Death Does Become us

Chapter 1

Death Does Become Us

My name is Arabella Smith, and I sorta died today. Don’t surprise me with my luck. It’s just a shame it’s a day before my thirtieth birthday. They say only the good die young but I think thats a load of crap. why don’t we start back when my bad luck started, bout three weeks ago, when i caught my boyfriend of six years cheating.

*three weeks ago*

The morning started out rough when I got a knock on my apartment door it was my step-father. He started yelling for me to let him in. I would ignore it but i had to leave for work so i grabbed my bag and my paperwork and went out the door to greet the prick my mother married. “what do you need Craig?” i asked him as i walk by. “I need money why else would i even waste time talking to you?” he yells. “Its only Monday and you already blew through moms check? what is it this time gambling, drugs, alcohol, or all of the above?” i asked him making sure to keep my distance.

Craig wasn’t always a low life loser it wasn’t until he had an accident when me and my step sister Kendra and her twin brother Ty were playing by some shrine stairs and he tripped on Kendras Doll and falling down the stairs. He ended up not only damaging his spine but lost his job. When he woke up in the hospital the twin demons told him a bunch of things and had him believing it was my doll, that was until my mom, Claire, reminded him i didn’t play with dolls. It was true i preferred reading and more complicated toys. He scolded the twins about lying and they more or less ended up abandoning him while he was wheel chair bound, opting to stay with their mother. It was around then he started changing got addicted to pain pils and the rest is the typical addict story. He became hard to deal with to the point mom had me emancipate myself at 16. She loved him and didn’t have the heart to leave him and i was already working a nice paying job while going through school. It wasn’t forced upon me my mom loves Craig but when he had his accident his ex wife kicked him out of their company she was the biggest shareholder and the board Unanimously voted with her so he no longer had say and mom couldn’t leave him helpless but she also had a feeling that Craig would go down this road and she gave me the opportunity to escape. we still talk and i help her when i can and thats how we got here with him asking for money.

He didn’t answer me and i continued walking to my car. I looked up at him seeing that he followed. “what i spend mine and Claires money on is none of your business now are you going to give me money or not?” I looked at him not even seeing a shadow of who he used to be in him anymore, “Not. why don’t you ask Kendra and Ty for the money aren’t they just as well off since they now own the company.”

The twins took over when their mom died in a hit and run. Their business isn’t doing the best, neither one had the sense god gave a goose, Kendra only cares about getting with rich men and Ty is pretty much swamped trying to do things himself and not having any experience and refusing help when i offered. lets just say my company might end up trying to buy them out if its value don’t drop to much lower. Ty would be fine but with Kendra in it with him he cant keep it afloat due to her spending the company’s money on designer items and her lavish lifestyle.

His face got red as he got flustered since he went downhill he hated being told no i guess that’s where his daughter got it from. “Don’t bring them into this they’re doing great after their mother ran it into the ground!” I looked at him trying not to laugh, i guess they haven’t told him. i looked at the clock on my dashboard realizing that if i wanted to make it to mine and Daves anniversary dinner tonight i needed to get my day started soon. I looked up at Craig, “I have to get to work, I have to tie up some loose ends and get ready for my date tonight.” Before he could reply i pulled out of my driveway and headed to work.

The drive to work wasn’t as uneventful as i liked. I was at a stop light when i noticed Dave walking into a Restaurant with a group consisting of Kendra, her best friend and brother’s girlfriend Clarissa, and of course Ty. Dave always talked about how horrible their business was and how he wouldn’t be caught dead with them, but now here he was having lunch at a restaurant he’s told me was to expensive to take me to.

Dave owned his own business as well but it was minor compared to mine but we never let that bother us. We always kept things traditional, he wanted to pay for everything and do things the old fashioned way like myself, thats why Im still a virgin. I want to wait til marriage to do anything. We met when i was out with my ex girlfriend, ok maybe not fully traditional i am bisexual and she left me because I didn’t want to live lavishly. He was there and we just connected and been together since.

i pulled into the restaurants parking lot called my assistant and told her id be late. I walked in trying not to be seen by dave and his crew and had the host sit me in the booth behind them. i listened in on their conversation having a feeling that it’s something i needed to hear, a gut feeling you could say, i recorded the conversation on my phone.

