My Fortune Is Mine!

"Did you know Penelope Eva had an illegitimate child with someone?"

"Really?"

"Yes and apparently they were planning to elope from the country".

"The man apparently owns that small diner on second street, everyone's talking about it. It's all over celebrity deets."

"Can you believe it? she wanted to risk her career for a man like that? Not like she had any real talent anyway, the only reason why she made it this far is due to her old celebrity mother. Ugh, Nepo babies and their misplaced privileges".

"I always knew Penelope was a slut, she wanted to trend so badly. I guess this is her big break. Her career is finally over." She laughs.

They others join in. The room is filled with their incessant laughing.

I listen while they slander various individuals. The room was stuffy and filled with different scents of intoxicating perfumes. I'm currently seated with my mother in law and her friends at this family get together but in reality it was just another chance to get together and gossip about people, most of the people in attendance weren't even family.

Everyone here was filthy rich. I mean these people saw money as nothing. They were all dazzled up and had no care in the world. They found it easy to look down on people of lesser status.

They might be rich but they all had one thing in common, they all had a shitty character.

"So Emily, right?" I look across at one of the women seated opposite to me. Her jet black hair was tied back into a sleek ponytail and if not for the tons of makeup on her face, she would have been attractive. She had on an expensive black designer gown. She looked like if she'd smile wider her face would crack.

I nod.

"How long have you been married to Zachary?"

"Three years." I say.

"Three years? and no children?" She gasps.

I smile awkwardly.

"W-well, we're w-working on it-"

"Three years and nothing to show for it, she eats my son's food, spends his money, sleeps in his bed, and she has nothing to give back to him, pathetic." Zachary's mother, Jacqueline, my mother- in- law from hell sneers at me.

She was a formidable woman, tall like her son. She always had a coldish expression that made her look very unapproachable. When I first met her she sized me up and decided that she didn't like me.

The sharp remark hit me and I feel a pang of hurt. I had been trying to get pregnant but it wasn't happening and every time I went to a doctor, they told me nothing was wrong with me. I look down at the floor to avoid her glare.

"She could be cheating on him who knows." One of the other women remarks.

I look up in astonishment.

"She's obviously infertile." Another woman pitches in. They continue to talk like I wasn't right in front of them.

"She must be. I know there's nothing wrong with my son, the problem is from her." Jacqueline concludes.

The room becomes hotter. I can't take this, not today.

I stand up "Please excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

Before they could say anything I made my way out of their vicinity.

They all believed I married Zachary for his money. I didn't care though. I love him and he loves me. That's all that really matters.

I was Zachary Lockwood's wife and that was enough for me.

Where was Zachary anyways?

However, as I scanned the room, I couldn't find him anywhere.

Feeling a little disappointed, I decided to take a break and headed towards the kitchen to grab a glass of wine. As I entered, I noticed a group of ladies huddled together, deep in conversation. They gave me a quick glance and then continued their conversation, but I couldn't help but notice the look of disgust on their faces.

One of them whispered something to her friends, and they all sneered at me. I couldn't understand why they were giving me such looks. Was it because I was alone? Or was it because I didn't fit in with their group? Whatever the reason, I decided to ignore them and focus on my mission.

I pour myself a glass of wine and take a sip, trying to calm my nerves. I quickly exit the kitchen. The room was getting hotter. Zachary had left me with his mother to play games with his friends in the games room. I make my way to the games room but find no one.

Just as I exit the games room I spot Zachary rounding the corner.

"Zach-"

"Ah ah Emily how are you?, this is quite a party."

I'm interrupted by one of the guests who engages me in conversation.

I watch as Zachary's disappears down the hall and go upstairs. I smile at the guest politely as the elderly man asks me about my well being. From the weather, to food, to fashion he chatters aimlessly and after ten minutes, I was finally able to excuse myself.

