Bit of a wait for this one, but better later than never! Special thanks to my very good friend GrammaHobbes for helping me out with this chapter so it was something good to read and longer than it originally was!
Now read on!
Entry 07 : Situational Changes
04 | 1801 | B | MAR | 21
Two months later, in my grandfather's chateau, I was sitting on a lounge chair in the sunroom with a cup of coffee next to me on an end table. My grandfather, Gerard Lacroix, sat across from me in his favorite chair with this morning's newspaper in hand.
My arrival had been sudden. I had thought that my father would take us to another one of his safe houses, but within hours we were pulling up to Chateau Lacroix. It had been as much a shock to the staff and my Grandfather as it was for me. I hadn't seen him since I was five, and seeing him again over ten years later left us both stunned. It didn't help that my father left as soon as I had stepped out of the car. He didn't give me, and consequently his father, a proper explanation. Not that he needed to, we both had a good idea as to why and it left us both angry. It became a point of bonding for us in the beginning, a place to start despite the uncertainty we had of one another.
Not only that, but it had also been two months since I last properly talked to Rex. All I knew was that he had been released from the Underground Hospital a few days ago. But that was it, and I really had been missing the conversations we had when I was still hospitalized. Unfortunately, we had both been busy. Him with his job and me adapting to an entirely new home and lifestyle. Still though...
I must have frowned a little, or at least enough for my grandfather to notice and lower his newspaper in order to see me properly.
"Est-ce que tout va bien, Sarah?"
Is everything alright, Sarah?
He once had the same light-blond hair my father has, but it had been grey for the past ten years. It was still as short as I remember first seeing it, swept back in a simple style away from his large, round face. His wrinkles were well defined on his face, and he had the same dark-green eyes as I and my father did. Something he claimed had run in the family since its founding.
I was slightly startled when he suddenly asked the question, but I caught myself and nodded as I replied, "Je vais bien, ce n'est qu'un petit ajustement dans la vie ici."
I'm alright, it's just been a bit of an adjustment in living here.
"Et ce serait," My grandfather huffed, "Adrian vous amène ici un moment et quitte la suivante."
And it would be, Adrian bringing you here one moment and leaving the next.
"Ce n'était pas si mal, grand-père," I said with a small smile, "Au moins il m'a laissé avec toi."
It wasn't all bad, Grandpa, at least he left me with you.
My grandfather just stared at me, and slowly his eyes became a little misty and it seemed like he was seeing someone else in my stead. I had a good idea of who.
"Tout comme votre mère, voir le côté plus clair des choses." He said with a smile of his own, "Un peu trop pardonner les autres parfois, mais c'est peut-être une bonne chose."
Just like your mother, seeing the brighter side of things. A little too forgiving of others sometimes, but perhaps that is a good thing.
However, that smile faded quickly when he then said, "Mais ton père n'est pas un homme, car aucun homme n'abandonnerait son enfant pour poursuivre continuellement sa propre soif de sang."
But your father is no man, as no man would give up his child to continually pursue his own bloodlust.
I was not surprised by his incredibly harsh words about my father. The two men had been on opposites sides as long as I could remember, and it stretched long before even then. Gerard Lacroix had been an assassin as well, but a legal one and trained by the government. It became his career, and it influenced my father to become the same: an assassin. However, he took a much darker path with it and it put heavy strains between them. The final straw had been my mother, who had been the daughter my grandfather never had, and her death was still painful for him.
There had been a brief custody battle over me, my father winning through not very legal methods. Spending the most time in years with my grandfather recently, however… it got me thinking that maybe my father only fought to win custody of me just to spite my grandfather. I had to wonder why he would leave me with my grandfather now, over ten years later.
There was a knock on the frame of the door that led to the hallway outside. My grandfather and I looked up to see Armand, my grandfather's butler, standing there with a neutral expression on his face.
"Mademoiselle Sarah," He briefly greeted me before focusing on my grandfather, "Comté Lacroix, votre rendez-vous est là."
Mademoiselle Sarah. Comté Lacroix, your appointment is here.
Another thing that ran in the family: the title of Comté.
The Lacroix family was one of the few who survived the various revolutions and the world wars. Though my father's family had managed to keep the title, which dated back to the old aristocracy, what remained of the lands the Lacroix's once owned was this very chateau, its immediate grounds, and some staff.
"Rendez-vous?" I gave my grandfather a confused look, and looking back at me he had a calm expression.
Appointment?
He gave me a reassuring smile, but it did not reach his eyes. There was a sadness in his eyes, and a pit started to form in my stomach. He didn't look at Armand as he then said, "Envoyez-le dedans."
Send him in.
