CHAPTER 1

With her eyes hidden behind the dark glasses she wore, Samantha Kingsley-Cameron remained standing on her spot as she watched the priest blessed the casket one last time.

The casket that contains the body of her late husband, Maxwell Cameron.

When the priest was done, Samantha took a step forward and brought the white rose she has been holding to her lips and kissed it lovingly. She then placed the rose on top of coffin and then bent down to kiss the coffin one last time, her forehead resting briefly before finally standing up straight.

Goodbye, my darling Maxwell, she thought as she watched others placed roses on top as well.

“Sam?”

Samantha looked up and turned at the sound of her name. She saw Maxwell’s daughter approached her with a concerned look on her face.

“You’ve been sitting here for the past two hours since the funeral was over. We were looking for you at the reception hall,” Arabella Cameron-Grant said patiently. She took a seat beside her and placed a hand on Samantha’s clasped ones on her lap. “Are you alright?”

“I’m okay,” Sam responded gently. “I can’t bear the thought of going home yet.”

“I’m sure dad would not like the idea of you staying out here longer,” Ara reprimanded lightly. “You know how he hates funerals.”

Sam only smiled wryly.

“He always said that to me whenever we attend one on his friends,” she whispered. She looked back at the ground that is now covered with earth. “He could have lived longer. He was doing well before I took that very quick toilet break.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Sam. You had never left his side since he got admitted,” Ara chided gently. “I think it’s some way for dad in letting us know that he doesn’t want us by his side as he took his last breath.”

“Everything okay?”

The two looked up and saw Vincent Cameron, Maxwell’s son.

“Do you want me to stay at the house tonight?” Ara asked.

Sam shook her head and finally stood up. “I’m going to be fine,” she assured softly as she blew one last kiss towards the grave. She stopped when she saw some press people, pointing their cameras at them before turning back to them with a bitter smile. “I guess they’re having the time of their lives. I could imagine the headlines tomorrow.”

Vincent turned towards that direction and frowned darkly.

“Let it go, Vince,” Ara said firmly. “I’m calling your driver to bring the car around this side. Are your sure you’re going to be, okay?”

Sam nodded.

One Month Later…

Jackson Harolds looked across the table inside the conference room of Cameron Elite Holding’s CEO floor level as the attending persons took their seats.

“It’s good to see all of you doing well,” he commented gently. “Maxwell was a dear friend and losing him I’m sure for you has left a gap.”

Samantha remained silent while Vincent only grunted.

“I’m pretty sure you have an idea why I have you here today,” Jackson continued as he reached for the envelope in front of him, pulling out the contents inside. He placed the paper in front of him and looked down at it. “As instructed by Maxwell, I will be reading his last will and testament one month after his death.”

“I, Maxwell Cameron, of sound and disposing mind and acting not under any influence or intimidation by anyone, do hereby declare this to be my last will and testament,” Jackson began to read out clearly. “To my grandchildren, Joseph Cameron, Atasha Cameron, Maxwell Cameron, Jr, Lucilla Cameron-Wright, Jessica Cameron-Wright and Henry Cameron-Wright, I give and bequeath to each of you One Million Dollars, which I hope you will use and invest wisely and1% share in Cameron Elite Holdings. For those, who has not reached the age of 18, I entrust their parents will do what is best for them.”

“To my children, Vincent Cameron and Arabella Cameron-Wright, I bequeath to you 12% share each in Cameron Elite Holdings, the personal bank accounts attached to your name and equal shares to Cameron Capital, Inc and the assigned lands and mansions attached herewith,” Jackson continued. “To my beloved and cherished, wife, Samantha Kingsley-Cameron, I leaved you with the remaining percentage of Cameron Elite Holdings, Cameron Towers, our personal joint bank accounts, the beach house at The Black Coral Coastline, the remaining real estates and the townhouse at Lavender Street.”

Jackson continued to read up to the end and after some time, he finally took his leave, shaking each hand of the family members.

