Two Hundred and six

CHAPETR 206

The revelation hung in the air like a big secret, and suddenly it hit Nicholas. "Wait! This adds another layer to the mystery we're looking for. If Alicia doesn't marry at 27, does that mean all her assets will go elsewhere?"

Felix nodded thoughtfully, "Yes, it's all written in the letters of legacy. Madame Michelle appointed Christine as her replacement if Alicia refused to accept all the conditions she gave. An unusual condition, but they strongly believe in family and commitment. This is absolute and non-negotiable, as this letter has been signed and stamped through the legal process."

Noel, who sensed the danger in this situation, leaned forward. "We need to find out who will receive the benefits, if Alicia doesn't get married. It could be someone who has a motive to disrupt the relationship or even put her in danger. And what about the children's hospital? Is there a connection we might have missed?"

As the trio digs deeper into family secrets, corporate ties, and conditional wills, they realize that the answers they seek are buried in the past, waiting to be dug up. The search for the truth intensifies, and with each revelation, the stakes get higher, making the path to solving the mystery even more dangerous. Little do they know that unraveling the tangled threads of Alicia's legacy will lead them to a shocking revelation that will change their perception of everything they thought they knew.

Nicholas then cleared his throat, turned his face slightly in curiosity, and began to ask for more details. "Does Alpha Company have a business competitor that is very persistent and tends to do dirty things to beat Alpha Company?"

Felix was the legal counsel for a company as big as Alpha Company. He was experienced. But for such a large company, shouldn't it be natural for Alpha Company to have competitors who are no less persistent and ambitious. Felix then shook his head. "I'm not sure, I think all businessmen want to have what Alpha Company has. Everyone is competing fairly these days. Oh, but, I don't know if this is related or not, but, a few years ago, Golden Group offered a business cooperation, but Alpha Company rejected it on the grounds that there was too much big financing that didn't make sense in terms of details and objectives, then Golden Group sent their proposal again to do a charity event that was done in collab, and again, Alpha Company rejected it on the grounds that Golden Group would take more than 50% of the proceeds from the charity event for the benefit of the company. After that, Golden Group started spreading bad rumors about Alpha Company, but that only lasted for a few months, because the company overcame it very quickly."

Nicholas and Noel exchanged glances, they had the same thoughts. And without waiting any longer, Nicholas immediately spoke his mind to Felix. "Isn't the Golden Group owned by Wilson Blake, he's been in a coma in the hospital for the past year, right?"

"Yes, I heard that his health condition has gotten worse. His wife got sick and was taken away to England for more intensive treatment," Felix said. He frowned, then tapped his finger on the surface of the paper containing the company's financial statements. "By the way, are you guys done with your examination of Alpha Company's financial records?"

"Oh sure, can we have a copy of the bank statement records to match them with the latest transactions made by Mrs. Michelle and Mr. Edward," Nicholas requested.

"Of course. I'll send it by email," Felix said.

"Anyway, have you talked to Alicia about the inheritance, the will, the assets and all this money stuff?"

The question made Noel shudder a little. He thought Nicholas would be happy to marry Alicia who would soon become a CEO and millionaire in the city. But Noel could only hold back his laughter there.

"We scheduled an internal meeting for the division heads, after that, we'll meet Alicia. And if Alicia agrees, we'll hold an internal meeting between Alicia and the company's managerial team along with the division heads and commissioners." Felix closed the papers in front of him. "Alicia has never been involved in the company, she'll need time to learn all this and the company will provide her with whatever she needs."

"Everything Alicia needs?" Noel asked.

"Yes, anything. The company will provide her with training, guidance, bodyguards-"

"Bodyguards?" Nicholas raised both eyebrows in surprise. "She wouldn't need a bodyguard if she had a boyfriend, would she?"

"We need to ensure Alicia's safety until she's ready to lead the company," Felix concluded with a small smile on his lips.

As the trio investigated the company's financial records, a sense of urgency gripped them. The mention of Wilson Blake and the Golden Group added a layer of complexity to the mystery. Nicholas can't shake the feeling that there is more to the story than meets the eye.

Alicia's legacy, conditional will, and connection to the Golden Group hint at a sinister undercurrent. Noel, ever the skeptic, voiced his suspicions, "What if the rejection of Golden Group's proposal triggers revenge? What if they organized a revenge plan against Alpha Company and Alicia?"

Felix, who was usually calm, couldn't deny the possibility. "That's a reasonable theory. Business rivalries can escalate, and personal revenge is nothing new, especially in our world."

Nicholas, fueled by newfound determination, proposed a bold move, "Let's check on Wilson Blake at the hospital. Perhaps he holds the key to unraveling this mystery. If conscious enough, he might reveal something that can connect the dots."

Noel hesitated, "But what if it's a trap? What if the Golden Group manipulated the situation to draw us into their web?"

Felix, weighing the risks, nodded in agreement, "Noel has a point. We need to tread carefully. Perhaps secretly gather information before moving in directly. If there's a grudge, they'll probably be watching our every move. Ever since Mr. Blake got sick, I heard that their company's condition has deteriorated. But, they never spoke to us again, they never submitted any proposal or cooperation until this moment."