CHAPTER 3- Original story 2

 Presley stepped out of the elevator, his lawyer walking beside him, as they approached the boardroom. Even before they entered, the sound of Julie Gates' voice rang through the corridor, her tone sharp with outrage.

“So what if Nicholas put that in his will? We all know the physical and mental challenges he faced because of his terminal illness!”

A murmur of agreement came from some board members.

Julie continued, her voice shaking with fury. “That wench clearly took advantage of his vulnerability! There’s no way my husband would have done this willingly—he must have done that in s a state of duress!”

Mr. Colbert, a long-time friend of the late billionaire, sighed heavily. He had tolerated enough of Julie’s dramatics.

“So what you’re saying is that the same man who built this company from the ground up to what it is now, is suddenly incompetent?” His voice was laced with ice.

Julie turned to glare at him, but he pressed on. “And what exactly gives you the right to claim you built this company with Nick? I was with him through every decision, every risk, every late night in the office. You?” He scoffed. “You were never part of it.”

"Yes, Nick may be a lot of things but he's not a fvcking ret@rd."

Julie’s lips trembled with rage, but before she could respond, Colbert leaned forward. “I’ll let this slide because you’re his widow. But if you keep making a fool of yourself, I’ll personally have you escorted out.”

“You—”

“Mother, please.”

A calmer voice cut through the tension. Adam Gates, Julie’s eldest son, placed a hand on her shoulder. He was the very image of Nicholas—tall, composed, with an air of quiet authority. He was in his late twenties, married with a wife and two daughters.

Colbert exhaled, eyeing Adam with something close to approval. “I hope you can talk some sense into your mother, Adam. Because there won’t be a next time for this nonsense—”

“Are you being serious, Mr. Colbert?” Michael, the second son, interrupted, his expression livid. He recently got married and there are news of the couple expecting their first child.

Micheal, continued in an outrage “The only thing that doesn’t make sense is leaving the future of this company in the hands of someone who knows nothing but warming a man’s bed! What does someone like that know about business?”

“You shouldn’t speak to your elders that way, Michael.”

A voice interrupted from behind.

Michael turned, his face darkening as Presley strolled into the boardroom, completely unfazed. With a smirk, he walked over and sat in the executive chair—Nicholas' chair.

Julie’s hands clenched into fists. “That daring little—” she muttered under her breath.

Presley’s lawyer placed a thick file on the table.

Immediately, the board members scoffed.

“Mr. Orson, this is a board meeting, not a courtroom. There’s no reason for you to bring a lawyer.”

“If you needed someone to speak in your place, you could've just sent a proxy and save us this act.”

"Maybe he's an illiterate, I doubt he can speak without an educated person's assistance."Another sneered.

Presley remained unfazed, letting them have their fun.

Julie smirked at the room’s reaction. Right… This isn’t something to worry about. Not when the majority of the board is on my side.

Then Presley finally spoke.

“Thank you for attending this meeting.” His voice was smooth, deliberate. “As you all know, Nicholas’ will was revealed last week.”

The room tensed.

“Before I begin working with you all, there are a few things I’d like to clear up.”

His lawyer signaled to an assistant, who handed out files to the board members.

Michael, who had been prepared to scoff at whatever Presley had planned, flipped open the folder—

—and went rigid.

His face lost all color.

Presley tilted his head. “Michael… Since you claim to know more about running a business than I do, I assume you’ll have an explanation for this?”

Michael’s hands tightened around the documents.

“Given that you’ve been embezzling company funds for the past three years.”

The boardroom erupted.

Julie shot to her feet. “This is ridiculous! The only way a bottom-feeder like you can survive is by dragging others down! Anyone can forge documents—”

Presley smirked. “You’re right.” He leaned forward. “Which is why we’ll let the court decide.”

...****************...

The Courthouse – 2:00 P.M.

The state courthouse was swarmed with reporters and onlookers. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension as the judge called the court to order.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this court is now in session. We are gathered for the final hearing regarding the will and estate of the late Nicholas Gates.”

"Now I ask that both parties present their evidence and arguments in a respectful and orderly manner. This goes mostly to you Miss Gates"

The judge’s sharp gaze fell on Julie. "I trust we will proceed with facts and evidence—not emotional outbursts.”

