**As promised a new chapter. i tried to give Nick his own chapter this time but he wouldn't cooperate. He's been giving me problems lol. so, we have more Adalind. Hope you enjoy. **
"Good morning." Adalind greeted as she entered the conference room with an intern, John, on her heels. She brought him along with a dual purpose. One to stand as witness of the reading and two as protection of some sort. He was a blutbad, young but still strong to make sure proceedings didn't get out of hand. She was sure the young man had developed a bit of a crush on her, which is why he agreed so easily to be there. Adalind hadn't encouraged him but also never brought it up to discourage, not wanting to embarrass him in anyway. For his species he was a sweet kid. "Thank you all for coming. Before we begin, I would like to offer my condolences for your loss. I did not know Mr. Fengrer well but he always came across as a sweet man who loved his family dearly."
Cindy sniffled softly from her seat, a crumpled tissue clutched in her hand, eyes, and nose red as she nodded, her brothers-twins, remained unaffected. Though their spouses did put on an act of quietly sobbing against their husbands. Adalind wanted to roll her eyes at them, but she had to remain professional. She knew that soon those fake tears would turn into anger at what was about to happen.
"Can we get on with this. I need to get back to work, I have a meeting in about 90 minutes." Sighed one of the brothers, Anthony, while he seemed to be scrolling through his phone. The other brother, Marcus, slumped in his seat looking bored to even be in the room. Cindy glared at them from her seat across the table from them but said nothing. Adalind nodded to John to join Cindy at her side. he nodded and quickly made his way to her, setting down a thick folder on the table.
"Of course." Adalind answered, smiling tightly in his direction. "Your father has decided to make a video for the reading, though there is a physical copy of the will for each of you as well. John." She said gesturing to his folder. John took out three thick packets of paper giving the specifics of the will and stating that there would be no way to change it. the video was really a message to his children along with a verbal statement of what was decided.
"A video? Why the hell would he do that?" Marcus asked, his interest peaked but not enough for him to lose the bored expression.
"its my understanding that he wanted you all to hear exactly what he wanted from him so there would be no question of what he decided. So, unless there are anymore questions, I'll start the video." She said looking around at everyone. While Cindy hadn't touched her packet, fear in her eyes as she looked at it, Anthony was quickly flipping through his while Marcus just handed his off to his wife to handle. Satisfied there were no more questions Adalind started the video and stood off to the side, keeping a watch on everyone in the room as it played.
Mr. Fengrer's image appeared on the screen looking just as he had when it was recorded in Adalind's office over a week ago. The smile on the aged face brought one to her own. She wasn't really sure what it was about the man that made her sentimental. She'd had plenty of nice clients over the years, but he felt special to her. Maybe it was the way he loved his family, was there for them, regardless of how they treated him. she especially loved the affection he held for his daughter, and she had always thought that if it had been a different man that her own father would have loved her just as much. It would explain the soft spot she had for Cindy as well. she envied her but at the same time wanted to protect her.
"Hello to you all. If you are viewing this then I have passed on." Mr. Fengrer started. Adalind looked when she heard more crying to see Cindy with tears pouring down her face as she stared at the screen. She fought not to go to the woman but saw John grab her hand in support and relaxed. "this race has been long and hard, and I like to think that I gave it a good go. I've spent my life trying to do what's right, what I thought was the right thing to do for my company, for my friends but most of all for my family. I have provided and supported even when it was not welcomed."
Cindy let out a loud sob while the others rolled their eyes at her. John leaned in to whisper something to her and she nodded. he got up and went to the mini fridge in the room grabbing a few bottles of water and handing them out to everyone. Taking his seat again and pressing a firm hand against Cindy's back in comfort.
