Assigned to You (Completed)

Chapter Eighteen: Everett

I’m not sure how the past few days went by but I’ve been numb with grief to even figure out what day it was. The day after my grandfather was shot dead, we flew back home immediately, his corpse brought along with us. A wake was held for him for three days, as accordance to his will, so his colleagues and peers could mourn him and offer their condolences.

Today marked the fourth day, his funeral, or so I was told.

The only reason I even managed to be there during the wake, to eat and sleep and remember that I was still alive, was because Evangeline never left my side. I can’t remember when I had called her if it was when I was still in New York or when I’ve landed back in Florida, but she had been by my side and supported me throughout the three days that my family was struck with grief, impaling each and every one of us.

I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked bad. Evangeline managed to get me to eat for the past three days and to shower and all, but I haven’t shaved and my beard looked more than just a five o’ clock shadow. My hair was a mess and my eyes, although the hours of sleep I tried getting and Evangeline made sure I got, still looked bloodshot and tired.

“Are you ready?” Evangeline asked, opening the door of her bathroom and taking a peek at me. I glanced back at her and shook my head. She sighed and stepped inside. She still looked beautiful in her black dress and high ponytail, and even when she only had minimal makeup on her face.

I, on the other hand, was far from ready. I was only in my boxers and I haven’t even toweled myself properly, ringlets of water still clung to my hair. I felt Evangeline’s hand on my face, her palm soft against my cheek. She quietly grabs a shaving cream and began to massage it on my face, her green eyes somber and focused on my face.

She began to shave the beard that I’ve grown off of my face as I stand rooted in front of her. There was something intimate with a woman shaving a grown, capable but broken man. I’ve known her for nearly a month now and the feelings I have for her continues to strengthen as each day passes. She finished shaving me and pats a dry towel on my face to clean me up and then placed her palm against my cheek again.

My hand touched hers and wrapped around it, bringing it to my lips for me to kiss. “Thank you.”

She smiled and nodded. “I’m here for you, Everett. For as long as you want me to.”

I could only nod and she slipped out of the bathroom for me to finish getting ready. I walked into her room and changed into the suit that I was supposed to be wearing. I didn’t hear Evangeline come inside but when I turned around to put the jacket on me, she was holding it and she helped me put it on.

“Let’s go?” She asked and I could only nod. Our conversations were kept short and on nights that we’d come home to her apartment, all I wanted was to be inside of her, to be reminded that I’m not alone in this world. At first, I thought that she’d be against it, that she would want me to grieve the right way.

But I guess she understood that people grieve their own way and she allowed me to grieve how I want to.

Evangeline and I used her car and she took it upon herself to drive us to and fro the mansion for the past three days. My family was used to her presence and she kept the little ones entertained because my aunts couldn’t focus on their children, having to talk to so many people who would come and visit and grieve with us.

We arrived at the mansion and everyone was frantically getting ready. Evangeline ushered my younger cousins into one of the rooms to prepare them while I looked for Nana. Even with the shock of my grandfather’s death, I still wanted to see how she was doing. I knocked on the room that had been hers and Papa’s and now, it was only hers.

“Hi, Nana,” I said as I stepped inside. She was sitting on the bed, a picture frame in her hand. I sat beside her and noticed that the picture was of Papa and my Dad, “That was his favorite picture.”

Nana nodded and smiled sadly. “I think he’d want to take it with him. Don’t you think, Everett?”

I could merely nod, wrapping my arms around her. She had isolated herself since we’ve arrived and we’ve let her because we knew that out of all of us, she was more stricken with grief. Papa was her partner in life, and although they seemed to be at odds from time to time, their love for each other remained throughout the years that they’ve been together.

“I’m not sure how I’ll go on with life without him, Everett,” Nana whispered, the tears shining in her eyes as she looked at me.

I tightened my hold on her. “You have me. I won’t leave you, Nana.”

The rest of the service went by in a blur and all I could remember were the tears that were shed and the wails of my aunts and grandmother, of Curtis’ stone-hard face as he tried to look strong for the rest of the family, of Evangeline’s hand in mine, reminding me that she was there as an anchor to steady me through this storm.

Throughout the day, I’ve shaken hands with nearly a thousand people who came by at the mansion after the service. They’ve offered their condolences and sympathies and I wasn’t even sure if they were from the heart and sincere, but I thanked them anyway. There was no use questioning them anyway.

“Everett.”

I looked up and was surprised to see Adam Brolen. They were the family that we’ve had dinner with at New York, prior to the night Papa was murdered. He was also the man who came between my parents, offered my mother a job as a prostitute. I’ve never seen him the same way since the conversation I had with Nana.

