THE SHOCK

DAMIEN

Losing my father 3 months ago to a cardiac arrest was something I did not see coming. I clearly remember when I had the call from Miss Rosie our cook about my father’s attack while away on a business trip in New York, I stopped everything and headed back to Seattle within a matter of hours. Fortunately, he was still alive although on oxygen at the St.Louis Hospital I had the chance to have a conversation with him not knowing that was the last time.

I arrived at the hospital in a rush immediately I landed in Seattle. I went straight to my father’s private hospital room only to find my father hooked on lots of medical equipment. My father looked very pale and weary.

“Father”, I said the moment I sat next to him.

He gave me a tired smile and said “My boy you came. I thought you wouldn’t be able to come see me because of your business trip.”

“Dad you know you’re the most important person and the only surviving family I have. So what makes you think I won’t come see you after I got informed” I said to him in a low tone.

“Son I appreciate you for this because I feel deep within me that I won’t be able to make it time around. I feel very weak and tired my son.” my father said to me.

“No Dad please do not talk like this. You are Williams Donovan a very strong man you’ll be able to come out of this as you always do.”I said holding onto his hands very tightly.

Deep down I had the same thoughts as he did but I did not want to come to the terms of losing my father.

“Damien, my boy I want to tell you something” My father said.

“Alright, Dad please go ahead I am all ears.”

“Son I want you to promise me that you’ll take good care of the company and let the legacy of the family continue. Also, I want you  to promise me to do whatever I have asked you to as stated in my last will when it is been read after my burial.” 

I interrupted him and said “Dad I beg you to stop talking about you dying because you are not going to die. You’ll be fine the doctors are going to make sure of that.”

“Son, please just promise me you will do whatever I am asking of you.”He said with a very weak yet reassuring smile.

I took in a deep breath and said “Alright Dad I promise to take good care of the company and also I promise to do whatever you have instructed me to do in your last will”.

“Thank you very much, my boy. Always remember that I love you and I am proud of how you have been handling the affairs of the family business.”My father said with a tired look and smile on his face.

“I love you too Dad and I am also so proud to be your son. Thank you for all your guidance too father.”I replied still with his hands tightly held in mine.

“You are always welcome, my son.”My father said before finally closing his ears. The beeping sound from the electrocardiac monitor suddenly stops.

“Dad, Dad, Dad!!!!” I screamed my lungs out. I pressed the hospital bell and doctors rushed in immediately.

“Mr.Donovan you need to exit the room” a nurse said.

“I am not going anywhere. Just do your fucking job my dad needs to make it alive.”I angrily said to her.

The doctors tried their very best to resuscitate my father for the next ten minutes but it all proved futile.

“Time of Death 11:50 PM”. One doctor said and gave me a remorseful look. “We are sorry Mr.Donovan, your father could not make it.”

I quietly moved to my father’s lifeless body and gave him a tight hug with tears running down my cheeks.

“I love you, Dad. I promise to do whatever you ask me to. Thank you for making me who I am today and I promise to uphold the legacy of the family.” I muttered to my father.

I slowly left the hospital room with my heart shattered into pieces as I was now all alone in this cold world. The last time I felt this way was when I lost my mom at the age of sixteen and fourteen years later I encountered this same pain and void which I know will forever be stuck with me.

I got home and I went straight to my father’s room. I looked around and it hit me that I won’t see him ever again in this room.

I look around and I see the beautiful portrait of my parents all I ever want in this moment is for them to be here with me again but I know that’s impossible. Death is something that has turned me into a very coldhearted person because I have lost the people I loved the most to death.

My father’s burial was a grand one as people from far and near came to bid him farewell. It was a very gloomy day for me as I laid my only surviving family to rest. The funeral service was a peaceful one as I strictly ensured that there was no media present at his burial. I wanted to bid my father farewell in a very private memorial service and that’s exactly how it went.

Present Day

It has been 3 months since  I laid my father to rest. Life has been going on smoothly and everything has been up and running at the company. My life has been very routined work, club, home then bed. I am not going to lie I am still the life of a party don’t get me wrong though I do miss my parents every day. I  feel lonely most of the time which is why I am always outside partying and having the time of my life with the beautiful women of Seattle.

My father’s last will is yet to be read but I am not bothered because I know that he left everything in my name that’s the estates, company, stock investments, the shipping company and the family house. My grandfather did a great job by leaving such a huge legacy for the Donovan family and my father also did a very good job by working endlessly to sustain and add to what my grandfather established. Now it is my responsibility to ensure that everything these great men of the Donovan Legacy worked hard for will be sustained.

As I promised my father before he passed on, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the family legacy will be very managed and sustained.

The sound of my phone ringing wakes me up.

“Hello?” I say with a sleepy tone.

“Good morning Mr.Damien Donovan, Luis Davis speaking.”

“Good morning Mr.Luis.Isn’t it too early to call someone on a Monday morning? Gosh, it’s not even 6:30 am for crying out loud, Luis.”

“Sorry to disturb your sleep Mr. Damein but I called you about the reading of your father’s last will,” he said.

“Alright, what about that?”I ask with a pinch of curiosity in my tone

“Okay Mr.Damien, I would like to schedule a meeting with you today at noon at my office to discuss whatever your father has stated in his will with you. Although this is not the final reading of the will.”Luis stated

“What do you mean by this is not the final reading of the will?.”I question as I start to get agitated already.

