THE LAST LETTER

DAMIEN

“Dear Damien,

I trust you’re doing very well now. I know the day you read this I will be gone to be with my beloved wife your mother. My son I am writing this letter to you to tell you how much I love you and how I want you to be happy even in my absence. Damien, I know you’ll be missing me daily as the day goes by without me by your side. But hey son do not worry I am always with you in spirit.

The main reason for this letter to you is to request you to fulfil the promise you made to me during my last days on earth.

My son, I want you to continue to manage the company very well to make the legacy of Donovan Media still stand tall in the whole of the United States of America, not just Seattle. I believe so much in your abilities to run the company and other businesses so please do not disappoint me.

Most importantly the reason for this letter is to require you to get married to Miss Anna Smith the daughter of our driver Mr Smith who happens to be my good friend as well. Son my reason for this is to make sure that you have a family of your own to be a complete man. I know you love how your life is right now but Son marrying a girl like Anna will make you very responsible.

I have instructed Mr.Luis, my Attorney, to ensure that you marry Anna within two weeks of receiving this letter and you must be married to her before you gain full ownership of whatever I have willed to you in my last will.

Damien do not disregard this wish of mine as you promised to do whatever I have instructed you to do. You’ll not have complete access to my properties until you have fully done whatever is required of you in this letter especially your marriage to Miss Anna Smith.

Make the most of your marriage with Miss Anna Smith and try your best to uphold the name of the legacy Donovan.

I love you son.

Your Father.”

My hands are shaking as I look at the paper I just read from. I just cannot believe what I have just read. I raise my head to look at Mr.Luis who is glaring at me with a look of concern on his face.

“My father can’t be really serious about this. Marriage? No Luis I am not sure I will be able to do this.”I am raging inside and it’s just a matter of time for me to have an outburst.

“Calm down Damien, I know this is a lot to take in but as stated by your father the only way you can fully have control as the sole owner of his properties you have to do what he demands.”Mr.Luis cautiously says.

“And you also think getting married to a stranger is something that I want? Answer me, Luis! I don’t know this woman he’s even talking about. You expect me to marry a woman who is not in my league because clearly, Mr Smith is nowhere close to where I Damien Donovan is in life. My father got to be joking Luis.” I rant aggressively to Luis.

Mr.Luis tries to calm me down by saying “Damien I understand that you’re angry by what your father is demanding of you. Remember this is the lifestyle you are used so you got to do what is demanded of you in this letter to have the rightful ownership of your father’s wealth.”

“ Luis you got to be kidding me . Did my father think this through carefully because all this does not make any sense to me”.I retorts.

“Remember the promise you made to him during his last moments Damien. You promised to do whatever is asked of you. So now is the time to do what you promised your late father. Be a man of your word.” Mr.Luis reminds me of the promise I made to my father when he was hospitalized.

“Seriously Luis, I need to think about this because this changes everything I have planned out for myself. Marriage is something that is very far from my thoughts but as you just said I have to be a man of my word and do whatever I promised my father before he took his last breath.”

“That works perfectly Damien but note that you have very limited time because according to your father’s instructions, you have to meet Miss Anna Smith next week to finalize the preparation of your marriage in two weeks.” Mr.Luis tells me.

“You got to be joking Luis. Like how can my father do this to me” I angrily lash out at Mr.Luis.

“Well, your father was very serious about everything he wrote in the letter in your hands Damien. I best advise that you heed to whatever is stated in the letter and act according to it.”Mr.Luis cautions me.

“Fine if that’s what he wants then he gets it. There’s no need for me to think of this then. Arrange the meeting for next week  and lemme see my supposed perfect future wife selected by my beloved father.” I say in a sarcastic tone.

“Alright, Damien. Wednesday it is then. You get to meet your future wife on  Wednesday at exactly  10:00am.No lateness.”

“Noted Luis. However, does she know about all this?” I question Luis.

“Yes, she does. She got to know about this two days ago after I met with her and her father. And she is well aware of meeting you.”Luis informs me.

“Hold on for a second. You mean Mr.Smith knows about this too?”I ask sounding shocked at the same time.

“Yes he does Damien,” Luis replies.

“Fuck! This explains his sudden change in behaviour today. Wow, I can’t believe he’s going to be my father-in-law in a matter of two weeks. Gosh this is so messed up, I just can’t believe my father put me up to this. I need to clear my mind now.”I stand up and exchange a handshake with Mr.Luis.

“Thank you for understanding Damien. Your father will be very proud of you wherever he is.”Mr.Luis says to me with a smile on his face.

“I hope so Mr.Luis because this is absurd to me. Do enjoy the rest of your day.” 

I leave Mr.Luis’s office with my father’s letter in my suit pocket. I call Jasmine and cancel all pending meetings I have scheduled for the rest of the day. I need to clear my mind so that means drinks with my best friend Evans will help.

“Yo bro”, he says after answering my call.

“Yo Evans, can we meet up at our usual spot?” I ask him in a low tone.

“Bro it’s just 1 pm on a Monday and you want to drink?” Evans teases me.

“Fuck you Evans I know that. Are you coming  or not?”

“I’m coming let me clear my schedule and meet you,” he says and hangs up.

One thing about Evans is he’s always there for me. He’s been my best friend since we were in preschool. We went to Princeton University together and we both graduated with honours. He’s the only person who I guess gets me in this world.

I make my way to the car park to find Mr.Smith already seated in the driver’s seat. I decided to keep mute about everything since I knew very well that I would lash out at him if I were to speak.

“Drive to Onyx Club, now,” I demand.

“Alright sir” he stammers in response. Well, I guess he gets that I am not in a very good mood.

Anna, be ready for a very rough marriage. Damien Donovan does not love.