A/N: Thanks to SBM Fanatic for adding "The Other Daughter" to her alert list and her review! Many thanks to SandraSmit 19 for her review and to alliscrazy for adding me to her alert/favorite list!
NOTE: Originally I said that I would continue this story and "My Happily Ever After" simultaneously. I decided to put the latter on hiatus until further notice.
DISCLAIMER: I own no one from the WWE. I only own my characters.
CHAPTER 3: A SIMPLE REQUEST
"Before we get down to business, I would like to thank you all for coming today…"
The entire family was sitting in the conference room at Burbage & Associates. Mr. Burbage, the owner, was Uncle Pete's lawyer for the past 70 years and knew Socrates before he was a philosopher.
This dude was older than God Himself.
"I now present to you the will of Peter William Edwards…"
As Mr. Burbage drawled on about the preliminaries, I looked around the table.
Mom and dad were sitting next to one another. Mom looked tired but peaceful- I knew dad was itching to get on with it because he had to get back to his precious wrestling shit; Stephanie was sitting next to dad, playing with her perfectly liquored nails; and Shane and Marissa were sitting next to one another, holding hands.
"To my niece, Linda Edwards McMahon, I bestow to you two million dollars-may you find it useful in your next Senate run in 2012. Good Luck, my dear, I will be watching from up above, cheering you on."
I saw a small smile on Mom's face and the tears in her eyes.
"To my nephews Declan James McMahon and Kenyon Jesse McMahon, I bestow to you each $50,000 for your education. The money is in a trust fund until you each reach 18 years of age. I also bestow to you my entire Star Wars Collection. May you both have as much fun with it as I have"
Declan and Kenyon looked as Christmas and their birthdays had come early.
"To Shane Brandon McMahon and Marissa Mazolla McMahon, I bestow to you my home in Stamford, Connecticut. May you both enjoy it in years to come and with your future grandchildren which I am sure Declan and Kenyon will give you many."
Aunt Regina, Uncle Pete's youngest sister, got his Mercedes and some of Grandma Edwards' personal belongings; Aunt Edna, the middle sister, got Uncle Pete's furniture and Grandpa Edwards' personal belongings.
"And finally, to my niece, Aubrey Jennifer McMahon, I bestow to you your grandfather's pocket watch .May it assist you in the hardest of times."
I had never met Grandpa Edwards but Uncle Pete told me that the pocket watch had been in the Edwards family for 10 generations.
"And last but certainly not least, Aubrey, I bestow to you my entire estate, on one condition: that you in turn work for your father for one full year and one full day."
My head snapped up so fast, the room spun.
"Excuse me? You want to run that by me again?" I demanded.
"In order to inherit the estate, you must work for your father, my dear" Mr. Burbage repeated.
I looked at my dad who was white. Stephanie looked horrified.
"She won't…she can't work for dad." Stephanie said, dumbfounded.
"Au Contraire, Miss Stephanie, if indeed Miss Aubrey wishes to accept her uncle's estate, then she must work for her father for one full year and one full day per your uncle's wishes."
It would be a cold day in hell before I worked for my dad.
"Mr. Burbage, I'm afraid I'm going to decline my uncle's request. I loved my uncle dearly but there is no possibility that I can work for my dad without killing him or my sister…and then committing suicide" I finished curtly.
"I would rethink that if I were you, Miss Aubrey. If you do decline the estate, then your sister, Stephanie will inherit it under no conditions. Miss Aubrey, your uncle's estate is estimated to be worth at least $250 million dollars, not including his assets."
Stephanie nearly fell out her chair when Mr. Burbage said that last part.
"Well, you heard her Mr. Burbage, she doesn't want it. Hell, her and my father hate one another so why bother disturbing sleeping dogs. I'll be more than happy to accept Uncle Pete's estate" Stephanie greedily said.
"Miss Stephanie, I wish it were that simple, but your uncle gave me specific instructions on the matter."
"Well, get on with it then, what are they?" Stephanie asked eagerly.
Mr. Burbage sighed.
"Miss Aubrey has one week to review her uncle's request. If after, that one week, she decides not to accept the conditions in order to inherit his estate, then you, Miss Stephanie, will inherit the entire estate, no questions asked."
"And what if she does accept?" Stephanie sneered.
A small smile appeared on Mr. Burbage's lips.
"If Miss Aubrey does accept the conditions, then she will have 24 hours to notify me of her decision. Miss Aubrey is then required to finish her education, which I believe, ends in May when she graduates. Afterwards, she has one month to get her affairs in order and she must report to work for her father on July 1st, 2011."
"That's all?" Stephanie snarled.
"No, there's more." Mr. Burbage tightly said. "Once she reports to work for her father, she must work one full calendar year, from July 1st, 2011 to July 1st, 2012 and one full day which will be July 2nd, 2012. On July 3rd, 2012, I will meet with Miss Aubrey to ensure that the conditions have been met. If they have been met then Miss Aubrey will inherit the estate, and you, Miss Stephanie, will inherit nothing."
Stephanie sat back, sulking.
"Furthermore" Mr. Burbage continued, giving dad a cold, hard stare "Vincent Kennedy McMahon will give his daughter an executive position that is hands on with the craft or Linda's inheritance will be taken from her and given to a charity of her choice."
Dad was turning red from biting his tongue. But I knew the deal was sealed-dad would never deny mom anything, especially if it came from Uncle Pete. I think dad was afraid if he said no, Uncle Pete would come back to haunt him.
Mr. Burbage closed Uncle Pete's will.
"So that's it?" Stephanie said, half surprised.
"That is all" Mr. Burbage said quietly.
"So Miss Thing over there gets everything while I'm left out in the cold to fend for myself" Stephanie drawled.
"That is correct" Mr. Burbage said tightly "Now, if there are no questions, I must be going. I have a court appearance. Mrs. McMahon, Shane, you can see my secretary to make the necessary arrangements for your inheritance. Miss Aubrey, I look forward to hearing from you in one week. I am assured that you will make the best decision."
With that, Mr. Burbage stood up, fixed his jacket, and departed the conference room, the will in hand.
Dad stood up.
"I need to get going, there's a three hour RAW tonight in Albany, New York and I have a long drive ahead of me. Damn snow" he muttered.
He kissed mom and Stephanie on the cheek, shook Shane's hand, and hugged Marissa.
"Aubrey, uh, let me know of your decision when you reach it" dad said in his business voice.
Before she left, Aunt Regina pulled me aside for a little chat.
"Aubrey, don't give Stephanie that money" she said curtly "we both know she doesn't deserve it, nor does she deserve your father's money."
Aunt Regina and Aunt Edna hugged me both goodbye and on the wait out the door, Aunt Edna flipped Stephanie the bird.
Mom composed herself and stood up.
"Since I have all my children in one area, let's have a family dinner on Friday night."
Everybody stopped in their tracks. The last family dinner we had was when I was 15 and the evening ended with Stephanie getting 15 stitches and me with a broken finger.
"Mom" Shane began "do you think that's such a good idea?"
"Yes, yes I do, Shane." Mom said sternly. "I want to see my family all under one roof, enjoying a normal dinner for once, whether they like it or not" mom finished, giving everybody her mom look.
"Sounds great, mom" I said, weakly.
"Wonderful. Everyone be at my house for 6p.m. on Friday."
With that, mom collected her belongings and left.