"as much as I would love to go on about my love for my family I will not. I'm pretty sure that there are some that won't appreciate it if I did and others that don't care one way or another. But I do have letters for each of my children that Ms. Schade has been gracious enough to hold on to for me. So, let's get down to the brass knuckles of things, shall we?" he continued, and the twins sat up expectantly. John pulled out three envelopes, addressed to each of the children in attendance. There was one more, thicker, and bigger than the others, still in the folder. It was for a fourth child that none of them knew about that is set to be mailed out later today.
"I have left my company in the hands of the employees. Each of them now holds a share in the company, the amount depending on how long they have worked there. It has been dictated and agreed upon by the board that starting January first of next year each employee who holds a share will have a say in how things are done. That includes any family member that works for the company. There will be no nepotism, favoritism, or seniority from then on. Despite how many shares each employee gets they will have equal say. This has been put in writing and filed with the courts."
"What." Marcus bit out angrily; his eyes narrowed. He was the only family that still worked at the company. Anthony had his own career that had nothing to do with the business at all. Anthony jabbed his brother and gave him a look. Marcus settled back in but continued to glare at the screen.
"Not what you expected, is it Marcus?" Mr. Fengrer grinned from the screen. "Maybe if you had taken the job I had given you more seriously then I would have considered leaving a majority of it to you and you alone. But I have heard the stories of the things you have done and that is not how I want my company run."
Marcus mumbled a litany of curses under his breath, his hand clenched on top of the table. His wife, a buxom redhead with more plastic on her then a Tupperware company stocked, placed a hand on his which he immediately yanked away. She didn't seem bothered by the gesture.
"To my favorite three charities, which I support religiously, I leave the sum of $1.5 million each in hopes that they use the funds to continue research and helping others as they have done for decades. I pray that this helps them continue and grow for decades more."
Anthony rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Now, lets get to the part you are all here for, what I am leaving to my children, Anthony Samuel Fengrer, Marcus Finnegan Fengrer, Cynthia Michele Fengrer and Annabelle."
"What the hell?" Anthony said.
"Who the fuck is Annabelle?" Marcus growled.
Both men standing in outrage. Cindy didn't look at all surprised by this news. Adalind wondered just how much she knew about Annabelle. It was a question for another time, if at all.
"Gentlemen, please take a seat." Adalind said firmly. They obliged but were turning red.
"Yes, there is a fourth child. One only few people know about. She is the eldest of my children. I will not disclose her whereabouts or give any information on her as she as stated she doesn't want to be involved with the family. I will respect her wishes but she still deserves to be recognized and deserves a share of my estate. So, with that being said, to Annabelle I leave 3.5 million dollars so that she may grow her own company that she has worked so hard to build from the ground up. I also leave my antique figurine collection. It was started by her mother and I and something I know she would love to have." the pride and love that Mr. Fengrer had for her showed even through the screen.
"To my sweet Cindy, Cynthia Michele. Words cannot express how happy I am that you decided to forge your own path and that, even though you didn't know it, you are following in your sisters footsteps. To you I leave 10 million dollars, the painting of your mother and I hanging in my study, the deed to your condo that you now own outright, and my pocket watch that was given to me by my father when I turned 21. I know how much you admired that watch. Let it be a symbol that time marches on. My time may be up, and I may be gone but will always be looking out for you kids. Mourn now but don't forget to live." he said grinning. His eyes soft as he spoke directly to her.
"Dad." she cried, shaking her head. It was never about the money for her, she loved her father very much and she would give anything to have him back.
"Don't cry pumpkin, I'm alright, I'm finally rejoined with your mother, and we will both be watching out for you." he told her. "Now to my sons."
The boys, forgetting their anger, leaned forward ready to hear what they would be getting. Adalind bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. she hated to admit it but she would enjoy seeing them brought down a peg and a sick thrill ran through her as she watched them closely.
