Naomi's world is shattered by the news of her parents' tragic death. William Arc, a ruthless Mafia lord seized control of her family's company and this leaves Naomi desperate. She finds herself entangled in a romantic relationship with William's son Lucas and now she is plagued with the challanges from an obsessed father. As secrets unfold, Naomi begins to realize that the truth about the death of her parents may be closer than she had imagined.
Chapter 1 INHERITANCE OF SORROW
As the rain dropped heavily in the city of Florida, Naomi muttered curses underneath her breath, as she stepped into the office. She was completely soaked because no one had expected the rain to drop. The weather in Florida had been noticeable rainy all through the week and she had made a huge mess not bringing her umbrella.
While walking to her office, she noticed every one was staring at her and it made her uncomfortable. She turned down the hall way and was almost close to getting to her office, when she found a familiar face approaching her.
"Naomi darling." She felt an embrace of comfort from her friend Betty. "I am so sorry for your loss. I know it's hard dealing with it."
"What are you talking about?" Naomi asked, the moment Betty broke free from the hug.
"Wait are you not aware?"
"Aware of what?" Naomi asked.
"Your parents helicopter crashed on its way back to Florida an hour ago." Naomi looked at Betty for a moment, wondering if she had too much to drink from her party last night.
"Stop joking with me Betty, I am not in for these type of silly pranks." Naomi responded, but her friend pulled out her phone and showed it to her.
There on the news, the headline written boldy;
The Stevensons lost their life in a helicopter crash.
"No, this cannot be." Naomi commented, pulling away from the news. She had base her parents a farewell visit and even called them hours before they took off.
"I know this is hard for you." Naomi no longer paid attention to Betty. She brought out her phone and checked the news for the headline. She searched for the address of the crash and realized it was a thirty minutes drive from the office.
"Will talk to you later, keep these for me." She said, while handing over her bags to Betty, before dashing out of the hallway and subsequently out of the company's building.
The ride to the location was a terrible one as the storm made it rough to see the road. By the time she finally arrived at the scene, she found the medics and journalist all over the crashed helicopter.
Naomi looked around for anyone she could speak to about the issue and was glad to find one of the firearmed men approached her.
"Please, where are the body of my parents?" She asked, trying to hold herself from breaking down in tears.
"Are you a member of the family?" She nodded. "Go over to the ambulance and meet the medics." Naomi walked away from the man, running towards the ambulance, which looked like it was about to leave the scene.
"I am sorry ma, you have to stay behind." One of the medics suggested.
"No you do not understand this, I am the daughter of Mr. Stevenson." Naomi tried to force herself through, but they restrained her. "Let me go!" She cried, but she was forcefully held down.
"Madam, you have to calm down. You will meet them at the hospital." Naomi was desperate to see the body of her parents, she did not want to believe they were dead, until she sees the body.
Naomi decides to follow the ambulance and while on their way to the hospital, her phone begins to ring heavily. She checked the caller's ID and realized it was Betty on the line.
"Naomi, have you heard the news!" Betty's voice had a tone of surprise.
"What is the news?"
"William Arc has just taken over the Stevenson Cooperation." Naomi pressed the brakes and the car came to a halt.
"What?" She expressed in shock. "Who is William Arcs? And why will he choose to take over my father's company, when he had just died?"
"They say he is a Mafia lord and also controls several company in Florida." Naomi did not care about his title, she was furious to see that the man had no regards for his father's company.
"I will sort this out myself." She said to Betty on the phone, before hanging up. She clutched her wheels, her mind racing with thoughts on her next line of action.
There was no way her parents had survived the crash, Naomi knew she had to protect their legacy or watch it go down to a ruin.
She turned on the ignition of the car and made a reverse on the road. She had to get to the office immediately, Naomi was certain the man was still around the company and she was going to confront him for his actions.
By the time she arrives at the company, several of the staffs were long gone, with only few who had alot of work remaining. She noticed a dark cruiser weight car parked outside and knew it must definitely belong to William Arc.
"Thank goodness you are back. How did it go?" Betty asked, the moment Naomi stepped inside the company premises. Apparently she had not closed from the office.
"Where is this so-called William Arc?"
"He is upstairs." Naomi walked past Betty and was headed for the stairs, when her friend stopped her.
"Becareful..." Betty said with concern etched on her face.
When she arrived at his office, Naomi finds two men standing close to each other discussing over a glass of wine.
"Which of you is William Arc?" She broke their discussion and they turned to look at her.
"You must be Naomi Stevenson, I am William Arc." The older man stepped forward extending his hands, but Naomi refused the handshake.
"Care to explain to me why you chose today of all days to take over my father's company? You clearly do not have respect for the dead!"
Williams made a gesture to the other man and he would leave the room afterwards. Naomi watched as Williams walked back to his seat. He had not said a word, but pulled out a document, handing it over to Naomi.
"What is this?"
"How about you have a look." He urged and Naomi snatched the documents away from him. She read the content and her eyes widened in disbelief.
"A contract marriage?"
Chapter 1 INHERITANCE OF SORROW
23/11/2024
Chapter 2 THE PAIN OF BETRAYAL
23/11/2024
Chapter 3 MEETING LUCAS
23/11/2024
Chapter 4 AN UNEXPECTED FATHER
23/11/2024
Chapter 5 DEALING WITH THE MAFIA 1
23/11/2024
Chapter 6 DEALING WITH THE MAFIA 2
23/11/2024
Chapter 7 CONFRONTING HIS PAST
23/11/2024
Other books by Osinulu Emmanuel
More