“It is confirmed that Monsieur Beaumont was in his right mind, when he wrote down this will.” the judge said, scanning the faces of everyone in the court room.
“I have also confirmed his signature as well as the signature of his witness which happens to be Mr Patrick here.” He paused a bit before he continued. “A hundred thousand euro goes to Mademoiselle Hargrove.”
Hundred thousand euro?
That’s equivalent to living expenses for almost five years. Just how rich is Mr Beaumont ?
I turned to see Mrs Hargrove, her excitement can barely be contained.
She deserves it thou, she has been by his side longer than any of us here.
“Eighty thousand euro goes to Monsieur Bastien.”
He flipped the page over and continued.
“Twenty thousand euro each is to be donated to the orphanage and the local church.” Flipping over again he continued.
“Ten thousand euro goes to Monsieur Patrick his lawyer.”
“Ten thousand euro goes to Mademoiselle Kate.”
Kate turned towards me surprised to hear her name in the will.
I just shrugged not knowing how to react or respond.
He flipped the book over again, at this point my palms were already sweating from nervousness. It feels like the temperature in the room has increased by ten degree celsius.
The judge continued,” Mademoiselle Nora Grey, Monsieur Beaumont has left his company and estates aswell as other assets he has, which includes private investments and all, under your name and your children’s name. You’re to manage the company and bring it to greater heights, and when the children are old enough they can take over from you.”
Shock is an understatement…
I would have used the word flabbergasted, but is still not enough to express how I was feeling right now.
I turned towards Kate trying to atleast form a sentence, but I couldn’t.
I didn’t even know Mr Beaumont had a company, he never left the house, or receive any visitors.
So hearing all of these sounds like a foreign language in my ears.
“There’s a letter here addressed to you Mademoiselle Nora.” the just said.
The clerk collected the letter from the judge and passed it to me.
It was still sealed which implied no one else has read it.
The court was adjoined shortly after, Kate and I went outside as well as everyone else.
Mrs Hargrove and Mr Bastien walked up to me shaking me and congratulating me.
I honestly didn’t know how to react I was just smiling like a fool.
“Congratulations Nora, you deserve it.” Mrs Hargrove said, hugging me.
Deserve it?
I could barely think of anything that made me deserve it.
Mrs Hargrove and the driver left leaving just Kate and I.
“OMG Nora, ” she exclaimed hugging me.
“Let’s leave the premises first Kate.” I said pulling her to the parking lot.
I need someone to express how I’m feeling to, someone who would atleast understand how I’m feeling.
“Miss Nora, please wait for a few seconds.” Mr Patrick called behind me.
I turned at him giving him a polite smile.
“I need to fill you in on everything.”
“I was going to wait a while till you were done with the judge, didn’t notice you were out already.” I said.
“That’s fine, there’s a coffee shop around the corner, we could sit there and discuss.”
I turned to Kate who was waiting, she nodded her head giving her approval that she doesn’t mind.
“I’ll wait for you at home.” ” She said getting in her car.
I followed Mr Patrick who led me to a small coffee shop just across the road from the court room, it was a small shop that could accommodate like twelve customers, each seat facing each other.
“Congratulations Miss Nora,” Mr Patrick said the moment we sat down, facing each other.
“To be honest I don’t understand any of these.. In my four years of staying with Mr Beaumont, he never spoke of his company or assets, how am I to manage something I don’t know about ?”
“Well that’s the sole reason he encouraged you to study business management, with your knowledge in Economics and business management, as well as the help of other shareholders in the company you shouldn’t have a problem coping.”
“Just how big of a company are we speaking of?”
I need to know, maybe is just a small company like my Dad’s own.
Atleast that will be easier to manage.
“The thing is miss Nora..” he paused looking intently at me. “Mr Beaumont business empire spans across various sectors, with interests in finance, real estate, technology, and luxury goods. As a titan of industry, he controls a staggering thirty percent of Paris economic landscape.”
I could barely close my mouth, thirty percent?
How?
How do I always get involved with Billionaires and I’m never aware?
I mean for him to be that popular his name should have been mentioned on news and TV’s. It shouldn’t have been that difficult for me to have known I was living with a billionaire.
This whole thing doesn’t just sound right to me…
“I still don’t get how have been staying with Mr Beaumont and never for ones did I figure this, atleast the news should make mention of his name one’s in a while.” I voiced out my thoughts.
“Well is very understandable you didn’t figure that out, and that’s because he’s popularly know with a different name, and for some years now he hasn’t been actively involved in social activities, even when he was, only few people knew what he looked like, they only knew his name and what he controlled, nothing else.”
It all perfectly made sense now.
I nodded still trying to assimilate all that he has said. “So why me? Why did he choose me? He could have chosen someone else.”
“That my dear, is one question i have no answer to..” he said smiling at me, “one thing I’m very certain about is you brought smile and happiness to the old man.”
My eyes teared up at his response, he brought out an envelope containing files and documents, passing them over to me.
“In it contains all the details you’ll need to know about Mr Beaumont and his companies. I’ll take my leave now, have got somewhere else to be.”He said getting up from his seat.
“Thank you very much Mr Patrick, I really appreciate your time and effort.”
“The pleasure is all mine Miss Nora. You’ll receive mails keeping you updated on everything, and a press conference will be held to announce you’re now the new CEO. So get your mind prepared you have a busy week ahead.”