2024-12-01 23:21:13Elina and Nicholas laughed with her parents as they settled into a chair together, a bowl of popcorn between them, as they sat to watch the funeral program of the late William Hazel on television. Nicholas had eventually secured a spot for the Jackson’s just as he had promised, and the initiative would kick start once the late William Hazel was laid to rest.
The funeral procession was nothing like Elina had ever seen in her life before. It was like the whole world had come together to pay their last respect to William Hazel, a testament to the fact that he was indeed, a powerful and influential man who was well known all over the world.
The Presidents and Prime Ministers of over 15 countries were all present. Even members of the royal family from Britain along with other royal families across the globe were also present.
“Golly goodness!” Elina sat up.
“Damn…” Nicholas muttered.
The death and burial of William Hazel was for sure going to be the talk of the world for months if not years.
While they were still watching the procession, the casket arrived in a jet. It was white and gold in color. The initials and the handles of the casket were all made of twenty-four-karat gold and the sides of the casket were studded with real diamonds. With the arrival of the casket, the ceremony began.
“Good Lord! What kind of madness is this? Burying gold and diamonds in the ground with a man?” Jacob exclaimed.
“It's not for real, father. The casket is just to fulfill all righteousness. It was published that William Hazel is going to be cremated. I'm sure the casket is just going to be auctioned off to the richest bidder.” Nicholas shrugged.
He ought to have attended the funeral too given the status of his family as one of the top families in Venice City, but he had chosen to watch it live from TV, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to finalize his wedding plans with Elina.
Elina preened. She'd definitely made a good decision choosing Nicholas, she thought to herself.
The moment they really were waiting for was when the heir to the empire would be announced. A press release had been given by the family's executive manager, stating that the heir would not be Philip Hazel, William Hazel’s only surviving son, as everyone had thought, but a much younger and virile family member. And it had been rumored that it wasn't any of the twins either.
“Please excuse me, I'll be right back.” Nicholas excused himself.
“I wonder who the new heir is going to be!” Elina said out loud, taking a sip from her iced coffee.
“If only you could get a man like that for yourself,” Patricia muttered.
“I have Nicholas now mom, and besides, he just helped us get a spot in the Hazel’s Forbes Initiative, what else do you want?”
“If you'd listened to me and not gotten married to that man you would probably have met one that is in this occasion right now.” Patricia huffed.
Elina glared at her mother, unable to understand what exactly her problem was and why she only thought of money above everything else.
~~~~~~
The elaborateness of the burial and the arrival of such distinguished guests throughout the event made Jonathan realize who his grandfather had really been.
He was taking the place of a great man whom the entire world was now at a standstill for. This meant that at the age of thirty, the world was now passed over to him to command. His life for the last thirty years had been nothing but pain and misery. Up until now, that is. He was now a king and the entire world was his palace!
It was all too surreal…
Jonathan stood in a glass structure with the rest of the family, hidden from the rest of the world as the last tribute was made to his grandfather by soldiers shooting into the air ten times.
After that, the coffin was carried into a heavily guarded vehicle. The actual burial itself was to be a very private affair.
Bernard had said that William would be cremated and the coffin kept hidden. This was all just for show.
This meant that it was now time for the new heir to be announced.
“Come with me, Young Master.” Bernard Lampley whispered to him.
~~~~~~
Elina and her mother had been on alert and waiting for this moment. They all sat up as the bombshell was about to drop.
“The Hazel family have some matters they'd want to announce.” Bernard boomed on the podium.
“The heir to the empire will inherit the following – beginning with the companies here in the Venice City: The Bowen stock and services, Mighty Goals firm, Mond-Luxury, Caleb Fountain.”
“Did you just hear that? Our company was mentioned! I think we have been shortlisted to be beneficiaries of the Hazel Forbes Initiative. Wake me up, I think I might be dreaming!” Elina exclaimed.
Her mother jumped in excitement,
“I’m so happy that our company is linked with the Hazels! A name commanding power!”
Then she turned sharply to Elina,
“Not that wretched and very useless ex-husband of yours you carried around. If I were a member,”
Sandy rolled her eyes, “There’s no need for that mother. Jonathan is no longer part of our lives, so let’s forget about him,”
“I was just saying,” Patricia shrugged, as she turned to face the television.
“And now, I believe it is time to announce the owner of all these prestigious holdings I've enumerated.” Bernard Lampley continued.
They all sat up.
“We know you have all been waiting for this moment but we regret to inform you that for privacy and security reasons, the heir to the Hazel Empire will not be announced or presented to the general public today.”
Elina and her family groaned.
Patricia face palmed.
“Leave it to these rich pricks to do something like this.” She mumbled.
“However,” Bernard sparked hope, “The heir will first be meeting with the CEOs of his companies which have been shortlisted to be beneficiaries of the Hazel Forbes Initiative.”
