To those people who can speak Spanish, may I please ask a favor? Can you help me with this fic by supplying me with common Spanish terms and expressions aside from Buenas Noche etc.? email me at sheilaym@yahoo.com Gracias!
Btw, to those who want to know why I chose Spain for the fiction..well, let's just say, if there is a place that is near to my heart other than my own country, Japan, and England, that would be Spain. Besides, in my opinion, Spanish language is a very romantic one. Don't you agree, Fuu? ^_~
Chapter 2: The Last Testament
A few days later, Eriol, Nakuru and Spinel were in front of Valle Rosa, the compound that is said to be owned conjugally by Kaho and her husband.
"Wow!!" gushed Nakuru. "Mistress Kaho made a good decision of dumping you! She found good fortune here!"
He laughed a little. His relationship with the woman had been rocky ever since she met Kinomoto Touya again a few years back. "The woman that loved so many men..pretended, at least, but whose heart was already owned by one all through these years. Too bad Kinomoto loves someone else," he thought.
"Señor Hiiragizawa?"
He looked up and found a familiar-looking woman looking at him. "Yes?" he said.
"The lawyer is waiting for us inside." She opened the gates and led them into the long, garden path, which will take them to the patio.
Nakuru examined her critically. "Excuse me, but have we met already?"
She gave her the briefest of glance. "Yes."
"Do you remember when and where?" the servant pressed.
"It is not my habit to keep records of insignificant events, Señorita," replied the dark-haired woman.
Spinel snickered as Nakuru looked away, embarrassed.
Soon they were inside the spacious study room, seated with the lawyer who introduced himself as Fernando Gonzalez.
"This is Señora's Castillano's last will. I hope that you shall respect her wishes to honor her grave," he began.
Both Eriol and Tomoyo nodded.
"We shall begin."
Eriol frowned. "Won't we wait for the others?"
"What others?" asked the lawyer. "There are no others. It is only you, Señor and Señorita Daidouji that are named here."
"Daidouji! That's it! Daidouji Tomoyo of Tomoeda Elementary School!" said Nakuru. "I knew I saw her already!"
"Who is she?" asked the lawyer, forehead creased.
"She is Akizuki Nakuru, my personal assistant. She goes wherever I go." Said Eriol.
"She is not needed here. It is best that we do away with her," said Tomoyo quietly.
Nakuru looked at the woman furiously. "Hey, what's your problem? Why do you always pick on me?"
"I'm not picking on you, Señorita. I just want to lessen the distractions in the room," replied Tomoyo, voice devoid of emotion.
"Distractions?! I'm not-"
"That's enough, Nakuru. Maybe you should wait for us in our room. Spinel needs company," said Eriol.
She stood up in a huff. "Hah! I don't want to have anything to do with this stupid, boring pow-wow anyway." She slammed the door shut.
Eriol smiled apologetically to them. "You must excuse her behavior. She is a little immature."
"Very well. Perhaps now we can continue conducting our business," said the lawyer. "According to the señora's will, both of you will get an inheritance from her." He turned to Eriol. "You shall get the hacienda her husband owns located near the boundary of Seville." He faced Tomoyo. "And you shall acquire the half of the stocks of the Castillano Business Empire. The other half shall be given to its employees."
Both nodded solemnly.
"Now about Valle Rosa.." Atty.Gonzales checked his papers. "There is a condition on how to own this property, since she loves this place very much."
Tomoyo's forehead creased. She thought Kaho was going to give it to her!
"According to her, both of you shall live in this place for a probationary period of six months, no more and no less. Inside Valle Rosa, you can do anything you want with it, except sell it."
"I'll never sell it!" said Tomoyo fiercely.
"That's good to hear," said the lawyer. "Anyway, the rule is, you shall live together as husband and wife."
Audible gasps.
Eriol was the first one to recover. "Marriage?! Who would want a marriage that's good only for 6 months, and with a person I am not in love with?"
"I will never get married!" said Tomoyo.
Atty. Gonzales held his hand up. "Perhaps you should hear me out first. Number one: I said living together as husband and wife, not married. No marriage shall take place. She only wants you to live here under one roof together, and with no other partner other than each other. She doesn't want a third party who might only want to own the Castillano wealth. That only means she trusts you both."
"What will happen after six months?" Eriol wanted to know.
"As soon as things go back to normal again, you may do whatever you want with what you inherited. Sell it if you want," said Gonzales.
"That sounds practical," agreed Eriol. "I still have my career back in London."
"Don't talk as if you alone own Valle Rosa!" Tomoyo snapped. "I will never let you sell this place! Over my dead body!"
Tense silence.
"Why don't you two talk it over now?" said the lawyer soothingly.
"We can resolve this through a deal," said the Londoner sensibly. "If I can make you marry me within the probationary six months, then this will be our property. We can get a divorce, and I will give you my share in the will if you give me yours. I take it that you are not interested with the stocks?"
"Divorce?!!" The woman was aghast.
"What?" Eriol asked, annoyed. "What's the big deal with that?"
"May I remind you that you are now in a Catholic country, Señor," said Gonzales, somewhat amused.
"Oh." He thought of another plan. "Can't we just reverse the will instead? Can't I get the stocks and she gets the Valle Rosa?"
"And dishonor Señora's wish?" spat Tomoyo. "Que horror!"
The lawyer sighed.
"I'll tell you what, Señor Hiiragizawa, I'll take your original idea. If I will marry you with my free will, then so be what you said." She smirked sarcastically. "But I'm telling you, it will not be easy. For years, I have been living a solitary life within the Valle Rosa. I can therefore say with all confidence that I am frigid."
Silence.
Eriol smiled slowly. "Is that a challenge?"
"You bet it is, Señor."
The lawyer groaned, but nevertheless, agreed with the plans. He was just grateful that both found a common ground.
"What was Señora Castillano thinking when she left her wealth with these two completely opposite people?" sighed Gonzales.
To be continued