Armand gave my grandfather a brief bow before leaving to bring in whoever it was my grandfather had an appointment with. Only a few minutes passed before Armand returned with a man with blue eyes who might have been in his late thirties, around my father's age. In his black hair, there was salt and peppering to it, suggesting that he was older than my assumption. He wore a sharp-looking suit, clean, crisp, and his entire demeanor spoke of a true professional in his field. There was a dark-brown briefcase in his left hand, and he offered his right to my grandfather, who stood to greet him.
"Comté Lacroix," He said with a wide smile, "C'est un plaisir d'être invité à nouveau dans votre belle maison."
Comté Lacroix, it's a pleasure to be invited to your lovely home once again.
"Un plaisir de retrouver votre entreprise." My grandfather replied, a smile on his face as well. "Puis-je présenter ma petite-fille, Sarah?"
A pleasure to have your company again. May I introduce to my granddaughter, Sarah?
The man looked at me, smile still there, and I gave him a polite one in return. He then released my grandfather's hand to reach for mine, which I accepted.
"Un plaisir de faire enfin votre connaissance, Mademoiselle Sarah. Le Comté m'a beaucoup parlé de son petit-fils préféré."
A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Mademoiselle Sarah. The Comté has told me much about his favorite grandchild.
"Son seul petit-fils," I replied, my smile turning wry, "Mais ton compliment est accepté quand même."
His only grandchild, but your compliment is accepted anyway.
He chuckled, then properly introduced himself as he let go of my hand. "Je m'appelle Mickael Augustin, je représente votre famille depuis vingt ans."
My name is Mickael Augustin, I've been representing your family for twenty years.
Representing? I looked at my grandfather for confirmation, and he nodded.
"Monsieur Augustin est un avocat, et Monsieur, si vous voulez prendre place, nous allons commencer."
Monsieur Augustin is a lawyer, and Monsieur if you would like to take a seat we shall get started.
Monsieur Augustin took a seat, and my grandfather returned to his, as I then asked, "Commencez par quoi?"
Get started on what?
My grandfather and Monsieur Augustin gave each other a look, and it was Monsieur Augustin who answered my question.
"Nous allons passer en revue votre héritage et nous assurer que tout est en ordre."
We're going to go over your inheritance and make sure everything's in order.
"Mon héritage?"
My inheritance?
I was thoroughly confused, and my grandfather took it upon himself to elaborate further.
"Monsieur Augustin et moi avons discuté le mois dernier de ma volonté et à qui tout ira." He told me calmly, "Je déshérite ton père Sarah, et je te laisse tout."
Monsieur Augustin and I have been talking over the past month concerning my will and to whom things will go to. I am disinheriting your father Sarah, and I am leaving you everything.
My eyes widened, and unconsciously shook my head as I replied in disbelief, "Comment est-ce que je peux même être considéré comme héritant ... N'avez-vous pas d'autres parents plus proches que moi? Des frères et sœurs qui vous connaissent mieux que moi?
How am I even able to be considered to inherit… Don't you have other relatives more closely related than I am? Siblings who know you better than I do?
"Je ne."
I do not.
My grandfather's tone was firm, and my expression of shock only grew more pronounced.
"Que voulez-vous dire?"
What do you mean?
My grandfather sighed. "Mon frère aîné est mort pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale et ma sœur aînée est morte en bas âge. J'étais le seul enfant de mes parents à survivre. Adrian n'héritera pas pour des raisons que vous connaissez déjà et sera déshérité dans mon testament." Then, his eyes looked almost pleading. "Je veux que tu hérites de Sarah et je veux que tu aies quelque chose quand je serai parti."
My older brother died in the Second World War and my older sister died in infancy. I was the only child of my parents to survive. Adrian will not be inheriting for reasons you already know and will be disinherited in my last will and testament. I want you to inherit Sarah, and I want you to have something when I'm gone.
I stared at him, unable to come up with any kind of reply. The room fell into silence, and eventually, my grandfather and Monsieur Augustin started talking the details of the will. I went back to reading my book, a confused and sad expression on my face. As I read, I couldn't focus on the words in front of me and I didn't know what to think.
I didn't know what to do.
Later…
I sat in the large chair in my grandfather's study, staring at the open Odin's Eye program in front of me. Staring at the monitor, I glanced down at the clock. 8:45 at night. Looking away, I then focused on the only other username in my contacts list.
RL1999
My hand was hesitant on the mouse, the pointer wavering on his username. A second later though, a video-chat request appeared from him. I accepted it immediately and a smile had formed on my face as his own appeared on the monitor. After two months of not seeing him, I instantly noticed the new things about my friend.
I didn't speak for a second, and with a slow raising eyebrow I said, "I didn't think you'd take the Darth Vader look so... seriously."