"To Anthony and Marcus, I hate to say I spoiled you boys rotten when you were growing up. I wasn't there enough for you or your mother. I truly regret how much my work got in the way of me being a father to you boys and a husband to your mother. But there is more about those regrets in the letters I have written to you. As far as what I am leaving you. you two grew up never wanting or having to work for anything. I gave it to you without pause but it is time to correct that. To Marcus, I leave my mansion and all inside, except what has been stated goes to your sisters and I leave the summer home in the Hamptons along with everything inside to Anthony. I also leave the sum of $500,000 to each of you to do with as you please. Since you both have taken the equivalent of $25 million each from me over the years, I see no need to leave more then that. I am hoping that you boys invested what I have already given you wisely and didn't blow it all over the years."
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!" Marcus stood shouting.
Anthony said nothing just sat there staring in shock, not moving a muscle.
"Marcus, sit down." his wife commanded him, yanking his arm and pulling him back into his seat.
"Are you really that surprised? You shouldn't be. Maybe I would have left more if I had not overheard you both plotting to leave your sister with nothing after my death and to kick her out of her home. I am so disappointed in you boys. I may not have been the best father to you but to take out your anger at me on her is just unforgivable." He said, shaking his head. Sadness at the state of his children ringing true in his eyes.
"This is ridiculous. How could he leave almost all of it to… her." Marcus said, jabbing a finger in Cindy's direction. She shrank back from her brother's fury filled gaze. "You are not getting that money. Do you hear me? I will take you to court to make sure of it."
"I don-." Cindy started but John squeezed her hand and shook his head.
"And before either of you decide to try and contest any of this, let me just say that there are no loopholes, no backdoors, no way around what I have decided. I made sure that it is iron clad. Not that it will work, but anyone that decides to contest, even a spouse, will forfeit their inheritance in total. Meaning if you go after either of your sisters or the company for money or ownership then you get nothing." Mr. Fengrer's voice turned hard at the end and his stare matched his tone.
"Son of a bitch." Anthony uttered. The first words he has said since the viewing started.
"Now that it has all been straightened out, let me leave you with some last words. Anthony, Marcus, I truly hope that one day you will both open your eyes and appreciate all that you have. I hope that you will learn to stand on your own two feet and to stop expecting others to do the work for you while you sit back and do nothing. I hope that I was able to provide you with some tools to do so. But from here on out its up to you to use those tools and grow or crash and burn, but you will be doing it on your own."
Marcus ran a hand through his perfectly coiffed hair as he stared down at the table. Anthony just continued to stare, though his face had gone blank.
"Cindy, I am so proud of you my dear. You set out to blaze your own path and never let any bump in the road keep you down. you fought for everything you have. you never once asked for a hand out. in fact, you adamantly refused to use my money to help you. I admire that so much. Don't look at what I gave you as a hand out. look at it as a reward for a job well done. What you choose to do with your money is wholly up to you, but I do hope you use part of it to grow your own business. Just remember to enjoy life now while you still can. You work too much for one so young. Don't do like I did. don't put living and enjoying life on the backburner until you are too tired and old to enjoy it. Live, laugh and love as you put it." he said with a raspy laugh.
"I will." She said, her voice cracking as she nodded.
"Now, its time for me to go. remember, I love you all, with all my heart and I pray that you go on to live happy fulfilled lives. Goodbye my children." He said with a smile before the video cut off. The silence left behind was deafening. The twins were radiating anger and disbelief. Cindy was looking as if she wanted to restart the video just so she could see her father again. John stayed glued to her side but was watching the room tense. Adalind just stood silently back waiting to see what would happen. She was completely sure that this was the calm before the storm so to speak. When nothing happened a few minutes later she thought that maybe she had been wrong and stepped forward to wrap things up.
"Well, everyone-." She started but was cut off by another enraged yell.
"This is insane. $500 grand. He left us $500 grand and some stupid properties. While he left that little bitch $10 million, and who the hell is this Annabelle? Why does she get a cut? Its not like she was there for him at all."
Adalind wanted to snort at the pot calling the kettle but remained calm as she let him rant. Cindy, though still red-eyed and sad was slowly starting to become angry as well. her eyes narrowed as she watched her brother jump up and pace from one end to the other.
