tricks of time ― grayson hawthorne [the inheritance games]

002. COLD WELCOMING

"To John Oren, head of my security detail, who has saved my life more times and in more ways than I can count, I leave the contents of my toolbox, held currently in the offices of McNamara, Ortega, and Jones, as well as a sum of three hundred thousand dollars." 

"To my mother-in-law, Pearl O'Day, I leave an annuity of one hundred thousand dollars a year, plus a trust for medical expenses as set forth in the appendix. All jewelry belonging to my late wife, Alice O'Day Hawthorne, shall pass to her mother upon my death, to be distributed as she sees fit upon hers." 

Mr Ortega paused again. "To my daughters, Zara Hawthorne-Calligaris and Skye Hawthorne, I leave the funds necessary to pay off all debts accrued as of the date and time of my death." Mr. Ortega paused again, his lips pushing themselves together. The other two lawyers stared straight ahead, avoiding looking at any member of the Hawthorne family directly.

"Additionally, I leave to Skye my compass, may she always know True North, and to Zara, I leave my wedding ring, may she love as wholly and steadfastly as I loved her mother."Another pause.

"To Skye, my second daughter, I leave my compass, may she always know True North. To both, I leave a one-time inheritance of fifty thousand."

Tobias Hawthorne left his daughters less than he left his security detail.

Skye stood up, glaring at Zara. "You did this!" 

Zara turned to her, glaring at her now too. 

"I did this? You got in his head, didn't you, Skye? Batted your eyelashes and convinced him to bypass us and leave everything to your—your sons!"

"Excuse me!" Mr. Ortega's voice filled the room once more, now angry. The room went silent. "The will is ironclad, with significant disincentives to any who might be tempted to challenge it. Please be quiet, and let us continue." 

He took a breath again. ""To my grandsons, Nash Westbrook Hawthorne, Grayson Davenport Hawthorne, Jameson Winchester Hawthorne, and Alexander Blackwood Hawthorne, I leave...two hundred and fifty thousand dollars apiece, payable on their twenty-fifth birthdays, until such time to be managed by Alisa Ortega, trustee."

Tobias Hawthorne hadn't left everything to his grandsons. Given the scope of his fortune, he'd left them a pittance. I looked at Skye. She looked furious. "Then where is all the other money left to go to?" she said, an angry voice turning into a scream. 

"What on Earth is going on here?" Grayson said, his voice deadly sharp. 

"Mr and Ms. Hawthorne, please, I'm not finished yet," he said. "My house will remain shared between the whole of the Hawthorne family. And the rest of my inheritance, all 40 billion remaining and my company, I leave in the possession of Leah Adler. All that is required to claim this is to live in Hawthorne House for a year solely." 

 I felt dizzy. I looked at Leslie, who seemed to be having the same reaction as me. Looking at Grayson, his eyes displayed steel cold fury and steel cold ice. The rest of the three seemed shocked, and Zara covered her mouth in disbelief. 

"He left everything to her?"  Skye's voice was shrill enough to break through my stupor. Gone was the woman who'd mused around with me. This Skye looked like she could kill someone. And that someone was me. 

"There must be some mistake." Grayson spoke coldly. 

"I assure you, there is no mistake." Mr. Ortega met my gaze, then turned his attention to the others. "And I assure the rest of you, Tobias Hawthorne's last will and testament is utterly unbreakable. But let me make one thing very clear: Per the terms of the will, any heir who challenges Leah's inheritance will forfeit their share of the estate entirely—" 

He was about to continue, but Skye interrupted him by dropping her wine glass on the floor, the red liquid spilling over the floor and the glass making a shattering noise on the floor. Ms. Laughlin scrambled to pick it up, but her husband held her in place with his arm, mouth agape at me as I looked at him. 

"Oh, you little bitch!" Skye said in disbelief and anger. I felt her advancing onto me as I moved slowly backward. 

"How did you know my father?" she asked, sneering at me. 

"I didn't," I murmured. 

I felt her push me against the wall, and I felt a loud bang on my head. Hot, white sparks erupted across my vision.

"Mother, please!" Nash said as I felt the searing, hot, white pain now at the back of my head. He grabbed her shoulders to push me off as I rubbed my head in pain. 

"The new story of the century!" Jameson exclaimed at everyone, smiling. Did he not care about what had just happened? 

The room was suddenly silent and still. I swear, at that moment, I was preparing for one of these people to come at me, charging and kill me right then and there. 

Yet the man I'd pegged as former military strode to stand between me and Tobias Hawthorne's family. He said nothing, crossing his arms over his chest, keeping me behind him and the rest of them in his sight.

"Oren!" Zara sounded shocked. "You work for this family!" 

"I think you should leave," Grayson told me curtly, paying no heed to the rest of his family. This was not a request, though, I could tell by his tone of voice. This was an order. 

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I— I don't think I should be here," I said quickly, agreeing with Grayson as I looked as firm as I could towards Skye. 

"Yeah, that's right! Run away, after stealing what was rightfully ours!" she said, and I heard the struggle in her voice as she tried to walk free, but Nash was way too strong; his hands wrapped around her waist, tugging her back from advancing. I ran up the stairs, as I looked above, I saw a spiral, indicating the number of floors this mansion probably had.

 I walked up to the second floor, and I opened the door of the nearest bedroom, collapsing on the freshly made bed. As I tried to close my eyes, I could hear Skye's screams, as well as several other members of the family. 

Staying here would be bad. I had a bad feeling about the family, especially after seeing Skye's reaction towards the will. Their motive now, was to kill me. I was no longer a random girl from Connecticut. I was the girl who'd stole everything. But Toby Hawthorne had obviously placed me here for a reason— the old man was as smart as a sharp crayon in a box. 

There were other reasons for this, I knew it. Yet I didn't have the capacity to think right now. I closed my eyes, trying to withstand the sharp pain in my temple. I squeezed my eyes shut as hard as I could, trying to get rid of it somehow. 

I must've drifted off to sleep sometime in the process. 

There were other reasons for this, I knew it. But this was the new story of the century. Like Jameson had said. My thinking shifted back into overdrive since there was no way this could be a joke. I wasn't hallucinating. I wasn't delusional. I was the heiress of a fortune. 

Well, not just any fortune either. 

I was the heiress of Tobias Hawthorne's fortune. 

authors note

second chapter done! i literally cannot believe, i have written 3052 words right now. it's not gonna get higher than that, i'm telling you. please vote and comment, thank you!!

word count: 3052 words