All of their eyes widened.
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Jonathan was settling into his new life quite smoothly so far as he looked forward to the ceremony of his unveiling and the public announcement of the few companies that have been shortlisted to be beneficiaries of the Hazel Forbes Initiative.He'd been very busy familiarizing himself with everything he had inherited. Which was a lot of work seeing as he'd inherited a lot.He didn't intend to be a lazy and passive leader, he was going to be actively involved in everything going on in all of his companies as much as he could.Bernard Lampley had been with him every step of the way. He'd answered all of his questions and was doing an amazing job guiding Dexter on his journey.And Grandpa William hadn't lied, he was truly still with him. The man had left several videos, recordings, and handwritten files to aid Jonathan in his journey.They basically enumerated all the secrets to keeping the businesses thriving and only Bernard knew about them.Jonathan spent all his time in a study, list
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A shot of applause went up as it did for each family that arrived as Elina and her parents arrived at the entrance of the Hazel’s mansion. They smiled and made their way to their seats, Nicholas in tow with them.“You know, I’m still finding it hard to believe that the heir himself, had sent his limousine over to bring us down here. It feels like a dream come true!” Patricia chipped in as they settled down.“Well, we all Nicholas all of these. It was his influence that got us a spot in the Hazel’s Forbes Initiative,” Jacob grinned and raised a glass in salute.~~~~~~A knock sounded on the door as Jonathan stood before the mirror getting ready for the grand unveiling, and the shock he was about to subject the Jacksons to.“Come in.”It was Via.“Hey. I'm ready. And I just got word that most of the guests have arrived. I believe it's time for you to make your appearance.”“And the Jac–” Jonathan began asking as he turned around to face her but his breath caught in his throat.Via was d
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"I have never been so humiliated in my life!" Jacob Jackson thundered as he and his family barged into the house. He threw his coat onto the floor, his face red with anger and embarrassment. The fact that they had gone to the ceremony in a beast limousine, and then had to return in a cab, had added more to the humiliation they had suffered at Jonathan’s hands."This wasn’t supposed to happen this way not after all the care we gave him, talk more of the support we showed him, your mother went to all lengths to make sure he got a job in that delivery company to show she cared, but he does this instead!" He continued his eyes red with anger and pain from the embarrassment.Elina and her mother sat quietly on the couch, Patricia embittered dried up her tears whilst shaking her head in disbelief. Elina lost in thoughts, her mind occupied as to how the Hazel’s heir turned out to be Jonathan, the man whom she had just thrown out of her house not long. She had never imagined it to be him re
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Jonathan turned toward the small wooden dresser, where his neck tie lay waiting. Picking it up, he began to loop it around his collar, getting ready for the dinner party which Via had invited him to. Suddenly, the quiet creak of the door startled him. He looked up, just as the door swung open, and Eva stepped in, unannounced. She held a mischievous smile as her gaze swept over him, taking in the scene of his preparation."You look fabulous, where are you going?""Yeah for a dinner party between the Jackson’s and Turkey’s family and I happen to be Via’s date." Jonathan replied turning for her to get a good look at him."Do I look good or it’s too much?" He smiled, even if he already knew he was looking just perfect.“Nothing’s wrong with the outfit Jonathan you look perfect!" Eva replied returning the smile.Since Jonathan arrived at the Hazel’s mansion, Eva was the only one among his three cousins who really shared in the joy of being the heir to the Hazel’s empire. As for Peter and
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CH. 28 (Enemies and traitors)
Arriving at the Turkey’s mansion, Jonathan was treated to a wonderful dinner as Roseline, Via’s mother had taken her time to prepare the delicacies.“I am aware of all that is going on and the fact that you’re being accused of Jacob’s death, but don’t worry, very soon the truth will be made known to the public, and you’ll be able to clear your name,” She said as she served the dishes.“Yes, Jonathan. Everything will be fine,” Via said, as she took his hands into hers caressing them gently.“Thank you, Via. Thank you Ma’am Roseline,” Jonathan managed to smile hopeful that just like they’ve said, everything will be over soon.After dinner, Via and Jonathan decided to stroll out onto the deck, where the sound of crashing waves filled the air. The setting sun cast a warm glow over the ocean, and Via and Jonathan found themselves lost in conversation, their connection growing stronger with each passing moment, even in the midst of the never ending troubles that seemed to be coming upon Jon
CH. 27 (Not ready to back down)
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CH. 26 (Digging to uncover)
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CH. 25 (Police Investigation)
