Alexander stood with a broken and lost Beatrix clinging to him, unable to console her. Her dad’s sudden demise had left all of them shattered. They hadn’t expected this at all. A million thoughts flitted across his mind at seeing the lost look on her face. What would he do now? Did Desmond Rotterdam leave a will? Would he be able to continue to manage the business without marrying Beatrix? Would his parents force him to marry Beatrix?
His mom came forward and led Beatrix towards a seat. They were waiting for the hospital’s post-mortem formalities. “Why don’t you go home? I’ll handle everything here,” suggested Alexander upon seeing Beatrix’s condition.
“No, I can’t leave dad and go,” whispered a dazed Beatrix, unable to cope with her loss. After her mom’s death, it was her dad who had brought her up single-handedly since the age of five. He hadn’t ever let her miss her mom. He was her everything. Maybe he had spoiled her rotten, yet she couldn’t envisage a life without him. Now his sudden death had completely devastated her, leaving her struggling to come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t there in her life now. She didn’t have any idea about the business, about anything else. Her dad used to handle it all. Now she totally depended on Alexander and the Van Every family for everything!
“It’s okay, honey. Alexander is here to take care of it. Let’s go home,” coaxed his mom.
“I can’t go home without dad, aunt Jodie,” whispered Beatrix in a daze.
“Your dad’s no more, honey. He has gone to heaven, to your mom. Let him be happy with her at last,” said his mom gently as Beatrix gave her a lost look.
“Then what about me, aunt Jodie? I have no one now. How could he do this to me? How could he leave me all alone?” she asked as fresh tears pooled in her eyes.
“It wasn’t in his hands, dear. It’s God’s decision over which we don’t have any say. All of us have to leave the world one day. If we complete our duties well and give others happiness in our lifetime, we can go to heaven and unite with our loved ones there.” Beatrix gave her a dazed look.
“If I change myself and be what he wanted me to be, can I unite with him in heaven one day?” she asked, wiping her tears, while her voice trembled with hope. Jodie Van Every nodded, knowing that Beatrix was going through a very vulnerable phase. She had to take care of the girl to bring her out of her grief.
“Yes, dear. He’s watching you from heaven. If he sees you broken, his soul wouldn’t find any peace at all. So smile and be brave. Get a grip on yourself and do what he wants you to.”
“Yes, aunt Jodie. I promise to live up to his expectations,” promised Beatrix, wiping her tears. Alexander sighed and looked away, wondering if she would really do as promised. If she really changed herself, he wouldn’t have any reasons not to marry her. Beatrix didn’t leave and faced everything bravely. She didn’t return to her house and stayed with them. Alexander, however, returned to his penthouse, not wanting to stay with her.
In a few days, he arranged for the last rites and funeral. Beatrix didn’t have many relatives, as her dad had broken ties with most of their money-minded family members. After everything was wrapped up, Desmond Rotterdam’s lawyer visited them at his parents’ house, since Beatrix was still living with them. It seemed as if her dad had expected this and had made a will before going in for the heart transplant.
“Dad knew he wouldn’t live long. Why didn’t I think of it before? I could have made him happy while he was still alive,” said Beatrix with a sigh.
“You can make him happy now, dear,” said his dad while Alexander sat with a brooding expression on his face.
The lawyer, Mr. Richard Fletcher, started reading out the will while they listened anxiously. Desmond Rotterdam left the entire business empire to his daughter, giving her the sole discretion to appoint or remove anyone. In other words, his fate depended upon Beatrix’s whims.
“I know nothing about the business. This is such a tremendous responsibility,” said Beatrix with a sigh.
“You could learn everything, dear. It’s never too late,” said Alexander’s dad. “Alexander can train you.”
“Will you train me, Alex?” asked Beatrix hopefully.
“Sure, I’ll train you and step down after you can take over the business,” he said, the disappointment clear in his tone. He had put in a lot of hard work, time, and dedication to bring the business up to this level. Surely leaving it would devastate him.
“You don’t need to step down, Alexander. Marry me and we could handle the business together,” suggested Beatrix hopefully while Alexander’s jaws dropped with shock. He hadn’t expected her to ask him outright in front of everyone.
“Yes, that’s the best thing to do. Desmond wanted it since the day the two of you were born. We had dreamed of marrying off the two of you. It would really make him happy and his soul would rest in peace,” said Daniel Van Every.
“Yes, let’s get engaged like before, Alexander. I have left everything and changed myself just as you wanted. I promise to be true to you this time. Since I’ve kept my promise to dad, it’s time you kept yours,” said Beatrix. Alexander hesitated, unable to decline her. What could he say? He knew what was at stake.
“I’m not listening to you this time, Alexander. We will get the two of you engaged immediately. That’s the only solution to everything,” insisted his mom.
The lawyer discussed the other terms and conditions of the will and Alexander realized he had no way out this time. Images of Eva’s tear-stained, broken face flashed across his mind and he felt completely at a loss. They took his silence as his approval and went ahead with the engagement. Alexander’s world, his heart crumbled to dust, and he returned home and sought solace in his bottle. He cried like a baby to sleep, totally inebriated.
His parents got them engaged in a small private ceremony, yet the news spread like wildfire. The reporters flashed it in every newspaper and magazine possible.
Eva sat reading the news when an agitated Hayley stormed into her room and switched on the TV. “Did you see the news? Alexander and Beatrix have gotten back together. They got engaged today,” she said with a scowl, checking out the news channel that was broadcasting the event.
Eva sighed, having expected this eventually. “I know. It was inevitable, Hails. She has a lot to offer him. I don’t.” Hayley looked at her grave and pale face and sighed.
“He was never mine. Don’t worry, this news doesn’t affect me in any way.” Hayley sighed and switched off the television, sitting beside her friend.
“Yes, it’s best to move on. You deserve so much better,” she said. Hayley forced her to go out to dinner and Eva accepted, wanting to stop thinking about Alexander and Beatrix. However, as luck would have it, Hayley took her to a grand fine dining restaurant where, unknown to them, even Beatrix and Alexander had a booking.
“Why are we here, Hails? You know how much I hate such places,” Eva scolded her friend, who had forced her into an expensive dress at the last minute. The soft burgundy dress clung to her curves, and she felt too conscious of herself.
“It’s time you started enjoying yourself, Eva,” said Sienna, joining them. Eva gasped at seeing her friend after so long and they hugged one another, taking updates about each other’s lives. Just as the two friends had planned, Eva cheered up, and they all tucked into the delicious food.
From the exclusive corner table, Alexander gazed at Eva as she enjoyed herself with her friends. He couldn’t believe that she was actually unaffected by the news of his engagement. He had expected her to be devastated just as he was deep inside. His heart constricted with pain every time he glanced in her direction. Why couldn’t he feel happy? He had Rotterdams and a beautiful fiancee in his life.
“What happened? Don’t you like the food here?” asked Beatrix anxiously. Alexander flashed her a fake smile.
“Not that,” he admitted.
“Then?”
“I’m feeling a little nauseated after the hectic day we had today. I’ll freshen up and join you in a minute,” he said, seeing Eva rush towards the washroom at the backside. This was his only opportunity to catch hold of her. With Beatrix following him around the whole day as his shadow: at work, at his parents’ house; the only time he had to himself was the night when the world slept. He lay awake thinking about the happy times he shared with Eva.
“Sure. I’m waiting to start,” said Beatrix. Alexander got up and followed Eva to the backside of the restaurant.