I pull my chair out and sit down, waving my hand. “It’s fine.” Carlos comes in not long after and sits down beside me. A few minutes later, Christopher comes in with his two guys.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Jasper, and this is Charles. Two of my best guys.”
Christopher and his men sit down, and we wait for Rose to hand out the plates, along with some little brunette she has tagged along behind her. No one says anything as we eat. The tension is thick in the air. The envelope hanging around our necks like a noose.
My father finally stands and places his napkin gently on the table.
“Gentlemen, I would like this evening to proceed. I will meet you in Alexander’s office. We have business to conclude, and I’d like to get on with it.”
The sound of chairs scraping on tile is all you can hear as we all rise and follow him into my office. I stand for a few minutes as everyone follows my father out of the room. I never wanted her to die. I told her she signed her death warrant. But I don’t really want that to be true. I wanted her to be mine.
Chapter 17 ~ Alexander
I finally get up and follow the men closing the door behind us and locking it as everyone gathers around the large round table I have in the far corner of the office. Drinks in hand we all settle into our seats and Carlos reaches into his breast pocket and takes out his envelope, sliding it across the table to my father.
My father takes it and holds it in his hands for a few seconds, almost as if he is preparing himself to read what’s inside. With a deep inhale, he breaks the seal and turns it over, dumping two other envelopes out. The smaller white one has writing on the front of the envelope.
Read the will first.
He puts the letter to the side and opens the seal on the second envelope. I can tell it is Angelo Gallows' will by the seal and the name of the law firm written on what I can see as he unfolds it.
I don’t know about anyone else in the room, but my heart skips a beat in my stomach knots. We’ve been waiting to get a hold of this information. Sebastian has been working as hard as he can to try to find it. And here it is, sitting right in front of us.
My father flips it open and starts to read, his face getting grim, lines creasing his forehead. I thought maybe he would read it aloud to us, but I think he wants to check it over first. The new guys are just that, new. So, I think he’s just going to give us the information as needed.
I can’t take it anymore. I get up and go over to the bar cart and get a drink.
“Anyone else?” I hold the bottle up to the room, everyone nods, and I just bring the bottle and some glasses and put them on the table for them to help themselves.
My father puts the paper down and looks at me.
“Where’s your wife?”
The pain in my chest gets tighter and I rub it. “Locked in her room, why?
“Good. Keep her there.”
Holy shit, this is bad. My worst fear is coming to fruition. I can’t save her now.
Christopher, always the one who wants the information, and has no patience whatsoever, pipes up. “What’s going on, Dad? What’s happening? We’re all sitting here waiting with our thumb up our ass? You’ve read it. Can you please tell us so we can all come up with a plan?”
My father hands me the will. “Read it.”
I pick it up and begin to read, and he puts his hand on mine.
“Out loud.”
Well, fuck. I clear my throat. I skip all the bullshit and look straight for the beneficiary.
I, Angelo Roberto Gallo, presently of December 1st, 2009
That this is my Last Will and Testament.
It is my intent to create a testamentary trust for the minor beneficiary named in this will. I name Robert Gallo as the Trustee of any and all testamentary trust required for this will. Any assets bequeathed, transferred or gifted to a minor beneficiary named in this will are to be held in a separate trust by the trustee untilthat minor beneficiary reaches the designated age of 25. I appoint Isabella Gallo as the sole beneficiary of this Will.
A trust fund will be appointed and be held by the trustee to be given a quarterly allowance from the age of 18 to 25. A total sum of $150,000.00 till the age of her maturity.
Any and all assets, including land, titles of estates, businesses, and any monetary remains, will all be transferred to Isabella Gallo. On her 25th birthday.