“Mr. Brolen.”

“Ah, you’re still too respectful. We’ll be doing business, soon, so it’s fine if you just call me Adam,” he says, shaking my hand tightly in his, “We are, doing business soon. Aren’t we?”

I could only stare at him. I still don’t have enough information about what happened before, how he became a part of the brothel business again after he had pulled out his shares when he found out about my parents. But he must’ve been in on my grandfather paying my mother to leave and I’m pretty sure that it was Papa who brought him back in the brothel, knowing that his shares were needed or else he’ll lose the brothel business.

“I’m not sure this is the right place to discuss that,” I replied, “This is the time and place to respect the memory of my grandfather and not discuss a dirty business.”

“May I remind you that it was your family that founded that dirty business.”

“And probably your money that made it thrive,” I countered and shrugged, “If you want to discuss it, Curtis knows a lot more than I do. Might as well discuss it with him and him alone because I’m not even interested in it a single bit.”

Adam stared at me in amusement and then he shook his head and quirked a smile. Before he could say anything more though, Evangeline arrived at my side and then loops her arm around mine, pulling me close and smiling at me slightly. Her presence eased the tension that I’ve felt since coming across Adam.

But I didn’t like the way Adam’s eyes shined at the sight of her. He looked at her a little longer than I liked and then smiled at her, putting up all charms that he had in his sleeve. “Ah, it’s surprising to see such a beautiful girl hanging on your arm. But with our business, it’s not surprising since you have a wide array of girls to choose from.”

I almost punched him had Evangeline not tighten her hold on me. I hated the insult he insinuated about her. She wasn’t a prostitute. She had a good job that paid her with clean money. But before I could have the chance to defend her, she smiled at Adam in such a sweet way that almost had me jealous, had I not seen the sparkle of anger in her eyes.

“My name’s Evangeline Sterell. I’m not exactly sure what you’re trying to imply with what you’ve said but I’m not dating Everett for his money,” she glances at me and flashed me a reserved smile, “Actually, he’s lucky I even agreed to date him. Educated girls like me don’t play around. Mr..?”

“Brolen. Adam Brolen,” Adam replied extending out a hand for her to shake but she merely glanced at it and fixed him with a taut smile, “Ah, the old ‘I’m not after his money’ line. I’ve heard it a million times before but boy, I wouldn’t be surprised when they scurry off with a truckload of cash and you’re left with a mouth to feed.”

I knew he meant my mother but I didn’t give him the satisfaction that his words got to me. But Evangeline spoke first before I could and she continued to give Adam the sweet, sarcastic smile. “Don’t worry, Mr. Brolen, but I know how to swim. If it really bugs you, then that’s your problem. It’s different in everyone’s perspective and we don’t have the same one.”

I was amazed by the confidence coating Evangeline’s words and when I glance back at Adam, he narrowed his eyes at her, knowing that she had a full arsenal of words at her disposal and the quiet confidence that she carried herself. He simply just cleared his throat and shrugged.

“I guess you’re right,” Adam said and then looked back at me, “I hope you’ve made a fine choice, Everett, not like your father did. And truly, my deepest condolences to your loss.”

He turned around and searched for another person to bug. I exhaled loudly and relaxed under Evangeline’s touch and when I turned to her, she still had the fire of annoyance in her eyes. I chuckled and then placed a finger under her chin, forcing her to look into my eyes. I quirked a smile and then kissed her nose gently.

“You know how to swim,” I said, still smiling.

She rolled her eyes. “I told you, babe, I’m in this for the real deal. Not because you’re filthy rich. Jesus, it’s not always just about the money.”

I laughed, for the first time in days, and pulled her into a vacant couch. I just wanted to cuddle with her and ignore everyone else. Curtis was a natural charmer and my aunts always vied for attention, I’m sure they could handle the guests. But it hadn’t even been five minutes until someone approached us again.

“Mr. Everett Saunders,” he said, his voice seeping with eloquence and intelligence as he extended a hand for me to shake, “I’m Attorney Howards. I have your grandfather’s will with me.”

I raised an eyebrow. “We’re having his will r******w? In front of all these people?”

Howards simply nodded. “It’s stated in Victor’s will that he wanted it to be read to his family and associates and he specified that it be read right after his funeral.”

Even after death, what Papa wanted was still followed. I think Howards had approached the rest of my family because they were slowly filling the room and soon, Nana came in. Evangeline and I scooted and gave her some space and she sat beside me. Automatically, I wrapped my hand around hers and squeezed it, showing her my support. She merely flashed me a small smile.