Excitedly, I go up the stairs carefully trying not to fall, Zachary wanted me to wear these heels today, although pretty they were so uncomfortable. My feet were definitely going to be sore after today.

As I reach the top I stop in my tracks when I hear a strange sound, it sounded like someone was in pain, it sounded intense. Then a strange mix of muffled sounds. I strain my ears then I hear it again.

I walk slowly trying to pinpoint where the sound was coming from. I make my way to one of the rooms, where the sound was coming from. I hear Zachary's voice.

What?

I fling open the door and the sight before me makes me let out a cry.

I couldn't believe my eyes as I tried to make sense of the situation.

Zachary was in bed with a woman I had never seen before. They were both locked in an embrace as she was on top of him, she looked at me like she had seen a ghost, she quickly got off him and pulled the covers up to her chest but I'm more shocked at Zachary who gives me a bored, blank look. I stand there, frozen in shock and disbelief.

My throat felt dry, the room began to spin. I leave the room and hurriedly make my way downstairs.

"What's this?" I hold the papers out to him as he knotted his tie.

"I want a divorce." He says.

My heart struck. It's been a week since I caught him with that woman. I had retired to my room and waited till everyone had gone home, it wasn't till the next day that Zachary had come to meet me and ask for my forgiveness and I forgave him. He had promised never to do that again and we put it behind us.

I thought everything was back to normal until now, staring at the black ink on the paper which I felt like tearing up.

I move closer to him. He backs up a bit.

"I forgave you when I caught you cheating and now you want a divorce?!!" I raise my voice.

He sighs exasperatedly. "I want a divorce Emily, just sign the goddamn thing and let's get this over with."

What? This isn't the Zachary I knew. "Wait a minute. you went back to her, didn't you. This isnt the first time is it?".

He says nothing.

"How long Zach, how long?!" I scream at him.

"We've been seeing each other for six months Emily". He sighs, then sits on his bed. He runs a hand through his hair messing it up. He looks up at me with a pleading look in his eyes.

"I love her".

I look at the ground. It felt like the world was spinning. How could I have been so stupid? I gave this man my energy, my love and all along he's been with another woman.

I force back tears.

I hold the divorce papers tightly.

I begin to contemplate. If I sign it he'll get what he wants, if I don't sign it, he won't get what he wants.

"What do you want? Money? A villa in malibu?, a tesla?"

I look at him silently, anger radiating off me.

"Did you even love me?" I whisper.

"What?"

I thrust the divorce papers in his face.

"Did you even love me, Zachary? Well, I loved you, I don't even want this divorce. I forgave you, why are you doing this to me?"

"I don't love you okay? I feel trapped in this marriage. My mother doesn't even like you. No one likes you, look if you're gonna be like this, I'll leave this house. I can't with your bullshit right now." He exclaims.

"Just sign the damn papers and leave. I have a life to live." My heart shatters into a million pieces. I couldn't believe the man I loved and trusted could say something so heartless. I take the pen and slowly sign the papers. My hands shaking as I hand them back to him.

"Congratulations, you're a free woman now" He walks out without a second glance.

With tears streaming down my face as I sit on the floor. I couldn't believe it was over, just like that. As I sit in my empty room, I can't help but think, what did I do wrong? Was I not enough for him? Why did he have to cheat? Why did he have to break my heart? But as I wipe away my tears and pick myself up, I realize that it wasn't my fault. I loved him with all my heart and gave him my everything, but he chose to betray me.

Three years. Three fucking years. Gone down the drain.

He walks back in the room "Also you need to be out of this house before the end of today my mother's coming and she won't want to see you here" and with that he storms out of the house.

I spend all afternoon packing. Unfortunately for me Zachary's mother catches me just before I was about to leave. She gives me that ever cold expression.

"Thank Goodness, it's about time. it's a wonder he stuck with you these past years, you seedless sow. She continues to rain more colorful insults on me

till I left the house.

"If you love your son so much why don't you marry him." I say and with that I walk out of the house.