Rex wore a dark coat, rather different than the plain and uncomfortable patient clothes. He had black hair now, and I knew it was fake. It was fairly obvious and it looked a little unkempt. However, it looked late for him so I thought nothing of that detail. A small chuckle made its way out from his ventilator.
"Didn't want to disappoint you."
"A shame I'm disappointed easily, but I have to say, I'm rather impressed with the dedication."
"What can I say, I'm an overachiever in all aspects."
"Not just in highly specific mathematical equations?" It was my turn to chuckle. The intelligence in his eyes had a sharper gleam to them as he reminded me of one thing.
"Chess too."
I grinned. "I will defeat you one day Darth Vader." My words, though threatening, were said lightly.
"If you feel free to fail, then go right ahead Lefty."
"You mean when," My grin widened. "One day my failing streak will break."
The laughter between us vanished after a few seconds, however, and we both took to inspecting the other. He spoke first.
"So tell me the truth, how are you doing really?"
I bit my lip a little. Damn his perceptiveness. I then sighed and simply told him knowing that I couldn't deceive him. No, Rex and I had gone through a lot and I knew I could trust him with anything.
"There was a meeting a few hours ago between my grandfather and the family lawyer, Monsieur Augustin. It left me rattled."
"I can see that. What happened?"
I looked down from him, uncertainty overcoming me as I remembered the long meeting.
"Sarah?"
"My grandfather wants to give me the inheritance," I just blurted it out, looking up at him a little more. "The estate, the money, his title, everything."
His tense shoulders lowered and his expression seemed a bit relieved. "What's so wrong with that? Most people dream of all those things, and you're getting it after just signing a few papers."
I looked up fully now, giving him a weak glare. "This is the longest I've ever been in the same place as my grandfather, and I barely saw him when I was a child. It's just… it's just very unexpected to be handed something like this only after two months of living with him."
"I think it's his way of telling you he's making up for lost time," Rex then suggested, "Time your father took from you and him. Don't blame the man for trying to pamper his granddaughter, you deserve a little pampering Sarah."
I raised my eyebrow again. "Words of wisdom, Darth Vader?"
In truth, it did make me feel better about the whole situation. Rex made it look not so bad, despite how shocking it was and still is. It would just be some time before I actually got used the idea that I was to inherit everything my grandfather wanted to give me.
"Another one of my many skills… so should I call you Comtesse from now on?"
"No." My glare returned. "Don't you dare."
Rex raised his hands in reply. "Understood ma'am."
"Do you want me to hurt you?"
"Only a little." He winked at me.
"Imbécile."
Idiot.
"Was that a compliment?"
"Take it as you will."
Rex chuckled again, but became serious as he then asked, "How are you inheriting everything from your grandfather? What about your father? Isn't France male-preference primogeniture with inheritance laws?"
I nodded. "With inheriting noble titles it is, and my father would be first in line for it. However, my grandfather is disinheriting him in his will, along with a detailed memorandum stating why so the disinheritance sticks. The title doesn't mean anything to the law, but it still does in aristocratic social circles."
"And disinheriting your father doesn't also disinherit you?"
"No, my grandfather and Monsieur Augustin carefully and specifically worded it so I would inherit and so my father couldn't contest it."
After a moment, Rex nodded and a concerned look appeared on his face. "Are you going to be okay, Sarah?"
I hesitated, but then slowly nodded. "I think I will be, and this won't be revisited for a long time hopefully."
From the look in his eyes, Rex knew what I actually meant without my saying it. That the inheritance wouldn't be a concern again until my grandfather's death. In wanting to change the subject I then suddenly asked him, "So what have you been up to lately? Something must have prompted your wardrobe change."
"As a matter of fact, something did happen recently."
There was a sudden excitement in his eyes, and I had to know. "Come on Rex, what is it? Don't keep me in suspense here."
"I was handed a promotion." He then told me, and my smile returned.
"How good of one?"
"I am now the leading scientist on the project I was recruited for nearly a year ago." Rex sounded very smug, as was his right with such a promotion.
"What happened to the previous leading scientist?"
I had not forgotten about Dr. Mindbender, and this promotion of Rex's seemed a little fast. My friend also tensed slightly at the question, and his words were almost awkwardly said. Barely noticeable.
"He was relieved of his position due to incompetence. Too many mistakes made."
After a brief pause, I then replied, "Sounds like he couldn't handle the pressure," At saying this, Rex's tension relaxed, "I hope it's not too much for you Rex."
He shook his head. "Don't worry Sarah, I find the challenges of my new position… exhilarating."
So it may be a while again before I get chapters written and posted for my stories, as I am returning to college and I start in a few days. Never fear though, I will still be writing but college shall be the priority.
So remember to drop a review in the donation box, and that I do not own the G.I. Joe fracnhise.
Thank you for understanding, and see you again next chapter! ;)