“You must be dancing with glee inside, right now,” Lucilla scoffed angrily, staring at Samantha with hatred. “Congratulations, Samantha! You finally achieved your goal!”

“Lucilla!” Arabella reprimanded her daughter angrily. “That’s way out of line.”

“Oh, come on, Mom! Don’t tell me you still believed that she married grandpa for love!” Lucilla shot back. “Remember what you asked me when I first took you home at the main mansion? You asked how much the mansion’s worth! Little did I know you were planning to seduce my grandfather.”

Samantha only stared at Lucilla painfully, her best friend when she went to university and now turned enemy when she married Maxwell.

“That’s enough, Lucilla!” Vincent said as he stood up and looking at his niece angrily. “I’m sure that your grandfather made it clear with us before he married Sam that she did not seduce him!”

“I’m sure she was spawning her web for him to say that,” came the icy voice from Atasha, who is sitting beside Maxwell, Jr and both are giving her hating looks. She stood up when their father turned to look at them angrily. “Spare us the lecture, dad. I’m not going to waste my time on her. One thing’s for sure, she will never get my support for any deals she will be making for the company.”

The rest of the children then stood up and went out without looking back at Sam except for sixteen-year-old Jessica and Vincent’s oldest son, Joseph.

“Sam, I’m so sorry,” Ara apologized profusely.

Samantha only gave her an assured smile, something that she has been giving quite a lot since Maxwell’s death. “I don’t blame them and you know that,” she answered softly. She turned when Jessica, only went to her and gave her a hug. “Thanks, Jess.”

“You’re still the best, Sammie,” Jessica beamed. She then turned to her mother. “May I be excuse? I have to study for an exam tomorrow.”

“I’ll call the driver to wait for you at front.”

“I’ll go with her,” Joseph assured.

When the three were finally alone, Samantha looked at them.

“I could talk with Jackson to have the stocks transferred in your name,” she said softly. “All I ask is for the beach house, where I can peacefully stay until my time.”

Vincent looked at her in surprised.

“Sam, dad gave them to you,” he insisted firmly but gently. He sat across Arabella and let out a deep sigh. “Please don’t let what the children did get to you. You have rights and honestly, you are the perfect majority shareholder for the main company. Ara and I don’t have the patience that you have.”

“And besides that, Sam, you also worked hard in the company,” Ara added. “You didn’t just stay at home. You worked your ass off, even much more than us. Who made those billion-dollar deals in the last three years? You did, despite all the obstacles you encountered.”

Sam only remained silent as she stared at the documents that Jackson had left for her.

“We know that it’s going to be a daunting task for you,” Vincent commented after a while. “But Ara and I are here and I’m sure the kids will come around soon.”

“I’m pretty sure the board meeting will be in uproar this coming Friday,” Sam finally said.

Ara grinned at her statement.

“I can just imagine Felix Conroy’s face,” she chuckled. “He has always been your number fan, Sam.”

“I’m his number one pain in the ass, you mean,” Sam replied back with a smile. “Well, I think it’s time that Felix learns to get along with me if he wants to retain his seat. I’m sure that both of us can work something out.”

“That’s our Sam,” Vincent praised proudly. “And, remember, Joseph’s working in his office and you know how my son’s mind works. Conroy won’t be able to manipulate him.”

“Joseph can work in my office if ever Felix will let him go,” Sam assured.

“Don’t worry, Jo can take care of himself,” Vincent replied as he stood up when Sam did. “If ever things go bad, rest assured that I will let you know.”

Sam smiled up at him and turned towards Ara, giving her a hug.

“Thank you for everything,” she said meaningfully.

Ara placed a hand on her cheek gently and smiled. “There’s nothing to thank for, Sam,” she responded earnestly. “I know that it’s a weird setup for all of us. We’re old enough to be your parents. But it doesn’t change the fact that dad spent his few remaining years happy and content. Don’t worry. Whatever happens in the future, Vince and I will always be there for you.”