cunning.
She was not a woman to be trifled with.
Weiss ran her tongue over her teeth as a grin pulled at her lips. It was no wonder that their instructor was both the most feared and sought out professor in their corporate law program. She had always managed to inspire and catch Weiss's attention… sometimes in more ways than were acceptable.
Focus you dolt, or you are no better than your lackluster colleagues.
"The brief will be due on the fifteenth and will account for thirty percent of your final grade. In regards to the slew of emails I have received about your final exam, I will be ready to discuss the details of the final when we return from break, and no sooner. But as always any materials assigned or discussed in class are fair game." Goodwitch walked back to her podium and started to pack up her things, "Are there any questions before we dismiss?"
There was a slight pause as everyone finished typing up the instructions. Weiss had assumed that class was about to conclude, as she moved the assignment into the proper file on her laptop, but her efforts were cut short by the familiar sound of a blue haired idiot from across the lecture hall.
"Yeah, the deadline for the paper is actually the second day of break professor. Can't you make it due after we get back instead?" the layabout asked in a shamefully familiar tone
Weiss glared at the lack luster son of the Vasilias family as he nonchalauntly lounged against his desk. They had known each other since high school. He was a perpetual slacker from a family whose station was lower than her own, yet somehow he always seemed to skid by right next to her.
The mere fact that she had to tolerate his presence in her law program irked Weiss to no end. Her only solace was that his extremely average grades seemed to prove that his family must have made a ridiculously large donation for him to gain admission into such a prestigious law school.
"Mr. Vasilias, are you presuming to tell me how to run my class?" Goodwitch snapped.
"No," Neptune sat up straight and timidly answered back, "It's just that some of us have plans for break and a life outside of cla-."
Their professor cut off his airheaded babbling with a soul crushing glare. "If your personal life is so important," she chided, "then I suggest you consider another profession or learn how to keep a tighter calendar. Corporate law is not a nine to five job, Mr. Vasilias."
Neptune folded his arms in thought, then a second later foolishly addressed Professor Goodwitch again, "It's just that university policy says that there shouldn't be any due dates during break."
Green eyes narrowed down to cat-like slits at being challenged, "Well, if that is how you wish to proceed with negotiations, then perhaps I should move the due date to the day before break in order to stay within compliance."
Most of their class groaned in response and a few angry whispers were loud enough to make out. Neptune looked around in panic, "No no," he waved his hands, "I'm sorry I- uhhhh," Weiss watched him sweat as he tried and failed to recover, "misspoke before."
Goodwitch raised a severely unimpressed eyebrow at him, "For your sake I hope that you work on your negotiation and argument skills before the original deadline Mr. Vasilias. We wouldn't want you to look so unprepared or foolish in front of a courtroom, now would we?"
She widened her gaze to address the rest of their class, "Any other questions in regards to the details of the assignment?"
Weiss couldn't hide the satisfied smile that touched her lips when she saw Neptune sink back into his seat defeated. She couldn't have said it better herself, success always required sacrifice.
That was a truth she was intimately familiar with.
When no other students spoke up Goodwitch buckled her attache, "If that is the case, then I will see you all next class. The required reading will be updated, as per usual, on the class website."
Her professor strode off the dias and out the door, the distinct sound of heels marking her departure. Weiss bit the inside of her lip as she watched her go. But then took a deep breath in and cleared her thoughts before checking her schedule on her phone. Weiss scrolled through her calendar to see what was left on her agenda for the day, while the rest of her class packed their things and walked down the stairs to the exit.
She was done with classes for the day, but needed to get Professor Peach's paper on International Transaction Regulations turned in by midnight, there were 170 pages to read in her Corporate Compliance text, and some basic homework to get done for her accounting class. A frown marked her face when she realized that she still needed to look over the Schnee Energy Conglomerate's weekly earning report and department briefings as well as somehow make time for the gym. She had skipped going twice already that week.
A text message flashed at the top of her screen and disrupted her train of thought.
Neptune Vasilias
|Hey snow angel, want to partner up and work together on the brief for Goodwitch?|
She glared at her phone before pointedly typing back.
Weiss Schnee
|We are in our third year, how many times do I have to tell you no before you get the hint? Aslo, it's PROFESSOR must you always act so familiar?|
Neptune Vasilias
|Sigh, please Weissy! I need to get this thing done before break! I have plans that I can NOT cancel.|
Weiss Schnee
|I fail to see how any of that is my concern. Furthermore, what on Remnant made you think that calling me Snow Angel or Weissy was going to aid your attempt to get me to do your work for you?|
Neptune Vasilias
|Uhhhh, not for me, with me! Come on Weiss, we've known eachother forever. I need to get my grades up before graduation, or I will be stuck interning for one of my parent's friends.|
She pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. They would be graduating in a little less than two semesters. The fact that he was scrambling to fix his uninspired academic record now, was so typical that it hurt.
