hapter 3
Jeremiah’s POV
“I want to resign.”
Those words hit me harder than they should’ve. I looked at her, and arched a brow at my assistant.
She said her name was Kayla.
Kayla Domingo.
She stood in front of me with a forced calmness, but her eyes were frantic, like they were holding back a storm.
“You what?” I asked, my tone sharp, more surprised than irritated.
“I want to resign, sir,” she repeated. “Effective immediately.”
I blinked. “You want to quit… today?”
“Yes, Mr. Aldridge.”
I moved to my swivel chair, closed my laptop slowly, placing both hands flat on the desk. “Is this about what just happened? If it’s because I snapped at you, I—”
“No, sir,” she cut in quickly. “It’s not about that.”
“Then what is it?”
She hesitated. Then her voice broke just a little as she said, “My grandfather is dying. He’s in the hospital. I need to go back home and be with him. I don’t know how long he has left, and I… I can’t stay here pretending like it’s all okay. I told you I need just a day or two off but you didn’t even show any concern. Since I don’t mean anything to you, then I have to quit. I need to go home. They need me.”
I leaned back in my chair, caught off guard. Damn. I didn’t expect that.
“You could’ve just asked for time off then,” I said after a moment. “Take two days, three, hell, take a week.”
I had this sinking feeling it was because I had snapped at her twice in one day. My father must have been soft on her.
“It’s not just time I need,” she said softly. “It’s closure. It’s family. I’ve neglected so much being here. I owe this to myself. And to him.”
I studied her face. She was serious. Resolved. This wasn’t a tantrum. It wasn’t a heat-of-the-moment decision.
“You’re sure about this?”
She nodded. “Yes. I need to be with my parents.”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Alright. I’ll have HR process your paperwork.”
It sounded like a question. I wanted to be sure I got the name right but she ignored me.
“Thank you, sir.” She gave a tight smile, then turned and left.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, I stared at the empty space she left behind. But I didn’t have time to dwell.
My phone buzzed.
“Mr. Aldridge,” a voice came through, “the will is ready to be read.”
It was my father’s lawyer. I ought to be on my way to the family estate for the will reading but I chose not to go.
He had no one to take all his wealth and assets but me. So I saw no need to go there and listen to piles of recorded words.
The will reading was at 5:30 pm and it was past the time.
I exhaled sharply. “Good. I’m too busy to attend right now. Read it and send me a summary.”
“Yes, sir. Will do.”
I hung up, trying to refocus. The pile of work wasn’t going to finish itself now that I’d have to find a new assiatant.
Reports, mergers, legal reviews. The transition since my father passed had been overwhelming, to say the least. The old man left behind an empire and a mess of stipulations and rules.
Five minutes later, the phone buzzed again and I knew there were done with the news reading.
With confidence, I answered on the first ring. “Yeah?”
“Mr. Aldridge,” the estate attorney’s voice came through, “we’ve reviewed the will and we need to inform you of something important.”
“Go ahead.”
“Your father’s assets and full estate transfer are yours but they are subject to one condition.”
I sat up straight, my brows arching up in surprise and confusion. “What kind of condition?”
There was a pause. I could hear papers shuffling.
“You must marry the girl your father set you up with before his death. Only then will the full wealth and power of the Aldridge estate be transferred to you.”
I stared at the phone, dumbfounded. “You’re joking.”
“I’m afraid not, sir. It’s in writing. Legal and binding. Your father had it notarized and added to the will three months before his passing.”
“What girl? I never agreed to any arrangement.”
“He had already chosen her. The documentation simply refers to her by name. We’re sending the file to your inbox now.”
I sank into my chair, staring at the ceiling. The woman he set me up with… who the hell was she? And why the hell would he do something so dramatic?
And just like that, my world tilted again