Jonathan sat in the stark, fluorescent-lit room, his hands trembling as he listened to the barrage of accusations hurled at him. The police officer's voice had turned sharp and accusatory, devoid of the usual politeness he was accustomed to. Reporters crowded around, their cameras flashing and microphones thrust in his face."You were seen at the scene of the crime," one officer barked, his finger pointed accusingly at Jonathan. "What were you doing there?"Jonathan's mind raced as he tried to form a coherent response. "I... I never stepped out of my house, my brothers would clear me and I have an alibi." he stammered, his voice barely audible over the clamor of voices.“You were home? Don't play dumb with us," another officer interjected. "We have evidence placing you at the scene. You can't deny it."“But that isn't me, I haven't stepped out of my house since I came back from work. I have been waiting for their arrival.”The reporters joined in, bombarding him with questions and ins
CH. 24 (Strange Accident)
Elina and her mother sat in the sterile hospital waiting room, their faces etched with worry and fear. Elina fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, her eyes fixed on the swinging door that led to the emergency room.The news of Mr. Jackson’s accident had come as a shock to them as they weren’t expecting. He had left early that morning on his way to meet a couple of investors whom he hoped would help take back Skytop from Jonathan’s grip, and it was on his way that the fatal accident happened which had now landed him in the E.R.Mrs. Jackson clasped her daughter's hand tightly, her gaze distant and lost. "I can't believe this is happening," she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion. “This is all Jonathan’s fault, and I won’t forgive him if anything bad happens to your father.”Elina couldn’t help but agree with her mother, blaming Jonathan as well. She believed that if Jonathan hadn’t stepped in to take over Skytop, her father wouldn’t have needed to meet up with the investors and th
CH. 23 (It's Alright, Father)
Jonathan picked at his food during dinner with Via, and she couldn't help but notice his distracted behaviour. Concern etched across her face, she leaned in closer and asked gently, "Jonathan, what's the matter? You seem lost for words."Jonathan sighed, the weight of the recent events weighing heavily on his shoulders. "Via, it's just... things have taken a turn. The news I received earlier has left me unsettled," he confessed, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness.Even if he had asked the chief to have the young man locked up, Jonathan still felt like he was still a step behind. He knew whatever had made the young man to come out to say he was the one who had made an attempt on his life, was no ordinary matter, and that the real culprit was still out there roaming freely.“Is it about the young man at the police station?” She asked worriedly.“Yes Via. He’s not the one who tried to kill me. Something tells me it’s Nicholas,” He said tired of everything already.Via's eyes filled
CH. 22 (Play their game)
Nicholas hurriedly entered the office building of Skytop Corporations, his heart pounding with nervous anticipation. He made his way through the familiar corridors, his mind focused on the task at hand. As he reached Jonathan's office, he glanced around to ensure no one was watching. With a swift and practiced motion, he discreetly planted a recording device in a strategic spot, on the flower vase, hoping to track all his conversations so he could know exactly what he’d planning at every point in time.The fact that he was gradually losing Skytop to Jonathan was already heartbreaking, and he was determined to do anything to get back the company that his family had struggled to build over the years.Just as he turned to leave, his ears perked up at the sound of his own name being mentioned. He froze, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Jonathan standing there, a mix of surprise and suspicion etched on his face. Jonathan's voice cut through the tension, demanding an explanation for Ni
CH. 21 (Not without a fight)
Jonathan opened his eyes to discover that he was on a hospital bed, his face pale a little as he had just woken up from sleep. Via sat by her side, her brow furrowed with worry. The beeping of the monitors filled the air, a constant reminder of Jonathan's fragile state.“Jonathan, you need to rest," Via said gently, her voice tinged with concern.Jonathan turned to her, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "Jonathan, there's something I need to tell you," she blurted out, her words coming out in a rush.Jonathan's eyes widened in surprise. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Via, you can save it. We can talk later," he urged, reaching out to hold her hand."No, Jonathan, I need to say this now," Via insisted, her voice growing stronger. "I've been keeping something from you, and I can't bear the weight of it any longer."Jonathan's heart raced as he watched Via struggle to find the right words. The air in the room seemed to grow heavier, charged with
CH. 20 (An unexpected attack)
The next morning, still perturbed by last night's event. Via sat at her desk, her fingers tapping nervously on the keyboard as she tried to focus on her work. The events of the previous day weighed heavily on her mind, casting a shadow over her usual composure. She couldn’t shake the sense of unease that had settled in her chest as her thoughts went back to Koeman and the document he had brought to Jonathan in the name of his grandfather.As she stared at the computer screen, her thoughts immediately drifted to Jonathan. The memory of his warm smile and the way his eyes lit up when he spoke to her tugged at her heart. She knew she was falling for him, and the thought of betraying his trust made her stomach churn with guilt.Koeman had said that those documents contained important information about the Hazel’s empire, and whatever those information were, Via couldn’t resist the urge of wanting to find out. She knew whatever game she was playing was a dangerous one, and Jonathan might n