"He's lucky he's already dead or I would kill him myself." He snarled and Cindy snapped. Slamming her hands down on the table, rattling the bottles and glasses and cutting into the vitriol spilling from Marcus's mouth.
"And you think you were there for him? Either of you?" She said, looking from one to the other. "You abandoned him. How many times has he tried to contact each of you? How many times has he tried to make amends for the things he did? Neither of you gave a damn about him unless you need something from him."
"Why should we have given a damn? Like he said he was a piss poor father." Marcus shouted back at her.
"was he a piss poor father when he paid off your gambling debt so you could keep your kneecaps? Was he a piss poor father when he bailed Anthony's company out of crisis when they were on the verge of bankruptcy?" she asked him, brow arched in challenge. He clenched his jaw as he stared at her. "He has bent over backwards time and time again to help you both out and got nothing in return for it."
"You little rat. What gives you the right to mention any of that?" Anthony's wife said standing, her eyes piercing Cindy.
"Oh, go get some more Botox, your face is slipping." Cindy bit out at her before turning back to her brother. The wife sat again, self-consciously touching her face. Anthony stood slowly his ire plain in his features now.
"Okay, maybe we all need to take a step back and settle down." Adalind said firmly, raising her hands as if to hold someone back.
"You're sounding a bit self-righteous for someone who came from the same opportunities as us, you entitled brat." Anthony spoke quietly, not really coming to the defense of his wife. Cindy gave a hysterical laugh.
"Me? Entitled? Are you serious? I'm the only one that never asked for anything from him. Yeah I got to go to the same private school that you did, but I worked hard while there, despite being bullied by you and your friends. Yes he paid for my education but that's where it ended. I never once took money from him after I graduated. I worked and worked hard to build my own life. No one even knows I'm his daughter because I refused to use either his money or his name to make one for myself."
"Maybe if you had, you wouldn't be failing now." Anthony sneered.
"Okay, that's enough. Everyone needs -." Adalind tried to cut in again, pitching her voice a bit louder.
"Maybe I wouldn't be." Cindy stated coldly as she stared him down. "But I would rather fail on my own then to ride his coattails to success."
He jerked back as if she had slapped him, and Marcus gave a guttural growl and was held back by his wife to keep from attacking.
"Dad always held out hope even to his last breath that you two would finally see he was trying to make up for the past but neither of you ever did. I've tried hard to be your equal; to finally get some kind of recognition from you but you never even acknowledged me. But I'm done. I just lost my last parent, my last real family. All I have left now is my memories and the trinkets dad left me." she said, deflating as more tears sprang to her eyes.
"And $10 million." Marcus snarled, reminding her. she shook her head.
"I would give it all up to have him back. he was what was important to me, not the money. I just want my father back." she said, her voice cracking again.
"John, why don't you escort Miss Fengrer to my office. I'll wrap up here and meet you there." Adalind suggested.
"Are you sure?" John asked, looking between the brothers and her. Adalind nodded and he gathered his folder and Cindy and ushered her out of the room.
Once the door was closed again Adalind turned back to the remaining parties. While Anthony had taken his seat again, his wife clinging to his side, Marcus remained standing and his wife took steps away from him, watching him nervously. Both men now looking at Adalind as if she were the enemy.
"Did you know about this?" Marcus asked.
"Know about what exactly?" Adalind asked calmly. His rage reached a boiling point, and he picked up a glass from the table and threw it in Adalind's direction, hitting the wall next to her head. She didn't flinch but it was a near thing. Marcus woged piercing her with his beady eyes.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH. YOU DID THIS. YOU'RE THE REASON THIS HAPPENED. I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU." he screamed. Adalind woged in response, making the other three skitter back away from her but Marcus stayed poised to leap at her.
"Just fucking try it." she snarled at him just as the door opened and a new body entered the room. Adalind and Marcus both woged back but Adalind was in shock now.
"Nick?"
**And there we have it. Even threw Nick in there at the end. **