“You will get to understand everything when we meet today at noon. I hope you will be able to make it.” He replies vaguely.

“Whatever Luis you know I will be there and make sure you do not waste my time when I come to your office. You know I am a CEO and I have a business to run.” 

“I assure you that the meeting will be a very quick one, Mr.Damien.See you at noon.”

“Alright Luis.”With that, I hang up and drag myself out of bed to get ready for the day.

“Good morning Miss.Rosie.Mmmm, this smells so delicious. What’s for breakfast?”I ask with my stomach rumbling.

“Haha, Good morning my boy. Hope you slept well?”Miss Rosie who is my nanny and cook asks.

“Well, I did. Hope you slept well too?” I ask as I take an apple and begin to munch on it.

“Yes, my boy. I made your favourite bacon and eggs with toast and freshly made orange juice,” she says happily.

“Mmmmm…you are just the best Miss Rosie. Thank you for making my favourite breakfast today because I need it for today’s workload.” I tell her as I dive into my meal.

“You’re most welcome my boy. Make sure you finish everything before leaving for work.”She says and gives me a pat on my back.

“Alright, I promise to finish everything today. Miss Rosie, Is Mr Smith around today? I need him to drive me around for today. I am too tired already to drive myself.”

“Yes, my boy he is around today.”Miss Rosie informs me and walks out of the kitchen.

“That’s perfect and thanks once again for breakfast it was delicious.”

After having breakfast I walked down to the car garage to select the car I would like to use today.

“Good morning Mr.Donovan which car would you like me to drive you in today?” Mr.Smith asked me without looking me straight in the face like he always does.

“Good morning Mr.Smith, I would love to ride in the SUV today because I have some meetings to attend outside the office at noon,” I inform Mr.Smith.

“Alright Sir, I will get the keys then so we can get going,” he replies.

“That’s perfect Mr.Smith.Thank you.”

“You’re  most welcome Sir.”

I arrive at the office at 8 am with my secretary Jasmine running after me with my to-do list for the day. She is so dedicated to her work that she always does not allow me to even have some time alone the moment I am in the office. She is pretty but she’s not my type and one thing about me is no matter how bad I am I do not mix my business with pleasure. So yeah the women at Donovan Media are off my list although a lot of them have tried to seduce me with their mini dresses and seductive behaviors.

“Good morning Mr.Donovan.This is what you have on your list today” she says and begins to mention my to-do list for the day.

“You have a meeting at 9 am with the marketing and advertising team, at 10 am you have a meeting with the finance team, at 11 am you have a board meeting with the newly recruited staff.”

I interpret her, “Jasmine clear my schedule for 11 am. I will be out of the office attending a very important meeting.”

“Alright, Sir if you say so. That means we have to reschedule the meeting with the new staff. Will 2 pm today be alright?” she asks.

“Yes, 2 pm is fine and let them know that lateness is not condoned at Donovan Media so they must be seated in the board room before 2 PM.” 

“ Well noted Mr.Donovan.Have a productive day.” with that she dismisses herself from my office to her desk.

The day drags with my numerous meetings but it’s finally 11 am. I end all my meetings to munch on the Avocado toast with Pineapple juice Miss Rosie packed for me before heading out for my meeting with Mr Luis. 

I head down to the car park to find Mr.Smith waiting for me.

“Hello Sir, where are we heading  to?”Mr.Smith asks as he opens the  SUV door for me.

“We’re heading to A and A Law Firm. I have a meeting with my father’s attorney.”

“Oh okay, sir.”Mr Smith stammers a response.

“Is everything alright Mr.Smith? You have been quite off today ?” I ask him as a concerned boss.

“Nothing is wrong with me Sir. I am very well,” he said.

“Alright if you insist. Kindly let us get going then.”

“Alright, Sir.”

We arrive at A and A Law Firm at exactly 11:50 AM and I am welcomed with the smell of old books and furniture through my ride in the elevator. I got to the 10th floor of the building where Mr. Luis's office is located.

“Good day, Mr.Donovan, Mr. Luis is waiting for you in his office.” his secretary says.

“Noted,”  I say to the secretary and head straight to his office. Mr.Luis meant business when he said noon today. Well, I am quite intrigued now to know what this meeting is about since he said this is the reading of my father’s last will.

I make my way to his office and there he is Mr.Luis, my father's lawyer and friend for as long as I can remember. His office space is still the same as the last time I visited with my father.

He’s seated behind a large desk with a pile of files at the far end of the desk and behind him is a bookshelf filled with lots of law books, encyclopedias and legal documents.

“Good afternoon Mr.Luis .” 

“Good afternoon Mr.Donovan.Good to see you again and thanks for honoring my invite,” he says as we exchange handshake.

“You are welcome but please do not call me so early again,” I say jokingly.

“Haha duly noted Damien, I won’t but it was necessary though. Do have a seat,” he replied.

“Alright let’s get to business then,” I say shaking my head.

“Great. Damien your father before he passed instructed me to meet with you to discuss something very important.”Mr.Luis says in a calm tone.

“Okay, Mr.Luis I guess this is very important for you to call me so early today,” I say with a hint of worry in my voice.

“You’re right Damien.” He then goes ahead and pulls out a white envelope from his desk and hands it over to me.

“Damien, I want you to open this envelope and read everything out loud.”Mr.Luis says and hands the envelope to me.

I opened the envelope and read out the biggest shock of my life.