CHAPTER 3: The Will.

" In order to attain full power of the company, one of the listed offspring must be enjoined to the Lady of the Steele household as promised. Then shall the effects stipulated in this be established."

As soon as the sentence was out of the lawyer's mouth, Asher jerked off his seat, shocking both Jason and the lawyer as he held tightly the collars of the lawyer in fury. Strangling him.

" Listen to me. You are going to reread this will, and this time around, the actual will that my deadbeat of a father wrote. Do not test me."

Asher Braxton was in the face of the lawyer with a menacing grin while Jason attempted to talk him out of leaving the lawyer's shirt. Mr Bradford couldn't believe his eyes. He'd heard that the Braxton's heir was a raging inferno but he didn't think he'd one day be at the receiving end.

" There is no other will sir, here it is," he handed over the copy to Asher. " .. it's the original copy." He managed to say, struggling to breathe from the chokehold Asher had on him.

" Let him go already! The poor man is only doing his job for crying out loud." Jason said while getting up on his feet. Mr Bradford was turning purple with the continued hold from Asher.

Asher was fed up. He refused to believe that his father was responsible for the jargon he just heard. There had to be a mix up somewhere, and he was going to find it. Starting from the man in front of him.

" Do I look stupid to you? What do you think this is? The sixties? How dare you refer to me as an interim CEO?! Braxton Group is MINE! I worked it up to the number one spot from the laughable state it was when he decided to step down. What even made him think he has a say in MY COMPANY?! "

Asher was seething. He left the collars of Mr Bradford and was now pacing around. His anger was palpable. Jason knew to let him be for the moment, he needed to calm down on his own for some minutes before he stepped in.

Any other approach and he didn't know what to predict.

" What relationship does the Steele household have with elder Braxton? Why would he choose to propose marriage to them? " Jason finally aired his thoughts, causing an abrupt stop on the part of Asher.

" Think about it, there's got to be something there. "

Asher couldn't help but ponder at Jason's words. If this whole crap was real, then it was something he needed to know. With the somber expression on the lawyer's face, Asher knew he couldn't get the answers he wanted from him.

He refused to waste precious time and decided he was going to need answers. And answers he must get. He had a living and breathing encyclopedia Afterall.

" Make sure no one, I mean no one, gets wind of us or the content of the will. I hope for your sake that you aren't playing any stupid games with me. I'll be in touch."

Immediately the words were out of Asher's mouth, he straightened his suits and without waiting for an answer, headed out of the office in fast strides. The overbearing need to get to the root of the matter made him walk even faster than usual.

" I'm sorry about that Mr. Bradford. He's a little bit of an angry bird right now." Jason stood up, ready to follow his friend. " Thank you for everything." He said with a grateful smile and immediately dashed out of the office in pursuit of Asher.

Asher was downstairs with his phone to his ears. He was getting quite impatient with his friend who was yet to come out and tried calling his mother but she wasn't picking up. His anger rose to an all time high and immediately Jason came to view, he snagged the keys from him and in the twinkle of an eye drove out of the lot, leaving a stunned Jason behind.

' I shouldn't have given him the keys! ' Jason thought regretfully while watching his car drive out of sight. His friend wasn't in his best mood and he could only hope he didn't end up crashing. He booked for a ride and impatiently waited for its arrival.

Asher was at full speed. He was headed to the family house with a prominent scowl on his face. Upon entering the compound, the nostalgic scent of the house filled him but didn't in any way reel in the anger within.

He parked the car and got out of the vehicle, greetings from workers in the compound were thrown at him but upon noticing the general mood of Mr Braxton, they all scurried away, everyone to their duty post.

It was not news of how dangerous Mr Braxton was when he was in a mood. The Braxton's family house workers knew that it only spelt doom for whosoever unluckily got in the way of the young Braxton and so, they all avoided getting in close contact with him while earnestly focusing on their duties.

Braxton's manor was a mini castle. Its walls, floors, and stature screamed elegance and luxury. It was a magnificent house to behold and despite its vintage aura, it stood the test of time in general outlook.

The interior of the building was a world of its own. From the live-in area to the dining, stairs and multiple chambers, it was only fitting for a family such as the Braxton's.

" Where is my mother?! '' Asher bellowed at one of the domestic workers, causing her to almost lose her footing.

" S-she is in her quarters." She managed to say, visibly shaken by the look on his face. Mr Braxton didn't care or see just how frightened she was and immediately marched onto the staircase, headed to his mother's quarters.

The house was divided into four different sections. On the east wing was where his mother's chambers were located alongside other rooms,each with its different and unique function.

Asher was soon at the doors of his mother's chambers. Before he could knock, the double doors flung open and a middle aged woman stood at the other end of the door with a worried look.

" Asher dear, come on in." The motherly voice of Mrs Braxton said, urging him inside and closing the doors. Her comportment at his unusual visit spoke volumes of the fact that she'd been tipped off about his coming.

" You knew. You knew it all along didn't you? " Asher asked bitterly after a moment's view of his mother's countenance.

" Oh dear, don't be mad at me." She said, knowing it was no use trying to deny the fact that she was aware of everything. " Come sit, we don't have much time. Let me explain."

" What's there to explain? Hell, I was thinking you were going to rectify the situation only to find out you were in on it too?!" Asher was getting even more angry by the minute. " You are my mother! You were supposed to be on my side! You let me go there and for what? I have given my all to the growth of this business and now I'm having my right threatened because of some stupid dying wish? "

" If you would let me explain. It wasn't a dying wish. It was a promise made many years before you came along. Long before Braxton's group was successful. It's that or they get fifty percent share of the company."

Mrs Braxton stated with a look that meant business.

" And what if I refuse? What if I don't want to get married to some girl? What happens then? What if I don't want to get married? "

" Then we lose. We lose everything we've labored for to the hands of a slimy whore and her bastard son." She said with furious eyes. Her eyes were pretty much the same as those of her son's.

Uncanny.

" W-what do you mean? " He asked in a much calmer tone. It was calm before the storm.

" You heard me Asher. We lose everything." Mrs Braxton went on to narrate the other parts of the Will which only pushed her son to the brink of insanity. He couldn't believe what was happening, everything seemed like some sort of joke but he knew his mother was more than serious.

" I will not marry her. I'd like to see them try taking what belongs to me. By the time I'm done with them, they would wish they all weren't born! " He swore, eyes reddened and pulse thickened.

" You have to marry her! This is not the time to throw a fit , you will marry her or so help me God, I will–"

" You will what? Ship me off to another country? I'm not your puppet anymore ma, I'm the only standing heir of the Braxton Group and I've proven my worth to all and sundry. I will not be bound by a dead man's will! Not now, not ever! "

Asher was now in the face of his mother, he broke out in a menacing grin as though taunting her to go against him. They both knew he was right until someone barged into the office.

It was a heavily breathing Jason. The interest of the duo was piqued upon seeing his countenance.

" Asher! You need to come, there's a whole lot more to it." He quickly said, requesting that they left.

" Say it. It's not like she didn't know afterall. " Asher said, facing Mrs Braxton who was now seated, her fair skin adding some elegance to her dominating aura.

" Uh, the other guy is Cole. Cole Howard."

Asher couldn't believe his ears. It couldn't be possible. As though seeking for confirmation, he turned to his mother, expecting some kind of rebuttal but none came. It was actually true.

He immediately stormed out of the house, his head was banging as he drove out. He turned off his phone, deciding he needed some time to actually water down the latest development.