The driver drives me to the airport where I boarded the plane to New York where my parents lived.

Upon arrival, I wait at the side of the road for a taxi. It was cold and my body felt numb. I wasn't able to eat the food served on the plane. Everything felt bleak.

My phone rings. I look at the caller ID. It was my mother. I look at it in surprise, she rarely called me.

"Mom?" My voice cracks a bit.

"What's wrong sweetie, your voice sounds off?"

"Mom I-" My voice cracks and I break down in tears.

My mom consoles me and I tell her everything.

"Honey, where are you?" I tell her I was at the airport. "Just stay right there baby, someone is coming to pick you up."

"Who?"

"A friend, don't worry just stay right there."

She hangs up.

Thirty minutes later, it felt like I would faint. I was so hungry, I hadn't eaten anything since last night.

A black car suddenly stops right in front of me. I look straight ahead, and avoided looking at the car. I reach into my bag for the pepper spray. Just in case.

The driver door suddenly opens and a man in uniform emerges out of the car.

"Miss Rivera?" He tips his hat.

I had not been called my maiden name in years.

"Yes?". I say cautiously.

He opens the back door and beckons me inside.

I look at him suspiciously. I hope he didn't think I was going to enter inside. I didn't even know who he was. He might as well kidnap me. I don't budge from where I was. I hope I wouldn't have to use the pepper spray in my bag.

"Don't be afraid Miss Rivera, your mother sent us." My eyes widen and l reluctantly enter into the car.

The car had a spicy spent and the inside was cool and so clean I felt like I shouldn't enter it.

A man was seated at the back. He was dressed in all black, dark hair slicked back. a small stubble graced his sculpted jaw making him look like one of the models on the cover of a Calvin Klein magazine. He was very attractive.

I realized the strong spicy scent emanated from him.

He takes out a cigarette from his pocket and lights it, the smoke filling the car.

"I'm Giovanni D'Errico, your mother sent me to you".

Giovanni D'Errico. I've heard of him. Probably everyone had. He was the CEO of D'errico cars. The family owned business that dealt in cars, with a net worth of over a hundred billion, he was easily the second richest man in the world.

It was one thing to see the second richest man in the world in the flesh, it's another thing to be sitting close to him in his car while watching him smoke a cigarette.

"How do you know my mother?" I ask.

"I'm friends with your parents." He replies in a languid voice.

How does he know my parents?!

"How is my father?" I ask slowly. I hadn't seen him in a long time. The last time we spoke it had ended with me calling him a terrible father.

He takes a long drag.

"I'm afraid your father died last year, miss Rivera."

My heart sinks.

W-what do you mean h-he's dead?" My voice becomes shaky.

"He died of a stroke last year, your mother tried to reach you but all communications from your end had been cut off."

Although the air conditioner was on, the atmosphere felt very hot. My father had died and I didn't know.

When I married Zachary that was when the relationship between me and my parents became strained. Two years into my marriage, we stopped communicating with each other all together but I didn't think it was bad enough for me not to have been told of his passing.

"Before your father died he wrote his will in your name and left you with a trillion dollar fortune."

I look at him incredulously.

I'm currently trying to process what this man had just said.

"My father left me with that much money??" I exclaim.

Giovanni nods. "I understand this must come as a shock to you, when you get home and see your mother she'll explain to you better".

As if on cue the driver started the car and we were in motion. We sat in silence as I try to process my thoughts. The divorce, father's death and now this. This seems too much.

We approached my parents house and I am glad to see that it still looked like it had looked three years ago. Although the colour had changed from baby blue to cream. The lawn newly mowed ,

I got down from the car just as my mother came out of the house. I just stood there staring at her. I wanted to say something but my tongue was at war with itself.

She looked older but more beautiful than I had last seen her. Her blonde hair was silver and she had it cut in a short bob. She wore a simple green dress that suited her nicely.

She stood there too and slowly raised her hand in an embrace.