First to talk was Kendra, “How is it going with my sister?” “she still wont have sex with me but i plan on proposing soon and try to rush the wedding and hopefully knock her up.” hearing that from Dave shocked me he told me didn’t want kids. i was brought from my thoughts when Ty spoke next, “why are you so eager to knock her up so quick?,” i listened closer because i wanted to know as well, “because Bella is too smart not to want me to sign a prenup, but if we have a child. Then when she passes from the poison, given to her after the child’s birth, the child will inherit the company and with the child being so young who else to run the company but me?” Clarissa’s voice piped in, “Is this plan completely fool proof? what if you get caught.” Kendra’s voice chipped in next, “thats where I come in I’ll take the brat and raise it while Ty runs both companies and when the kid is old enough we’ll control it and the company.” i sat there shocked as they all laughed about their plan, I couldn’t believe it. I put money on the table and left to my office.

The drive to my office was uneventful i called Terrah, my lawyer, and had her meet me at the office and now i was in there with my assistant and waiting for her.

Twenty minutes later she walks in and sees my face and sits in front of my desk. “what has you so pale Bells?” i take a few breathes and play the recording on my phone and my lawyer looked at me like I grew another head. “well i’ll get started on calling the police while Jasah gets you some tea.”

Thirty minutes later the police are in my office taking notes and collecting the evidence. Jasah walks in carrying a tea, “they’re leaving now to arrest the four do you want to stay with me til the court date?” I shake my head, “I’ll be fine I’m just a little shaken up but they did say there would be no bail til after the court date right?” She nods, “Right and lucky for us its just two days away because of all the evidence, the case is rock solid.” I nod my head and get to working on the paperwork i have its not much because i stay on top of things but it don’t take much for it to pile up.

*two days later*

I’m sitting in the court room waiting for the judge to call our case , a lot has happened in the two days up-to the court date. I called and told my mom what happened, the news sent my step dad into cardiac arrest, the hospital got a court order to put my step-dad in rehab and my mom is living with me while he’s gone. I’m hoping he stays clean when he gets out, he’ll be gone a year.

Im brought out of my thoughts by my lawyer telling me its our turn. I shake my head and walk up to the stand and the preceding began. I looked to the side and see Dave with an angry look on his face the rest are crying and freaking out. The judge looked at the evidence and passed it to the jury and it only took three hours to get a guilty plea they were sentenced lightly a year in jail and rest was on parole and bail was in the millions.

The rest of the week i moved my mom in and realized that i needed a bigger place and after talking to my mother we decided to go home shopping that weekend.

*two weeks ago*

After house shopping online me and my mother found a place with enough room that we could live together even after Craig got out and even if he decided not to stay sober, she wasn’t going to struggle being on her own when she left him. Today we go and make sure the house is up to par.

i say house but should probably say houses. The main house is a 5 bedroom 4 bath house with a large open living room connect to the large kitchen by a dining room. it was 2 story with 3 beds on the bottom and 2 upstairs. it was spacious and comfortable, the guest house which is my mom’s was 3 bedrooms 3 baths and just as spacious. we worked together and moved in.

the rest of that week was us moving and me working and buying the twins and my exes companies. After the scandal of the twins and my exes plan got out their businesses stock plummeted and i was able to buy them out at a low price and bring stock back up. I decorated my house and mom decorated hers and it was a great week and weekend.

*one week ago*

I wish i could say my last week was a great one. Seems like Dave had a side piece and it wasn’t my sister.

A Daughter of a small business that thinks their business is better than everyone else’s and acts higher than their social standing. Her name was Abigail Trounce, and she decides to meet with me Monday with a lawsuit saying i framed Dave and the others to acquire their companies. Jasah looked at her and tried to keep a straight face and she was blabbering about things like after this my lowly company would be bought out by her daddy’s blah blah blah.

i really didn’t pay attention until i looked at my schedule and noticed her dad was actually my next meeting and it was about me investing in their company. I looked at Jasah and winked and said “you know what, how bout you sit in my next meeting and we will see about your “daddy” buying out my company” she takes the bait and follows me to the meeting coming face to face with said father.

