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here they had both raised their five kids during holidays and weekends away from the bustle of Seattle City that plagued their flat in the city center. She and her husband had later both retired to this place after handing most of the control of Henderson Group of Companies to uncle Ben. He was the third child and second son in the family, two years older than his father Dave, with only one son, Mark, that everybody agreed was the worst

rest of the family and his father were going to be present so Josh had to be there his father had sternly reminded him last morning before steering the conversation to business. His father breathed and lived it, much to the frustration of his now estranged wif

in the study, sir,

nd a new home and high school following his parents' divorce. He still remembered every detail of the house; the high ceilings, cream-coloured walls, unique pieces of furniture (some old and others modern) and the flowe

s he was dressed impeccably and casual style in a grey suit with his hair recently trimmed. Dave was fond of leaving his hair to grow out before trimming, something Josh believed had to do with his string of lovers. Before his divorce, Dave was a stickler for s

at is go

ch. Nana wants to discuss somethings

ion she held largely on paper. She was involved in some decision making but for the last twenty years, Uncle Ben had been in c

ive years ago since he had last had that conversation with his father. And still Uncle Ben was in charge with Mark looking every inch the heir apparent which wasn't surprising. Mark found pleas

ssionate about the arts than anything else, except of course her youngest chi

o from cancer. Nana had taken to using it after his death, abandoning hers which was just further down the hall.

e else. Unfortunately, her battle with arthritis had confined her mostly to her room or the house for the last four years. She

be apprehensive over the meeting but instead he face was calm. Philippa's eyes on the othe

ncement, I need to get back tommy room to finish up on a

the family business but I have changed my mind. I will make my appointment

he always did that when she wanted her word to be last, and almost everybod

rtainly it won't be

d at Ben then drew her eyes to Dave. Their eyes met a

y asked, her eyes speaking

bout to ask another question when her mother cut her. "And your f

my successor, you all will be in support of my decision." Helen looked ar

ed and declared it will be when she's ready. There wasn't much anyone could do or say to change her mind

. You may leave now," she

de. "Is something going on?" Somewhere, Mary's voic

aring into Nana's old study. Josh led the way up the stairs and into a side room. It was one of those rooms in the Henderson Villa that his grandparents hadn't properly designated. There were sofa chairs and tab

ack facing gardens. Josh knew them well enough since he had spent a great deal of his visits to the Villa hiding among the shrubs and alcoves of the garden to get away from pestering staff, notably Berry. Josh recollected Nana's emotional distance from her grand

that poured through the half drawn curtains. "There's so

mily on the social scene, something that had only changed with the grandkids. Josh was sure that up till now, the public didn't know about Mary and Bernard's ties to the H

her, Eunice, many years ago. Shortly a

that Philip Henderson had built the company from scratch, that in a short

efreshments. Surprisingly, there was no sign of any alcohol on it which Josh fo

d took some home baked cookies. Whatever his father wanted to say, Josh knew that it would largely be unpleasant. The tension that

he was even born. She's the one who gave her husband, Edwin, the capital to start. Ther

from a wealthy New York family had fallen in love wi

wer social class and they had already arranged for her to

happ

ly because of the shame she brought upon them with her betrothed's family. When she left them she di

elf to the connections of his wife family and other wealthy clients. The business was a success. Before the third year of their marri

was tied to her family not he

e never changed her name after her

issue of a successor bei

ever "Not all of us are Smiths by blood, that I know of." The revelation surprised and surprised Josh but before he could ask for clarification his father continued. "Helen like her mother-in-law

ven after his parents' divorce Nana hadn't expressed any regret. The same thing had happened with Phillipa who had ended up marrying a gold digger. The acrimony was messy and in the

for it," Dave said simply. He turned away from the wi

it?" Jos

. "I'm not supposed to tell you but I will g

ich

e and industrious lady within a week and you wil

eek? How am I sup

ed. He couldn't really say she was.

ve declared, risi

r me to get her to say yes when I'm sure Nana knows about her." Although his grandm

"Do you want this position or not, Josh?"

d

d with that his father

you're ready to know, I will tell you," he dismissed and strode briskly out of the room. Minutes later, Josh saw his fath

Sighing he left the room and went down the stairs, coming face to face with Ma

" I will pick you up

there was an unspoken hostility between them. It even went as far as their fathers pushing them to do better but now Josh had a sickling feeling that there

leaning against the stairs railing. Struggling to keep his ire und

oped the plan would sail through as the competing company seemed to have deeper pockets than he had imagined. Fortunately

regards to becoming Nana's successor," Mark smirked, before

he could have his breakfast before heading into the office as he didn't particularly relish the fact of going to work with just a cup of coffee and nothing more. Especially when one considered today's revelation. He smiled a little as he thou

Josh announced as he ma