A few moments later we're sitting with grandma and her men in the dining room. I've stopped crying and already retouched my makeup. Now I'm gobbling up my food like a cavewoman.
For the first time since I remember, I can breathe during family dinner and it's all thanks to grandma. Her majestic presence is making three-quarters of the Mayfield family subdue themselves. It's to be expected. She's the largest shareholder of the company that feeds them after all. Defying her would mean bad news for them, especially considering the shares they're using are her daughters.
If only Mom hadn't given Dad custody over her money legally, then maybe Grandma would've secured her shares a long time ago. But alas, my mother was a victim of love and she gave foolproof legal custody of her shares to her husband. Ugh, I'm starting to get sick of the word.
Love.
Here's an idea. Say it slow like you're puking and it'll sound so disgusting you'll snap yourself back to reality. You're welcome.
"Mmm, this is good," I mumble with a mouthful of food, not in the least fazed by my grandma like the rest of the family.
If there's one thing I had to learn throughout the bitter ordeal called my life, it's that you can never control how people feel or think, especially if it's about you. The best way you can live is by being unapologetically yourself, as long as you don't harm anyone in the process and stay kind, then you're good to go.
I know grandma hates me so why should I go out of my way trying to act all cutesy and pitiful just to score points with her? Besides, I'm sure she's here for me. Why you may ask? Well, right in front of her is an envelope uncannily similar to the one Amelia tore to pieces that night a few days ago. Then there's the way she's looking at me, smiling. I don't know if it's a good sign but I love it either way. It's oozing with genuineness.
"You even eat like your mother but your style is a little too hurried. Do they starve you here?" Grandma asks all of a sudden making Amelia choke on the coffee she was sipping.
A low groan escapes from Dad which I'm sure is meant to draw my attention but I ignore him. How many days have I wished I'd get to see all three of them look like they'd lick my feet at my command? Many!
"You have no idea gran, gran. Just last week they had me locked in my room with no Wi-Fi because I came home crying after I found that my boyfriend had cheated on me with..." I stall, glancing at Briana and enjoying the way she freezes and looks at her mother.
Amelia looks away from her and I blink. She'd even ditch her own if things get tough huh? Poor Briana.
"With whom?" Grandma asks, her formerly sweet voice now cold as she places her hands on the table, gesturing at one of her men. He immediately pulls out what looks like a notebook and pen from the pockets of his suit.
"A close friend of mine," I reply and the man immediately starts scribbling something in his notepad.
"Madam Maria wants you to tell us her full name," the Asian dude says and I blink at him.
Grandma nods profusely at his words and I squint my eyes at her. Now don't get me wrong. I'm glad the odds seem to be working in my favor all of a sudden, but I just can't let go of this thought in my head that maybe she's doing all this for a reason. After all, I've waited all my life for her to be my hero and rescue me from this hell but she never showed up.
Not even once.
Briana sniffs and I turn my head to look at her. She's still looking at her mother, eyes pleading with Amelia as her lips tremble slightly. It'd be so easy for me to have Grandma ruin her life just like she and her mother have done to mine, but honestly, the real villain here is her mom. Briana is the product of filth that has no choice but to smell bad because of Amelia's influence. At least that's how I see it.
Sighing, I turn to face Grandma. "Don't worry, I can handle her on my own."
Grandma blinks at me. Then she laughs. "Ha! You've got her guts too. She told me to go fuck myself the day before she eloped with this feculence," Grandma points at Dad.
I have to check my dictionary for a moment to know she's saying he's shit, and when I finally get it, I laugh so hard my lungs almost give out.
"You even laugh like her," Grandma comments again, and this time I get fed up.
"Okay, I don't know you enough to know how you act but you're being suspicious right now old woman. What do you want with me...or them?" I ask, hoping she's here for me, not my family—unless she's sending them to jail that is.
"Ah, straight to business shall we?" Grandma Maria mumbles to herself, raising her hand in the face of one of her guards. He immediately produces an envelope and hands it to her before she pushes it towards me.
"Why have you been ignoring my letters?"
I glance at Amelia. "Ask her," I reply nodding in her direction as I pick the envelope from the floor and open it.
Amelia gasps but I'm too preoccupied with opening my envelope to care about her. Unlike Briana, I'd gladly sell her soul and body to the devil in exchange for nothing.
"Why hasn't she been getting my letters, Amelia?" Grandma asks.
"I-I didn't know they were from you Chairwoman Lopez."
"Didn't you see one of these boys bring it?"
"Oh no, ma'am. They handed them to my butlers who then handed them to me."
"And did your butlers not tell you where the letters came from?"
Amelia nervously raises her mug to her lips before taking a rather loud sip of her coffee. Then she sets the mug on the table with a loud thud. I raise my head in time to see her hands trembling a little, making my lips quirk up into a devilish smile. Serves her right.
"T-they did but I—"
"It won't happen again, mother," Dad backs her up. Probably been given the 'eye if seduction' again if I'm correct. Eww.
"And who are you calling mother if I may ask?" Grandma questions just when I pull out the paper from inside the envelope and gasp.
All eyes land on me as I slowly turn to face Grandma.
"You...you want me to inherit your shares?"
A clanging sound comes from Amelia's plate as she turns to face me. "What?"
Dad too. He glances at me. As for Briana, her jaw is literally wiping her plate clean now with how low she dropped it.
"Yes, my dear. I did act like an old fool for the past few years and left you to suffer in the hands of...this," she gestures at Amelia and Dad. "But even the most stubborn of people come to the realization that they can't live forever and want to enjoy the rest of their life before death, don't they? And what better way to repay my neglect of the one living family member I have than giving her everything I own?"
"I...umm...wow. I don't even know what to say," I stutter, blinking nonstop at the paper in my hands.
I for sure thought Grandma had some kind of ulterior motive with the way she was complimenting me. Who knew she was here to try and correct her wrongs?
"It comes with conditions of course. I can't have you being like your mother and losing everything to losers."
Here it comes.
I wait for Grandma to stop glaring at Dad before she finally turns back to me.
"Read the will. The condition is laid out inside the form. But be warned, if you can't fulfill my written wish, then I can't leave my shares in your hands."
I swallow and glance at the form in my hands. Just what kind of condition did she lay out for me that she wants fulfilled so badly?