"Mom". I ran to her and hugged her like I had never hugged her before.

"I'm so glad you're finally home." She squeezes me tightly. This was it and for the first time in years I felt loved. I was a fool.

"I heard about Papa, I'm so sorry, I'm such a terrible daughter," I break into tears. She holds me tightly in her arms and I'm glad to be in her warm embrace.

"Shh now, it's not your fault it's that selfish man and his bitchy mother, the most important thing is that your'e home, that's all that matters." She wipes my tears with the back of her hand.

"Mother what's this about Father leaving behind that much money. A trillion dollars?!!". I say raising my eyebrows up theatrically.

She sighs and she leads me into the house "Have a seat my love." I sit on the armchair in living room. The house had changed a bit since I last saw it.

She excuses herself and comes back with a glass of juice and some pastries. I thank her as she sits beside me.

She takes in a deep breath "When your father died he wrote in his will and made you his successor."

"I didn't even know daddy had that much money." I say.

She smiles "Your daddy made a lot of money from his businesses and his investments. We were practically swimming in money. It took us to greater heights. Your father's shipping business grew and it became the largest shipping company in the states".

"Good day ma'am". Giovanni interrupts as he strides into the room. He was tall, very tall.

Ah Mr D'errico thank you for picking up my daughter I really appreciate it." She turns to me

"Mr D'errico had worked with your father a few years back."

"Now honey there's something I need to tell you. At the moment Giovanni is the handler of your father's properties. Until you turn thirty you can't have control over it- Your father also wrote something else in his will, he wrote that till Giovanni sees that you are fit to inherit his businesses he will continue to handle them and you'll only be given a percentage out of the money, if he doesn't see you're capable enough he will become sole owner of your father's businesses."

What?

I glance at Giovanni who stares at me with an undecipherable look on his face.

I furrow my eyebrows at him.

"if I see that your capable. I'll release your father's properties over to you and you can make use of it however you see fit".

I look at my mother and she nods. "Is there no way to reverse this?" I didn't feel comfortable leaving that much money with this man who I didn't even know. I don't also want to have to prove anything to anyone, much more my worth.

"Honey your father trusts Mr D'errico enough to leave him with the businesses and you know your father doesn't just trust anyone".

Just because my father had trusted this man doesn't mean I have to trust him too. I look him over. He had a devil may care attitude around him that I didn't like or maybe it was the way he looked at me. I felt a strange feeling down there as he stared at me. I quickly avert my eyes.

"I would like to talk to you In private." I stand and lead him to a corner of the house. When I was sure we were out of earshot, I turn to him.

"Let me make one thing clear, that money belongs to me and not you. it is my right and I don't think I have to prove anything to you."

He folds his hands " Oh I think you do sweetheart",

"Do not call me that." I retort sharply.

"You'll work for me and If you're able to convince me that you're fit to inherit your father's business and his wealth I'll hand them over to you, if you don't I'll continue to handle his properties until you're able to convince me".

"I'm not going to work for you." I say again.

"That's what's written in your father's will sweetheart."

"Under one condition." I say.

"What's that?"

"You'll marry me."

He smirks revealing breathtaking dimples "Are you sure about that?."

I pause for a moment then look straight into his eyes

"Yes I'm sure."

I would marry this man and find a way to get my fortune back. Whatever it takes.

"The annual gala is holding in two days time." I say.

The gala was like a fundraiser where auctions took place and the likes. I had been to it with Zachary once or twice. But it had always been boring to me, just people trusting to show off how stinkingly rich they were. Zachary always ended up buying most of the items. Most of which were eventually kept in storage to be forgotten.

"You'll accompany me there and announce me as your wife." Everyone was going to know who I was. I would become the wife of the prestigious Giovanni D'Errico.

"What do I get in return?" He asked.

Wasn't handling my father's business enough for this man. What else did he want?

"What do you want?" I say politely.

"A child".