Starting Over: rewrite

Inheritance

"Hey!" Nate calls out. "Thought you might need some backup."

"Thanks. Let's go."

"Morning, beautiful." Nate kisses me.

"I didn't get my kiss, Ella." Jack says, and that's it. I slap him, which shocks Blair but causes Nate and Chuck to fist bump.

"I thought she wasn't going to make it five seconds." Chuck comments.

"He's gross, and I will not sit next to him." I declare as I have Nate follow close behind me as we head inside.

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"Now that we're all settled, please...let me express my deepest condolences. As Mrs. Bass is unable to be here today. Her interests are being represented by her counsel. Now Charles, Eloise. Your Uncle Jack Bass is your closest living relative and, as such, has been named your legal guardian. Are you both comfortable with this?"

"I wish grandma Bass had the good sense to drown him when she had the chance, but yeah, let's say I have no choice, and he will have to do." I respond, which makes the guy drop his jaw.

"Curfew?" Chuck asks Jack.

"None." I roll my eyes at their foolishness.

"Girls sleeping over?"

"Yes, please."

"God, you both are gross." I insult them.

"I'll allow it." Jack winks at me, and I scoot further away.

"Moving on then, with regard to Mr. Bass' personal assets, they will be put in a trust. Which Charles and Eloise you both will have access to on your 18th birthday."

"And as for Bass Industries?" Jack asks.

"Yes, I was just getting to that. Twenty-nine percent of the company will remain in the board's hands. And a 20percent take in the company has been left to Lily Bass."

"Okay, but that still leaves 51 percent. That's the controlling interest." Jack interrupts again.

"Mr. Charles and Miss. Eloise. Mr. Bass asked me to give you both this." He holds out a letter for us to take. Chuck doesn't make a move.

"If I don't read it, do I still get my inheritance?" Chuck asks.

"Well, yes..."

"Then I'll pass." He gets up, and I take the letter before Jack can grab it. Chuck opens the door with Blair and Nate waiting for us.

"Chuck, this letter represents your dad's final words." Jack urges Chuck to read the letter.

"Your dad wrote you two a letter?" Blair asks, shocked. "You both have to read it."

"Yeah, aren't you curious to know what it says?" Nate asks. I fiddle with the note, not sure if I want to open it.

"I think I can guess. You're a disappointment of a son. I'd die of embarrassment if I wasn't already. Why do you wear so much purple?" Chuck lists off, and I shake my head.

"That's it; I'm rea..." I slap Jack's hand away.

"Come near me again, and I will deck you." I threaten. "I'm going to read it." I carefully open the letter. "Dear, son, and daughter. I know I have always been hard on you both."

"True." Chuck comments, and I flip him off.

"But my goal was always to prepare you both for this day. To help you to go from being children to adults."

"The Italian Au pair took care of that."

"Shut up, Chuck, or I'll deck you too!" I yell, and he holds up his hands in surrender but winks at Jack, who laughs. "Sadly, there is nothing like the passing of a father to aid in the rite of passage for his children. Ultimately I do feel that I did my job. You two are prepared for this next chapter in your lives. Therefore I'm bequeathing to you both the majority share of Bass Industries." I finish reading off, and I lower the letter looking at my brother.

"Surely that's a mistake."

"No, it's not." Nate is smirking as he sees the letter.

"He believed in you both." Blair says.

"That son of a bitch." Jack complains.

"Jack!" Blair scolds him.

"No, Jack's right."

"There is no sentence in the world that starts off with Jack's right." I argue with my brother.

"Our father can't be one way my whole life, then all of a sudden it's okay." Chuck continues. "It's nice that he finally decided I'm worthy. But I don't want it."

"Chuck." I yell, needing him to think this through.

"If you want my half. You can have it." He says to Jack, and I want to strangle him right now.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, Jack." I order him.

"Oh no, I'm keeping it." I go to punch him, but Nate holds me back.

"Okay, let's not..."

"He deserves to be punched." I argue.

"Be the better person." He whispers to me.

"No, I want to choose violence." Nate scoops me up and carries me away. "Nate!"

"Not today Ella. Not today."

There are so many changes from the first book about to come and I can't wait for you all to read them.