HEIR TO THE NOAH’S EMPIRE(son-in-law)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

They sat in silence in the living room. Trevor still sitting on grandmother’s couch. Everyone stood. Except for the old woman and his mother-in-law.

Eliza was still looking at the phone. Trying to see a fault in what he just showed her. She looked at him a couple of times. Opening her mouth and closing it again. She had nothing to say about the whole thing.

She looked at her family members, but they all tried to look away from her.

“Why would I lie about such a huge thing, Eliza? You have seen it for yourself and, in case you are in denial, they can’t even look at you right now. They have nothing to say to you because they know what I’m saying is the truth,” he spoke walking to her. “I know this is all a lot to handle. It was as well for me. But we can’t run away from reality. All we can do is embrace every moment of it. Life is too short to worry about crap,” he spoke, resting his hands on her shoulders.

She looked up at him, and he let her go. She walked to her grandmother and sat next to her. Holding the old woman’s hand. “Grandmother, I want to know why you thought it best to lie to me about this thing? You don’t trust me anymore?” She asked, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The old woman looked at Eliza and wiped off her tears, “You are the only nice person here. The one your grandfather knew will carry on with his legacy. I know you wouldn’t have allowed us to keep the mansion to ourselves because you can’t see injustice upon someone. I know you have the right to know about it. I’m sorry, my girl.”

Before Eliza could speak, her mother cleared her throat and began, “don’t listen to him. He wants to separate us. Yes, we lied about the mansion been in his name. But we were looking out for all of you. What would we have done if he threw us out of the house? We have nowhere to go, my little princess,” she wrapped a hand around her daughter.

Trevor just watched. Trying to figure out what he was going to do or say. These people can be manipulative. They were trying to convince their daughter that stealing is good as long as you have a good reason for it. When it isn’t at all.

Trying to get their daughter’s trust. Some people are beyond saving.

“Do you mind giving us some family time?” Maria scolded.

“Maria, in case you haven’t been listening, this is my mansion. And I can be anywhere I choose to. There is nothing you can do or say that will change a thing. And don’t listen to what they are telling you. I know you don’t love me as much as I love you. But don’t let that get in the way of you seeing the truth,” he told her — looking deep into her eyes. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way. But I had no choice but to let you know about what is going on here.”

She just looked at him for a couple of minutes. Then spoke, “and I’m sorry they did what they did. You were supposed to be leaving here and yet they let you stay in that small place. I’m sorry for what they did. Please don’t throw us out there. The company isn’t doing well to get us a nice place to stay in.”

He sighed as he opened up his mouth, but Alexandra cut in, “We can go to my family house. There is no one there and I think it will be enough to accommodate us. You don’t have to ask for forgiveness from this lowlife,” he glared at Trevor.

“No one asked for your opinion, Alexandra. It is better you keep your mouth shut,” Eliza spoke.

“Don’t speak to my husband like that,” Maria spoke.

“Then tell him to stay out of things that don’t concern him. This all thing is all your faulty. And now I will deal with it the way I see fit. And just to remind you, that is your family's house. Not your in-laws’ house. We can’t leave there. What will people say? They have already started talking because of the company. I don’t need any more,” she spoke and turned to face Trevor.

“I’m not heartless Eliza. And as much as I hurt all of them. As much as it will be joyous for me to see them suffer, I can’t let them out there at this time of the night. You all are welcome to stay. But I’m warning you to behave yourselves and mind the way you talk to me. Also, you have until the end of this month. Only me and my wife can stay here. The rest figure it out,” he spoke and walked upstairs.

Where he was even going to sleep, he had no idea. But he just needed to stay away from them for now. To clear his head. To allow himself to process what had just happened in a few hours of his life.

This morning he was poor, and suddenly he was rich. Capable of getting whatever he wanted in the world. Anything.

He pushed open the door, and it was the room that used to be Mr. Noah and his wife. But after his death, grandmother decided to move out and be sleeping somewhere else. The room has been left alone for the past months.

He stopped as he looked at the picture of Mr. Noah. Smiling to himself.

“You know this is a huge responsibility you have given me, right? How the hell will I handle this now? I know nothing about running a company. I know nothing about wine. I just drink,” he smiled. “And now I have to run it. And what will I do with your family? These people are complicated to leave with. I can’t handle any of them. But we never give up on family. I was a stranger to you, and yet you took me in. But they need to learn to care. To help people and that life doesn’t revolve around money.” He smiled at the picture one more time and walked to the bathroom.

He has been moving up and down the all day. He needed to relax. He took a quick shower and just as he left the bathroom, he found Eliza looking at the picture of her grandfather.

“He would have been proud of the woman you are,” he spoke.

She flinched on instinct as she turned. Face perplexed.

“You don’t have to look away every time you see me with no shirt. You don’t consider me as your husband, but I consider you as my wife. You can look now,” he spoke.

“What the hell do you think you are doing? Put on something,” she scolded and looked away again after seeing the man was wearing nothing at all.

“It’s refreshing,” he laughed lightly.

“Trevor...”

“Alright. You can look now,” he said, and he picked up something to wear. Whatever he found in the closet.

She opened her eyes slowly and finally opened them as she realized he was not naked anymore.

“What are you doing here in the first place? This room belongs to grandpa. You can’t be sleeping here.”

“I know he would be happy that I’m here. He would have wanted me to sleep here. Don’t you think? And you are welcome here any time you want. To look at the old man and speak to him. Nothing weird. I do it all the time,” he spoke and gestured for her to take a sit.

“Just because we are talking now doesn’t mean anything. The situation at hand doesn’t allow me to be mean to you. They treated you unfairly. But do reconsider what you just said about them been here for only a month,” she looked at him — refusing to sit next to him.

He thought about that for a while. Trying to see why he should consider her proposal. “I can’t. That is the only way they will learn to be responsible. Look at Maria, the woman does nothing. She has refused to work at the company. And your brothers keep on doing crazy things. Getting in and out of prison. I might allow grandmother and mother-in-law to stay. But not the rest,” he spoke.

She was silent for a while, then finally walked to sit with him. “I don’t want the shares you bought for me. They are yours and not mine.”

“I know you care for independence and the like. But this is not the time. And you can pay me back later. For now, just worry about saving the company. Put the money I will give you into great use. And tell that Jackson guy to keep his paws from you. Or I will dismember him,” he smiled at her.

“You know his father will rest at nothing until he brings you down for what you did back there, right?”

He sighed, realizing she was right. The man was not someone to take likely in such matters. He was someone to take seriously.