Weiss Schnee
|How terrible for you, but you should have thought of that our first year instead of waiting until the last minute. I have more important things to attend to besides listen to you prattle on. Goodbye, Neptune.|
An angry growl escaped Weiss as she closed their message and went back to her previous task. She took in a long calming breath, then surveyed her to do list once more before attempting to sort and prioritize it.
I can always read the company reports while I bike.
A pain in her stomach interrupted her thoughts.
But not until I eat something. I'll never get through my time at the gym, let alone the paper I have to write tonight, if I don't get some food soon. Blake is right, I need to stop skipping breakfast.
She packed her belongings and straighten her dark grey pencil skirt before heading for the exit. All the while her mind drifting to the things she wanted to eat, while having to face the sad reality that none of them were a likely possibility.
As Weiss stepped out into the cool afternoon sun she had to cover her eyes from the sudden brightness of being outdoors again. Once her eyes adjusted she took in the pristine campus, its sidewalks full of students, as she tried to determine what she should eat.
An early autumn breeze occasionally rustled her tied back hair as her gaze traveled past the vaguely Georgian architecture of the brick buildings in the quad. She weighed her options when her eyes fell on the tall glass windows of the student union in the distance.
Even though Beacon was a renowned university it's on campus food selection was surprisingly dismal. Most of the options lacked real nutritional value and were utterly devoid of refinement.
Burgers, burritos, and iceberg lettuce drenched in ranch dressing. None of it sounds even remotely appetizing. Or light enough to eat before the gym.
There were a couple of establishments tucked into the buildings around campus that served somewhat healthier fair, but it was rarely packaged to eat on the go, and was ridiculously expensive. So given that she liked to limit her food expenditures whenever possible, that wasn't a viable choice either.
Weiss turned her head slightly as she considered the off campus options, there was a good thai place, the falafel stand, and the rest was greasy fried bar fair.
I just need something quick, healthy, and cheap. Why is that such a physical impossibility?!
It wasn't that she didn't have money or was useless at cooking. She just preferred to transfer as much of her monthly allowance into her personal account as possible, and her time was regularly and undeniably limited. Law school was consuming, and the extra accounting classes she took were enough to push even her academic limits most of the time.
Weiss grumbled as she dug into her bag. She didn't have time to get food if she was going to make it to the gym anyhow. She pulled a sad looking granola bar out of her grandfather's old leather satchel and sighed.
This will have to do until I can pick up something else on my way to the library.
Weiss sighed as she submitted the last of her accounting homework. The extra classes were easy; it was the tedium of the assignments that usually wore her down. Accounting had never really been a passion of hers, but if she intended to run a corporation as vast as the Schnee Energy Conglomerate, she needed to be versed in as many areas as possible.
She removed her earbuds and stretched in her seat at the library, needing a break before tackling the next assignment on her agenda. Her muscles were a little stiff from her workout, but it had felt good to move her body after being stuck in class or behind a desk for so many days.
The upper level of the library was more populated than Weiss prefered, but she knew in a couple of hours she would be blissfully alone.
As she sorted the stray papers of her last assignment she noticed that her phone's screen was lit up. Weiss grabbed the device and swiped at her screen to see the notification.
|One missed call and one voice message, from Winter Schnee|
Weiss nervously gripped her phone. Her sister rarely called her, and when she did it was typically not with good news. She took in a steadying breath as she worked up the nerve to listen to her older sibling's message.
"Hello sister. I surmise that school is going well," Winter's voice flowed out casually, but with an undercurrent of sternness, "and that you are busy studying while listening to music. Which is likely why you didn't see that I have called."
Her cheeks flushed, it was annoying how well her sister knew her.
"I just wanted to drop some friendly advice in regards to any plans you might have for your upcoming break," Winter continued.
Tension grew in Weiss's chest, she had been looking forward to going back home and getting to visit with her sister again, but Winter's tone and word choice indicated that something was wrong.
Winter's voice sharpened, "Unfortunately, I've fallen prey to Whitley's posturing jibes more than usual, and as a result father has taken to locking himself in his study."
Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. She loved her sister, but Winter's temper was all but legendary and their younger brother had never missed an opportunity to test their eldests sibling's limits in every new and derogatory way.
"Though I would miss you if you didn't visit, I wish to save you from Whitley's latest unbefitting behavior. He's trying to educate me on how to do my job better at the company," Winter growled. A second later there was a pained sigh before her sister resumed, "It is regrettable, but I don't foresee this current batch of discord ceasing anytime soon, so I feel that you would be happier staying at school with your friends."
A deep frown marked Weiss's face. She was disappointed, but she knew that her sister was right.
"I miss you little sister." Winter paused and it made Weiss even sadder, "Klien, of course, sends his love. And mother, well, I'm sure she does too."
With that the message ceased and Weiss was left to mull over her options, as well as just how serious this latest bought of infighting between her younger and older sibling was.
