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"Wait." Giselle held his hand and looked toward David. "Is it okay if he stays? I don't know anything about these things." She didn't let go of his hand.
"Of course." He shuffled through his documents again. "Actually, you're also needed here, Chris." He smiled warmly.
He hesitated for a moment, then held back Giselle's hand firmly and sat down. She smiled at him and intertwined her fingers with his. He liked how she always did that.
"Okay," David began, pulling out a piece of laminated document. "I've discussed all the introductory details with Chris, but I can discuss it all with you if you wish."
"No," said Giselle. "Chris is cool."
"So, we'll just read the will, then."
"Uh, would you just give me, like, a quick overview?" Giselle asked, then looked at Chris and said, "This conversation is suffocating me."
David paused awkwardly. "Um, okay..." He quickly scanned his eyes over the document, then said, "So, Abbott has wished that twenty percent of his monetary possessions should go to the following charitable institutions. Would you like me to name them?"
She shook her head. "It's fine."
David nodded. "For you, Giselle, he has left all of his monetary assets, chattels, shares, and residential property which is currently rented. And for you, Chris, Abbott has left his empire. He's appointed you as the CEO of Beaumont Enterprises, including the Publishing Agency you currently work as a manager in."
Every muscle in Chris's body tensed. He tried slipping his hand out of Giselle's grasp, but she held it firmly. This was, single-handedly, the greatest achievement in his career, but it was tainted with Abbott's blood. He didn't understand how he felt about it.
He glanced at Alex who stared at him with raised eyebrows, a small smile on his lips.
"Chris gets his share on one condition, however." David looked back and forth between him and Giselle. Chris stared back, stunned. "Fifty percent of the profit will go to Giselle's account. She will hold fifty percent shares. If Chris agrees to these terms, I will take care of the rest, and you can resume working from next week."
There was silence. Chris felt a million emotions. He wished his father was alive. He wished Abbott had never died. He felt guilty for looking forward to working as a CEO. And more than anything, he felt ashamed at taking what was rightfully Giselle's.
He looked at her who was already staring back at him, a warm smile on her face.
"This is perfect," she whispered as if aware of his inner turmoil.
He shook his head. "I can't do this."
Her smile faltered. "What are you saying? This is good, Chris."
"You don't know what you're talking about," he said.
"Of course, I do."
"No, you don't. All of this is yours, not mine."
She looked at him calmly. "Daddy left it to you. It's always been yours."
He closed his eyes, took a moment, and glanced at Alex, who stared at him like he'd lost his mind. Chris ignored him. He looked at Giselle again and shook his head.
She nodded encouragingly. "It's gonna be okay." He gulped as she squeezed his hand. "This is good."
"But—"
"It's good forme."
"How?" His voice was a whisper.
She smiled. "I wouldn't have to worry. I can just be what I want. You'll take care of everything."
He shook his head. "I'll take care of everything anyway... Without asking for anything in return."
"I know. That's why you deserve it. It's yours, Chris. It was never mine."
