After His Last Will

Lily Anderson stood by the busy road of the metropolitan city, waving frantically at every car that passed. She wasn't about to be late for work, not when her boss was the great Alexander. For a moment she thought about running over to the Beaumont Estate but that would be an absolutely stupid thing to do.

When she finally got a car, she heaved out a sigh in relief, and got in. The morning had dark clouds looming over the sun. It looked like it would rain, but Lily wasn't sure about that because it had not been stated in the news. The drive wasn't as long as she expected and she was grateful for this.

She reached the Beaumont Estate, which was a massive array of different mansions and lush green grasses, in no time and just as she was about to go in, she sighted Alexander's car coming out. She swallowed hard, praying silently for the weight she felt to ease off her chest. The car stopped just in front of her as she expected and the black tinted window came down.

He was seated in the back, reading a newspaper. His neck-length hair was left to flow and some strands were styled perfectly to fall to his face.

"Are you coming in or do you want us to be late?" He asked with his usual nonchalant tune.

Lily nodded and was about to open the door to the front seat when he stopped her.

"I have no tie on" he said and she went round the car and got in beside him.

She'd been working with him for five years but it didn't mean she'd gotten any comfortable around him.

He had acknowledged that she was the only one he could stand being around him, but that was more of a curse than a compliment. She was silently waiting for him to say something about her lateness.

He turned to her, his dark eyes immediately pinning her.

"The bag there has three ties, I picked your favorites" he said

Favorites, as if! She couldn't help but think. She took the paper bag beside her and took the first one she could reach.

She flinched when she turned back to him and found him staring at her.

"I spent twenty minutes, picking out the top three and you just pick one without looking at them" He asked and she nodded looking at the tie in her hand. It was black, she looked back into the bag-They were all black! What did the man want from her?

"A tie is the least of your problems right now Mr Beaumont" she said in the usual relaxing tone she used around him, never a pitch higher or a pitch lower.

"What is my problem? That you came late?"

"Your grandfather might have an illness and has asked you to see him this morning," she said, ignoring his remark. It had always been her strategy to remain sane.

He looked up from the paper he was holding and stared out the window with a frown on his face.

"And my schedule has already been cleared?" He asked

"Yes sir" she said and he hissed, flinging the newspaper. She caught it immediately, she had studied him so much that she could discern his next move.

"If he wants to die, can't he just die quietly, he's more healthier than I am" He said but his voice held no trace of displeasure. Lily noticed him stiffen a little bit, before turning to her.

"Let's go then" he said and took the newspaper away from her. A flash of an apologetic look in his eyes.

She smiled to herself, he was aware of her close relationship with his grandfather. Vincent had always asked her to marry Alexander openly and shamelessly, but she couldn't do that. It would be a death sentence to her, and Alexander on the other hand was an anti-romantic.

They reached the hospital some minutes past eight. Lily hurried behind Alexander, perfectly matching his pace. It had been one of her challenges, when she started walking with him. He had long legs and walked like his life depended on it, she wasn't nearly as tall as him and had tried to keep up.

"After the visit, what else is on my schedule?" he said as they walked into the Elevator.

"As I said earlier, your schedule is mostly free today. But you have dinner with the President of Beaumont hotels" she said. She didn't need to look at his schedule on her tablet, she had learnt to memorize things. Alexander would sometimes blow off orders at the speed of lightning and she couldn't write it down but had to practice her hearing. She had practiced a lot of things because of him.

When they reached the VIP ward where Vincent was, Lily stopped. Alexander turned to her with an expressionless face.

"Are you leaving me here?" he asked.

She nodded

"I was told he has something to tell you, I can see him later" she said and forced a smile and he nodded to her and walked inside.

Lily always secretly enjoyed the drama Vincent made with his grandsons, especially Alexander. He pretended to be sick and hospitalized just to get their attention. She heard their voices but wasn't sure what they were saying.

A moment later, the door opened and he beckoned to her to come in. Vincent greeted her with a smile.

"My pretty daughter in law" he said and she smiled awkwardly.

Alexander rolled his eyes, a little bit uncomfortable. "Grandpa please" he hissed.

"You don't have to get married to her, Eric can," he said, eyeing his grandson.

Alexander shot him a look and shook his head.

"I'd rather get married to her than for that to happen" he said and looked at her. Lily wasn't surprised. He had tagged her as his possession and he hated Eric. They hated each other.

"I'll be discharged today, I feel a lot better since I've seen my grandson and future daughter in law," he said.

"Stop pretending to be sick everytime. I'm very busy" he said and turned to leave, he reached the door, about to go when he turned to her.

"You can follow me now, or ask the chairman to give you a ride." He said and walked out. Lily sighed and turned to his grandfather.

"You take care of him so well, that's why he can whine in front of you, hurry now. He might actually leave you". He said and She took his hand and squeezed it lightly.

"I'll see you later grandfather" she replied with a smile and hurriedly went after Alexander.

The day wore out slowly, because there wasn't a lot to do. They were about to go for dinner with the president of Beaumont hotel when her phone rang. She stared at it and it was the Chairman's secretary.

Alexander raised his brow, in a quiet inquiry as they walked out of the office.

"your grandfather"

"Did he get admitted again?" He said with a sigh.

Lily answered the phone and when she heard what the caller on the other end said, she paused, her eyes suddenly wide and her heart pounding against her chest. The phone left her hand and fell to a clash on the floor.

"What is it?" Alexander asked, noticing her reaction. She blinked, unable to utter a word as her eyes stung and tears began to well off in them. Alexander understood at the moment what it was her way. He shook his head in denial.

"No way...by any chance...is my grandfather...is he dead" he asked, despair in his eyes. Lily's bent low and let out a low cry, her heart wrenching sobs confirming his fear.

The Patriarch Vincent Beaumont was dead.