A quiet groan of frustration and sadness escaped her as she propped her head up by massaging her temples.
The fact that those two were not even close to being the most dysfunctional of her family was depressing. Their father was… overbearing, to put it as politely as possible, while their mother was rarely there, cognitively or otherwise. Weiss couldn't remember the last time she had seen her mother "dried out" or her father happy about something other than stock gains.
And though she loved and respected her sister, she regrettably could not say the same about her brother.
Whitley was just generally an embarrassment. The fact that he deluded himself into thinking that he deserved to inherit the company was beyond frustrating.
Both she and Winter knew that he barely attended his undergraduate classes, and they had caught him paying people to complete his coursework for him on multiple occasions. But their father either refused to acknowledge the proof or dismissed his misdeeds and lack of work ethic as somehow inconsequential.
Weiss ground her jaw as she pulled out her textbook. Their father's favoritism often befuddled her, and made her question if all her hard work was even noticed, or worth the effort if Whitley was allowed to get away with whatever he pleased.
She would have given up on her dream of inheriting the company and let her sister take over, but she had more than once questioned Winter's commitment and desire. Sometimes it felt like her sister only wanted the company out of spite for their father and Whitley.
One heavy sigh later she hit the play button on her laptop to restart her music, before clicking on her paper for Professor Peach.
Winter was extremely capable and an undeniable asset to her division in the company. But her lack of diplomacy and temper had lost the Schnee Energy Conglomerate important contracts on more than one occasion.
Weiss, on the other hand, had tried to take the high road to prove herself as the most fitting heir. She despised the squables that Winter and Whitley got into more than their father. It had always been Weiss's hope that her lack of infighting, multiple degrees, and sacrifice would help her win his final approval.
All her life she had planned and assessed what the most correct path to success might be. She had studied business, marketing, accounting, and law at one of the most renowned universities. Getting degrees in the former two had been easy, and she was at the top of her class in the latter.
On paper Weiss was the perfect heir for their company. She had worked, planned, and conformed to their father's wishes in nearly every way.
She was perfect.
Well, almost perfect. Her resolve faltered as an old memory resurfaced and filled her with regret. She had only ever made one miscalculation in her bid for the company, and since that day she had stayed completely focused on proving herself.
Weiss shook her head, and set doubts aside as she started working on her assignment. There was simply no time for distractions, especially not for a Schnee.
Weiss rubbed her face to try and recover some of her energy. It had gotten a little late, but she was painfully close to finishing her paper for Professor Peach.
Her fatigue was wearing on her comfort level, so she unbuttoned and rolled back the sleeves of her white dress shirt. Then undid another button near her collar, in hopes that more air on her skin would wake her senses.
One resolute breath later Weiss tapped at her screen to wake her similarly fatigued computer. She made good progress until her phone started to incessantly vibrate next to her.
She picked up the device, then nearly dropped it upon realizing who it was.
Father?! What could he want at such a late hour?
Nerves on edge, she frantically searched for a place to take the call. Her eyes locked onto an empty study room, and she dashed to it as she put the phone up to her ear.
"Weiss I have gathered your siblings and called you, because I have come to a decision that will affect all of you," her father stated with authority and absolutely no pleasantry.
She held her breath as her mind tried to piece together what it was that he was about to share. Anxiety filled her at the thought that this might be the long awaited announcement of their inheritance. Weiss had always assumed that their father would at least wait until Whitley had finished his undergraduate degree, but then again it was hard to predict anything their father did with any certainty.
"In the past few months the infighting in this house has become completely unbearable." Weiss could practically see the scowl their father was giving Winter and Whitley. "I had hoped that I could wait until you were all at least twenty-five to name the future successor of the company," There was a pause, followed by a vexed edge in their father's voice, "but it seems that if I want any peace I will need to restructure my timeline and amend my decision making criterion."
Weiss waited with baited breath, she knew that the next words out of his mouth would govern her path forward.
"You will all have nine months to create a profitable business of your own making. I will not help or fund any of you. This is something you must accomplish using your personal skills and resources. The most profitable and successful business will earn the winner the right to run the Schnee Energy Conglomerate, when I retire," he pointedly added. "Only then will I officially and legally name an heir."
There was an uncomfortably long break before he continued. "I suggest you all focus your energies on this endeavor," then he growled, "instead of each other."
"What about-" Whitley's nettling voice asked, before being shut down.
"My lawyers will have the details of the competition sent to you within the next business day. That is all, and good night to everyone," he ended.
Weiss heard a click at the call being disconnected. She stared at her phone until its screen went black.
This is it. This… will decide my entire future.
Sorry for the super late upload to this site, things got crazy. But that means you will be getting a second chapter pretty quickly.
Reviews are appreciated, if you want to follow story progress for this or any of my other stories find me on tumblr at "shippingK8"
Hope you are excited for this new story!