Julie gritted her teeth. “Understood, Your Honor.”

“Good. You may be seated.”

Julie's lawyer stood. “Your Honor, I request to call Mr. Orson to the stand.”

“Granted.”

Presley walked up, taking his seat at the witness stand.

The lawyer folded his hands, his voice taking on a mocking edge. “Mr. Orson, could you describe the nature of your relationship with Mr. Gates when you first met?”

Presley raised an eyebrow but answered evenly. “I was hired as his aide. I assisted with his health management, including monitoring his diet and exercise.”

The lawyer turned to the jury, smirking. “Did you all hear that? Apparently, before she was a business figure, she was working as a glorified housemaid—oh, wait. Should I say ‘she’ or ‘he’?”

Laughter rippled through the audience.

“Objection, Your Honor.” Presley's lawyer stood. “Irrelevant and prejudicial.”

The judge shot Julie’s lawyer a warning look. “Sustained. Mr. Blake, I suggest you refrain from making irrelevant personal remarks.”

Julie’s lawyer clenched his jaw but backed down.

“Now, Mrs. Gates, please take the stand.”

Julie stood, smoothing her dress, before placing her hand on the Bible. “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

"I'll only ask a two questions Mrs. Gate,....I can understand you must've been stressed with everythings that's happened recently and how devastated you must've been on losing your husband."

"Yes, sir. Everyone knows how much I've loved my husband, we've been married for over 20 years, it doesn't just go away, who would've thought a home wrecker would creep into my house." she lamented.

"Where were you, on Thursday Last week?" The Lawyer asked.

"I was at a church, because I was still mourning my husband, There were times I wished he was still here with me, but sadly, the dead can't return, I could only pray that his soul rests in peace."

Presley's Lawyer took out an envelope and passed it to the judge. The judge opens it , only to find Juicy pictures of Julie with another man.

"Your Honor these photos were taken at a hotel, on Thursday night last week."

"about the same time that Julie should be 'mourning her husband in a church."

"He goes by the name Robert Stanley, She has been covering up her affair"

"Mrs Gates? Do you have anything to say about this? Do you really know this man?" The judge asked.

Mrs. Gates breathes in deeply and said " Yes, I do know Know Robert."

"... but so does Nicholas."

Mrs. Gates' reply left everyone off guard.

"Nicholas is aware of our relationship and he supports it as well. This was because this was his idea."She said, Leaving the court in silence and rapt attention.

"During the late stage of my clients husband's illness, his body weakened, which affected his performance in bed" Julie's Lawyer added in support.

"It seems Nicholas eventually realized he could not meet up with her needs and secretly made arrangements to pair her with another man who would comfort her when he's gone. To show the extent how much they loved each other. "

"Even when I didn't want to, Nicholas insisted because he believed at the time that it would be best for me, that's how Robert and I started seeing each other. but we were only friends at the time......well until that Thursday night." Julie Laments.

"Let's not forget, that on that Thursday night, My client was a widow not a married woman, and Robert gave her a shoulder to cry on. So will you term that as cheating--"

"If it wasn't cheating and if she did nothing wrong,. then why did she lie about being in a church?" Presley's Lawyer sharply cut him.

"It wasn't a lie, I was at the church on Thursday afternoon, I met Robert afterwards." she replied.

It was obvious that Presley's Lawyer was a few seconds away from snapping.

'How on earth can someone be so thick skinned, despicable!' He thought when he felt someone touch his palm on his desk.

It was none other than his client,Presley. He made this action as reminder to him to stay calm and not get provoked by them.

Presley's Lawyer sighs deeply to calm himself down.

'Right I should stay calm, There's no reason to loose it when we have the upper hand.,' The Lawyer thought to himself as he took out a a clip. he turned on a tape and played the content.

Julie frozed when Presley played a voicemail. A man's voice could be heard from it.

MAN: "Where have you been, you've barely picked my calls."

JULIE: "I'm sorry, I didn't have the chance to reach you "

MAN: "What happened Julie you sound really excited, having fun without me."

JULIE: "Don't just assume things, my love, you know that's not possible."

MAN: "Then what's going on over there."

JULIE: "He's Finally gone, Nicholas is dead. It's only a matter of time, Everything will be ours, Robert."

Julie's face turned even more pale as the record was continued playing.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***