The chatter around the room quieted and Howards stood in the middle. It was then that I realized that the people that surrounded us were people that Papa trusted, associates who knew about the brothel and family members. Suddenly, all eyes fell onto Evangeline and Howards cleared his throat, motioning at her with his right hand.

“As public as Victor intended his will reading to be, he also specified that he only wanted associates and family present,” Howards said, looking at Evangeline.

I gripped her hand tighter, I didn’t want her to go. I glanced at the rest of my family. They’ve grown used to her presence and I hoped that one of them would allow her to stay. But Curtis cleared his throat and spoke, “I’m sorry, Evangeline, but the family only.”

“She is family,” Nana said through the stilling silence, her voice raspy and sounding unused. It had been a while since she spoke without being directed to and everyone seemed surprised. She looked at Evangeline and smiled slightly, “I’d rather have her here than any of Victor’s associates. If she leaves, they will too.”

I could hear the protest of Papa’s associates at what Nana said but she remained unreceptive to them. Howards nodded at her and raised a hand to silence everyone. “I guess the lady stays then.”

My hand relaxed on Evangeline’s and Howards continued speaking. There were estates that Papa owned that were given to my aunts and I could see their eyes shining with joy at that mere fact, half of the money that he had saved for his children and grandchildren were given and the other half with be given when Nana dies. Some of the small business will be given to my aunts to handle, alongside with Nana. As for the real-estate business, I could see my aunts’ husbands leaning forward, wondering if it will be given to one of them.

“The real-estate will be left to Curtis and Everett’s capable hands, assets will be divided to them accordingly,” Howards said and I could feel my uncle glance at him, “Their associates’ remains with what position that Victor has given them and will only move up in a position if either director deems worthy.”

And then Howards cleared his throat and everyone leaned closer and I braced myself for what he was going to say next, knowing that this would mean the brothel. Howards cleared his throat and read what my grandfather wanted, “As for the brothel that was founded by my great-grandfather and had become as my family’s legacy, I leave it to my first grandson, Everett Christian Saunders, to continue on, as he is my firstborn’s son.”

The silence in the room was stilling and I suddenly couldn’t breathe. I could hear the questions from my aunts’ mouth, directed to Nana but she simply stared at the floor with a hard expression on her face, disappointment flashing in her eyes.

“I told him to give it up,” she whispered to no one in particular and closed her eyes in defeat, “Why wouldn’t he just give it up?”

Curtis walked out of the room and Howards closed what he was holding, signifying the end of this reading. Everyone else flooded out and I could feel Papa’s associates glancing back at me. My aunts realized that Nana wasn’t going to answer them and they left the room too, heading somewhere inside the mansion to most probably discuss what they were going to do with the money that they possessed.

Everyone left until it was just me, Nana and Evangeline left.

I wondered how Evangeline would react. Howards had mentioned the brothel and I knew that she heard that and I knew that she connected the pieces. But whether or not she was disgusted by me and my family, she didn’t show. She didn’t even let go of my hand.

“Nana?” I said, looking at my grandmother who was still holding onto my hand, “I don’t want any part of that brothel.”

“I know,” she whispered back, “But we can figure out what we’ll do about it. For now, Everett, perform the duties that you need to do as its owner. I’m sure Curtis will help you oversee it.”

I remembered my uncle walking out the moment that he heard that the brothel was left with me. I’m sure he expected that Papa would leave it to him but there was a part of me that knew, that had a sinking feeling, that Curtis already knew that Papa had left it for me and had been trying to swindle his way into claiming it for himself.

I could give it to him if he really wanted it.

“But Everett, there’s something that your father had always wanted to do with it,” Nana said, looking at me, “He’s mentioned it to Victor a few times when he was still alive and I know that Victor had years to wrap his mind around it but he could never give up that brothel by himself.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “What did my father want to do with it?”

Nana smiled slightly at me and replied, “He wanted it to stop its operation. You haven’t seen the place for yourself, Everett, but it’s big and could rival a hotel. It’s luxurious. He wanted to strip it down of what it’s supposed to be and turn it into a better place. That was his vision.”

I thought about everything that Papa told me, the aggressive way he protected the brothel. I wondered if Nana was right about why he left it to me. The last conversation I had with him told me that he was willing to do anything to make sure that the brothel still stood. I don’t think that Papa would ever want to turn it into something else, to turn it into whatever my father wanted it to be. That brothel was his family’s legacy and he made it clear to me that he intended it to stay that way. But I will never want it, not even if my life depended on it.

So why me?