I walk in and have a seat as Jasah sits beside we both smile and get ready for the show.

“Daddy! W-w-w-what are you doing here?” she stammers. “I’m here trying to get an investment from Ms. Smith. Id like to know what you’re doing here?” he replied giving me and her both confused looks.

I decide to step in and inform her father about our little conversation, “it seems your daughter is under the impression that she will be suing me for “framing” my ex as she put it and that you will be owning my company when she was finished with me.” Mr. Trounce’s face turned red with anger as he turned his attention to his daughter, “YOUR DOING WHAT!?” he stalks his daughter and the fear in her eyes tells me he knew nothing about this and i decide to step in to avoid a blow up in the office, “Mr. Trounce i take it your unaware of the lawsuit?” “Im fully unaware of this lawsuit Ms. Smith and i apologize for my daughter. I will have my lawyer throw this out or fight whoever she hired to throw it out.” he replied. I look at him with a smile and turn to his daughter just as she replied, “Daddy, this woman is lying she framed my fiancé the father of my child to buy his company and i wont stand for it. I refuse to drop the case!”

I wasn’t sure who’s eyes widened more mine, Jasah’s, or her dads but the pregnancy and relationship news was one bombshell none of us expected. We all composed ourselves and her dad chimed in with, “pregnancy or not i will not have that criminal in this family!” Abigail looked at her dad with a look of someone not used to hearing no and turned with tears in her eyes and ran from the room tripping out the room and landing on her stomach. I ran up and hurried to make sure she was okay and had them call an ambulance. Abigail groaned in pain, clutching her stomach. Her father, suddenly frantic, rushed to her side.

The next day, Mr. Trounce came to my office to deliver the news.

“Unfortunately, my daughter lost the child she was carrying.” he tells me with tears in his eyes. I stand to sit beside him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder reply, “Im sorry for your loss i hope shes ok.” he looks at me and smiles a sad smile, “maybe it was for the best my abby isn’t ready for adulthood nonetheless motherhood.” I nod leaving it at that.

i stand and i walk to sit back behind my desk and sit there staring at the files left behind from the meeting yesterday, “Now back to more pressing matters i looked at the files left behind yesterday from the meeting and come to the decision to invest.” His head snaps up and he looks at me like he wasn’t expecting me to invest because of the mishap with his daughter. i chuckle and shake my head, “Mr. Trounce i keep my personal and work separate. After looking at what you have already i would be a fool to not invest.” He stands and grabs my hand tears going down his face and him thanking me profusely. I smile and dismiss him telling him id have my people get with his and finished my paperwork for the rest of the day.

The rest of the week, was paperwork and business, nothing eventful happened not until my last day.

*My last day*

My last day was like any other boring and uneventful. Except I was visited by Mr. Trounce. I stand to shake his hand, “Mr. Trounce what can i do for you today?” he sits in front of my desk in the chair, “Call me Brent. I came to warn you my daughter left the hospital against the doctors orders and is considered a danger to the public they are looking for her but the loss of the baby has caused her to be mentally unstable and i fear she will come after you.”

I ponder what he’s telling me and nod my head in understanding. "Thank you for letting me know, Brent. I'll take the necessary precautions," I say, trying to offer some reassurance. He sighs in relief and stands to leave, "Please be careful. She can be very cunning when she wants to be," he adds, a hint of desperation in his voice. I nod as i walk him out. i sit and call Jasah into my office and explain the situation she upped security and gave them the information they needed to know and the rest of the work day was uneventful after that.

Jasah came into my office at the end of the day and asked if there was anything else I needed help with before she left. I told her that would be all and to have a great weekend. she nodded and told me happy early birthday and headed out. Quiet filled the office as the last clicks of heels faded away. i smiled remembering tomorrow was my birthday and walked to my car.

I sit in my car and started it. i pulled out of the parking garage and thats when my story ended Abigail hit the side of my car and now i sit in the air looking at my body as I’m in a coma.

Truth is I was given a choice i can come back but theres a catch it’ll be months and i have to go to other realms and save them before I can so now I’m stuck with a choice.