Now that Grandfather was gone I had some large shoes to fill as the sole heir to the family’s multi-billion dollar company. After the burial, the family gathered in Grandfather’s mansion. The immediate family was requested to sit in the cold leather chairs of the library—a room ironically never used by my grandfather—as the final requests of Aidan Iverson Senior was read.
I sat once again between Liam and Viola. Viola held on to my hand tightly. Mr. Devlin, the family attorney, stood at my grandfather’s large mahogany desk with folders, papers and a small plastic case in front of him.
"First of all, I would like to express my deepest condolences for your loss," Devlin paused for a moment before he continued. "Per the request of Mr. Iverson we have a DVD that you are to watch after the will is read."
Mr. Devlin proceeded to establish everyone’s share of the inheritance. Most were receiving monetary inheritance or physical assets like property or cars. Liam and Viola were given a large sum of money along with an island Grandfather bought for his first wife—Isobel. My cousin, James Iverson, acquired a monetary inheritance as well.
Mr. Devlin turned, his eyes on me and sighed.
"Your grandfather has made his intentions for you, Aidan, very clear, However, before his death he made changes to his last will and testament." Everyone in the room looked at Aidan and then the whispers circled from one family member to the next. Devlin cleared his throat. "You are the sole heir to your grandfather’s home, possessions, AIS and a large monetary inheritance." He took a deep breath. "However, your grandfather left certain conditions with your inheritance." Mr. Devlin held out a DVD.
"I don’t understand." Staring at the plastic case held out before me for a long moment, I hesitantly reached out and took it.
"You will need to watch the DVD." Devlin stood, asking everyone, except me, to leave the room. Liam and Viola stayed at my request.
At the large, old box shaped TV, I placed the DVD inside the player sitting on top. Nerves swam in my stomach, causing my finger to shake as I pressed play. Aidan Senior appeared before us. Viola sniffled as I sat between her and Liam to watch the video.
"Aidan, my boy, if you’re watching this damn thing, then I’ve finally kicked the bucket!" His deep laughter filled the room. Tears welled in my eyes. I would never hear the bluntness of his remarks or his laughter again.
"Well, by now that swindler Devlin has told you about the inheritance and my changes." Grandfather smirked at the camera. It was a smirk I knew too well. This look was reserved for when he knew he’d won. The knot in my stomach tightened.
"Aidan, you know I favored you. Hell, everyone knows it. Now, I will tell you why."
I straightened my spine. This wasn’t what I was expecting from him.
"You, my boy, are the exact image of your Grandmother, Isobel— love of my life, just as your father."
Liam stiffened at my side but I couldn’t take my eyes from the television screen.
"Well, it’s as simple as that." He chuckled again. "Know, my boy, that I loved you as a son and have always wanted what was best for you." Then he sighed heavily.
"Now, on to the pressing bullshit," Aidan Sr. put a glass of brown fluid to his mouth and took a gulp. Knowing Grandfather, it was bourbon. "Aidan, you get the house, all the possessions and the money to do with as you wish, as long as, within a year from tomorrow, you are married."
Choking on my own saliva, I barely heard Liam and Viola gasp next to me.
"Did he just say married?" Glancing to Devlin, he simply silently nodded.
"Yes my boy…you have to get married!" Jerking my head back to the screen, my grandfather laughed from the television screen. Before I could say anything, he continued.
"You may have not listened to me before, and continued to carry on with those harlots. Well, my son, now you will have to pay attention to my wishes." He leaned in toward the camera and smiled. "Now, for the rest."
"There’s more?" I groaned, putting my head in my hands.
"AIS, ah yes. You are a shark, my boy, and an excellent asset to the company. I have to say you’ve learned and even taught well. However, you still lack one thing we all need in our lives." Aidan Senior smiled and leaned back into the high back leather chair. "You will inherit AIS, one hundred percent, after you’ve married and conceived an heir to the Iverson family fortune within the first year of marriage."
I baulked. Liam and Viola gasped, again.
"You have to be kidding me," Shouting, I threw myself back into a chair.
"You will have temporary custodianship of the company and money during the first year—along with the board of directors. However, if you do not meet my conditions at the given times, then the house and money will be dissolved and distributed. And AIS will fall into the hands of the board." Aidan Senior’s face grew grave and he raised his glass to the camera. After a long drink he slammed the glass down and spoke again.
"Do me proud, my boy!" The screen went blank.
Shock consumed me. Staring at the blank screen, I didn’t know what to say, what to do. How could he put me, the family, in this kind of position? Did he realize that the family could lose everything he had built?